Disturbia (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon.com

Alfred Hitchcock fans may experience déjà vu upon exposure to this voyeuristic thriller. That's because director DJ Caruso (The Salton Sea) and co-writer Carl Ellsworth (Red Eye) use Rear Window as a jumping-off point before cherry-picking from more recent scare fare, like The Blair Witch Project. In the prologue, 17-year-old Kale (Shia LaBeouf, Holes) loses his beloved father to a car crash. A year passes, and he's still on edge. When a teacher makes a careless remark about his dad, Kale punches him out, and is sentenced to house arrest. After his mom (Carrie-Anne Moss, Memento) takes away his Xbox and iTunes privileges, the suburban slacker spies on his neighbors to pass the time. In the process, he develops a crush on Ashley (Sarah Roemer, The Grudge 2), the hot girl next door, and becomes convinced that another, the soft-spoken Mr. Turner (David Morse, The Green Mile), is a serial killer. With the help of the flirtatious Ashley, practical joke-playing pal Ronnie (Aaron Yoo), and an array of high-tech gadgets, like cell-phone cameras and digital camcorders, Kale sets out to solve a major case without leaving his yard (a feat that would prove more challenging for a less affluent sleuth). In the end, it's pretty familiar stuff, but there are plenty of scares once Turner realizes he's being watched, and rising star LaBeouf, who next appears in Michael Bay's Transformers, makes for an engaging leading man--despite his character's propensity for slugging Spanish instructors. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Beyond Disturbia

Why We Love Shia LaBeouf
The Soundtrack
Rear Window

Stills from Disturbia (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

When a great movie's plot line is used.......2007-09-17

you'd think there would be some level of respect for the original. Not that the audience that this was aimed at would know what that was. Very mediocre half hearted attempt at murder mystery and not very well done at that.

A weak modernized remake of Rear Window for teens.......2007-09-15

As everybody knows by now, Disturbia was pretty much a modernized remake of Hitchcocks 'Rear Window" for the teen scene.

For all practical purposes nothing of substance happens for the first 50 minutes of the this film, thus suspense is never really built like in Hitchcock's work.

When things start to happen, it does so in a largely irritating manner due to the two (2) criminal sins too many film makers commit today........

1) Keeping the story going by having everybody do the dumbest actions possible.

2) Ignore the laws of physics and reality.

MILD SPOILER ALERT BELOW...............................
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
If you are watching a murderer thru binoculars from across the street and the very moment you set them down, you turn and find that killer standing in your 2nd floor bedroom then somehow that killer is either magical or owns a molecular transporter.
All thru this movie, the killer appears and dissapears instantaneously near our main characters even if they just saw the killer 100 yards away only 2 seconds earlier.

I suppose this was done to "surprise" the audience, but it comes across quite silly.

The young actors were actually very good and they could have done more with this movie........ it ends up just being a watered down teen flick that borrows heavily from a classic but misses the formula for what made the original Hitchcock film so good.

A Spooky Blend.......2007-09-14

I couldn't help comparing Disturbia with the Burbs and Rear Window.

There is some great humor in Disturbia along with the horror and creepiness.

With several scenes that are hard to shake from your thoughts late at night when you can't sleep and the house starts to make noises, Disturbia delivers on the suspense and thrills.

I appreciated the restraint it showed in language, gore and sex. There are some elements that parents will want to check into if they are concerned about their kids seeing Disturbia, but it's not a teen gross out movie.

Disturbia: Disturbingly Excellent.......2007-09-14

This movie was a chiller, from beginning to end! Excellent Friday night movie!

Suprisingly good.......2007-09-12

The first half of "Disturbia" is rather bland....Kale (Shia LaBeouf) is placed under house arrest for popping his teacher and he begins a three-month "incarceration" by watching videos and looking pretty bored. But after he picks up his binoculars and begins scouting the neighbors, things accelerate. Loosely based on Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window", "Disturbia" is an update with gizmos. One cannot imagine this film working on any level unless everyone had a cellphone. "Disturbia" is aimed at a younger crowd but an appealing performance by LaBeouf helps it to a satisfying conclusion.

Average customer rating:

Good acting, moves slowly!!!!!!!!!!
Great love story!
Sweet Land - sweet movie
Hypnotically Quiet, but No Less Passionate.
A Smart and Enjoyable Film

Sweet Land - A Love Story
Starring: Elizabeth Reaser , Tim Guinee , Alan Cumming , John Heard , and Alex Kingston
Director: Ali Selim
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B000P5FH26
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Amazon.com

Adapted from a Will Weaver story, Ali Selim's Sweet Land is a truly sweet story about unlikely immigrant lovers whose struggle for integration into 1920's America earns them a work ethic more American than many of their narrow-minded neighbors. Set in rural Minnesota, the sentimental film focuses on tribulations that Scandinavian settlers experienced, with a cinematic serenity reminiscent of Terrence Malik's Days of Heaven. Norwegian farmer Olaf Torvik (Tim Guinee) invites a non-English speaking German siren, Inge Alltenburg (Elizabeth Reaser), to relocate and marry him, but discovers that neither the town's Lutheran pastor (John Heard) nor the local judge will marry a German into their community for fear of wartime German spies. Inge finds friendship in neighbors Frandsen (Alan Cumming) and his wife, Brownie (Alex Kingston), who disregarding local gossip, welcome her into their home. Finally, Inge proves herself, settling in so that Sweet Land's historical narrative is framed by Inge, fifty years later, speaking to her adult son about her husband's death and their plot of land. This multi-generational tale of social acceptance and land ownership is ultimately the story of America, though the regional specificity of Sweet Land will speak especially to those familiar with Midwestern culture. --Trinie Dalton

Description

Inge (Elizabeth Reaser) is a feisty German mail-order bride who has come to Minnesota to marry Olaf (Tim Guinee), a young Norwegian immigrant farmer of few words. But in a post-WWI, anti-German climate, the local minister (John Heard) openly forbids the marriage. Inge and Olaf fall in love despite the town's disapproval. But when the town banker (Ned Beatty) attempts to foreclose on the farm of his friend Frandsen (Alan Cumming), Olaf takes a stand...and the community unites around the young couple, finally accepting Inge as one of their own.

Customer Reviews:

Good acting, moves slowly!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-09-17

The acting is very good and the scenery is spectacular.
The movie tends to move alittle to slow....could have more
story especially after they marry.

Great love story!.......2007-09-06

This movie was beautifully written, directed and acted. I was very impressed with the soundtrack as well. Though the movie is not action packed, it is filled with well developed characters and interesting plot turns. The gradual love story that builds through the entire film is entertaining right up to the end. I would highly recommend this movie!

Sweet Land - sweet movie.......2007-08-25

Our family thoroughly enjoyed the steady, quiet, loving pace of this movie. There are many issues of acceptance, faith, and determination that are woven into the story. It is beautifully filmed and we loved the characters. We highly recommend this movie for just about anyone.

Hypnotically Quiet, but No Less Passionate. .......2007-08-24

"Sweet Land" is an unusual love story set among homesteading immigrants in Minnesota farm country shortly after World War I. Olaf Torvik (Tim Guinee) came to the US from Norway in 1910, moved west, cleared some land, and became a farmer. A decade later, his parents in Norway find him a wife. Inge Allenberg (Elizabeth Reaser) arrives by train with 2 suitcases and her indispensable phonograph. But Inge is a German national. Post-war sentiment toward Germans prevent the minister and judge from marrying the couple. Olaf is frustrated by the situation, but Inge is determined to be his wife.

"Sweet Land" director Ali Selim adapted the film from Will Weaver's short story "A Gravestone Made of Wheat". The story of Inge and Olaf provides an window on an American culture rarely seen in film. The farms' placid beauty defies the harsh realities of eking out a living in this fickle environment. I was entranced by the quietness that results from Olaf's laconic nature and Inge's inability to speak English. The actors do a splendid job of conveying Inge's resolve and Olaf's frustrated longing and fear of this stranger with few words. "Sweet Land"'s framing device is awkward, but it does give the story context and leaves the audience satisfied to know how things turned out.

The DVD (20th Century Fox 2007): There is one featurette, a theatrical trailer (2 ½ min), and an audio commentary. "Sweet Land: A Labor of Love Story" (11 min) interviews director Ali Selim about his intentions and talks with the cast about their characters and themes. The audio commentary is by writer/director Ali Selim, actors Tim Guinee and Elizabeth Reaser, editor James Stanger, and producer Gil Bellows. Selim and Stanger discuss the framing device. Selim talks about adapting the story. Also discussed are locations, the score, performances, shooting anecdotes, and the actors share their experiences. Subtitles for the film are available in English, Spanish, and French.

A Smart and Enjoyable Film.......2007-08-13

Sweet Land is a film which is enjoyable time after time for the nuances of the writing, the acting and the beautiful cinematography. Because of the focus of the film on immigrant brides, and the reality of the language barriers, my second viewing was like seeing a sequel. The actors brought real depth to the subject matter and I especially appreciated the development of the relationships in the community. A great film for the whole family.

Average customer rating:

When a great movie's plot line is used
A weak modernized remake of Rear Window for teens
A Spooky Blend
Disturbia: Disturbingly Excellent
Suprisingly good

Disturbia (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Shia LaBeouf , Sarah Roemer , Carrie-Anne Moss , David Morse , and Aaron Yoo
Director: D.J. Caruso
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B000RO6K8K
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Amazon.com

Beyond Disturbia

Why We Love Shia LaBeouf
The Soundtrack
Rear Window

Stills from Disturbia (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

When a great movie's plot line is used.......2007-09-17

A weak modernized remake of Rear Window for teens.......2007-09-15

A Spooky Blend.......2007-09-14

Disturbia: Disturbingly Excellent.......2007-09-14

This movie was a chiller, from beginning to end! Excellent Friday night movie!

Suprisingly good.......2007-09-12

Average customer rating:

This version is better than Disney's.
Perfect for the youngsters
Would Give it More Stars if More Than Five Were Possible
This is the one you want
terrific, original story

My Neighbor Totoro
Starring: Noriko Hidaka , Chika Sakamoto , Shigesato Itoi , Sumi Shimamoto , and Tanie Kitabayashi
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: B0001XAQ0A
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Amazon.com essential video

My Neighbor Totoro is that rare delight, a family film that appeals to children and adults alike. While their mother is in the hospital, 10-year-old Satsuki and 4-year-old Mei move into an old-fashioned house in the country with their professor father. At the foot of an enormous camphor tree, Mei discovers the nest of King Totoro, a giant forest spirit who resembles an enormous bunny rabbit. Mei and Satsuki learn that Totoro makes the trees grow, and when he flies over the countryside or roars in his thunderous voice, the winds blow. Totoro becomes the protector of the two sisters, watching over them when they wait for their father, and carrying them over the forests on an enchanted journey. When the children worry about their mother, Totoro sends them to visit her via a Catbus, a magical, multilegged creature with a grin the Cheshire Cat might envy.

Unlike many cartoon children, Satsuki and Mei are neither smart-alecky nor cloyingly saccharine. They are credible kids: bright, energetic, silly, helpful, and occasionally impatient. Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki makes the viewer believe the two sisters love each other in a way no American feature has ever achieved. My Neighbor Totoro is enormously popular in Japan, and some of the character merchandise has begun to appear in America. The film has also inspired a Japanese environmental group to buy a Totoro Forest preserve in the Saitama Prefecture, where Miyazaki's film is set. --Charles Solomon

Description

Critically acclaimed as one of the most delightful and charming family films ever, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is a stunning animated treat full of magical adventure from Hayao Miyazaki. Follow the adventures of Satsuki and her four-year-old sister Mei when they move into a new home in the countryside. To their delight, they discover that their new neighbor is a mysterious forest spirit called Totoro, who can be seen only through the eyes of a child. Totoro introduces them to extraordinary characters -- including a cat that doubles as a bus! -- and takes them on an incredible journey. Full of wonder and heart, this spectacular 2-disc set features the voice talents of Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is a magical experience for the whole family! © 1988 Nibariki • G

Customer Reviews:

This version is better than Disney's........2007-09-14

I like this version a lot better than the one that Disney recently released. I own them both and this is the one that I watch. The Disney one has its benefits; you can view the film in the original Japanese language and you can watch it in Widescreen. However, the voice over done on the new Disney one is terrible; it sounds really "acty". I am not fond of Disney's decision to try to sell Miyazaki's movies based on WHO does the voice over as opposed to HOW WELL they do the voice over.
This movie was my introduction to Miyazaki many years ago and is one of my most favorite animated films. Every child I have ever know that sees this movie loves it.

Perfect for the youngsters.......2007-09-08

The Japanese origin of this film gives it a refreshing look compared to American animation. The story is delightful, and for a change a girl has the lead role. Kids will love the landscapes and the characters. Good, clean fun.

Would Give it More Stars if More Than Five Were Possible.......2007-09-06

Have probably watched this movie at least fifty times with and without my daughter either all the way through or just for 10 or so minutes here and there. It's safe to say that nobody in my home has shown the slightest capacity to lose any interest in this totally brilliant-but-understatedly-so movie. If I could only recommend one thing of all the things I've ever purchased on Amazon it might just be this movie. Can't recommend it highly enough.

This is the one you want.......2007-07-30

This is the definitive English-dubbed version. You've got to have it.

Steer clear of the Disney product. They butchered Totoro.

I concur that a full-blown multi-disc DVD would be nice, but then you might be settling for Disney dubbing. And all the good Fox version DVD's will be bought up and no longer available. Or they will be $200 collector's items.

I truly hate what Disney does to Japanese film. All the film's messages are reduced to a slow 1st grade reading level. Americanisms are substituted for Japanisms. Famous AMerican actors are used for the voices. Very distracting.

Get a clue, Disney. I'm trying to watch a Japanese film so I can see a Japanese film. I don't need it dumbed down and Americanized.

Note that the above criticism is directed agaist the Disney product.

This Fox product is great. Whatever anime you can get your hands on that Disney hasn't touched, congratulations.

I hate what Disney does to anime ever more than I hate Ted Turner for colorizing everything, but it's the same kind of hate.

terrific, original story.......2007-07-26

very nice to have little girls as the primary characters. Well written dynamic between the sisters, showing how a big sister tends to look out for her younger siblings, and how very young children feel about being told what to do. The magical world and characters that the girls discover at their summer home is a great connection to the imaginary play that I see in the younger children. Its a little long for the little ones(3- 4.5 yrs) but my 5 year old enjoys the whole movie on an indoor day or long trip. We watched Sprirted Away first, another great movie, but its not really for little ones (some "scary" characters and a separation from parents).
In this movie, the girls' are concerned about their mother who is recuperating, but that is not the focus of the story, and I think its good to present the idea that little kids could sometimes have an ill or recuperating parent. (Instead of just dead, like so many of the princess movies)

Average customer rating:

Wings n Things The Secret Garden
The Secret is Out!
Miraculous Musicians
Top Quality in Children Entertainment
Great Movie

The Secret Garden
Starring: Kate Maberly , Heydon Prowse , Andrew Knott , Maggie Smith , and Laura Crossley
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

3-6 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: 6304698690
Release Date: 1997-11-19

Amazon.com

Filmed before (and quite nicely) in 1949, Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's story was remade for this admirable 1993 release, executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by acclaimed Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland. Splendidly adapted by Edward Scissorhands screenwriter Caroline Thompson, the film opens in India during the early 1900s, when young Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is orphaned and sent to England to live in Misselthwaite Manor, the gloomy estate of her brooding and melancholy uncle, Lord Craven (John Lynch). Because the uncle is almost always away on travels, struggling to forget the death of his beloved wife, Mary is left mostly alone to explore the estate. Eventually she befriends the young brother of a staff maid and Lord Craven's apparently crippled son, who has been needlessly bedridden for years. Together the three children restore a neglected garden on the estate grounds, and in doing so they set the stage for a moving reaffirmation of life and love. Filmed with graceful style and careful attention to the intelligence and cleverness of young children, The Secret Garden is that rarest breed of family film that transcends its own generic category, encouraging a sense of wonder and optimism to become a rewarding experience for viewers of any age. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The enchanting classic about a young girl who brings an English country house's garden - and the people it touches - magically back to life. Maggie Smith and John Lynch star. Year: 1993

DVD Features:
Interactive Menus
Production Notes
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer:Three theatrical trailers

Customer Reviews:

Wings n Things The Secret Garden.......2007-08-16

This master piece addresses many levels of our mind and heart at once. It carries a basic moral lesson that unconditional love heals.It is however much more powerful than that. It engages a (perhaps more mature ) reader into archetypal realms of the mind at large, where we all seek 'our own key', that will open the door to our personal and collective 'hidden' inner sanctuary, haven and place of profound inner healing.
I highly recommend this book for children ( of all ages) with a chronic or physically debilitating illness, when they are feeling most isolated and alone. It offers hope, the potential to 'really believe' in their own possibility of healing..on many levels. Plus the more simple joy, of a magical tale one just might get delightufully lost in for while ...emerging with new sparks of imagination.

The Secret is Out!.......2007-08-04

This is an outstanding version of the classic story. The cinematography, acting and directing are superb.

Miraculous Musicians.......2007-07-30

These musicians are miraculous! Don't miss this talent! Can't wait until their new CD is put on the market!

Top Quality in Children Entertainment.......2007-07-08

I have watched this movie several times in the company of small children who seemed to enjoy the storyline so well.

Mary is young girl from British parents who is born in India and when an earthquake kills them, she is orphaned and sent to live with an uncle in a very sinister looking manor in England. She experiments to find secret passageways (all Gothics are full of secret passageways) but end up finding a secret garden instead. The housekeeper (Maggie Smith does everything she can to limit the child's actions but to no avail, as the girl has a mind of her own.)

The sad tale behind the garden is that the mistress of the manor died giving birth to an invalid child after falling out of the garden swing. The garden is then shut up and forgotten along with the memory of the dead wife.

Mary, Kate Moberly plays a dynamic little girl who continues to explore until she discovers a groaning, crying sound in the night which turns out to be a bedridden cousin. This cousin has been kept bedridden in error by the housekeeper who has misdiagnosed his condition to be something far more serios than it truly is.

Heyden Prowse could plays the crippled male cousin. Mary takes Colin(Heyden) out of doors and eventually he walks. The story is very predictable but nevertheless, done is such a way that it appear new.

This author knows how to tell a tale to children even if you can predict the outcome. it is all in the storytelling and the film maker flattered the book. This is a very endearing story...would bw greart subject matter for children's classrooms.

Great Movie.......2007-05-13

A good adaptation of a wonderful children's story. More importance is placed on the "magic" of the story than on the faith in the story. Faith, Prayer, Hope and Love of God are what created the magic and this is not emphasized as it is in the book. This was disappointing, but other than that the setting was beautiful and allowed our imaginations to fill in the gaps that were emitted from the movie that F. H. Burnett had written. A wonderful family movie.

Average customer rating:

Great Thriller
If it wasn't for the girl in the bikini, I would have given it 1 star!
Great Movie Overall
And I'd Have Gotten Away With it Too if Not for You Meddling Kids!

Disturbia [Blu-ray]
Starring: David Morse , Carrie-Anne Moss , Viola Davis , Shia LaBeouf , and Jose Pablo Cantillo
Director: D.J. Caruso
Manufacturer: Dreamworks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000RO6K80
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Amazon.com

Beyond Disturbia

Why We Love Shia LaBeouf
The Soundtrack
Rear Window

Stills from Disturbia (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Great Thriller .......2007-09-09

Loved the movie it has just the right ingredients to make a good thriller without being too violent or made for kids. Looks fantastic on Blu Ray

If it wasn't for the girl in the bikini, I would have given it 1 star!.......2007-09-01

If it wasn't for the girl in the bikini, I would have given it 1 star!
I'm not sure how this movie got rated so high (7.2/10 on IMDB, bikini votes), it was a less than average movie, nothing special.
The story was pretty weak, many cheesy lines and instances, and the acting not so great.
It starts cheesy and ends predictable, a typical Hollywood revisited idea made worse.
Don't waste your money, rent it first.

Great Movie Overall.......2007-08-31

I remember seeing this movie on a special sneak preview occasion and I must say that I was impressed with it then and I am totally even more impresssed with it now in HD on Blu-ray. Although I usa a PS3 as my primary and only Blu-ray, it does the job very well!!! I purchased this title mainly because of its great storyline, cinematography, and the fact that its one of the last titles made on Blu-ray before Paramount's switch to HD-DVD which I think was a huge mistake! Anyhow, the movie does not feel low-budget, but offers a great sense of action, thrill, and suspense. Go watch it.

And I'd Have Gotten Away With it Too if Not for You Meddling Kids!.......2007-08-27

Three months before Shia LaBeouf's leading role in the Summer of 2007's blockbuster Transformers, he appeared in Disturbia. And he seems to have gotten into the same character for his roles in both films: a kind of missing link from Scooby Doo's gang Scooby Doo, Where Are You! - The Complete First and Second Seasons .

"Every killer lives next door to someone" is the tagline on the movie poster, and the movie's trailer expands on the spoiler-tagline by coming right out with the detail of how a high school senior (LaBeouf) living under house-arrest discovers his neighbor is a serial killer. So all that's left untold for viewers in Disturbia is what LaBeeouf's character and friends do about it.

Disturbia makes frequent attempts at humor, but most of the intended funny moments border on corny. The target audience of this movie clearly comes off as 13 - 24 year olds...the Scream crowd Scream Trilogy - Boxed Set . But Disturbia is far from how well done the Scream films were done. Kids and young adults will find some of the humor in Disturbia amusing, but serious thriller fans will tire quickly of some of the campyness.

There are some good, thrilling moments in Disturbia, but the suspense is lost in how predictable the movie is...especially after how much of the plot is deliberately given in advance to viewers that saw the trailer.

Overall the movie was good, and the I-just-have-to-see-what-happens-next factor kept me interested enough to be entertained. But this weekend I also watched 2002's Scooby Doo - The Movie Scooby Doo - The Movie [Blu-ray] , and I found it much more entertaining than Disturbia, and Scooby Doo was even less predictable. Zoinks!

Average customer rating:

I Love This Movie
Still entertaining after all these years !
Legendary film
old favorite
Funny look at a suburban neighborhood

The 'Burbs
Starring: Tom Hanks , Bruce Dern , Carrie Fisher , Rick Ducommun , and Corey Feldman
Director: Joe Dante
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

ASIN: 0783233515
Release Date: 1999-05-04

Amazon.com

Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks) would like nothing better than to spend a quiet week's vacation in his suburban home, drinking beer and watching TV. But, spurred on by his two friends' spinning of boyish paranoid fantasies about their reclusive neighbors, the Klopeks, the usually down-to-earth Ray begins to suspect his idyllic neighborhood has been invaded by an evil force, to the point where he and his friends become psychotically nosey. You see where this is going, and you see it from a mile off. Only the general surface-thin plot is somewhat offset by director Joe Dante's fine sense of the absurd, and a host of engagingly played neighbor-types, namely Rick Ducommun as Ray's best friend who's always proposing bad ideas, and Bruce Dern as a sometimes wild-eyed ex-vet who'd love some action. Dante and crew seem to have a knack for keeping these broad characterizations light enough that you don't mind their superficiality. But the best jokes in this unprepossessing film come from composer Jerry Goldsmith's score; Bruce Dern's presence, for instance, is announced by the theme from Patton, and the boys' first approach to the Klopeks' for a meet-and-greet is buttressed by classic strains from Sergio Leone spaghetti Westerns. Kudos to the Klopeks, for their evil ways are ably embodied by Henry Gibson, Courtney Gains, and Brother Theodore. In particular, any suburb that finds it's inhabited by the likes of Brother Theodore is in dire need of new zoning laws. But Carrie Fisher's role as Ray's amiably long-suffering wife is thankless, and she deserves better. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews:

I Love This Movie.......2007-09-06

This movie has gotten great reviews and I'm glad of it. I've enjoyed it since it first came out in '89. It's a great movie. I'm not comparing it to any other movie. Why should I? When I'm feeling down I like to put this movie on and it makes me feel good. It's a feel good movie.

This movie has gotten a few negative reviews, but like I've said, I'm not comparing this to another movie. It's a stand alone. Let all the positive reviews speak for what the movie is. But those who speak bad of it, those who compare it to some other movie are missing the point.

When it comes right down to it, this movie is FUN. It may not be outrageously funny as far as comedies go, but every one is good hearted. It's a sweet movie as far as comedy/horror movies go. There's no gore. No swearing. It's a wholesome movie that the whole family can enjoy.

FUN. That's what it is. FUN.

Still entertaining after all these years !.......2007-08-26

This movie was released not long after Tom Hanks hit it big with "Big". It was not as successful as Big but I think it is a much funnier movie than Big and "Highly repeatable". The only down side is, no special features on the DVD. 20th anniversary is 2 years away, so I do hope Universal can re-release this as a special edition DVD.

The plot, Tom Hanks suspected that his next door neighbour are serial killers/mass murderers so he sort of organize his neighbourhood to put a stake out on his neighbour. Hilarious stuff, great cast (Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Wendy Schaal, Corey Feldman, and Rick Ducommun-too bad this career didn't take off).

I would have given it 5 stars if not for the lacking of special features, but this early DVD picture transfer is fine, and the Dolby 2.0 Surround is not bad. Highly recommended movie.

Legendary film.......2007-08-06

This movie, in it's own right, is a legend. It's one of the best comedies ever made with the best cast possible. Any American can relate to this movie well. Absolutely hilarious with many memorable moments an quotable lines. A true family favorite. Bruce Dern and Rick Ducommun are excellent sidekicks to Hanks' "average joe" character. I just wish there were more features added to the dvd.

old favorite.......2007-08-03

This was a gift for my grand daughter. She liked very much and was quite surprised. Thought it was not available anymore. Thank You

Funny look at a suburban neighborhood.......2007-07-31

The 'Burbs is a great comedy from the late 80's that hits all the right notes, blending both the comedy and thriller/mystery genres. Ray Peterson is your typical suburban father living with his wife, Carol, son, Dave, and dog Vince on a beautiful suburban cul-de-sac. But his new next door neighbors, the Klopeks, are an odd bunch, never leaving the house, but Ray hears all sorts of strange noises coming from their basement and even sees them digging in their backyard in the middle of the night. Along with his neighbors Art and Rumsfield, Ray grows suspicious of the Klopeks and begins to investigate what's really going on next door. With the whole movie taking place in this suburban cul-de-sac, The 'Burbs has both funny and scary moments, and blends the two genres seamlessly. Toward the end of the movie, the laughs are amped up even more as the truth reveals itself. Don't miss this movie, it's a great comedy.

Starring as Ray Peterson, Tom Hanks is the perfect "everyman," the suburban dad who simply wants to enjoy his week of vacation at home peacefully. For many scenes, Hanks gets to play straightman to the rest of the cast, but he has some great lines. Bruce Dern steals the movie as Mark Rumsfield, Ray's neighbor across the street, a Vietnam vet who still seems to be in the bush. Carrie Fisher is good as Carol, Ray's wife who just wants her husband to relax. Rick Ducommun is also very funny as Art, the paranoid neighbor convinced the Klopeks are up to no good. The teaming of Hanks, Dern, and Ducommun is great, the trio has the movie's best moments. Corey Feldman plays stoner teenager Ricky Butler, a kid who just loves watching the goings-on on his block. The creepy Klopeks are played by Henry Gibson, Brother Theodore, and Courtney Gains. Wendy Schaal rounds out the cast as Bonnie, Rumsfield's wife who sides with Carol.

The DVD is a good buy considering how cheap it is. It offers the movie in widescreen presentation, a good alternate ending that runs about 7-minutes, a trailer with several cuts and alternate scenes that didn't make the final print of the movie, production notes, and some cast and crew biographies/filmographies. Be careful though, you never know when a Special Edition DVD might be released. For now, this DVD version is a safe buy for fans of the movie. Check out The 'Burbs!

Average customer rating:

Laugh 'Til it Hurts
Great Movie
Funny, Silly, Enetertaining (almost required viewing for newlyweds)
Barefoot in the Park
love it!

Barefoot in the Park
Starring: Robert Redford , Jane Fonda , Charles Boyer , Mildred Natwick , and Herb Edelman
Director: Gene Saks
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Domestic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | 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: 6305537356
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Amazon.com essential video

Devotees of Neil Simon's repartee, such as in his Goodbye Girl and Brighton Beach Memoirs, will enjoy this earlier tale of domestic dispute between newlyweds. Corie (Jane Fonda) is the young housewife trying to keep life exciting while making a home for her and her husband, Paul (Robert Redford), on the fifth floor of a Greenwich Village walkup apartment. He's working hard at starting his career as lawyer; she's eager to be romantic and spontaneous; and the two have plenty to squabble about. The film suffers a bit from Corie's excessive perkiness and the odd lack of chemistry between the two actors. But those who find the dramatic conventions a bit stiff (some of the dialogue and action seems more suited for stage than screen) may still smile at the dated look (circa 1967) at home life. Mildred Natwick is superb as Corie's mother, and Charles Boyer milks his role as the elderly bohemian neighbor upstairs. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews:

Laugh 'Til it Hurts.......2007-09-01

Who can forget the stairway scenes! Which, without a doubt, is the heart of the movie. From the first victim (Herb Edelman, the telphone repairman) who have to climb the stairs to get to the apartment, to the rooftop drama, this movie delivers the laughs. Fonda and Redford make a good team. This is definitely a laugh-a-minute movie.

Great Movie.......2007-06-16

I never saw the play on which this movie is based, but I do have to say that I think this movie is hilarious and really light-hearted. The first time I saw it was on TCM (Turner Classic Movies), and I could already tell it was a classic. It was such a simple movie, yet so memorable. There are many catchy lines and quirky situations that make this movie a "must-have". I recommend it for anyone young or old who has the urge to laugh and smile through the day. Thanks for reading!=)

Funny, Silly, Enetertaining (almost required viewing for newlyweds).......2007-05-27

Based on Neil Simon's paly (he is also the author of the screenplay), this is a lighthearted, comic and silly yarn about two newlyweds (Redford and Fonda), who, after spending a brief honeymoon at the Plaza Hotel, move into a rented a walk-up apartment in New York. The challenges of the couple - lack of heating, adjusting to living with each other, dealing with in-laws and neighbors are well narrated and acted. Highly recommended for newlyweds, particularly those who are professionals and live in an urban environment!

For a more serious movie love story set in New York with Redford (and Streisand), see the 1973 Best Picture Oscar nominee "The Way We Were".

Barefoot in the Park.......2007-04-11

I love Robert Redford. He has so much charm. This is a fun movie to be enjoyed over and over.

love it!.......2007-03-29

This movie needs no review, if you have seen it you'd understand. It is a classic. If you haven't seen it do it now!!!

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 sometimes talks too much. Gershon shows up a few minutes later, and they both have fun razing Joe about his semi-nude scenes in the movie and his overall acting. Needless to say, the commentary is loads of fun. Bound is the type of movie that gives me hope for Hollywood. This is what filmmaking is all about, and it goes to show that fantastic movies can be made on a shoestring budget. You don't need two-hundred million dollars to make a classic.

Bound ( A movie you bound to have )........2007-03-17

If Drama, suspence, a little humour and an impressive story line is your thing, then you are BOUND to like this movie. Two ladies ( sort of ) swindles the mob over two million dollars...drama unfolds from the begining throughout the movie keeping you at the edge of your seat.
P.S warning there is a little lesbian scene that deterred my mom from watching the whole movie ( however this was early in the film ).

Mob Movie with a Twist.......2007-02-12

This is an incredibly unusual twist on a story of mob betrayal and robbery. Two women meet on an elevator and begin a love afair. One of them is living with a mobster. They conspire to steal $2 million of the mafia's money and all hell breaks loose.

The plot is tightly weaved , the acting is good and the movie has enough surprises that it never becomes boring. All in all a highly entertaining film with some strong sexuality and violence mixed in.

Average customer rating:

A wonderful movie for all ages.
We are getting hooked on that Captain Johnny
Good!
Enchanting !
A great movie

Finding Neverland (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Julie Christie , Johnny Depp , Ian Hart , Kate Maberly , and Vanessa Redgrave
Director: Marc Forster
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

ASIN: B0007CNXUK
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com

Sweetness that doesn't turn saccharine is hard to find these days; Finding Neverland hits the mark. Much credit is due to the actors: Johnny Depp applies his genius for sly whimsy in his portrayal of playwright J. M. Barrie, who finds inspiration for his greatest creation from four lively boys, the sons of widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet, who miraculously fuses romantic yearning with common sense). Though the friendship threatens his already dwindling marriage, Barrie spends endless hours with the boys, pretending to be pirates or Indians--and gradually the elements of Peter Pan take shape in his mind. The relationship between Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies family sparks both an imagined world and a quiet rebellion against the stuffy forces of respectability, given physical form by Barrie's resentful wife (Radha Mitchell, High Art) and Sylvia's mother (Julie Christie, McCabe and Mrs. Miller). This gentle silliness could have turned to treacle, but Depp and Winslet--along with newcomer Freddie Highmore as one of the boys--keep their feet on the earth while their eyes gaze into their dreams. Also featuring a comically crusty turn from Dustin Hoffman (who appeared in another Peter Pan-themed movie, Hook) as a long-suffering theater producer. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Award winners Johnny Depp (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL), Kate Winslet (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND), Dustin Hoffman, and Julie Christie (TROY, HAMLET) star in this magical tale about one of the world's greatest storytellers and the people who inspired his masterwork "Peter Pan." Well-known playwright James M. Barrie (Depp) finds his career at a crossroads when his latest play flops and doubters question his future. Then by chance he meets a widow (Winslet) and her four adventurous boys. Together they form a friendship that ignites the imagination needed to produce Barrie's greatest work! An enchanting big-screen treat with an acclaimed cast of stars, FINDING NEVERLAND has been hailed as one of the year's best motion pictures!

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful movie for all ages........2007-09-04

I went to see this movie with my friends. I didn't even know what movie we would be seeing, I just went to be with them. At the end of the movie I was so moved, I could have cried. This movie is beautiful, powerful, and the acting is top notch.

Not only do Johnny Depp and Freddie Highmore give wonderful performances, but the supoirting cast of Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Dustin Hoffman, and the other boys are just as magical. A brilliant film from start to finish and easily, one of the best of 2004. An absolutely wonderful move for all ages.

The DVD features A Filmmaker's Commentary, Deleted Scenes, Outtakes, and a few featurettes. I definitely recommend this movie. A delight for all ages.

We are getting hooked on that Captain Johnny.......2007-09-03

Pirates are Johnny Depp's curse for ever and even when he becomes a Lord in late Victorian London he manages do choose the author of Peter Pan and thus gets some Captain Hook to shake his hand. But his role is a composition of the best and most difficult type, the type of stunts you don't need a stuntman to do in your place. The film is a real gem for two main reasons. First of all because it is a love story in a time when love was some kind of forbidden goods in the aristocracy. And the love story is so pure, so beyond any doubt that he avoids melodrama when death decides to play his own game with that Johnny who invades the widowed mother's life a little bit too much. Dramatic but not tear-wringing. And the second reason of the beauty of that film is also the reason why it remains feeling intense without being heart rending or heart breaking. The whole film is centered on a bunch of boys and brothers and Peter is so young that we are amazed by his being so present, so good, so mature in his performance. He does not miss a word, a sentiment or an emotion and his so deep acting touches us a lot more than the obstinacy of Death to come and take away what he considers his owed property. And all the rest is nothing but the clothing and beefing up of that power. Johnny Depp becomes a real prodigy in this composition and he looks so serious that we forget the genial clown he is quite often in other films. Peter Pan is a legend and his author is like the Peter of Heavens, the guide and majordomo of our imagination who can introduce us to what real spiritual happiness can be. And we discover we are still able to dream because somewhere the film wakes up the child or even the baby who has never died completely in our life of needs and wants and remembers the cradle that a motherly hand was rocking in a regular and powerful rolling that has inspired our most intimate desires as soon as we were big enough to sleep flat on our stomach in an adult bed. Regular and religious rhythm of that rocking. The religion of coming out of the dream to wake up in a sunny world of pure tenderness.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines

Good!.......2007-07-31

This is a good movie. I can't help but to think there was an unspoken love between Barrie and Sylvia. They never said, but I think it was true, and in the end Barrie said he loved her. I think that is kind of an adult theme, Barrie was a married man who fell in love with another woman.

Enchanting !.......2007-07-28

While many would pass this off as a "chick flick" they would be wrong, however if you "don't believe" even for a second...you will miss the magic!

A great movie.......2007-06-28

This movie really touched my heart. It's based on the man who wrote Peter Pan, and in my opinion his story is more remarkable than the play he wrote. A man who struggled to write a hit play, struggled to find happiness within his marriage, and struggled to find himself. He finds a young boy named Peter who's mom is played be Kate Winslett. He becomes involved with this young boys family and his whole life changes. This is a touching story, and dare I say will bring a tear to your eye. My wife and I thouroughly e