Napoleon Dynamite

Amazon.com

As deadpan comedies go, Napoleon Dynamite stands in a class all its own. Played by John Heder, the title character is (in the words of critic Roger Ebert) "the kind of nerd other nerds avoid," a mouth-breathing dweeb with a mangy nest of orange hair, and ungainly features that suggest a perpetual state of half-conscious depression. He lives in Preston, Idaho (former home of 24-year-old director Jared Hess) with his thrill-seeking grandma and 32-year-old brother, and his days at high school consist mostly of being abused or ignored by indifferent classmates. Napoleon's sad-sack story doesn't offer the scathing, impassioned humor of Welcome to the Dollhouse because Hess (who cowrote the nearly plotless screenplay with his wife, Jerusha) doesn't have an angst-ridden axe to grind. Instead, the comedy (which exists in a tacky universe of worn-out rural suburbia) is so low-key that some will find it difficult to laugh, while others (i.e., those who feel superior to Napoleon) will have plenty of fun at Napoleon's expense. The result is a curiously uneven film, hilarious at times, but hampered by its own sense of affectionate mockery. An audience favorite at the Sundance film festival, Napoleon Dynamite may not be entirely lovable, but it's definitely unique. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Napoleon Dynamite is a new kind of hero, complete with a tight red 'fro, sweet moon boots, and skills that can't be topped. Napoleon spends his days drawing mythical beasts, duking it out with his brother, Kip, and avoiding his scheming Uncle Rico. When t

Customer Reviews:

Did I miss something?.......2007-09-15

There was alot of hype surrounding this movie but for what? I finally saw it after everyone was saying what a good funny movie it was. I thought it was corny and not really funny at all. You had a few dorky kids in high school that were outcasts and got picked on and singled out in class. Now is that funny? A lot of us experienced that in school and it's not funny when it's happening to you. Now I'm a laugher and a smiler, but this movie got very few laughs out of me. I didn't even finish the movie. I got bored with it.

The best thing about "Napoleon Dynamite" is its title.......2007-09-11

I did not know much about this independent comedy, until I saw it last weekend. I had heard that it was a surprise favorite at 2004 Sundance festival where it was met with non-stop laughing. Since I admire off-beat humor and am a big fan of a good comedy, I was ready to love or at least like "Napoleon Dynamite". I was sorely disappointed. The best and the funniest thing about "Napoleon Dynamite" (2004) is its title. By the title alone I expected the movie and its main character to be charismatic and brave as Napoleon I and explosive as dynamite or at least, unpredictable, fresh, and original. Guess what, it is none of the above. First and foremost, the movie is so boring, slow, and non-interesting that I could hardly manage to sit through it. Yes, I've read the comments that Napoleon, and his two equally sleep-walking friends, Pedro, the most impossible candidate for school president and Deb, the girl we should believe Napoleon might have a crush on and few more high school cliché characters are exactly like the regular students in a regular high school. Even if it is true and I hope that it is not always the case, I don't have to sympathize with the trio of walking zombies. ND and his friends are so bored and boring that their boredom becomes contagious - for me it was. I did not find anyone on the screen slightly interesting, leave alone sympathetic. Well, there was one exception, Napoleon's and his older brother Kip's, 32 years old Internet chat rooms addict's grandmother who was injured in a dune buggy accident (that sounded interesting or at least promising) and taken from the screen after the first fifteen minutes. She was lucky - she did not have to endure the presence of her complete idiot-nephew Rico, the ex-jock of the 1982, a door-to-door salesman, whose adventures or projects did not contribute a single funny scene or even a joke to this sophomoric excuse for a movie.

While trying not to fall asleep, I was thinking of the others, more successful and much better first movies that might have been the inspiration for ND. Wes Anderson's debut, "Bottle Rocket" (1996) even if not a masterpiece is often hilarious and always original. Todd Solondz's first feature which explores the similar subject, "Welcome to the Dollhouse" (1995) is a terrific film - brave, and passionate - real dynamite. Napoleon Dynamite" is simply forgettable.

Not Just Anoher Teen Nerd Story, This Is Both Original & Very Funny.......2007-09-05

If you like dry or dark humor, you should get a big kick out of this movie. I know I did. If you are between 12-20 you might even like it more because this deals with high school kids primarily. However, there are some adults in here who play key roles, too.

The teens and the adults have a couple of things in common: they are nerds and weird people and they are ALL hilarious. They also are unlike a cast of characters you have seen in any other movie. In other words, this movie is an "original."

I didn't know any of these actors and I think that helped. It made it even more original, looking at new faces. That begins with the title character, played by Jon Heder. A white kid in Idaho with a afro haircut, over-sized glasses, moon boots and an unpredictable and low-key personality unlike anyone I've ever seen in other films. Even though he's pictured as a huge nerd, he surprises you all the time. Just when you think you have this kid figured out, he does something unexpected. Whatever, he's fun to watch and hear throughout the movie.

Suffice to say "Napoleon" and about everyone in this film is totally whacked and all of them - male, female, young, old, good and bad people are extremely entertaining. A lot of the humor is visual, meaning the looks and reactions on these character's faces and the weird deadpan lines they deliver. Are there stereotypes in here? Yes, like the bimbo, prettiest girl in school running for class president , and her stupid, macho boyfriend, but most of the people were pretty unique.

If you like absurd humor, this is your cup of tea, and you don't have to be a teen to enjoy this. Hey, I'm old enough to be Napoleon's grandfather and I laughed my butt off from the beginning to the end of this unconventional film.

Sweet.......2007-09-03

One of those movies you can watch over and over again and it makes you feel better. Fairly clean humor too.

Complete waste of time.......2007-08-30

I watched the first fifteen minutes of this movie and turned it off. I found it to be boring and completely unfunny. The characters were unappealing. I enjoy a movie with characters I can admire or relate to, or who are intriguing. There is nothing admirable or intriguing about this collection of uninspired, flat characters. This movie appeals to our impulse toward self-loathing. We relate to the characters because they reflect the ugliest parts of our self-image. This is true in many popular comedies. The characters of Will Farrell and Ben Stiller aren't clever or inventive or even just plain bizarre. They are simply degraded images of humanity. Give me Super Troopers, where the characters are silly but at least they have self respect. Give me Shaun of the Dead, where again, the characters are silly, but they have humanity and love for each other. The characters of Napoleon Dynamite are portrayed as a collection of turd scraped off the bottom of your shoe. It isn't funny. It's disrespectful and almost blasphemous. We should be better than to think this movie is funny.

Average customer rating:

This was outrageous!
Can I give it 6 Stars?
SANDLER AND BARRYMORE HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE LIKABLE!
A nice day for a white wedding...
This is really really Sandler and Barrymore

The Wedding Singer
Starring: Adam Sandler , Drew Barrymore , Christine Taylor , Allen Covert , and Matthew Glave
Director: Frank Coraci
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
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ASIN: 0780622588
Release Date: 1998-08-25

Amazon.com

You're better off having been born after, say, 1965, if you really want to enjoy this corny romantic comedy and its abundant references to the MTV culture of the mid-1980s--and even then the odds are only 50-50 that you'll have a shamelessly good time. But a lot of people beat those odds, because The Wedding Singer was a surprise box-office hit when released in early 1998, and it resulted in Saturday Night Live graduate Adam Sandler's salary going ridiculously sky-high. It's a schizophrenic film about a seemingly schizophrenic wedding singer (Sandler) who's charmingly sweet to some people but a tongue-lashing maniac to others, probably out of frustration over his fading ambition as a wannabe rock star (not to mention Sandler's penchant for loud-mouthed lunacy). When he meets an admiring young waitress (delightfully played by Drew Barrymore), it's love at first sight, complicated by their pending marriages to much less appealing fiancés. The plot then contorts itself to accommodate this contrived will-they-or-won't-they? scenario, so you're better off ignoring the love story and focusing on the comedy, which is sporadic but occasionally hilarious. This is also a lighter, friendlier Sandler than moviegoers had seen before, which probably accounts for the movie's success. Toss in a fine supporting cast--including a show-stopping drunk act by indie-movie stalwart Steve Buscemi--and you've got the ingredients for a no-brainer that's ultimately more fun than it is annoying. --Jeff Shannon

Description

It's 1985 and Adam Sandler is the ultimate master of ceremonies...until he is left at the altar at his own wedding. He starts to pick up the pieces of his heart after meeting Drew Barrymore but she's about to have a wedding of her own.

DVD Features:
Interactive Menus
Music Video
Photo gallery
Production Notes

Customer Reviews:

This was outrageous!.......2007-08-12

I just need to say that this movie was so funny. Adam Sandler was at his best, showing off how funny he can truly be. In all of Adam Sandler's movies that are comedies, it is usually pretty funny, but this just totally redefined funny. It is about a 35 year-old wedding singer named Robby Hart who has to deal with being left at the alter by his wild, bitchy wife. This new addition adds some really funny new footage to a totally funny movie. I definitely reccomend it.

Can I give it 6 Stars?.......2007-08-08

An exceptional romantic comedy, The Wedding Singer, brings to the screen the story of a down-on-his-luck wedding singer who following being stood up at the alter believes he will never experience true love. That's all going to change when a girl he works with asks for his help in planning her own wedding...
Aside from all the humor (and it is endless...), The Wedding Singer is a film about human relations, hope and second chances.
Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Steve Buscemi, Billy Idol (!), and the rest of the cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows (the chemistry is AMAZING)! Very well written and very well presented, it allows for a highly entertaining movie that can be watched over and over again! The film is simple enough, but does a great job of describing people's every day lives and the problems they face. It just goes to show that simplicity is often far better than complexity, when trying to present issues of a human nature.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, the GREAT 80's music (!!!), and the HUMOR (!) are all wonderful!
In short, The Wedding Singer is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection! BRING ON THE SEQUEL!

SANDLER AND BARRYMORE HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE LIKABLE!.......2007-08-05

After Billy Madison & Happy Gilmore it was nice to see Adam Sandler play a character who was likable. Robbie Heart is a rock cover band singer turned wedding singer and longs to be married and have a family of his own. The film is set in the 80's with hilarious results! The music and hairdos alone are enough to make this film watchable, but the it's the chemistry between the two stars that make this a extremely good romantic comedy! One of Sandlers best if not the best. The DVD transfer is very good.

A nice day for a white wedding..........2007-07-27

This is a typical Adam Sandler movie--full of laughs and entertainment. If you like revisiting the 80s with the music--Boy George, Billy Idol and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, you'll enjoy this. Adam plays a wedding singer that was stood up at the altar. Drew Barrymore play a waitress that is about to marry a "Miami Vice" wannabe. As you may have guessed the two realize they were meant for each other and the rest is pure good entertainment. It was fun to reminisce about those 80s. I'm a wedding photographer and I must say the kind of gigs the wedding singer did and the people he encountered, were so typical and realistic--especially table 9! Anyways, not the most technically perfect movie, but full of good Adam Sandler comedy. I had to watch this movie again. I laugh a lot everytime I see it...

This is really really Sandler and Barrymore.......2007-07-24

I love this movie , and they acted so ( damn ) good ; how we realize that every man so easyly become someone not him , as long as he could attract the girl that he like . Anyway, the music is could , i wish i could find you spin me round from extras , but i get ( again ???? ) do you really want to hurt me . But , the best part of this movies is.....(it's nice ) to grow old with you.....i dedicated that tags to my sons

Average customer rating:

Can-Can
Can Can movie
bad flickering and colour shift
Sinatra And MacClaine Seasoned by Chevalier - French Cooking At It's Most Manifique!!!
Musical for your collection?

Can-Can
Starring: Frank Sinatra , Shirley MacLaine , Maurice Chevalier , Louis Jourdan , and Juliet Prowse
Director: Walter Lang
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000ND91YU
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

How to adapt a Broadway musical for the movies? Well, if you've got Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine signed up, you throw out most of the original and make up something new--which is how Cole Porter's Can-Can came to the screen. It had been a smash on Broadway, and on film Can-Can locked up the #2 box-office spot for 1960 (nestled between Ben-Hur and Psycho). From a modern standpoint, the movie's popularity can be attributed to the stars, the colorful widescreen production, the sexy subject matter, and of course the Porter songs. It can't really be explained any other way, because Can-Can isn't among the most engaging movie musicals; it has the stolid, proscenium-framed look of Fox's 1950s widescreen musicals, and the story is only mildly diverting. The saturated color makes 19th-century Montmarte come to life, and the can-can numbers (and the wonderfully daft Garden of Eden ballet) look appropriately splashy. For a bit of authentic Gallic je ne sais quoi, Maurice Chevalier and Louis Jourdan are imported from Gigi, a big hit two years earlier. MacLaine and Sinatra have their cozy chemistry ("Let's Do It" fares especially well with them), and the movie marks the film debut of the dimply dancer Juliet Prowse.

The DVD provides a gorgeous color presentation of the movie. A second disc has some OK featurettes, including a making-of documentary that includes the famous story of Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev's visit to the set of Can-Can, at which he witnessed an ooh-la-la can-can number, after which he denounced the proceedings as an example of Western depravity. --Robert Horton

Description

A 1890's Montmartre Dance Hall Owner Constantly Raided For Performing The Illegal Can-Can Has To Use Her Own Resources When An Elderly Judge Is Replaced By A Younger More Serious One. Based On Abe Burrow'S Play. Music By Cole Porter.

Customer Reviews:

Can-Can.......2007-09-04

It was great to see this film again. My old VHS never looked this good. They did a great job with the remastering. I would recommend this to anyone who likes great music, dancing and Frank Sinatra.

Can Can movie.......2007-08-18

Very nice but of course I miss the 70m/m screen of a real life theater

bad flickering and colour shift.......2007-08-05

Although Fox have a nice sharp print,of Can Can,its somewhat spoiled by a bad flickering in certain parts and the color shift from the left hand side to the right hand side of the screen is bad

And this is on most parts of the film,like a public domain transfer.
Another botch up like Oklahoma,The Todd AO Version.

Great film though.

Sinatra And MacClaine Seasoned by Chevalier - French Cooking At It's Most Manifique!!!.......2007-07-29

An apt release in the year when Putin has subtlely began the Russian Sabre Rattling of old again. The movie lacks a plausible plot but the memories it evokes for the post-war baby boomers is anything but plotless. Like a Latrec painting it gaudily delights in it's own excesses and joys, both visual and visceral that it projects upon its audience Ah, the news stories from the set. Sinatra's temper tantrums. Shirley's peacemaking. Chevalier's Gaelic charm smoothing everthing over, and that was behind the scenes!!! Culminating in the famous visit by Nikita Krushchev, the then reigning Russian leader who uses the occasion to point out the moral decline in western civilization. This movie was the flagship that sailed America into the perilous waters of the swinging sixties. And as if we haven't seen enough reminders lately that celebrity has gone full circle with the woes of Paris Hilton. One of her relatives by marriage is Zsa Zsa Gabor, also mostly famous for being famous, and she has one of her few legitimate roles in this film! Cole Porter's tunes. The color. The Dancing. It all shines in your eye like a penny on the pavement. Bend over, pick it up. You might get lucky!

Musical for your collection?.......2007-07-20

CAN-CAN

This is a home cinema experience, and one fo my collection!
The care taken to produce this disc is exemplary.
Thoroughly recommended!

Napoleon Dynamite - Like, the Best Special Edition Ever!

Average customer rating:

Did I miss something?
The best thing about "Napoleon Dynamite" is its title
Not Just Anoher Teen Nerd Story, This Is Both Original & Very Funny
Sweet
Complete waste of time

Napoleon Dynamite - Like, the Best Special Edition Ever!
Starring: Jon Heder , Efren Ramirez , Jon Gries , Aaron Ruell , and Diedrich Bader
Director: Jared Hess
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: B000EHSVQE
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Did I miss something?.......2007-09-15

The best thing about "Napoleon Dynamite" is its title.......2007-09-11

Not Just Anoher Teen Nerd Story, This Is Both Original & Very Funny.......2007-09-05

Sweet.......2007-09-03

One of those movies you can watch over and over again and it makes you feel better. Fairly clean humor too.

Complete waste of time.......2007-08-30

Average customer rating:

What a waste...
get drunk and watch it
I didn't know Jenny could be funny!
Jenny McCarthy & Dirty Love
very, very funny , a must get for your collection!!

Dirty Love (Unrated Edition)
Starring: Jenny McCarthy , Eddie Kaye Thomas , Carmen Electra , Victor Webster , and Kam Heskin
Director: John Mallory Asher
Manufacturer: First Look Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000BFO064
Release Date: 2005-12-06

Customer Reviews:

What a waste..........2007-07-18

Luckily I bought this movie used, because if I'd paid full price for it, I would still be kicking myself.
Jenny McCarthy (whom I usually love) was WAY over the top in this one. The tears, the wailing - it's almost unbearable. The characters aren't very believable (I'm mainly talking about Carmen Electra here). And Eddie Kaye Thomas, as adorable as he is, landing Jenny McCarthy? Puh-leez. I was bored, and couldn't even muster a giggle during this movie.
I give this one two thumbs down.

get drunk and watch it.......2007-07-10

this is another so bad it's good type. really not the best movie, some scenes will make you want to hurl, but if you don't take it, or yourself, too seriously, it's definately worth getting drunk and watching it with friends. get gigli, too, and make it a horrible double feature!

I didn't know Jenny could be funny!.......2007-06-07

Where in the world is Jenny McCarthy?

I have to admit that when Jenny was having her "15 minutes of fame", I wasn't really fond of her. I'd flick on another channel. I mean, really, Jenny McCarthy...please!

However, I was bored and had nothing to do so I watched *Dirty Love*. It was surprisingly funny. It was more like "I can't believe that just happened" funny. But still, funny is funny.

Rebecca (McCarthy) thought she had discovered her "the one" for love and life. That was until she busted her boyfriend banging some gal in their bedroom. Knowing that her (ex-)boyfriend gets easily jealous, Rebecca is set on revenge to make her ex-boyfriend see her surrounded by men. The problem is that none of her plans go well and thus, resulting in Rebecca being humiliated.

Surprisingly, Jenny McCarthy wrote the script for the film. So, this is jokes galore. Expect to laugh at some cheesy slapstick and jokes, whether they'd be on sex, drugs, periods and whatnots.

Keep in mind that this is a cheap production so lower your expectations. If you do that, then you'll do fine with some laughters.

Jenny McCarthy & Dirty Love.......2007-05-17

This movie has become one of my favorites. I adore Jenny McCarthy. She is beautiful, sexy, and one of the funniest women in film today.

If you haven't seen this movie, do yourself a favor and watch it. As long as you aren't easily offended. The humor is very adult oriented, but I like movies like this. I laughed the whole way through. Except for a couple of times, when she tugged at my heart strings and made me cry. I can only hope that Jenny does more movies like this. I would buy them as soon as they were available.

I honestly watched this movies about 7 times in a 3 day period. It was playing on the movie channels, and I watched it EVERY time that it was on, until finally I bought it for myself. And yes, I have watched it again since purchasing it.

If you like slapstick comedy, sarcasm, smartass comedy, then you will love this movie, with the totally smoking hot Jenny McCarthy, Carmen Electra and a host of other hot girls.

Let's just hope that she makes another movie soon.

very, very funny , a must get for your collection!!.......2007-04-07

I recently saw this film and laughed my tail off. some very odd scenes but hysterical. McCarthy is actually a pretty cool , funny , and interesting chick after seeing her on some talk shows and interviews. I dont rememember trailers or this movie coming out in the theatre, but from beginning to end we laughed , and if you saw (little man) you know what im pointing out , what a joke----should have just recorded the trailers on tivo and save myself two hours.

Average customer rating:

The Education of a Young Man
How to make Thatcher interesting
Horrible
It's a beaute
A wonderful adaption of the prize-winning novel

The Line of Beauty
Starring: Dan Stevens (IV) , Tim McInnerny , Alice Krige , Kenneth Cranham , and Barbara Flynn
Director: Saul Dibb
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
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ASIN: B000GIXLX4
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Amazon.com

Isn't it ironic that Nick Guest (Dan Stevens), the protagonist in the BBC's miniseries, A Line of Beauty, is a Henry James scholar at university before being inducted into the fast-paced, sexy world of upper class British society? Director Saul Dibb has transformed this politically scandalous story, based on the Alan Hollinghurst novel, into a juicy, three-part series set in 1986/87 that pits decadence against the heartbreak and crash that often follows it. A Line of Beauty follows Guest, an aspiring politician, who happily accepts an invitation to live and work for a friend's family headed by famous Conservative, Gerald Fedden (Tim McInnerny), under the condition that Guest watch their mentally unstable daughter, Cat (Hayley Atwell). Upon discovering that Nick's gay, Cat and Nick become best friends. Plots complicate to keep Nick's sexuality under wraps, as the viewer glimpses fancy debauched parties, major drug use (the show is named after a line of cocaine), and explicit sexual escapades. Soundtracked by great '80s bands like Duran Duran and New Order, the show's hip coolness counterbalances Guest's ultimate tragic fall, following the onset of AIDS. A story that at once assesses the British political corruption, sexual discrimination, and '80s fashion, A Line of Beauty offers soap opera-like entertainment along with conceptual substance. --Trinie Dalton

Description

Adapted by award-winning writer Andrew Davies from Alan Hollinghurst's Booker Prize-winning novel, this three-part saga is set during the Thatcherite 1980s. A story of love, class, sex and money, The Line of Beauty crawls deep under the skin of Thatcher's Britain, seen through the eyes and experiences of a young, gay man, from the euphoria of falling in love to the tragedy of AIDS. Framed by the two general elections which returned Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative government to power, the series unfurls through four extraordinary years of change and tragedy.

Customer Reviews:

The Education of a Young Man.......2007-05-11

Based on Alan Hollinghurst's novel by the same name that won the 2004 Booker Prize, this film, a BBC miniseries, does not stray much from the original story and complements it. Nick Guest, who is aptly named, (Dan Stevens) moves, at the urging of his straight friend from Oxford, Toby, into the lush Nottingham home of Toby's family consisting of Gerald Fedden (Tim McInnerny), a Tory MP in Margaret Thatcher's government; his crazed daughter Catherine; and his wife. The action takes place in 1983, 1986 and 1987. Nick meets and falls for Leo (Dan Gilet) early in the first part. Leo has disappeared in the second hour, and Nick, a Henry James scholar, has pretty much given up James for the exotic Lebanese Wani Duradi who introduces him to coke (the line of beauty) and decadent sexual encounters. Both Fedden and Nick's worlds come crashing down ("The End of the Street") in 1987.

The film is about class and corruption. While Nick certainly has his flaws, he redeems himself, at least in part, by accepting the consequences of his actions. Catherine, a strange young woman, is the moral center of the film.

One question I had about both the film and the book: while I am not a close student of the life of Margaret Thatcher, I cannot see her shaking it up and dancing with the coked-out Nick at a party. She certainly would have been one of those celebrities who would have refused to jump for the photographer Philippe Halsman.

A film well worth watching more than once.

How to make Thatcher interesting.......2007-03-26

This movie was a gentle- though cynical tale of life in Thatcher's England. A young gay man ends up living with his friend's family, who are upper class and politically conservative. Most of the episodes are spent ambling through some interesting observations of the double life the main character leads- on the one hand being the people pleasing toady of the family and on the other a gay man exploring sex, drugs and the AIDS phenomenon of the 80's.
The best scene is where our hero asks Madam Thatcher [referred to as The Lady] to dance at a party and she accepts. From there on it is all down hill. The ending is really sad and gloomy, but if that doesn't bother you, it is worth a look.

Horrible.......2007-03-20

Horrible. I don't think I should even need to go on. Do not buy this terrible movie. Bad. very bad.

It's a beaute.......2007-03-09

I bought this movie because I was looking to culture myself a little bit and based my purchase off the other reviews. They were right about it being a good movie. I can't say too much without giving the plot away, but it won't fail you. PS It's not the best movie in the world, but it's a good watch.

A wonderful adaption of the prize-winning novel.......2007-02-24

This 3 hour, 3 part series is a fantastic adaptation of Alan Hollinghurst's prize-winnging novel. The acting is superb and the plot will keep you glued to the TV! Beautifully filmed and highly enjoyable.

Average customer rating:

A classic
"Into the Night"
Into the Night
It's been forgotten for a reason.
I loved this movie

Into the Night
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer , Jeff Goldblum , Stacey Pickren , Carmen Argenziano , and Dan Aykroyd
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005JM8W
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Product Description

When two strangers stumble into international intrigue in the middle of a Los Angeles night, anything can happen and does, in this zany comedy directed by John Landis.

Ed Orkin (Jeff Goldblum) is an insomniac with a cheating wife and a dull job. His chances for excitement look hopeless until a mysterious blond named Diana (Michelle Pfeiffer) drops onto the hood of his car. Now it s Ed s turn for some adventure and romance as Diana leads him on a merry and murderous chase where the payoff could be dollars or death.

The outstanding cast includes David Bowie, Vera Miles, Dan Aykroyd and a host of Hollywood s hottest directors in cameos. It s a night on the town you ll never live down.

System Requirements:

Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Pfeiffer, Richard Farnsworth

Directed by John Landis

Running time: 1 Hour 55 Minutes

Amazon.com essential video

While caught up in the scandal resulting from the accident on the set of The Twilight Zone movie that killed actor Vic Morrow and two children, director John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) made this manic nighttime L.A. thriller with rising stars Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer. Goldblum plays an office worker with a dead-end job, an unfaithful wife, and a bad, bad case of insomnia. Unable to sleep, his midnight wanderings take him to the L.A. airport, where beautiful jewel smuggler Pfeiffer literally lands on his car. Fleeing Iranian terrorists (one is played by Landis), the two hit the road, and their adventures lead them to murder, mayhem, one scary hit man (David Bowie in a lurid, terrific cameo), and, of course, romance. Perhaps because of--or in spite of--the turmoil going on in his life, Landis fashioned a film unlike any of his previous (or later) safe Hollywood products; this is inventive, darkly comic, sincerely romantic, and L.A.-style sultry all the way. Landis's greatest success is perhaps in the mood of the film: he manages to convey that weary, dreamlike insomnia feeling of adrenaline bordering on exhaustion. Goldblum is at his deadpan best and, despite a bad haircut and '80s wardrobe, Pfeiffer shows the spark and beauty that would later make her a star. In support of Landis during his time of trouble, numerous directors, including David Cronenberg, Paul Mazursky, Don Siegel, Jonathan Demme, Lawrence Kasdan, and Jim Henson, made cameo appearances. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

A classic.......2007-07-24

What blew me away when I first saw this film was Jeff Goldblum's interpretation of an engineer. It was just so on. Matter of factly taking apart that his wife was cheating on him ... then running into this creature who in "real life" would never give him the time of day and calmly rolling through things already wildly out of control so they don't go any more crazy than they have to. David Bowie as the undercover rubbing shoulders with him in the middle of the night trying to figure out who the heck he's up against. It is a great joy to finally have this classic on DVD.

"Into the Night".......2006-11-11

I owned this film on VHS for years, and when it mysteriously disappeared I ordered it on DVD. It's a sort of cult film with an amazing array of cameos and is one of my favorites. It's quite violent in spots, but I like the story, and Michelle Pfeiffer and Jeff Goldblum are excellent. I loved the ending, which I won't spoil for you. Simply put, if you like a good suspenseful yarn with a lot of action, you'll love it, too.

Into the Night.......2006-07-26

This is one of Jeff Goldblum's first movies and raising star Michelle Pfeifer's best rolls. Jeff's roll is about a husband in a marriage on the rocks, and this drives him to being an insomniac as he discovers his wife is cheating on him, which almost costs him his aerospace engineering job. After passing one sleepless night, he decides he will find a place to park and get a few winks. He meanders around LA, winding up at LA International Airport blurry-eyed and almost falling asleep. He parks in a parking structure, sure he can now get a little sleep, when out of the elevator door walks Michelle Pfieffer and her Persian boyfriend. Suddenly a car pulls up and three men get out. They kill the boyfriend and are going to kidnap Michelle when she gets away from them and runs directly into Jeff's car, who is stunned, awakened by her screaming at him to get her out of here. The action is fast as the plot unfolds and the twists and turns never stop. Many co-stars make this an intriguing movie worthy of a place in your library. Directed by John Landis, this movie is R rated for good reason. If you ask me if I love this flick, or what, I'd would probably say "or what".

It's been forgotten for a reason........2005-09-10

This film is painfully outdated -- and it was never good to begin with. I suppose you would have to call this a "romantic thriller comedy." And it fails on every one of these fronts. The thriller portion is preposterous, nothing but a convoluted story from a 60s TV show. It's not particularly funny either -- oh, but it tries to be. The romance portion probably comes across the best, but this is only because of the excellent actors in the leads.

No, what "Into the Night" has going for it is a quirky, unique premise that it never delivers on. Landis seems more concerned with jamming the scenes with pointless cameos and in-jokes. This film, which could have been regarded as an underground classic, has none of the substance to garner such praise. And it does not receive it. "After Hours", which came out the same year, is vastly superior.

The best thing about "Into the night" is watching a young, gorgeous, pre-Catwoman Michelle Pfeiffer, some LA landmarks that have since been demolished (Ships diner) -- and the original one-sheet poster is very, very cool.

I loved this movie.......2005-03-19

Back when this movie came out on VHS I use to watch it over and over again. Both the stars are wonderful. It is about a guy who can not sleep and so he goes out and ends up finding himself in a little mini adventure with a very attractive women. She has a older boyfriend that was sick, there was a secret passage way, and a elvis impersonater in there somewhere. Then an appearance from Jake who use to sell exercise equipment on late night TV. Then there were some bad guys in there chasing them. It was a fun movie and I really enjoyed it. Both Michelle and Jeff went on to make other good movies after this one.

Average customer rating:

So bad it's good
Very enjoyable adoption of a lesser play...
LOVE'S LABOURS ARE NOT LOST
The least of Branagh's Shakespeare offerings.
Good Idea, Poor Execution

Love's Labour's Lost
Starring: Alfred Bell , Richard Briers , Richard Clifford , Carmen Ejogo , and Daisy Gough
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00004Z4WW
Release Date: 2000-12-19

Amazon.com

Having taken Shakespeare at his word on Hamlet (i.e., not cutting a single syllable out of a very long play), Kenneth Branagh selects a more radical approach with Love's Labour's Lost. Here the prolific director-star weeds out much of the play's dialogue and adds songs and dances of a decidedly modern bent. The King of Navarre (Alessandro Nivola, Nicolas Cage's wacko brother in Face/Off) and his three comrades (Branagh, Matthew Lillard, Adrian Lester) take a vow: no womanly distractions while they pursue their studies. Ah, but at that very moment, floating down a magical studio-built river, is the queen of France (Alicia Silverstone), accompanied by three ladies-in-waiting. You do the math. Branagh has set the tale on the eve of the Second World War, which allows for the inclusion of vintage pop songs, including "Cheek to Cheek," "The Way You Look Tonight," and a rousing chorus of "There's No Business Like Show Business," led by--who else?--Nathan Lane. The fact that most of the cast members are not accomplished song-and-dance folk is clearly meant to charm, but the results are spotty at best. Perhaps the most dynamic performer is Natascha McElhone (memorable from Ronin), whose aristocratic bearing and bottomless eyes lend a gravity to the material that is otherwise absent from Branagh's twinkly staging. The play contains some of Shakespeare's loveliest paeans to the language of love, yet Branagh seems to be in a hurry to juice everything up lest the audience lose interest. The labor shows. --Robert Horton

Description

With Kenneth Branagh (WILD WILD WEST, CELEBRITY), Alicia Silverstone (BLAST FROM THE PAST), and Nathan Lane (AT FIRST SIGHT, MOUSE HUNT) leading a stellar ensemble cast, Stanley Donen and Martin Scorsese present a sexy, glamorous, and fun 1930's-style musical that's earned terrific critical acclaim! The King of Navare (Alessandro Nivola -- MANSFIELD PARK, FACE/OFF) and his three best friends think that they've sworn off love in the pursuit of intellectual enlightenment. But when the Princess of France (Silverstone) and her beautiful attendants arrive for a diplomatic visit, their high-minded plans are turned completely upside down! Then, as war rages and secret passions burn, loyalty and devotion are tested like never before! Also featuring hilarious Matthew Lillard (SHE'S ALL THAT, SCREAM) and the classic songs of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, and more -- go back in time and allow yourself to be swept away by this wonderfully entertaining motion picture treat!

Customer Reviews:

So bad it's good.......2007-04-17

Taken by its parts, this film has very little to recommend it. The decision to cast a musical with actors who can neither sing nor dance is daring to say the least. Dropping a Shakespearean comedy into a 30s-homage is questionable.

However, I do LOVE this movie. It reaches that very precious stage of bad where it really starts to work. The colors, the filming...bad dancing and poor singing...it feels like this world Branagh has thrown together is teetering on a precipice waiting to fall (which, in fact, it is). It's bad in all the right ways for a rainy, saturday afternoon.

If you are looking for a serious WS-rendition, try Henry V or Hamlet (if it ever comes out on dvd). If you are looking for a well-executed comedy try Much Ado, but if you are looking for something different just for the guilty pleasure of it, give Loves Labours a go.

Very enjoyable adoption of a lesser play..........2007-01-16

I've always considered LLL a "lesser" Shakespeare play. Four hours of archaic puns is something I've only been able to sit entirely through once at the theater, despite the company's strong performance. This adoption makes the play "work." By cleverly using simulated newsreel footage to speed the story along, and interspersing the music of Cole Porter and others, this version of LLL salvages the best aspects of the play.

LOVE'S LABOURS ARE NOT LOST.......2006-11-01

I do not understand why this film has been so underrated. Whatever its flaws are (e.g. Silverston's acting and Branagh's singing) I think that they are largely compensated by the enthusiasm and love that actors and director have put in making this film. I really loved it in spite of the fact that I am not a fan of Branagh at all. The last minutes are really moving and beautiful, they convey a sort of nostalgic feeling that seems to pervade the whole film but that is more evident at the final scenes.

The least of Branagh's Shakespeare offerings........2006-09-15

I'm really of two (or three) minds about this film. LLL is a great play. I would have prefered a straight-forward movie keeping the text intact. With the failure of this movie at the box office and critically, it's unlikely I'll ever see a cinematic return to this play in my lifetime. (I am aware of the BBC version from 1985, but that is quite cut up, too.)

That said, I do enjoy this movie for what it is. The women are beautiful (especially Natascha McElhone). Timothy Spall is a great Armado, even if his part is hacked to pieces. Branagh's handling of the scene where the men are overheard professing their loves (4.3) is excellent. The deleted scene of the Nine Worthies is quite good, and would have been a much better choice for the film proper than that goddawful "There's No Business Like Show Business" number.

Which brings me to the songs and the dancing. I really enjoyed "I Won't Dance" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me," but most of the other performances just weren't as good. Not good enough to justify the cutting of Armado's part! The familiarity of the songs didn't really help it, either. New songs in the style of Gershwin would have been a nice, albeit more difficult, choice.

So, all in all, I'm glad I bought it. I'll watch it here and there, but I'm glad I have the (unabridged) Arkangel Audio tape to turn to when I need a shot of Love's Labour's Lost. Which I need more often than you might think.

Good Idea, Poor Execution.......2006-06-02

I really love Branagh's idea of turning "Love's Labor's Lost" into a musical, but it just wasn't that good. Every Branagh production has an "ouch" casting, and this time it was Alicia Silverstone, though not as bad as Keaneau Reeve's "Don John," she made a much better "Clueless" teenager, as she seemed uncomfortable with the language. Second, I think the biggest thing that detracted from this production was actually the way it was filmed. Everytime there was a big musical number, he pulled the camera back. I know this was harkening back to thirties productions, but the lack of solid coreography, and poorly skilled dancers made those on screen seem insignificant, and took away from the immediacy of the action. Additionally some of the song choices just didn't fit, though Lane's "Show Business" was brilliant. Overall, it is an average show, and would have to point people toward "Much Ado" first before they delve into this one.

Bizet - Carmen / Levine, Baltsa, Carreras, Metropolitan Opera

Average customer rating:

The star 'Jose'
Excellent Voices... BUT
Carreras shines in "Carmen"
Carreras and Baltsa are stealing the show
Overall, its good.

Bizet - Carmen / Levine, Baltsa, Carreras, Metropolitan Opera
Starring: Agnes Baltsa , Josep Carreras , Samuel Ramey , Leona Mitchell , and Myra Merritt
Director: Brian Large
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000050X2Y
Release Date: 2000-12-12

Customer Reviews:

The star 'Jose'.......2007-04-18

This MET production in 1987 is in many ways illustrious: two top opera stars in the lead roles, big staging and festive choruses plus good dancers.
Agnes Baltsa shined vocally here, but really, Carmen is a bit of a stretch for her in 1987 visually.
I have heard Samuel Ramey elsewhere, and must say that his Escamillo is somewhat mediocre in this production. His two big arias lacked charisma, especially when you have Jose Carreras as Don Jose. It would be difficult to convince the audience that this toreador is the man that Carmen would prefer over Don Jose!
Jose Carreras is in his absolute prime here - big arias sweetly sung, physically convincing, ardent in acting (he is not consistently passionate elsewhere). Most of all, he has the right characterisation for this weak-minded Don Jose. Rather than ranking him behind Domingo in this role, I would rather opt Carreras as the best Don Jose of his era.

Excellent Voices... BUT.......2007-02-09

If you are looking for a version with excellent voices, this is it!!!
If you are looking for a great "theatrical" production, this is it!!!

BUT I must say that I found a terrible issue in this version: Carmen (Baltsa) and Escamillo (Ramey) were not Carmen and Escamillo.

CARMEN, as far as I understand these character... she must be sensual, sexy, seductive, graceful, not rigid but loose while dancing, surrounding with its charisma, mysterious and at the same time cold, jealous and interested. Carmen must astonish like a gypsy. Baltsa was never Sensual nor graceful. Yes, she has an EXTRAORDINARY volcal interpretation... and musically is just perfect... that's Puccinis and the actual conductor work. But I never saw Carmen. You must fall in love with Carmen even though you know that that love is going to take you to the perdition. She must HYPNOTIZE us... but Baltza couldn't do it.... it's a shame. I saw a Carmen so rigid and so plain... that even though she sings excellent... I missed Carmen.

ESCAMILLO, Oh my God!!!... the male version of these Carmen. Where is that charming "Toreador"?... he never showed up. ESCAMILLO must be charming, elegant and seductive. Ramey was just somene there singing with no Toreador feeling.

DON JOSE and MICHAELLA... Oh Yes!... great performances, great voices,great actor skills, great feelings of their character. Excellent Excellent Excellent!!!

Musically, these version of Carmen is GREAT... but... "Where is Carmen and Escamillo"?...

Carreras shines in "Carmen".......2006-03-14

If you are relatively new to opera as I am, Baltsa's performance of Carmen may have to grow on you - as it did on me - but you'll have no trouble admiring and appreciating Carreras' Don Jose character right away. (The role is one of his specialties.) Back to Baltsa: You'll have to get over her physical apperance -Carmen is supposed to be 17!- as a temptress
and then you will enjoy her portrayal. Magnificent voice!
Samuel Ramey is dripping with confidence as Escamillo, the bullfighter, and his voice is really nice.
Leona Mitchell's voice is less than perfect in this live performance, but it is a voice I would be greatful to own.
She is a sweet Micaela, (The girl who loves Don Jose) and is rather convincing in her big aria in act 3.
There is a wonderful supporting cast, although some of the older women in the Met chorus will gross you out in their 'cigarette-girl' costumes in Act 1!
And now what the Carreras fans are waiting for: How was Carreras in this performance? It would take an entire book of positive adjectives to describe his stellar, passionate performance. Here you will find a great artist -in real life on the brink of being diagnosed with leukemia- singing his heart and soul out with fire, urgency, and love. He puts everything into this role and the audience -you & I- are richly rewarded!
Conclusion: Don't miss this one!!!

Carreras and Baltsa are stealing the show.......2005-09-16

At first I have to say that a lot of operas often happen to have a wonderful tenor and a really bad soprano or vice versa. This is absolutely not the case here. Both mezzo soprano Agnes Baltsa and tenor José Carreras are doing a brilliant job with both their singing and acting. I think they both have a stage presence that very few can beat. Agnes Baltsa possesses a crystal clear voice, but she can also belt if that's what it takes to make the final outcome more believable. José Carreras' voice contains so much beauty; it's full of emotions, sensual and with that irresistible hint of honey. Like Baltsa he can also sacrifize beauty to enhance his performance.

Agnes Baltsa is just so sensual as Carmen it's no wonder Don José is powerless against her. I love the scene in first act where they spot each other for the first time and Don José is trying his best not to show any interest in Carmen who is surrounded by a crowd of eager men, but still we see him watching her out of the corner of his eye and Carmen is putting on a display trying to attract his attention. The way she's taking the rose from down her cleavage and throwing it on Don José is most seductive. And he's obviously overwhelmed by this woman so full of sex-appeal. The sweet and innocent Michaela doesn't stand a chance compared to the wild and seductive Carmen. Baltsa's singing is beautiful; it's filled with her usual energy and involvement and I just love her version of "pres de ramparts de Seville". And in "non, tu ne m'aime pas" she's so persuasive that it's no wonder José almost is giving in to her pleas about him leaving the army. She is undoubtedly my favourite Carmen.

José Carreras is perfect as Don José. Some reviewers have claimed that his acting is a bit wooden, but I disagree. He's playing a naïve and shy, young man falling in love for the first time and by the way, he's also a soldier and they hardly go dancing all around the place. Like always Carreras is pouring his heart and soul into his singing. Even if this performance was very close to his leukaemia treatment I think he sounds wonderful. Just listen to the "flower aria" that's sung with such emotion and ends up like a gentle love song. (And I would have sacrificed a lot to be Carmen, having Don José Carreras looking at me the way he did that moment...) He's also outstanding in the final act where Don José ends up killing Carmen. They both are, actually. Don José is at first trying his best to persuade her into coming back to him, because he's still in love with her. And his rage at the end is very understandable, because I think we all can identify with him when he realizes that he has ruined his life because of her and in the end she refuses him. His cry (Ma Carmen, adorée) after having killed Carmen makes my hair stand on end. It comes from the very deepest of his soul. During curtain call you will see Carreras completely drained of emotion. And I feel almost the same after having watched this version of Carmen. The final 10-15 minutes of this opera are worth the price of the dvd alone.

Leona Mitchell is a very sweet, but slightly nervous Michaela. Escamillo is portrayed by a brash Samuel Ramey. He has a rich, dark voice and his singing is very good. But even so, if I was Carmen I would stick to Don José. The rest of the supporting cast are excellent and they all make this version of Carmen very enjoyable. If you like me, happen to like Baltsa and Carreras I wouldn't hesitate buying the dvd.

Overall, its good........2005-01-13

As the previous poster mentioned, this production was very close to the famous tenor's Leukemia treatment, which is unfortunate, because there are elements of absolute bliss created by carreras and other parts not so. When he really gets into the singing he is the emobiment of passion, emotion and drama, but he also seems rather stiff in parts, both in his movement and in acting(which is evident in the many spoken lines).
Agnes Balsta playing Carmen was great, a beautiful voice and probably the best actor on stage. Samuel Ramey sings Escamillo very well, but perhaps a little more emotion rather than merely singing is desired. Leona Mitchell was of course excellent, as was Levine and the Met orchestra.
This production stirs within a great respect for the opera profession, but there is an underlying hesitance perhaps the somewhat aged cast fail slightly to create the strong emotions of lust, jelousy and rage that are the centre of this opera. I have the fullest respect for carreras, and I really enjoyed this production.
But overall it was great to listen to and watch this traditionally styled Carmen.

Average customer rating:

Alyson Hannigan Deserves Better Film
Not good, but not the worst that I have seen.
Hillarious
I want the hour and a half of my life back.
A very, very bad movie

Date Movie (Unrated Edition)
Starring: Alyson Hannigan , Adam Campbell (IV) , Sophie Monk , Eddie Griffin , and Meera Simhan
Director: Aaron Seltzer , and Sam Hurwitz
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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