What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Special Collector's Edition)

Amazon.com

This is the movie that Leonardo DiCaprio received an Oscar nomination for, five years before Titanic. And, in fact, this is the movie that should have made him a star, he's so good in it. Based on the novel by Peter Hedges (who adapted his own book) and directed by Lasse Hallström (My Life as a Dog), this is the funny, moody tale of a young man named Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) who lives at home in a small town with his 500-pound Momma (beautifully played by nonpro Darlene Cates), his mentally retarded younger brother Arnie (DiCaprio, utterly convincing), and his sisters. Not a lot happens--Arnie keeps climbing a water tower and getting stuck; Gilbert is involved with a married woman (Mary Steenburgen), then meets a nice new girl in town who's closer to his age (Juliette Lewis). And that's exactly what makes this movie so much more than your run-of-the-mill Hollywood product: it's not about some mechanical, formulaic plot; it's about these characters, and it allows you to spend some time with them and get to know them. Depp may have started out as a TV teen idol on 21 Jump Street, but his feature film choices since then--in such wonderfully offbeat and diverse movies as Cry-Baby, Edward Scissorhands, Benny & Joon, Donnie Brasco--have made him one of the most interesting, unpredictable, and risk-taking young actors in American movies. --Jim Emerson

Product description

Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) lives in Endora, a place where nothing much happens. The only times the police got something to do is when Gilbert's autistic brother Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio) tries to climb up on the watertower nearby. Taking care of Arnie is mostly Gilbert's task which can be pretty demanding, at least while you are working at the local grocery store. Then one day Becky (Juliette Lewis) and her grandmother passes through Endora getting trouble with the car. Gilbert falls in love with Becky, but gets problems when he tries to find time for his own private life.

Customer Reviews:

so perfect.......2007-08-23

I love Johnny. This movie is one of my favorites. I bought it to add to my sisters collection of Depp movies. A really touching movie with excellent acting

A classic movie.......2007-08-05

My family and I saw this movie many years ago and decided to obtain a DVD. Not available in NZ despite months of trying, "Borders" suggested Amazon! Good choice!

"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" A must see film!!.......2007-07-25

Watched this movie for the first time last weekend and I must say, this is one of the best films I've ever seen!!

I had no idea Di Caprio was such a marvelous actor!

He for sure should have received an Oscar for this performance!!

What's Eating Gilbert Grape.......2007-07-18

Adapted by Peter Hedges from his novel, Hallstrom's endearing, offbeat drama features soulful heartthrob Depp as a fatherless young man with lots of worries and little time for his own happiness. Oscar nominee DiCaprio gives a remarkably tender performance as Arnie, a mentally challenged kid who's difficult to deal with but impossible not to love. Hallstrom develops the quirkier aspects of Hedges's story--including Gilbert's involvement with a lonely wife and a worldly newcomer--with a light comic touch. Excellent support from Lewis, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, and nonactress Cates kick things up a notch. Beneath its unusual skin, this "Grape" is quite sweet.

That Darn Johnny.......2007-07-16

This movie is a fine (and an early) example of Johnny Depp's willingness to choose a quirky, powerful story and run with it. At a time when he could have been churning out 'heartthrob' pictures, he was acting in pictures like 'Benny and Joon', 'Gilbert Grape' and 'Edward Scissorhands'.

This movie is especially noteworthy, as it may well be the last time Leonardo DiCaprio did not completely suck.

Average customer rating:

Ok movie.
Amazingly cheap for such a collector's series....
All Hands Lost
What a country!
AT HOME, The Perfect place to be..

The Perfect Storm
Starring: Karen Allen , George Clooney , William Fichtner , John Hawkes , and Michael Ironside
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CXJD
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Amazon.com

Setting out for the one last catch that will make up for a lackluster fishing season, Captain Billy Tyne (George Clooney) pushes his boat the Andrea Gail out to the waters of the Flemish Cap off Nova Scotia for what will be a huge swordfish haul. While his crew is gathering fish, three storm fronts (including a hurricane) collide to create a "perfect storm" of colossal force, and Billy's path back to Gloucester, Massachusetts, takes them right smack into the middle of it. Wolfgang Petersen's adaptation of Sebastian Junger's seafaring bestseller is a faithful if by-the-numbers true-story account of a monster storm that rocked New England in 1991, specifically Tyne's commercial fishing boat and its crew. Junger's tale fashioned a compelling if staid narrative out of seemingly disparate events, but this film adaptation tends to flatten out the story into a conventional if absorbing story of man vs. nature, as the crew fights for survival against the awesome waves the storm kicks up. The central part of the film, which cuts between the Andrea Gail's fight to stay afloat and the attempts of the Coast Guard to rescue a yacht in peril, is suspenseful action of the first degree, aided by some awesome computer-generated waves.

Still, it's a long way to that action, with an extended first act that consists mainly of stoic men, crying women, and a fair amount of "don't go out into the sea" dialogue--in other words, a compelling story has been shoehorned into standard summer movie fare. It's too bad, as Peterson assembled an excellent cast--including Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, John C. Reilly, and William Fichtner among them--but seems to opt for only a surface exploration of these characters, though Clooney seems to have a touch of Captain Ahab in him. You may still be won over by the movie, but for a more in-depth portrait, go to Junger's book for the missing details. --Mark Englehart

Description

It's Halloween, 1991. Near Gloucester, Massachusetts, the six members of the Andrea Gail, a swordfishing boat, head out to sea for their last trip of the season. Unbeknownst to them, a shockingly brutal storm is slowly gaining steam. Before the National Weather Bureau has a chance to inform the crew of the impending danger, it's too late. The resulting battle with three merging weather fronts--an unheralded natural disaster--is grueling and tragic. Based on the true-life best selling novel by Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane and is directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary with Wolfgang Peterson Commentary with S. Fangmeier and H. Elswit Commentary with Sebastian Junger
Documentary
Featurette:James Horner Featurette
Filmographies:HBO First Look Special (29:30)
Gag Reel
Other:"Whitness to the Storm" (4:30)
Photo gallery:"Yours Forever" Photo Montage
Production Sketches:Storyboard Art with W. Peterson Commentary
Storyboards
TV Special
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Ok movie........2007-07-09

If there were nothing else on I'd watch it again. This is just an average movie about a STORM based on true events. There is no real character development, no action, adventure or humor. Its a great STORM, just not a great movie.

Amazingly cheap for such a collector's series...........2007-07-06

This edition (the signature edition) was personally signed by George Clooney. This series is limited to 1500. If you can snatch up one of these for less than $40, you are really getting a deal.

All Hands Lost.......2007-06-15

Even though this movie is fictional, taken from a book, no one seems to mention the fact that the Andrea Gail was an actual ship that was lost at sea and never found. A real world story intertwined with the fictional characters of those who were claimed by the sea.

What a country!.......2007-04-18

Some amazing special effects, tense action sequences. Good acting marred by occasional screenplay hokeyness, and some bummers at the end. George should've known better when even the gal from the Abyss was telling him to scrap the mission. Mark Wahlburg is a hunk. I'm not sure why Karen Allen took such a small role.

AT HOME, The Perfect place to be.........2007-03-03

Very good effects ... but there is a hidden happy ending for those that want to miss the tragic part of this movie... when the guys finally turn the boat around from the Monster wave and make it... and they are all laughing and screaming they made it out ... TURN THE MOVIE OFF !!!!

Average customer rating:

What Were The Frogs About?
May Just Save Your Sanity
Don't bother...
AWARD FOR THE MOST TIMES THE "F" WORD IS USED!
It'll stay with you...

Magnolia (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Michael Bowen , Melinda Dillon , Henry Gibson , Philip Baker Hall , and Philip Seymour Hoffman
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CWTI
Release Date: 2000-08-29

Amazon.com

A handful of people in the San Fernando Valley are having one hell of a day. TV mogul Earl Partridge (Jason Robards) is on his deathbed; his trophy wife (Julianne Moore) is popping pills with alarming frequency. Earl's nurse (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is trying desperately to get in touch with Earl's only son, sex guru Frank T.J. Mackey (Tom Cruise), who's about to have his carefully constructed past blown by a TV reporter (April Grace). Whiz kid Stanley (Jeremy Blackman) is being goaded by his selfish dad into breaking the record for the game show What Do Kids Know? Meanwhile, Stanley's predecessor, the grown-up quiz kid Donnie Smith (William H. Macy) has lost his job and is nursing a severe case of unrequited love. And the host of What Do Kids Know?, the affable Jimmy Gator (Philip Baker Hall), like Earl, is dying of cancer, and his attempt to reconcile with his cokehead daughter (Melora Walters) fails miserably. She, meanwhile, is running hot and cold with a cop (John C. Reilly) who would love to date her, if she can sit still for long enough. And over it all, a foreboding sky threatens to pour something more than just rain.

This third feature from Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights) is a maddening, magnificent piece of filmmaking, and it's an ensemble film to rank with the best of Robert Altman--every little piece of the film means something, and it's solidly there for a reason. Deftly juggling a breathtaking ensemble of actors, Anderson crafts a tale of neglectful parents, resentful children, and love-starved souls that's amazing in scope, both thematically and emotionally. Part of the charge of Magnolia is seeing exactly how may characters Anderson can juggle, and can he keep all those balls in air (indeed he can, even if it means throwing frogs into the mix). And it's been far too long since we've seen a filmmaker whose love of making movies is so purely joyful, and this electric energy is reflected in the actors, from Cruise's revelatory performance to Reilly's quietly powerful turn as the moral center of the story. While at three hours it's definitely not suited to everyone's taste, Magnolia is a compelling, heartbreaking, ultimately hopeful mediation on the accidents of chance that make up our lives. Featuring eight wonderful songs by Aimee Mann, including "Save Me." --Mark Englehart

Description

An intriguing and entertaining study in characters going through varying levels of crisis and introspection. This psychological drama leads you in several different directions, weaving and intersecting various subplots and characters, from a brilliant Tom Cruise, as a self-proclaimed pied-piper, to a child forced to go on a TV game show and the pressures he faces from a ruthless father.

Customer Reviews:

What Were The Frogs About?.......2007-09-12

I've only watched this movie in pieces. Anyone who could sit through the whole thing in one sitting, well, my hat is off to you.

The director obviously got sucked up into believing all the artsy-fartsy accolades heaped upon him by snobby critics who, of course, are far more intelligent than the movie-going public!

Julianne Moore is the female version of Jude Law: In every other movie that does NOT make any profit. Now that she's aged,we all hope she'll disappear!She's exactly the same over-acting hack in every movie.

This movie seems like it was made from leftover characters the director had on the back burner all looking for a movie to be in. Trouble is, he tried to tie them all together with a cohesive plot, of which there is none.

What were the frogs? I got to thinking maybe there was a catagory 10 hurricane somewhere and they got sucked up and dropped. Great affects, fast forward to the frogs, they were far more interesting than anything else in this piece of tripe. I'd rather see the movie about the frogs sucked up by the hurricane.

Boogie Nights written and directed by Anderson was very entertaining, a bit of a downer, but a great lesson for idiots planning a career in porn.

May Just Save Your Sanity.......2007-08-24

The reason to watch this movie isn't because it's a remarkable piece of high art (even though it is). The reason to watch this movie is to be uplifted. Years ago, I had seen the movie in the theater. Then I happened upon it again on cable. After experiencing a terrible car accident and some sobering realities of middle age, I saw this movie with new eyes. Magnolia profoundedly reminded me that the achingly painful existence that most of us live on this earth might actually be worthwhile. The characters and their lives are presented unflinchingly, but not without wit and humor. Magnolia is an opera, an epic, a confession, a prayer. Paul Thomas Anderson is an excellent filmmaker and a first-rate dramatist, and his cinematic storytelling most definitely helped uplift me at a troubled time. There might be another purpose for art, but I can't imagine a better one.

* You're on your honor * 'Cause I'm a goner * And you haven't even begun * So do me a favor * If I should waver * Be my savior...

Don't bother..........2007-08-15

Youre going to either love this movie or hate it. I'm usually on the "love it" side but this one was a total disaster. The plot, the LENGTH (goes on forever), theres no excitement, and the actors overact in every scene.

AWARD FOR THE MOST TIMES THE "F" WORD IS USED!.......2007-08-10

THE "F" WORD COMPRISED MOST OF THE DIALOGUE.
I'VE NEVER HEARD IT SO UNENDINGLY REPEATED.
I GOT THE FEELING THAT THIS "PLOY" WAS CONSIDERED AVANT GARDE OR COOL AT THE TIME THE MOVIE WAS MADE. IT WAS VERY IRRITATING.
I WAS VERY DISSAPOINTED IN ROBARD'S PERFORMANCE.
HIS DIATRIBE TOWARDS THE END WAS OBNOXIOUS AND AGAIN, USING THE F WORD AS EVERY OTHER WORD, WAS RIDICULOUS.
I DON'T LIKE TOM CRUISE, BUT I MUST SAY THAT HIS PERFORMANCE IN THIS, IS PROBABLY THE MOST INTERESTING AND WELL DONE THAN THE REST OF THE CHARACTERS.
I ALSO LIKED JOHN C. REILLY'S PERFORMANCE AND FELT THE MOST SYMPATHY FOR HIM.
THIS FILM WAS ALSO WAY TOO LONG.

It'll stay with you..........2007-08-01

I really like this movie, but it's not one that I can watch over and over again, like I can most other movies. There are many plots, subplots, twists and turns, but the story line with Tom Cruise and Juliane Moore was the best. It reduced me to sobs more than once. Everyone should see this movie, but don't be surprised if it's not one you'll be in a hurry to see again.

Average customer rating:

Wow... What A Movie and Soundtrack. BUT!
Ice castles
woth seeing again
sappy but fun
Ice Castles

Ice Castles
Starring: Robby Benson , Lynn-Holly Johnson , Colleen Dewhurst , Tom Skerritt , and Jennifer Warren
Director: Donald Wrye
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000059XTL
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Amazon.com

Not half-bad, this lightly engaging, potboiler romance concerns an ice skater (Lynn-Holly Johnson) who loses her vision in an accident but goes on to excel on the ice with the support of the guy (Robby Benson) who loves her. When she takes up with some rich schmuck, however, intertwining problems in her work and in love throw a shadow over everything. Nice performances, nice skating--the whole thing is a pleasant distraction. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Wow... What A Movie and Soundtrack. BUT!.......2007-07-22

I like some of the tunes in the movie soundtrack. The movie is so sweet and wholesome in a lot of ways. I even watched the movie twice in one sitting. It really touched my heart. Gosh, I'm so deeply in love with Lynn-Holly Johnson. Who isn't, right? I feel like a kid with a big crush. The only thing that was really disappointing was all the foul mouth cussing. I'm sure some will find that funny and have a good chuckle. As a partially some what of a decent Christian. I did find the G.D.'s a bit overboard. I lost count at a certain point. Yes, it was loaded. I don't want to discourage anyone from buying the movie. I'm just disappointed that the writer, and other decision makers allow that sort of verbage in an almost wholesome family entertainment movie. Okay, enough bickering. I was upset, and had to vent off some steam. Get the movie and sountrack. I still recommend it. If the foul mouth cussing bugs you. Try and ignor it, and enjoy the rest of the movie. It is a really touching movie. Go for it. Enjoy! :)

Ice castles.......2007-05-12

If I could I will give this movie a 10 stars, this is a really good clasic that gives you the little buble in your heart, is my favorite movie ever so I do recommend to wacht this...

woth seeing again.......2007-04-02

Nicely reproducted copy of the film. I wanted it basically for the music, but enjoyed seeing the film again, too. (And it is certainly suited for a "G" rating - which seems to be somewhat rare these days!)

sappy but fun.......2007-02-18

A movie not very true to the real world of figure skating. ... but many a teenage girl will love it.
Starring lynn Holly Johnson and Bobby Benson ( the voice of Beast n the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast.) Story of a young girl with dreams of going to the Olympics only to have a terrible accident and going blind... but this she over comes with the love and help of her boyfriend and ends up triumphing through it all.

it is not perfect, but an okay movie. If you are looking for reality this is not it

Ice Castles.......2007-02-17

I will always remember the first time I saw this movie, in the 1970's! My friend and I cried so much we had to go and get tissues out of the "Ladies" to mop up all the tears. Now it is 2007 and I wanted so much to see this movie again to see if my interpretation of it had changed now that I am nearly 50 and I have gone through so many of life's experiences...this movie stands up now just as strong and just as beautiful as it did 30 years ago!!! That "don't give up" moral is still just as true today, and somehow even MORE true today than it was when I was so much younger. I am so proud of Bobby Benson for his remarkable career since Ice Castles and wish to congratulate him. I will always love this movie and cherish the music and the love displayed by the characters. Even more grateful am I that, now that I could not buy the movie anywhere in Australia, I have been able to cry my heart out again thanks to Amazon.com

Average customer rating:

so perfect
A classic movie
"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" A must see film!!
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
That Darn Johnny

What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Starring: Johnny Depp , Leonardo DiCaprio , Juliette Lewis , Mary Steenburgen , and Darlene Cates
Director: Lasse Hallström
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005Q79A
Release Date: 2001-11-17

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

so perfect.......2007-08-23

I love Johnny. This movie is one of my favorites. I bought it to add to my sisters collection of Depp movies. A really touching movie with excellent acting

A classic movie.......2007-08-05

My family and I saw this movie many years ago and decided to obtain a DVD. Not available in NZ despite months of trying, "Borders" suggested Amazon! Good choice!

"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" A must see film!!.......2007-07-25

What's Eating Gilbert Grape.......2007-07-18

That Darn Johnny.......2007-07-16

Indecent Seduction (True Stories Collection TV Movie)

Average customer rating:

We are BOTH in this movie
Good movie
shipping time too long

Indecent Seduction (True Stories Collection TV Movie)
Starring: Gary Cole , Nicholle Tom , Mac Davis , Mary Kay Place , and Alyson Hannigan
Director: Alan Metzger
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009OUBEW
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Description

Coach Nash (Gary Cole) is one of the most popular teachers at Tate High School. When he pays special attention to Amy (Nicholle = Tom), a fourteen year-old freshman, she is flattered - until he crosses the line by seducing her. Soon the rumor mill is in full swing and Amy is too ashamed to confide in anyone. The principal dismisses the suspicions because of the coach's importance to the football team. His behavior toward Amy becomes increasingly erratic and he even threatens suicide. Finally, Amy breaks down and confesses the truth to her mother (Mary Kay Place). Coach Nash pleads guilty and receives a jail sentence for his actions. But, Amy's parents feel the school system should be held responsible for failure to protect their daughter from this predator. With the help of an attorney who shares the same convictions, they are determined to set a precedent to protect other children in the future. Indecent Seduction is a captivating tale inspired by true events, featuring outstanding performances from Gary Cole, Mary Kay Place, Nicholle Tom, Mac Davis and Alyson Hannigan.

Customer Reviews:

We are BOTH in this movie.......2007-03-26

My husband and I loved this movie. It was filmed in our highschool back when we attended. I am one of the brunette cheerleaders and he is the redhead with the letterman jacket who glares at her car toward the end. Fun Fun. Anyone who attended the real "Tate" highschool will enjoy this film.

Good movie.......2007-03-19

I saw this movie on tv and thought it was really good. I think the acting was great and why is someone giving this movie 1 star justt because they didn't receive their items? Disregard the previous users 1 star and give the movie a chance, especially if you like the Lifetime channel movies (which remind me of extended after school specials). Good one!

shipping time too long.......2007-01-09

I am yet to receive all my items. I think the shipping takes so long a time. Stll waiting for all the orders

Average customer rating:

breakfast on pluto
Head trip movie about ... What is it about anyway?
Overlong, unfocused and underachieving, yet somehow hard to dislike
Cillian Murphy: More Than Just A "Bad Guy"
Brilliant

Breakfast on Pluto
Starring: Cillian Murphy , Morgan Jones (III) , Eva Birthistle , Liam Neeson , and Mary Coughlan
Director: Neil Jordan
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000EHRVOM
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Amazon.com

Both epic and intimate, Breakfast on Pluto uses the life of Patrick "Kitten" Braden (Cillian Murphy, Batman Begins), a queer orphan boy, to explore the hidden worlds that lie beneath so-called "normal" society--the subcultures of homosexuals, the Irish Republican Army, and prostitutes. At odds with his conservative Irish town, Patrick rebels with the fearlessness of someone whose life feels worthless. When he leaves for London, where he hopes to find his mother, he joins a touring rock band, is almost murdered, becomes assistant to a magician (Stephen Rea, The Crying Game), is arrested as an IRA terrorist, and joins a peep show--and those are only half of the markers on his odyssey (the movie struggles to encompass the novel by Patrick McCabe). Though the first half of the movie feel almost weightless in the headlong rush of events, a rich emotional heft sneaks up on you; by the end, Breakfast on Pluto has become almost unbearably sad and wonderfully buoyant. Murphy's superb performance is both delicate and willful, ably supported by an excellent cast, including Liam Neeson (Kinsey), Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), and Ian Hart (Backbeat), as well as rock stars Gavin Friday and Bryan Ferry (who has a particularly creepy cameo as a serial killer). --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

breakfast on pluto.......2007-08-03

luminous- thats one of the words I'd use to describe Cillian Murphy's performance here- this movie is not for the faint of heart- but if you enjoy Cillian Murphy- this performance should not be missed!

Head trip movie about ... What is it about anyway?.......2007-07-11

My first thought in the opening minutes of this movie was "Damn, Cillian Murphy makes one FINE looking woman." Seeing him sashaying down the street in his make up and vintage finery made me think of the kinder, gentler drag queens like Tootsie or those in The Birdcage with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane rather than the harsher, campier ones as featured in a John Waters film. It set the tone for this rather odd movie, and left me thinking there was just as much learned as their was to be confused.

Our Kitten comes into the word as an orphan boy left on the backsteps of a church in a small Irish town. Here he is found by the local parish priest and adopted into a family. It's clear from the beginning that he is not like other boys, and his small town, stanch Irish Catholic family doesn't know what to do with him. Eventually, Kitten leaves his hometown for London, in a quest for both freedom as well as to somehow find his birth mother. What unfolds is a really, really, odd chain of events. He joins a band, is mistakenly arrested as being a member of the IRA, clashes with a variety of people, and looks into the sleazy side of life.

I saw this movie as more of a train of thought rather than a substantial story. It was some fun, some horror, some smut, and some ugliness. In short, that's what life is really all about. And it has a happy ending, where Kitten finds a family. That's all he ever really wanted anyway.

Overlong, unfocused and underachieving, yet somehow hard to dislike.......2007-05-18

Despite some highly enjoyable moments, Neil Jordan's Breakfast On Pluto has to be counted among his sporadic failures. Working from another Patrick McCabe novel, this is no Butcher Boy. Following another maladjusted foundling at odds with the vigorous conformity of small-town life, this episodic cross dressing chronicle of Patricia Kitten Braden and "her" search for "her" mother and love in the Ireland and England of the 70s against a background of flared trousers, platform heels and IRA bombings is a much more optimistic tale. Relying on the kindness of strangers, Kitten's good nature even makes an unlikely guardian angel out of the cop who beats him up after a pub bombing in which s/he becomes the prime suspect. Yet despite the very different perspective, at times it almost feels like it's running through a checklist. Priests seducing their housekeepers? Check. Schoolboy priest baiting? Check. Mocking the paramilitaries until things get serious, serious, serious? Check. "I'm not a girl"? (One for the Jordan fans there) Check. Surreal flights of comic fancy to offset the tragedy and darkness? Check. Even the supporting cast feels like Jordan trotting out the repertory company of old favorites - along with Liam Neeson there's also the inevitable Stephen Rea, Ian Hart and Brendan Gleeson in a Womble suit. There's something just a little bit tired about it all.

It's a film that needs a strong, charismatic central performance to pull it all together, and Cillian Murphy's Kitten just doesn't quite work. He looks uncannily right for the part, with the kind of pansexual look you'd find in glam rock stars like Marc Bolan from the era if they'd gone that extra mile, but the voice is a real problem: aside from being so soft spoken that it's a good job the DVD comes subtitled to pick up what he's saying, it never convinces that there's a real person under the affectations and seems to leaves the wardrobe and makeup to do more of the work, resulting in a rather superficial performance. You observe the character but you don't care about her. Liam Neeson doesn't fare too well either, with only the latter scenes playing to his strengths as an actor and too many of his early ones emphasising his weaknesses. In many ways the film's real standout performances come from Gavin Friday's gay singer Billy Hatchett who Kitten charms right out of the closet and Ruth Negga as one of Kitten's loyal childhood friends.

As Breakfast On Pluto it ambles along in its overlong, unfocused way, it's hard to dislike - after all, how can you hate a film that uses a pair of gossipy robins as a Greek chorus? - but it's definitely a film that diminishes in the memory shortly after seeing it.

Cillian Murphy: More Than Just A "Bad Guy".......2007-05-08

It's always a joy to find a film that falls outside the norms of casual cinema, which usually contain common plots, cookie-cutter characters, and bland stories. It's also enjoyable to see an extremely strong character portrayal by an actor who you probably couldn't have pictured in a particular role, but does such a stunning job that after watching the film you couldn't see anyone else playing it. Cillian Murphy (Red Eye (Widescreen Edition) is normally someone most movie-goers associate in the "bad guy" spotlight. But here, in BREAKFAST ON PLUTO, Murphy shows he's got some serious acting chops.

Similar in terrain to Transamerica, the focus is on a transvestite named Patrick "Kitten" Braden. As an infant, he's left on the doorstep of a local Irish church and picked up by Father Liam (Liam Neeson, The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Widescreen Edition). Unable to locate the child's mother, Father Liam inserts the boy into an orphanage where, as he grows, we quickly see that he doesn't fit in. Punished for his impudent behavior, "Kitten" (as he likes to be called) moves from place to place and person to person looking for the mother who'd abandoned him.

Not willing to give up until he finds her, his life leads him through IRA uprisings, bombings, sexual exploits of the most heinous kind, and eventually to London ("the city that swallowed up his mother") where an encounter with his real mum gives him the realization that his life is his own and he needs to live it for himself, not for anyone else.

The entire film is shot as if it were telling a story via a book (which of course it is based on); each section of Kitten's life is given a chapter number and title. This was pretty cool and a nice break from Hollyweird norm.

The most shocking and comedic portions of the film are completely intermingled. Bombings of nightclubs in Ireland and England are put in hysterically funny contexts (one time leading Kitten to believe he/she could be a superhero who eliminates his/her foes by spraying them with a special caustic perfume, but in reality he/she has to deal with her Irish heritage in a country -- England -- that believes he/she to be a bombing suspect). Most of the time, Kitten's enemies quickly become his/her friend because of his/her friendly demeanor. Even interrogating policemen eventually come to care for Kitten which, again, was both shocking and funny.

The film isn't without its flaw, however. The chapter periods are sometimes very short, only giving the audience a minor glimpse of situations and certain pivotal, lateral characters.

But Murphy's performance is solid gold and makes this a VERY watchable flick.

Brilliant.......2007-05-07

This is a really wonderful, offbeat movie. Cillian Murphy gives an amazing, sensitive portrayal of a gentle transvestite in the 1970's Ireland who is trying to find his mother in the midst of revolution and bloodshed. Along the way, he is misunderstood, ridiculed, exposed to violence, and taken advantage of, and through it all he stays who he is, a gentle sweet-natured soul. You lose yourself in this portrayal, this actor is so brilliant. The musical score underlying the action is absolutely inspired. The songs sung by Gavin Friday (one of them with Cillian Murphy) are highlights.

Average customer rating:

Ok movie.
Amazingly cheap for such a collector's series....
All Hands Lost
What a country!
AT HOME, The Perfect place to be..

The Perfect Storm [HD DVD]
Starring: George Clooney , Mark Wahlberg , Diane Lane , John C. Reilly , and William Fichtner
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Manufacturer: Warner Brothers
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000FKO0RY
Release Date: 2006-06-06

Amazon.com

Description

DVD Features:
Other:"Whitness to the Storm" (4:30)
Production Sketches:Storyboard Art with W. Peterson Commentary
Storyboards
TV Special
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Ok movie........2007-07-09

Amazingly cheap for such a collector's series...........2007-07-06

This edition (the signature edition) was personally signed by George Clooney. This series is limited to 1500. If you can snatch up one of these for less than $40, you are really getting a deal.

All Hands Lost.......2007-06-15

What a country!.......2007-04-18

AT HOME, The Perfect place to be.........2007-03-03

Average customer rating:

Harsh realities of transportation to Botany Bay
outstanding
Passionate film about one woman's journey to freedom!

The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant
Starring: Romola Garai , Jack Davenport , Alex O'Loughlin , Sam Neill , and Tony Martin (II)
Director: Peter Andrikidis
Manufacturer: Mti Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MG2LP4
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Customer Reviews:

Harsh realities of transportation to Botany Bay.......2007-07-10

I could almost smell the stench in the ship's prisoners' hold. Romola Garai, the stunning beauty of Daniel Deronda, looks more natural here, smeared with muck and dressed in rags. Her character is a bit hard to believe (she'll do anything to survive, and pulls off amazing feats) and I wasn't always rooting for her. But better her than the horrible English officers. They were either uptight prudes who could severely whip a woman or ambitious snobs who could watch as prisoners get brutally raped. Some of the escape scenes were extremely tense, and the production values were good. I recommend this for those with strong stomachs and a love of historical drama.

outstanding.......2007-07-05

Truly amazing story done with realism and great acting. I would've given it 5 stars except for the incredibly graphic (and needless) depictions of sex acts.

Passionate film about one woman's journey to freedom!.......2007-05-18

This was a truly passionate film about one woman's journey to freedom: Mary Bryant, who was transported to a penal colony in Australia for stealing (just once) out of desperation & hunger. Mary Bryant, played superbly by Romola Garai, must do unthinkable things in order to survive the harsh world she now finds herself in. The action in this film is intense and rarely lets up...

Please be aware that the content of this film is an R: there is disturbing violence (including sexual violence), nudity, sex and more. This one was a bit of a hard one to watch, as the content was very strong and intense. However, Mary Bryant's story is quite moving, if you are willing to wade through the strong content. Her passion and will to live are truly inspiring.

Average customer rating:

Mary Reilly
What was the casting director thinking?!?
I can understand why this is not a Julia Roberts classic flick
A Twist on the Classic Horror Film
If negative stars were a rating option, I would use them

Mary Reilly
Starring: Julia Roberts , John Malkovich , George Cole , Michael Gambon , and Kathy Staff
Director: Stephen Frears
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004W4UB
Release Date: 2000-09-12

Amazon.com essential video

Stephen Frears reunites with the production talents who made the tempting Dangerous Liaisons for this new look at the infamous Dr. Jekyll (a deft John Malkovich). Instead of being in the laboratory where the good doctor unlocks his evil twin, we stay in the mansion overlooking the lab. An inquisitive, proper maid, Mary Reilly (Julia Roberts) slowly becomes Dr. Jekyll's confidant. Rather than a horror story, the film is a spooky mystery that keeps us in the dark, and what a wonderful dark Frears and his designers have fashioned. Roberts carries the movie, digging deep for her best dramatic work to date. Though some may wish she'd show more passion, she holds her emotions appropriately in check. The movie faced considerable, well-documented troubles, including the reshooting of several scenes months after the initial production. This probably affected the finale, which has little impact and nearly ruins a good thing. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Mary Reilly.......2007-08-23

Julia Roberts and John Malkovich were great together. It kept me on the toes through out the whole movie.

What was the casting director thinking?!?.......2007-07-13

I don't know why this movie got so many great reviews on here. The movie is not bad, but is certainly not good. However, what makes this movie really horrible is Julia Roberts. I am a HUGE Julia fan, but her performance in this movie is laughable. She can't hold a stead Irish accent-- at times she sounds like good old American Julia, and at other times, a VERY strong Irish accent comes out of her mouth, with no explanation for the sudden change. I believe this must have been a critical point in her career, at which point someone must have told her, "stick with what you do well... romantic comedies!"

I can understand why this is not a Julia Roberts classic flick.......2007-07-04

This is not the way America is accustomed to seeing Julia Roberts. She doesn't act here like she did with "Pretty Woman", "I Love Trouble", or for that matter: " America Sweethearts", "Sleeping With The Enemy", or "Hook". There's one thing missing that's in all the movies I mentioned, and that's Julia's laughter. That laugh of hers as far as I'm concerned has become her trademark. Actors and Actresses all have a trademark as far as I'm concerned. George Burns always and forever had a stogey in his mouth, Groucho Marx always with those wire-rimmed glasses, and Julia Roberts with her laugh. However, don't think because she doesn't laugh in this movie that means it isn't good, on the contrary this shows her ability to drop her Georgian accent, and trade it for an almost Irish accent, but it also shows her ability to act in crossover films which prepared her for an I believe an Oscar nomination for supporting actress for the film "Stepmom". The story line I will have to look into this further, and see if Robert Louis Stevenson had a character named Mary Reilly in his story "Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde". If it's not it's still a good suspensful flick.

A Twist on the Classic Horror Film.......2007-01-25

This movie has an interesting twist on the classic horror film. We are able to watch what transpires within the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from the view of a chambermaid's perspective. This chambermaid, Mary Reilly, is played quite well by Julia Roberts. Mary Reilly is a poor girl who had a horrible childhood and feels the safety of security brought about by working in the house of a rich and distinguished doctor. Of course unlike normal servants of the time, she is able to read and becomes very inquisitive about her masters business. Mr. John Malkovich does a perfect job of showing the ongoing conflict between good and evil contained within each of us in his portrayal of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. As the good doctor he is a kindly man of science. But as Mr. Hyde all his inhabitations are gone, as are his morals and conscience.

This film takes the horror film and turns into a film that keeps you suspended in the dark as you watch the mystery unfold for the chambermaid. The movie is not a true classic horror film or one of the modern films of gore. Do not expect to be frighten and do not be surprised when the audience seems to be the only ones that can see it is obvious that Dr. Jekyll is Mr. Hyde. Other then that, both leads give a satisfactory performance and the film is worth watching.

If negative stars were a rating option, I would use them.......2006-02-21

This movie had an interesting idea going for it in the beginning, but the bad acting, bad script, bad lighting, and horrible accents, killed it. I feel I lost brain cells just watching it. The only "scary" or "disturbing" part was Malkovich's face, which hardly ever changed into a believable expression. Robert's accent changed from scene to scene with upsetting regularity, which was extremely disappointing.
If the point of this movie was to show how "misunderstood" Jeckyl and Hyde may have been, it did a thoroughly awful job.
I would recommend a root canal over this movie, as it may be less painful.

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