Forrest Gump (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)

Amazon.com essential video

The Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Best Director Robert Zemeckis, and Best Actor Tom Hanks, this unlikely story of a slow-witted but good-hearted man somehow at the center of the pivotal events of the 20th century is a funny and heartwarming epic. Hanks plays the title character, a shy Southern boy in love with his childhood best friend (Robin Wright) who finds that his ability to run fast takes him places. As an All-Star football player he meets John F. Kennedy; as a soldier in Vietnam he's a war hero; and as a world champion Ping-Pong player he's hailed by Richard Nixon. Becoming a successful shrimp-boat captain, he still yearns for the love of his life, who takes a quite different and much sadder path in life. The visual effects incorporating Hanks into existing newsreel footage is both funny and impressive, but the heart of the film lies in its sweet love story and in the triumphant performance of Hanks as an unassuming soul who savors the most from his life and times. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

Numersous Secrets to Success are Shown in "Forrest Gump".......2007-09-14

Year of release: 1994
Writers: Winston Groom (who wrote the novel) and Eric Roth
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Runtime: 2 hours 22 minutes

I haven't seen this film for about 7 years or so. Seeing it again I was reminded why this is one of my all-time favorite pictures.

THE PLOT: Tom Hanks plays Forrest Gump, a mildly retarded Alabaman who brushes shoulders with the key figures and events of the 50s through the early 80s. Due to hard work, focus and uncommon wisdom he is hugely successful at whatever he does (running, war hero, ping pong, shrimp fishing). Meanwhile, the one woman he loves in all the world, Jenny (Robin Wright Penn), flounders through life hopelessly trying to find fulfillment in the drug culture with all the wrong people.

"Forrest Gump" is hugely entertaining on every level. It's a drama that skillfully includes both lighter, comedic moments and serious, tragic elements. If you've never seen it, don't think for a second that this is some average romantic comedy or goofball comedy. Far from it. I don't watch the Acadamy Awards or give any creedance to their judgment ("American Beauty," best picture? Please) but "Forrest Gump" is one instance where they were absolutely right in regard to the Best Picture award.

Some have criticized the film as an imbecilic fantasy, arguing that a simpleton like Gump would never become successful. It's true that the picture exagerates Forrest's successes and experiences, and in that sense it's not realistic, but the film plainly reveals WHY he experienced continued success throughout his life. We can all learn from these little gems of wisdom:

-- Whatever your I.Q., zero in on the areas for which you have a real talant.

-- Focus on those gifts and master them. In other words, don't be a jack of all trades. This is in line with the Russian proverb: "If you chase 8 rabbits you'll catch none."

-- Mastering your talants will take HARD WORK (which explains why lazy people are never wealthy, unless they inherit it).

-- Whatever you do, do it WITH ALL YOUR HEART.

-- Love deeply and cultivate deep loyalties (e.g. Jenny, Bubba & Lt. Dan). Loyalty is underrated.

-- Be patient and slow to judge (unless someone abuses another person).

-- Allow others the freedom to choose and make mistakes, even if it seems like it takes forever for them to learn from them.

-- If something or someone STINKS, reject it and stay away from it (remember the prostitute?).

-- Keep your word.

-- Pray and have FAITH.

-- Keep a humble spirit no matter how successful or great you become.

We can also learn lessons from Jenny: Trying to attain fulfillment through loose sex and foreign substances is a LOST cause. Recognize and embrace those who have your best interests in mind (i.e. those who truly love you and are loyal to you); stay away from people who use and abuse you.

From Lt. Dan (Gary Sinise) we learn a potent lesson about struggling with God to find true peace, success and reconciliation. Dan's all-out fight with God on the shrimp boat in the storm is potent and REAL. The great men and women of the bible experienced intense struggles with God: Most of the book of Job shows Job arguing with the Almighty and wanting to put Him on trial for crimes against humanity (!!); When God finally answers him Job falls to his face in humility and reverence. Jacob fought with God all night; the next day the Lord changed his name to Israel, which means "struggles with God" (Genesis 32:22-30). Also, remember Jesus' struggle with God and His will in the Garden of Gethsemane?

Another thing we can learn from Lt. Dan is that he was able to recognize a "golden connection" in Forrest. No one makes it alone, no one. They had help. Despite Forrest's lack of academic smarts, Dan recognized his wisdom and greatness; it attracted him and he respected it. Because of his link to Gump he became hugely successful. Remember: "One day of favor is worth a lifetime of labor."

Late in the film you'll see Lt. Dan and his Asian fiance at Gump's wedding. Note how Dan LOOKS at Forrest when they greet each other. Dan shows the utmost love and respect for Gump and is in utter awe of his simple-minded greatness. (This is great acting on Sinise's part).

"Forrest Gump" is a film gem to be RELISHED on many levels. Not only will you be incredibly entertained, you may learn a thing or two.

Forrest Gump DVD.......2007-09-04

Another Classic Movie worth watching over many times. My old VHS needed some updating.

The American Dream meets the American Nightmare.......2007-08-10

Two people, Forrest Gump and Jenny Curran, form an unbreakable bond as children. Forrest, although lacking in the brains department, manages to witness and play his part in some of the greatest events in American history. He meets JFK, wins the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, and manages to accidentally start the Watergate investigation. Forrest lives the American dream whereas Jenny lives the American nightmare; she has an abusive father and grows up to have a string of abusive boyfriends, works as a stripper, takes narcotics and ultimately contracts AIDS. Despite the pair going in completely different directions in life, they are still drawn to each other and Forrest and Jenny's story is one that will make you smile, laugh and shed a tear.

Every once and while, you see lists of the worst films to win Best Picture Oscars, and usually Forrest Gump makes that list. I think the reason for this is that we live in quite a cynical world and the majority of people do not really warm to lead characters that are innocent and pure of heart. This should not be the case. We should adore characters that are completely honest and very insightful despite their low IQs, and Forrest Gump is one of those characters that we should love. People who watch this film should check their cynicism at the door and just enjoy a film that is about the everyman battling the world using only truth and a deep-seated sense of what he believes is right. After all, this film has a noble tradition, it follows in the footsteps of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's A Wonderful Life. If Frank Capra were alive today, he would make films like Forrest Gump (if he could come to grips with all the CGI) and that's all I have to say about that...

didn't really get it.......2007-07-12

when this came on tv a few weeks ago, i was excited to watch it b/c i knew it was an acclaimed movie, everyone loved it and it won oscars. i was shocked to find that it was just an ordinary movie. it was actually boring. i don't get the hype about this movie. it was a bit sad, and i was on the brink of tears, and tom hanks wasn't that bad in it, but i think it is not at all what people say it is. this is highly overrated.

Destiny in a box.... .......2007-07-10

This movie was and IS a classic. From the first moment to the last, this movie is touching, moving, action-packed, humorous and just plain unbelievable.

I can't add much to my review that hasn't already been said, but I like this collector's edition. I liked the extras and I loved watching the finished product. Tom Hanks brought this character to life. This movie isn't a script. It's a story that Tom Hanks took control over. It's a part that he was born to play. And he played it to the hilt!

I loved, loved, loved loved this movie!!!

Average customer rating:

Michael Cimino's Vietnam Masterpiece
Who is cooler?
lasting impact
Great Performances
Good film

The Deer Hunter
Starring: Robert De Niro , John Cazale , John Savage , Christopher Walken , and Meryl Streep
Director: Michael Cimino
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Vietnam War | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Anti-War Films | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0783225997
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com essential video

Winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, The Deer Hunter is simultaneously an audacious directorial conceit and one of the greatest films ever made about friendship and the personal impact of war. Like Apocalypse Now, it's hardly a conventional battle film--the soldier's experience was handled with greater authenticity in Platoon--but its depiction of war on an intimate scale packs a devastatingly dramatic punch. Director Michael Cimino may be manipulating our emotions with masterful skill, but he does it in a way that stirs the soul and pinches our collective nerves with graphic, high-intensity scenes of men under life-threatening duress. Although Russian-roulette gambling games were not a common occurrence during the Vietnam war, they're used here as a metaphor for the futility of the war itself. To the viewer, they become unforgettably intense rites of passage for the best friends--Pennsylvania steelworkers played by Robert De Niro, John Savage, and Oscar winner Christopher Walken--who may survive or perish during their tour through a tropical landscape of hell. Back home, their loved ones must cope with the war's domestic impact, and in doing so they allow The Deer Hunter to achieve a rare combination of epic storytelling and intimate, heart-rending drama. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Michael Cimino's Vietnam Masterpiece.......2007-09-07

There have been plenty of films made about the Vietnam War, Platoon (Collector's Edition Steelbook), Apocalypse Now - The Complete Dossier (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition), Full Metal Jacket (Deluxe Edition). But there's something about The Deer Hunter that stands out as one of the best. Not only does it have the distinction of being the first, it's a movie that deals with the effects of the war, more than the war itself.

There's not much actual fighting, but the scenes are definitely intense. The Russian Roulette scene, which many peole have commented on, is absolutely superb. But I want to focus on the wedding. Grand in scale and long in length, this scene makes the movie. Although it is long, it is a wonderful scene, one that sets up the movie perfectly. It lets you get a feel for the characters before you see the gruesomeness of war effects them.

One of the most underrated movies about Vietnam and of the 70's when you compare it to others that came out in that decade.

Also, the cast is phenomenal. Robert De Niro is the headliner, followed by Best Supporting Actor winner Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, John Savage, and John Cazale in his very last film role.

This release, the two disc Universal Legacy Series releases, features a commentary with the cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and film journalist Bob Fisher. Also included sre a few deleted and extended/alternate scenes and a few production notes.

A Definite Must Have in any collection.

Who is cooler?.......2007-08-27

Who is cooler DeNiro or Walken? The best scene in the movie is the Russian roulette scene.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.

lasting impact.......2007-08-12

Unforgettable motion picture. Saw it more than twenty years ago and it haunts me to this day. One of the most amazing scores ever. Terrific direction, not to mention fine performances by all the actors. Puts Coppola's
Apocalypse Now to shame.

As someone else pointed out: You truly give a damn about the people in this film, as opposed to the cold fish of a character in Citizen Kane, etc.--and when you don't give a damn about the characters in a movie...guess what? Your audiance just might be left feeling indifferent about it.

Regarding the single star reviews (not that many, actually--so that ought to tell you plenty), they come across as being too young (read: shallow), with a possible touch of ADT--to appreciate anything this worthwhile.

Go live through a war, any war, surive combat--and then tell me a powerful film like THE DEER HUNTER does not move you, better yet: Go sit through something as idiotic as SpiderMan vs. Doc Oc., or maybe that animation flick about the rat who wants to be a chef. There you go. How about Ocean's #39? Die Hard #56? While we're at it, let's not forget Tarantino's latest shallow/mindless (they all are) Death Proof!

Entertainment for the easy to please.

Great Performances.......2007-08-03

Excellent performances by Streep, De Niro, and Walken. It's a long (3 hours) and slow movie, but well worth the time. You can't go wrong with a Academy Award Winning movie for Best Picture. The russian roulette scenes are by far one of the most intense and memorable moments in cinema history.

Good film.......2007-08-01

What probably struck me the most is the length. Its 3 hours long. It starts slow and there are many slow stretches in between. This might be a test of patience but it has its rewards. In the first hour, we see six friends horsing around and hamming it up. I understand the purpose but it could have been much more concise.

Unfortunately, the dialogue is redundant and plain. Interesting dialogue would have been an improvement.

I liked the overall concept. Here is a short synopsis:

Life is good among six friends living in a small, blue collar town. 3 of the 6 men leave to fight the war in Vietnam. They undergo change. In the aftermath, things will never be the same. 2 of the 3 men return home where they have difficulties adjusting. Meanwhile, those that stayed home, by contrast, have, for the most part, remained the same.

I also liked the use of metaphors that run throughout (deer hunting, russian roulette, wedding, etc.). These resonate with the meaning.

This is a story about the ramifications of the Vietnam war in the lives of a handful of characters. It contains little in the way of combat which wouldn't serve this story.

Had the story been condensed into 2 hours, it would have had greater impact, in my humble opinion. I give it 4 stars.

Apollo 13 (Widescreen 2-Disc Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

Proof that Hollywood sometimes gets it right
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 is a gripping tale of moon travel
Review
Keep It Honest !

Apollo 13 (Widescreen 2-Disc Anniversary Edition)
Starring: Tom Hanks , Bill Paxton , Kevin Bacon , Gary Sinise , and Ed Harris
Director: Ron Howard
Manufacturer: Universal Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0783219695
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Amazon.com essential video

NASA's worst nightmare turned into one of the space agency's most heroic moments in 1970, when the Apollo 13 crew was forced to hobble home in a disabled capsule after an explosion seriously damaged the moon-bound spacecraft. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton play (respectively) astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise in director Ron Howard's intense, painstakingly authentic docudrama. The Apollo 13 crew and Houston-based mission controllers race against time and heavy odds to return the damaged spacecraft safely to Earth from a distance of 205,500 miles. Using state-of-the-art special effects and ingenious filmmaking techniques, Howard and his stellar cast and crew build nail-biting tension while maintaining close fidelity to the facts. The result is a fitting tribute to the Apollo 13 mission and one of the biggest box-office hits of 1995. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Proof that Hollywood sometimes gets it right.......2007-08-13

I remember really liking this movie when it came out in 1995 - and now, more than 10 years later, I recently watched it on DVD with my kids. I realize now why this is such a great movie - this isn't your typical movie that's "based on true events" or worse "inspired by true events". The actual events were so incredibly dramatic that they didn't need to "Hollywoodize" the story. You really feel like you are there, living the events that shook the nation when Apollo 13 almost didn't return. Sure, the casting, the production, the effects, and the acting are top notch. But it really is the screenplay that makes this movie such a success - because the actual story is just so good that they didn't need to screw it up.

Apollo 13.......2007-07-11

A nail-bitingly tense and heroic tale of survival-against-the-odds based on the actual Apollo 13 crisis, Howard's Oscar-winning drama rekindles the exhilarating enthusiasm the nation felt during the first flights to the moon--and also draws on the collective anxiety that pooled in the wake of the Challenger explosion. Even without this context, "Apollo 13" is a grippingly authentic story, crisply helmed by Howard and superbly acted by a first-rate cast including Hanks, Bacon, Paxton, Harris, and Gary Sinise--most of whom prepared with zero-gravity flights at the director's insistence.

Apollo 13 is a gripping tale of moon travel.......2007-05-19

I remember seeing this movie in the theater, and it was awesome. It still is, on DVD. The astronauts almost didn't make it back. One of the top ten movies ever made.

The extras are nice, if you have the time. Together they take at least a couple of hours.

Review.......2007-05-07

I had to replace my original Apollo 13 DVD which, after several successful playings, started to fail to "play back." Possibly, this failure was exacerbated by my attempted "fix" which was to clean the business side of the DVD with an (electronic grade) 99% alcohol cleaning solution.

At any rate, I am happy to have the new disk.

(Of the many [more than 100] DVDs I have, this is the only instance of media failure I have experienced.)

Keep It Honest !.......2007-04-29

Good movie of a great human adventure,well acted and professionally filmed.
Looks a bit stiff and un-imaginative in the developpement of the "story" but overall a very fine visualisation of this tragic-heroic piece of American history.

Average customer rating:

Just Like Watching the Television Series, BUT Longer!
Not as good as the show, but HILARIOUS still
Trashy and Stupid
It's silly, dense, and juvenile. What else could you ask for?
a genuine laugh riot

Reno 911! - Miami (Unrated Edition)
Starring: Kerri Kenney , Paul Rudd , Mary Birdsong , Niecy Nash , and Carlos Alazraqui
Director: Robert Ben Garant
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000PISZ8Q
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

For Reno 911 fans who believe that Comedy Central's improv-driven mock-reality series could benefit from more unbleeped profanity, uncensored sex scenes, and nudity, the feature-length R-rated Miami will be just the ticket. Perhaps less a movie than it is a Very Special Episode, Miami transplants short-shorts-bedecked Lt. Dangle (Thomas Lennon) and company to Miami for the American Police Convention ("They invited everybody"). No sooner can you say "bio-terrorism" than the hotel is quarantined, and Wahoe County's hapless misfits, shut out when their credentials can't be found, must step in and save the city from "complete chaos." Complete chaos ensues. As with the series, Miami unfolds in a series of hit and miss bits. The funniest are those that hew closest to the Cops template, such as an early "814" call that does not, as the officers believe, decode as armed intruder, but actually involves a loose chicken, and an encounter with a taunting good ol' boy who, when faced with an alligator in a swimming pool, boldly goes where officers Jones (Cedric Yarbrough) and Garcia (Carlos Alazraqui) fear to tread.

Happily, as was not the case with Borat, no innocent or unsuspecting citizens were emotionally harmed during the making of this movie. All of the jokes and humiliations are at the Reno squad's expense. Miami benefits from some subtle (and not so subtle) stunt casting, including Patton Oswalt (The King of Queens) in a small but pivotal role as the deputy assistant mayor, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's hilarious, albeit short-lived cameo as a gung-ho bomb squad leader. It is a tribute to the crack ensemble that Reno's intimately etched characters do not need much of an introduction, and can be appreciated by those who have not seen the show. But longtime viewers are issued this warning that Miami crosses with even more impunity the thin blue line of good taste. A Rear Window homage in which we view each officer indulging in some alone time in their fleabag motel rooms may not be as bad as Borat's wrestling match, but really, there ought to be a law! --Donald Liebenson

Reno 911!: Miami Extras

View a clip of the team attempting to best Miami's 9-1-1 call center.

Beyond Reno 911!: Miami

Reno 911! TV Series
Lt. Dangle Adult Costume
More From 20th Century Fox

Stills from Reno 911!: Miami

Description

The story centers on a rag-tag team of Reno cops that are called in to save the day after a terrorist attack disrupts a national police convention in Miami Beach during spring break. They're not the best, but that's all we got. Based on the successful Comedy Central TV series.

Customer Reviews:

Just Like Watching the Television Series, BUT Longer!.......2007-09-15

If you have seen the Reno 911! television series and enjoy the humor displayed in the television series, then you'll like the movie as well! "Reno 911! - Miami" is about 80 minutes long and is relatively fast paced. It features the same cast of characters as the television series with the same kind of wacky, off beat humor.

Not as good as the show, but HILARIOUS still.......2007-09-14

I almost wish I'd never heard of Reno: 911! before I saw this movie. That way I probably would never have known that it wouldn't be as good as the TV show. Oh make no mistake - it's still outrageously hilarious, but even extra running time and the gift of not being censored can fully restore this to its Comedy Central glory.

The hapless Sheriff's Department of Washoe County is invited to a Law Enforcement convention in Miami. Taking a bus (yes, a bus!) across the country, they arrive only to discover they aren't located on the paperwork, and must stay at a no-tell motel with a rude, seedy desk clerk (Toby Huss, as always, perfect). Their first night in Miami doesn't quite go as well as planned, and each officer ends up, um...let's just say alone.

In the morning they arrive at the convention center only to find that ALL of the other officers have been poisoned and are under quarantine, and they are the only unaffected group. Therefore, they are the defacto protectors of Miami.

Scary, huh? There are some wonderful cameos in this movie: Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) has a small role as a SWAT agent, as well as Patton Oswalt, Mindy Sterling, Paul Rudd, and my favorite - Nick Swardson, reprising her role as Terry the roller skating hustler - in Miami to make a record.

Now the movie was funny, but you have got to do yourself a huge favor and watch the Special Features. There are Public Service Announcements that are a hoot, as well as three feature commentaries: one with several of the actors as themselves, and then two different additional commentaries with the actors playing their characters.

Also, my favorite part of movies like this is just letting the comedians loose and seeing what they come up with. The extended scenes are un-freaking-real. The scene with Patton Oswalt and Mindy Sterling was hysterical - and it was all one take. The bus scene was also definitely worth watching.

Trashy and Stupid.......2007-09-10

This was a strange movie with not many funny scenes. They tried a little too hard to make it funny but it just falls flat. In many ways this is a vulgar movie. Showing guys jerking off through their hotel windows is not funny, even though I think they meant it to be. Also what could have been a very funny sequence involving a beached whale seemed to focus a little too much on breasts of a couple of the girls on the nude beach or more correctly the topless beach. There were some semi-porn scenes in the motel. If you want to make a porn movie, make a porn movie. If you want to make a comedy, make a comedy. This appeared to try and mix the two and didn't succeed at either. This could have been so much more. It's mildy entertaining and it has its moments, but mostly it's not worth your time. NOT FOR TEENS and definately not for younger kids.

It's silly, dense, and juvenile. What else could you ask for?.......2007-09-07

If there's nothing else a movie studio loves, it's a concept with a pre-existing audience. It's for that reason that multiplexes are forever jammed with sequels, adaptations of novels, remakes, and movies based on old TV shows, videogames and toys. And, of course, what has more of a built-in audience than taking the cast of a current TV series and giving them their own movie? This rarely works, but everybody wants to give it a shot, the less-seen the series, the better. I have never seen Comedy Central's wacky police sitcom Reno 911!, and aside from a funny trailer I had little reason to be optimistic about their big-screen adventure, Reno 911!: Miami. But that's why they play 'em: Miami is a genuinely hilarious comedy, the kind of fine cinematic effort I haven't seen since Steve Guttenberg left the Police Academy series.

A TV show trying to blow itself up to feature length faces many built-in challenges. A 30-minute TV episode is basically 23 minutes long when you take away the commercials, so even getting up to Reno 911!: Miami's brief 84 minute length means quadrupling the amount of plot, jokes and, well, footage involved in a regular episode. What helps in this case is that the story decided upon by series stars and screenwriters Robert Ben Garant, Kerri Kenney-Silver and Thomas Lennon (Lennon is a working writer whose credits include Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition) is a movie story first and a Reno 911! story second. Wacky underdogs forced to rise to the occasion and save the city from an equally unhinged criminal conspiracy is a time-tested formula as long as the jokes are funny, and here, they're good. The gang's largely improvised banter is hilarious, the characters, led by Lennon's Lt. Dangle, are as lovable as they are pathetic, and Rudd's Al Pacino impression is ridiculous. The movie's nasty streak of animal humor also works particularly well: in addition to the chicken, standout bits include a visit to a nude beach to dispose of a beached whale carcass and an animal control call to a house with an alligator in the pool who's either dead or viciously homicidal. Miami seems pretty safe given how little real crime Reno's finest come up against while patrolling the streets, but then... did anyone check the plug on that 911 switchboard? The humor is, of course, pretty crude and sophomoric, but would you actually pay for a movie like this expecting anything else?

As much as the story is just a clothesline to hang gags on, I was surprised in the end by how much I wanted these fools to finally get it right. I don't want to give too much away, but the nature of the conspirators and their plan, when finally revealed, is funny, and the way Dangle and Co. finally catch on tells you everything you need to know about their fine detective skills. The plot can't always sustain its' momentum, and not all of the gags are hits, but everything moves fast enough to keep it from ever getting dull.

a genuine laugh riot.......2007-08-26

Never having seen "Reno 911" on TV, I really had no idea what to expect from "Reno 911!: Miami," the full-length theatrical version of the Comedy Channel cult favorite. I figured that the movie would be silly and childish to be sure - and I was certainly not disappointed in that regard - but I was definitely not prepared for just how terribly funny and utterly endearing it turned out to be. All you overpaid writers of "Wild Hogs," "Evan Almighty," "License to Wed," "Norbit," etc, please take note: THIS is how to make a screwball comedy.

A playful take-off on the you-are-there reality TV show "Cops," "Reno 911" features the crazy, slapstick-ridden antics of the most inept law enforcement agency this side of the Keystone Kops. For their big-screen debut, these fun-loving goofballs leave their home-base in Nevada and head off to Miami for a national sheriff's convention, giving them a chance to wreak their own unique brand of havoc on the unsuspecting citizens of South Florida.

The movie is really nothing more than a series of loosely constructed comedy sketches held together by the barest outline of a story (all the cops at the convention are quarantined except for our intrepid band from Reno, putting them in default charge of all law enforcement in the greater Miami area). But you don't really need or want much more than a barebones plot when the material is as clever, ribald and inspired as it is here. Indeed, there's an almost Marx Brothers-like, burlesque freeform quality to the movie, enhanced by the good-natured, anything-goes fearlessness of the performers, who never balk at what they are called upon to do, no matter how undignified, humiliating or degrading it might be. In fact, it's that high-spirited infectiousness that comes wafting off the screen and envelopes the audience in laughter.

Credit for the film's success goes to writers Thomas Lennon and Kerri Kenney, co-writer/director Ben Garant, and their fellow actors, Carlos Alazraqui, Mary Birdsong, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Niecy Nash and Cedric Yarbrough, lovable bunglers all who know that true comedy works only when the performers approach the material with the utmost straight-faced earnestness. There are also clever cameo appearances by Danny DeVito, The Rock, Paul Rudd and Paul Rubens to ramp up the hilarity.

In a film year woefully bereft of humor and laughs, "Reno 911!: Miami" is like a life-saving oasis in a movie comedy desert.

Marvelous fun.

Average customer rating:

Musical that holds up well
Hello Again, Birdie
Great family movie
BYE BYE BIRDIE
Just a good old fashioned goofy musical

Bye Bye Birdie
Starring: Janet Leigh , Dick Van Dyke , Ann-Margret , Maureen Stapleton , and Bobby Rydell
Director: George Sidney (II)
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Teen | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0767827651
Release Date: 1999-07-27

Amazon.com

When Elvis-like rock & roll star Conrad Birdie is drafted into the military, the teen nation is united by a contest in which the winner bestows a farewell kiss upon their idol while on the Ed Sullivan Show. Ann-Margret (in her film debut) is the lucky little lady from Sweet Apple, Ohio, who wins the contest, much to the chagrin of her steady beau (Bobby Rydell) and miserable parents (Paul Lynde and Mary LaRoche). Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh are an older couple kept from marrying by his meddlesome mother, played to the hilt by Maureen Stapleton. Lightweight but fun, this features an exuberant soundtrack with such memorable ditties as "Put on a Happy Face" and "Kids" and the title track. This is a much better choice than the lackluster, 1995 made-for-TV version. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews:

Musical that holds up well.......2007-09-05

Ann-Margret runs away with this hit 60's musical. Perfect casting at its best; it's easy to believe her as Kim, a teenager in love with Hugo (Bobby Rydell) who also swoons over Conrad Birdie (Jesse Pearson), a thinly veiled version of Elvis. Although it's hard to imagine the hysteria that Elvis generated when he was drafted, it is not important to be aware of that to enjoy the take-off this musical provides. Paul Lynde and Dick Van Dyke turn in solid performances; Maureen Stapleton provides the hilarious comic relief as the mother from hell. Janet Leigh does a great job as Van Dyke's love interest, however, her singing is somewhat of a weak link (but her dancing more than makes up for it!). Many reviews bash the movie for being too different from the stage production; although it is different in some ways, it more than stands on its own. The camera work, staging, choreography, and performances are all top-notch. A nice piece of nostalgia that still provides great entertainment today.

Hello Again, Birdie.......2007-05-08

More than 40 years after first viewing in theatres,this is still a delightful escape with a trip down memory lane. Music and lyrics are classics. Ann-Margret and Janet Leigh display dancing and singing talent that is often forgotten, with excellent support work from Dick Van Dyke, Paul Lynde, Bobby Rydell and Maureen Stapleton. The times certainly changed after this period of adolescence, but Bye Bye Birdie took us back to an age of naivety where nothing bad was ever going to happen to us. Good social comment of the time.

Great family movie.......2007-01-11

My 11 year old son is trying out for a part in a local production of "Bye Bye Birdie" so I purchased this DVD so we could both get an idea of what the movie/play is all about and get a flavor for the musical productions. Even though this movie was made in the 1960's, it was very entertaining for both of us. The movie is good clean family entertainment and is well worth purchasing to have as a part of our family movie library.

BYE BYE BIRDIE.......2006-11-10

EVEN IN THE BEGINNING ANN MARGARET WAS WONDERFUL.. BOBBY WAS JUST SO GREAT LOOKING (STILL IS. THIS MOVIE WAS REALLY FUNNY AND WILL BE AROUND FOR A LONG TIME TO COME!!

Just a good old fashioned goofy musical.......2006-09-01

I watched this recently and realized I had forgotten about a lot of it. I still really think Ann Margret was dazzling. and absolutely perfect for the role of Kim. I didn't care much for Janet Leigh in this one, it must have been the black hair -- and I don't think when I saw this as a teen that I even realized she was supposed to be LATINO. O-kay . . . .

I think the biggest surprise in this film was Bobby Rydell, the early 60s teen idol (who could actually sing) -- he was amazing as Hugo. Wow! He just flowed thru that thing like he'd been doing it all his life .. . but then, I don't remember him ever doing it again . ..? I know he still tours, with Frankie Avalon and Fabian I think, and he looks really DIFFERENT -- I mean, he looks an awful lot like George W. Bush nowadays. Weird. Anyhow, I thought he was perfect for his part as well, as for the rest, some of it got to be a bit much -- esp. Paul Lynde and his whiny sarcasm (how much of that can you take?) and that Ed Sullivan skit was just silly. But, I love the Kim/Hugo/Birdie dance in the soda shoppe, that makes the film, I think. Watch it with your teenagers, if you can corral them for a while.

Average customer rating:

Benny and Joon
Benny & Joon
I love this movie!
Calling all Johnny Depp Fans!
Psychologically stimulating

Benny and Joon
Starring: Johnny Depp , Mary Stuart Masterson , Aidan Quinn , Julianne Moore , and Oliver Platt
Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000053VAZ
Release Date: 2001-01-09

Amazon.com

An oddball love story about a fey loner named Sam (Johnny Depp), who falls in love with the mentally unbalanced Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), who lives in the care of her protective brother Benny (Aidan Quinn). This 1993 story is hard to swallow, with its message that love can conquer a brand of mental illness that manifests itself in pyromania: Joon has a bad habit of going a bit around the bend and setting fires, but Sam's tender care apparently has the cure for what ails her. Still, if you want proof that Depp has significant chops as a physical comedian, give this film a try: He does note-perfect renditions of slapstick routines made famous by Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Benny and Joon.......2007-08-24

I'd forgotten what a great movie this is! Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Aidan Quinn are fabulous. This most untraditional romance will really touch your heart.

Benny & Joon.......2007-08-23

A wonderful but somewhat little-known film that continues to add to the range of Johnny Depp.

I love this movie!.......2007-08-03

This is one of my favorite moview for the human interest, the delicate handling of a difficult reality for many people...the humor and the performances. I have used the poker game scene to inspire "yardsale poker" were we all bet with used possessions and it was a BLAST. I never won or bet a cousin....yet. :)

Calling all Johnny Depp Fans!.......2007-07-24

I will keep this short and sweet. If you are a Johnny Depp fan, this is a must to add to your collection. It is a great story and as always, Johnny Depp is a great actor.

Psychologically stimulating.......2007-07-21

Interesting concepts, moving, heartfelt, wonderfully entertaining and comidic humor. Another great film wonderfully directed with the young Johnny Depp. A gamut of emotions are stirred. A clean, funny and beautifully written piece.

Average customer rating:

You know you like this movie.
CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!
A funny, light-hearted romantic comedy
Pleasant surprise, for a movie I wouldn't go see at a theater.
Kinda of a girly movie, but . . .

13 Going On 30 (Special Edition)
Starring: Jennifer Garner , Mark Ruffalo , Judy Greer , Andy Serkis , and Kathy Baker
Director: Gary Winick
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0002C4JI0
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Amazon.com

Jennifer Garner glows like a rising star in 13 Going on 30, a girly version of the Tom Hanks classic Big. Jenna (Garner, Alias, Daredevil), a frustrated teenage girl, just wants to skip past all those annoying adolescent years and arrive at a glamorous adulthood--and thanks to some inexplicable wishing dust, she does. But once she reorients herself to a life as a high-end magazine editor with a sports-star boyfriend, she discovers that in the 17 years she skipped she became a not-so-nice person, including casting aside her best friend Matt (played as an adult by Mark Ruffalo, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). There's no question that Jenna will rediscover her lost innocence, but Garner rises above the lack of suspense. 13 Going on 30 floats along, buoyed by her goofy sweetness. Her lovely looks are made accessible by her unfettered silliness; it's a winning combination. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

You know you like this movie........2007-09-05

I have to admit it, 13 Going on 30 won me over. I know it's just a twist and apparent rip-off of Penny Marshall's classic, Big but this film is sweet and funny thanks to Jennifer Garner. I also think Mark Ruffalo is one of the best new actors to emerge in the last few years, he is so real and vulnerable, I just adore him! This film is fun for the whole family, it's charming and entertaining. Enjoy!

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!.......2007-09-01

jennifer garner plays her role just right. great innocence, great drama, great love. it's like she wishes to be 30, then she is and she doesn't know what to do. she a grown up growing up. then she finds out that the real adult world is cruel and backstabbing, and what you need is true friends, and hers is her true love, but he's getting married. so she wishes she can just go back in time. how ironic, but greatly played out. romantic, laughable, and very entertaining. i do recommend.

A funny, light-hearted romantic comedy.......2007-08-25

Sometimes you just don't want to have to think too much about a movie. This movie is a fantasy meant to be enjoyed, not analyzed. I had a great time watching it and remembering all the '80's music.

Pleasant surprise, for a movie I wouldn't go see at a theater........2007-07-10

I rarely go to see movies in the first theater run. It takes a great movie, or uncontrolable anticipation to get me to the 1 movie a year I average. That's mainly why I got the dish and all the premium movie channels. I tend to ramdomly give movies I'd never dream of watching otherwise at least a look. That's how I tripped over this flick, a retread formula for a plotline that, for better or worse, has an idenity of its own. It's not the best in it's genre, but it's a very sweet movie, and my first viewing of anything Jennifer Garner. So I had no "Alias" bias. She's not why I watched the movie. But she wound up to be the reason I watched it repeatedly. Garner plays an adorable role that I thought she was perfect for. And Judy Greer, whom I hadn't seen since the movie "Jawbreaker," is her usual throw all you got into your role, as she plays Garner's ruthless, pompous friend and co-worker in their adulthood. I'd heard good and bad about Mark Ruffalo as well, but again, this was my first sampling of his work too, and I thought he was perfect for the role. It's a simple, sweet, romantic film that despite a couple variations plays out as expected. And there's also an obligatory archetypical character or two in the supporting cast, but fits in the context of the movie. I don't know what it is about me, but I love the "Thriller" scene. It's contrived, a little hokey (how many people of the age range in that scene actually know the "Thriller" dance, step by step?), but I love it, especially the subtle, blink and you'll miss it piece of that scene where Ruffalo's character tells Garner he's leaving the party, and the camera focusses close-up on their two hands drifting apart and the consequential, gasping look on Garner's face. That little snippet is tell-tale of Garner's predicament the whole movie- how her best friend keeps eluding her for one reason or another, until she grows up mentally just as she has physically. I take pokes for having DVDs like this (Sense & Sensibility/You've Got Mail, etc.) in my collection. But we all have out guilty pleasures. This is one. It ain't perfect, but I liked it.

Kinda of a girly movie, but . . ........2007-05-14

If you grew up in the 80's this movie is for you. All the memories will come rushing back when you watch this.

The love story is better than the one from Big, but otherwise this is a big rip-off of Big. But I enjoyed it and Garner is adorable as a young girl in a woman's body. Is she Tom Hanks quality, maybe not, but she does a fine job and you believe it.

Overall fair movie.

Average customer rating:

Brando on Broadway
Guys and Dolls
THIS DOLL LOVES THIS MUSICAL!!!
Fantastic movie and fantastic service
Fabulous despite the flaws

Guys and Dolls
Starring: Marlon Brando , Jean Simmons , Frank Sinatra , Vivian Blaine , and Robert Keith
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Musicals & Performing Arts | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0792844823
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Amazon.com

Joseph Mankiewicz's brightly stylized film of Frank Loesser's classic musical (based on the stories of Damon Runyon) casts the criminal underworld as a harmless fantasy in this whimsical vision of the Big Apple. Nonsingers Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons acquit themselves fine in the lead roles as high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson and Salvation Army missionary Sarah Brown. It's odd casting, to say the least. Frank Sinatra, who plays the good old reliable Nathan Detroit (who runs "the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York") is left with novelty tunes while husky Brando delivers the love songs and hits, including "Luck Be a Lady." But in the context of the colorful dialogue and comically affected speech patterns (a giddy gangster-speak straight out of Runyon's breezy stories) the song performances aren't the least out of place. Stubby Kaye, reprising his role as Nicely Nicely from the Broadway run, practically steals the show in his few scenes and his show-stopping solo "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat." The film is overlong at two and a half hours and somewhat stagily confined in the stylized, studio-bound sets--perhaps the mark of a director who had never helmed a musical before--but a terrific cast of eccentrics and Michael Kidd's high-energy choreography gives the film a memorable and enchanting character. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Hollywood legends Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons and Vivian Blain (from the original Broadway cast) are dazzling in this Frank Loesser (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) masterpiece, unleashing a "spectacular, song-and-dance show that's loaded with entertainment" (New York Journal-American). Featuring hits like "Luck Be a Lady" and "A Woman in Love," this smash film version of one of Broadway's most popular musicals is guaranteed, rip-roaring "four-starentertainment" (New York Daily News). The slickest big-time New York City gamblers,Sky Masterson (Brando) and Nathan Detroit (Sinatra), can't resist making or taking a bet on anything. So when a pretty missionary (Simmons) sets up shop in the neighborhood, Nathan stakes a grand that Sky can't seduce her. But all bets are off when Sky falls madly in love in this romantic musical spectacular that sets the Big Apple afire with excitement!

Customer Reviews:

Brando on Broadway.......2007-08-23

This is one of my favorite Braodway musicals -- Old School Broadway. The music, the characters. . . all are so memorable. "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" and "Luck Be a Lady Tonight" will always be among my favorite Broadway songs.

Guys and Dolls.......2007-06-26

n Joseph L. Mankiewicz's buoyant adaptation of Frank Loesser's immortal "Guys and Dolls," Frank Sinatra shines as Nathan Detroit, purveyor of the "oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York." Marlon Brando (in his prime) is better than you'd expect as Sky Masterson, even with some reedy vocals, but you keep waiting for Nathan to show up again. His dealings with fiancée Adelaide (Vivian Blaine) are a particular highlight, while the portly Stubby Kaye steals every scene he's in playing Nicely Nicely Johnson. Vibrant, rousing entertainment.

THIS DOLL LOVES THIS MUSICAL!!!.......2007-06-10

I love this movie musical! Sure...Brando & Simmons aren't known for their musical abilities, but they are fantastic in these roles. Many say that Sinatra should be Sky & that Blaine should be Sarah (since Sky & Sarah have to sing a majority of the songs in this musical). I totally disagree! I can't imagine Sinatra & Blaine switching roles with Brando & Simmons! All 4 of them are PERFECT in their roles!
When casting individuals in roles, one has to consider MORE than his/her musical abilities - his/her appearance/build, speaking voice, personality, ability to communicate certain emotions to the viewers, a couple's CHEMISTRY - YEAH CHEMISTRY, etc.

Fantastic movie and fantastic service.......2007-05-14

the movie was delivered on time and in mint condition. I love it!!

Fabulous despite the flaws.......2007-04-10

I. Love. This. Movie. My sister introduced me to it and I've loved it ever since. Marlon Brando - though struggling as a singer - did an EXCELLENT job as Sky Masterson. The only other person worthy of this role is Ewan McGregor (who incidentally played the part in London but sadly not on film so I didn't get to see it). The love story that developes between the bad boy with a heart of gold - Sky Masterson - and the good girl who could use a tidge of irreverance in her life while turning a bad boy good - Sarah - is simply wonderful. If you love romance and you love music, you'll love this movie.

Average customer rating:

Rose is Me
super fun chick flick!
It could happen to you
Warning: Watch this movie at your own risk!
Hysterically funny!

Big Business
Starring: Bette Midler , Lily Tomlin , Fred Ward , Edward Herrmann , and Michele Placido
Director: Jim Abrahams
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000065V3L
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Description

Bette Midler (THE FIRST WIVES CLUB, BEACHES) and Lily Tomlin (DISNEY'S THE KID, ALL OF ME, 9 TO 5) -- the first ladies of laughter -- star in this critically acclaimed box office hit about two sets of identical twins who are mismatched at birth. Forty years later, their paths cross amid the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, and the result is unrestrained pandemonium. New York's opulent Plaza Hotel is the setting for a wildly hilarious, classic case of mistaken identities, split personalities, and double trouble! With the unparalleled comedic talents of Midler and Tomlin, two's company ... four's a riot!

Customer Reviews:

Rose is Me.......2007-09-02

Big Business is probably my favorite movie ever. Not because it's a brilliant piece of cinematic art, but because it makes me laugh and feel good whenever I watch it. My family and I have been quoting this movie for almost two decades now and still crack up when we re watch it. I can't say enough good things about this movie.

super fun chick flick!.......2007-08-11

It is so much fun to watch these two virtuoso comediennes bounce off each other; and the double identities make it doubly fun. I especially love the contrast between Bette Midler's two characters -- the New York company exec has some truly memorable zingers. The men they all end up with are great too, though I see fireworks down the line for some of them!

It could happen to you.......2007-01-27

Loved this, it could really happen, and I am glad it turned out great!!

Warning: Watch this movie at your own risk!.......2006-09-05

Because you might just die laughing.
A perfect motion picture comedy; watch it alone, with a date, with your parents or your children, everyone's going to feel better after seeing this one.

Hysterically funny!.......2006-07-23

While times have changed in terms of special effects, they certainly did an excellent job pulling this one off. Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin are at their finest in this movie. Great lines, excellent acting and a funny plot make this a must watch movie.

Average customer rating:

Bound to keep you on the edge of your seat
Bound
The heat from this movie is sizzling!!!!
Bound ( A movie you bound to have ).
Mob Movie with a Twist

Bound
Starring: Jennifer Tilly , Gina Gershon , Joe Pantoliano , John P. Ryan , and Christopher Meloni
Director: Larry Wachowski , and Andy Wachowski
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Neo-Noir | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005NTN5
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Amazon.com essential video

Destined for cult status, this provocative thriller offers a grab bag of genres (gangster movie, comedy, sexy romance, crime caper) and tops it all off with steamy passion between lesbian ex-con Corky (Gina Gershon) and a not-so-ditzy gun moll named Violet (Jennifer Tilly), who meets Corky and immediately tires of her mobster boyfriend (Joe Pantoliano). Desperate to break away from the Mob's influence and live happily ever after, the daring dames hatch a plot to steal $2 million of Mafia money. Their scheme runs into a series of escalating complications, until their very survival depends on split-second timing and criminal ingenuity. Simultaneously violent, funny, and suspenseful, Bound is sure to test your tolerance for bloodshed, but the film is crafted with such undeniable skill that several critics (including Roger Ebert) placed it on their top-ten lists for 1996. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Bound to keep you on the edge of your seat.......2007-07-18

An ex-con (Gina Gershon) and a gangster's girlfriend (Jennifer Tilly) have a steamy affair and hatch a plot to steal $2 million from the Mafia in this tightly plotted thriller from the Wachowski brothers. Of course, their scheme doesn't go as planned, resulting in a dizzying series of surprising developments and reversals that kept me guessing right up until the end. Most of the action takes place in two neighboring apartments, but the Wachowski's way of shooting familiar objects from unexpected angles keeps the action from seeming claustrophobic. Joe Pantoliano excels as the mid-level Mafioso Ceasar, a desperate man who proves to be less predictable than the two schemers expect. This film is particularly impressive because it is the Wachowskis's first feature.

Bound.......2007-05-25

A great suspense movie with a lesbian main characters. This is not often seen in the many of the lesbian films. The roles are well portrayed by the actors and a great lesbian sex scene.

The heat from this movie is sizzling!!!!.......2007-03-24

Before the Wachowski Brothers did The Matrix, there was the erotic thriller, Bound, starring Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, Joe Pantoliano, John P. Ryan, and Christopher Meloni. This was a low budget movie (four-and-a-half million dollars) that was to be the calling card for Andy and Larry Wachowski so that they could eventually do The Matrix series. They both wrote and directed Bound, demonstrating their unbelievable talent in making a film that would quickly become a cult classic in just a few short years. The script was sharp and fresh with more twists in it than a pretzel. They were able to get the two sexiest women in Hollywood at the time (Tilly and Gershon) to play the leads with Joe Pantoliano agreeing to take a cut in salary for his role as Caesar. They got a great Production Designer, Editor and Director of Photography to make Bound's appearance to be more film noir in essence with its dark tones and shadows and sparse cutting. The rest as they say is history.

Bound deals with Corky (played by Gershon), who just got out of prison after having served five years for what she calls a distribution of funds, or stealing. She was betrayed by her female partner and therefore has a severe lack of trust in those around her. She takes a job as a maintenance repair guy in a Chicago condo building and soon meets the vibrant and sexy Violet (played to the hilt by Tilly), who's the girlfriend of Caesar, a money launderer for the Mob. The couple live in the condo right next to the one that Corky is doing repairs in. The attraction between Corky and Violet is immediate, and it isn't long before Violet sexually seduces her. Corky knows trouble when she sees it, but that doesn't stop her from giving in to Violet's manipulations. It isn't long, however, before Violet makes the suggestion to her new lover that they steal two million dollars of the Mob's money, allowing Caesar to take the fall for its lost. What a deal--two million dollars, plus Violet. How could any man, or woman, say no to that. Of course, nothing goes according to the plan as all hell breaks lose with Caesar doing just the opposite of what the two ladies had hoped for. Then, there's the question of whether or not Corky will once again find herself being betrayed by the woman she cares about. Any and everything can happen before the ending is reached as betrayal, torture and murder become the norm for this outstanding film.

This movie is everything a viewer could hope for. It's scary, funny and sexy to the ninth degree. Tilly and Gershon heat up the screen with their lovemaking and dubious intentions. They capture theirs roles with perfect aplomb, delighting in the subtle nuances that each brings to their particular character and playing off of it. Joe Pantoliano does a great job as the man who's caught in the middle of these two black widows, refusing to go down without a fight. One big surprise is how great John Ryan is as Mickey, a boss for the Mob. The guy is downright scary in his performance. He never raises his voice or over reacts--just a steady force to be reckoned with. Christopher Meloni as crazy Johnnie Marzzone brings in the laughs with his wicked sense of humor in the most dour of situations like when an accountant for the Mob is being tortured about the money he's stolen. When a finger is cut off and falls to the bathroom floor, Johnnie says, "Oops. You dropped something." Bound is a slick, classy film with top performances by its actors that totally deserves all of the recognition it's received over the years. It's a movie that you can certainly watch over and over. I will say that there isn't much in the way of extras on the DVD, but the film commentary is great. Jennifer Tilly shows up during the last third of the commentary and basically steals the show away from the Wachowski Brothers and Joe Pantoliano. She won't let anyone get in a word edgewise and acknowledges that she som