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Snatch Widescreen Edition Description:

SNATCH (DVD/SINGLE DISC)

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1789 in DVD
• Brand: Sony Pictures Home ENT
• Released on: 2003-06-03
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English, French
• Dubbed in: French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 102 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 9781404938595
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

HILARIOUS
Some people write in their reviews the movie is braindead, stupid and not funny at all. Well, it depends on what kind of humor you prefer. If you like Tarantino, Coen brothers, Guy Ritchie’s “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”, films like “Thursday”, “Get Shorty” and “Way of the Gun”, then this opus is just for you. If you can’t stand all of the listed above - just skip this one.
To my opinion “Snatch” is much better then previous Ritchie’s work, more than that - it’s one of the best criminal comedies. It’s more criminal than others, it’s more funny than others. Guy Ritchie actually did his best here and created an atmosphere of absurd, chaotic fun. The acting is perfect, Brad Pitt is totally different from what we used to see, Dennis Farina is just soooo hilarious! Now I can’t normally see him in other movies - I recall “Snatch” and begin to laugh hysterically.
The characters’ lines are funny and the way they deliver them is even funnier. By the way it’s one of the few films I had to watch with captions - I couldn’t understand much of being said because of their cockney (if I’m not mistaken) accent.
Anyway if you like crazy criminal comedies - watch it without any question. If you don’t - watch something else instead.

Sony will replace the superbit disk
I purchased this item and found that disk one was the old superbit edition without the commentary track. I emailed Sony and they quickly responded saying that this was a mistake with the first production run. If you mail in disk 1 along with the proof of purchase and copy of the email from Sony, they will send you the proper disk 1. So, if you have this dvd with the wrong disk one, just email Sony and they will tell you what to do.

Tricky, flaky, funny
“Snatch” is a movie that takes a little patience to get into. The first 15-20 minutes are a bit confusing. There are a lot of characters to introduce, and Ritchie’s fitful editing style - reminiscent of music video-style flash - is something the viewer will have to get used to. But once it settles down and we get into the flow of it, it is a very entertaining, even hilarious, movie.

Brad Pitt does a superb job and shows once more why he is not only a big star but a fine actor. All the actors in this are excellent. It’s a film about confusion, dumb plots, and drastic mistakes made by people who think they’re smart when really they are all dumb as lamposts.

This movie is made with real flair and an ear for “talk.” I would suggest watching it with ENGLISH SUBTITLES ON. This is the great innovation of DVD and it makes the picture a bit more coherent. There is a section when Pitt delivers one of his prodigious mumbles that the subtitles simply give up. It is actually totally invented by Pitt. Don’t worry if you aren’t getting it all the first time you see it. It’s really a small tour de force by Ritchie and needs to be seen at least twice to get the full effect..

Amazon.com
Usually it might seem a tad unfair to begin a review by referring to the director’s missis. But then the missis in question wouldn’t usually be Madonna–a woman whose ability to reinvent herself several times before breakfast seems in marked contrast to that of hubby Guy Ritchie. Certainly, this follow-up to the filmmaker’s breakthrough film–the high-energy, expletive-strewn cockney-gangster movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels–hardly breaks new ground being, well, another high-energy, expletive-strewn cockney-gangster movie. OK, so there are some differences. This time around our low-rent hoodlums are battling over dodgy fights and stolen diamonds rather than dodgy card games and stolen drugs. There has been some minor reshuffling of the cast too, with Sting and Dexter Fletcher making way for the more bankable Benicio Del Toro and Brad Pitt, the latter pretty much stealing the whole shebang as an incomprehensible Irish gypsy. And, sure, people who really, really liked Lock, Stock–or have the memory of a goldfish–will really, really like this. The suspicion lingers, however, that if the director doesn’t do something very different next time around then his career may prove to be considerably shorter than that of his missis. –Clark Collis

From The New Yorker
Guy Ritchie caused a stir-mistaken by some for a storm-with his first feature, “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” Not wishing to tamper with a winning formula, he has returned to the scene of the crime, delivering a further batch of never quite credible Cockneys. They have names like Bullet Tooth Tony (Vinnie Jones) and Brick Top (Alan Ford), and they converse in the artful patois that Ritchie continues to sell as echt. The plot, this time, is more convoluted, involving a diamond theft and a series of boxing matches, none of which, naturally, go according to plan. Ritchie’s strength is the running gag; one can only grow fond of a dog that has swallowed a rubber toy and thus squeaks when it tries to bark. His weakness is a hectic, self-advertising style that wearies what it’s meant to quicken; you come out feeling sated and soiled. The cast is honored by the presence of Benicio Del Toro, first seen in the garb of a Hasidic Jew, and especially by Brad Pitt, who plays what is rumored to be an Irish Gypsy, although no one, least of all the other characters, can decipher what he has to say. -Anthony Lane
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Shortbus Unrated Edition Product: Shortbus Unrated Edition Lowest Price! List Price: —- Amazon Price: Price Too Low To Display! Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

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From the director of ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ comes SHORTBUS, an exploration into the lives of several characters living in present-day New York as they navigate the comic and tragic intersections between love and sex. Male and female, straight and gay, the characters find one another – and eventually find themselves – when they all converge at a weekly underground salon called “Shortbus,” a mad world of art, music, politics, and polysexual carnality. One of the true sensations of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, presents sex and sexuality as never before seen in mainstream entertainment, and promises to be one of the most talked-about films for months – and years – to come.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4071 in DVD
• Brand: THINKFILM LLC
• Released on: 2007-03-13
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Anamorphic
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Spanish, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 101 minutes

Features

• Written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell (who previously starred in and directed the film adaptation of his international stage hit, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Shortbus explores the lives of several characters living in present-day New York as they navigate the comic and tragic intersections between love and sex. Male and female, straight and gay, the characters find one and other - and even

Love Uncensored
I will admit, One of the main reasons I wanted to see this movie was because of the buzz about it being one of the most sexually explicit movies ever made in the non-porn industry. I didn’t really expect to find the movie interesting, I just wanted to see what everyone was talking about.

The first minute or so was nothing but explicit sex and I almost turned the movie off thinking it was going to be pointless, that this was all there was to the movie, but I had nothing better to do so I kept watching.

This movie is not porn, nor is it erotica. This movie IS an uncensored look at the truth about love and sex, and is probably one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is brutally honest, thought provoking, intense at times, and funny at others. These are characters that we can relate to, because they are real.

I can not say enough positive things about this movie, it is art, it is truth, it is exceptional.

It will definitely be a part of my DVD collection.

“You’ve got to pull the bus over . . . You’re not riding safely . . . Park.”
Strange as it seems, I watched “This Film is Not Yet Rated” and “Shortbus” in the same day. And some part of me wondered … did John Cameron Mitchell even bother to submit this to the MPAA? Not, of course, because he expected to receive a “passing-grade” from the prudish parents (and the two members of the clergy) that run the ratings and appeals board … but simply to force the cloistered collection of puritans to watch couples attempting to negotiate their sexuality.

The fantastic ensemble cast is phenomenal at arousing laughter, compassion, and perhaps a few tears. Moreover, in a weird way, watching Sofia navigate the Shortbus haven is kind of like a return to high-school parties: everyone is making out, someone is crying in the closet, a couple of people are watching television, a group of desperate goofs are playing “spin the bottle,” and your boyfriend (or girlfriend) is bored. Ohh, and you never leave very satisfied:)

What surprised me was how this film could have been painfully predictable, but was not. For instance, in the film’s introduction, Sophia expresses that she has never climaxed with her husband. When she explores Shortbus, she meets Severin (a tortured dominatrix). When the two women bond and become intimate, the viewer is convinced that satisfaction will come from another woman. Not so (thank goodness!). In fact, she is betrayed by Severin’s greedy lust. This is an unexpected, painful, and realistic turn for the film. I applaud the fact the Mitchell complicates sex … there are no easy answers for Mitchell (Thank you!!)

Unlike some of the reviewers here, I do not think “less is more.” We have lived with “less is more” for way too long. We Americans think sex is shameful … and if any films include it, they better be hidden in back rooms … behind ugly beaded curtains. These films invariably degrade both sexes and they degrade sex itself. This film shows Americans loving-couples (in many cases real-life couples) engaging in consensual sex. It illustrates the complications and beauty of these relationships. Never does it condescend. Instead, it graceful allows its viewers to become welcomed voyeurs … we learn as we watch. We experience the joy and frustration of these characters. It is … quite marvelous.

If you are tired of films that ignore the pleasures of sex for women (ignore, or as we learn from “This Film is Not Yet Rated,” simply are not permitted to show WOMEN enjoying sex), if you are searching for a film which treats the sex-life of gay men with playfulness and respect, if you are desperate for a film which makes sex “sexy,” messy, and complicated, then give Shortbus your attention.

But if films with gay men pleasuring each other and women finding pleasure at all, turn you off … well, you may as well return to the area behind the beaded curtain. The rest of us will hope that Mitchell continues to build upon his ground-breaking works!

Thank you, Mr. Mitchell!

Boom!
Any supposedly straight (as opposed to a soft or hard pornographic film) that begins with a montage of sex scenes featuring both men and women in full disclosure is alright with me.
That I was witnessing this montage in a suburban multiplex (ok albeit an “art house”) eating popcorn popped in Canola Oil and sipping a diet Sprite, sitting next to two blue hairs (who promptly exited, only after it might be noted, the completion scenes) only added to the surrealism of the situation.
Jamie (played by PJ DeBoy with a hang dog expression and tear welled eyes of which you soon grow weary) begins the film totally nude, filming himself auto fellating but blows the scene by doing just that too early.
Jamie is gay and a former street hustler and lives with James (Paul Dawson) in a decidedly one-way relationship: James loves Jamie and Jamie loves himself and says that he “feels nothing, nothing at all.”
Jamie and James consult a sex therapist, Sofia (Sook Yin Lee) for help and guidance and during their first session, Sofia blurts out that she has never had an orgasm.
The solution? All three hoof it out to Shortbus: a sort of Plato’s Retreat in which all manner of sex is performed in every position by every conceivable combination of men and women. Not all participate, no one is pressured, many just watch pretty much as we in the audience are doing: mouths agape, wondering how did Mitchell get the money to make this movie and more to the point: how did he get it released?
Justin Bond (played by himself), manager/chorus master/drum majorette of Shortbus describes and dissects the Club’s ethos as “like the 60’s but with less hope.”
Director John Cameron Mitchell (the brilliant “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) wants to titillate of course but he also wants to illuminate. And most of his characters do come out the backdoor better, smarter more self aware than when they entered. Not everything works. Some scenes are awkward and silly but Mitchell infuses the film with energy and social and emotional weight that cannot be denied.
Redemption through the cleansing and illuminating properties of Sex? Revolutionary.

Neil Diamond: Hot August Night/NYC - Live from Madison Square Garden Blu-ray Description:

Recorded live at New York’s Madison Square Garden in August, 2008, the DVD and Blu-Ray include the entire show from beginning to end and feature 25 career-spanning hits from Neil’s phenomenal four-night sold-out run at the fabled concert hall.

Also includes the exclusive bonus feature “Welcome Home Neil,” a behind-the-scenes look at Diamond’s pilgrimage to his childhood home in Brooklyn.

Blu-ray features full 1080p High Definition Picture, LPCM 2.0 Stereo, and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Sound (48kHz/24 bit) Track listing: 1.Holly Holy 2.Street Life 3.Beautiful Noise 4.Love On The Rocks 5.Play Me 6.Cherry, Cherry 7.Thank The Lord For The Night Time 8.Home Before Dark 9.Don’t Go There 10.Pretty Amazing Grace 11.Crunchy Granola Suite 12.Done Too Soon 13.Brooklyn Roads 14.I Am…I Said 15.Solitary Man 16.Kentucky Woman 17.Forever In Blue Jeans 18.Sweet Caroline 19.Sweet Caroline (Reprise) 20.You Don’t Bring Me Flowers 21.Song Sung Blue 22.I’m A Believer 23.Man Of God 24.Hell Yeah 25.Cracklin’ Rosie 26.America 27.Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show BONUS FEATURETTE: “Welcome Home Neil”

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4061 in DVD
• Brand: Diamond
• Released on: 2010-02-23
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 143 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 0886976271299
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

Poor Audio
What do you buy a blu ray musical performance for? Good video? yes, but you probably get it for the lossless audio track. The TrueHD track on this disc is very poor. It is more like 3.0 rather than 5.1. And the center channel is carrying at least 80-90% of the 3.0. The rear channels are non-existant. The stereo mix is brighter and has a better mix out of the front 3 channels. If you like Neil just get the DVD.

The video is good and the concert is superb like all of his concerts are. It is just that the disc is bad. I have over sixty blu-ray and HD DVD concert discs. This audio mix is one of the worst, similar to some of the first to come out 4-5 years ago. Rating purely on the audio. I would have given it one but Neil is outstanding.

Neil at his best
First of all I am a lifelong Neil Diamond fan. I saw this exact concert here in Denver. The great thing about this DVD/Blu-ray is that it is the only video I am aware of where we have a complete Neil Diamond concert. So I will rate in 3 categories.
Performance - Neil has been around for some time now. It has been awhile since the first Hot August Night. But luckily, he was in great voice for this concert. Much better than when I saw him live in Denver. Fans will not be disappointed. Full length concert in hi-def, does not get much better for fans.
Video - I would rate a little lower than I was hoping for here. Not quite as sharp as the best concerts, and some cameras were not as focused as others. But on most TVs, this will be a very pleasant picture.
Audio - again I have some minor issue here. Another review indicated the sound on the true 5.1 track is mostly center channel and almost no rears. Not sure how his system is set up, but that is not the case. The Blu-ray and DVD 5.1 tracks seem to be mastered about the same. The center channel is actually barely used. Vocal comes out of both left and right mains. Sound stage is all in front. Rears are fully engaged but used for arena ambience and crowd noise. Overall the sound is good, but vocals should be in the center channel, and overall sound is not quite as dynamic as the best concerts videos.

All said…a must for Neil Diamond fans.

Diamond sparkles —-what a beautiful noise !
First off, let me say this, never mind what else you’ve read, this blu ray disc’s surround audio is very good, not perfect but say a 4 or a 4 1/2 out of 5. I played it on a PS 3 connected HDMI to a digital amp with ability to decode the usual and the more recent audio formats and have this to report. The LPCM 2.0 output played through the stereo mode of the amp is satisfactory but nothing to shout about — stable sound imaging, but congested with slightly boomy bass at higher volume. The Dolby True HD 5.1 output when I perversely played it through the 2 channel mode of the amp sounded worse. The sound was muffled with poor stereo image and sounded awful enough for me to switch off in a hurry. But this same True HD 5.1.output when properly decoded and played through the 5.1. mode of the amp brought back the smile to my face. The differential output through the various speakers varies of course with the track played but generally is about 20-25% each from R and L front, 15-20% subwoofer, 10-15% each from R and L rear speakers and only 10-15% from the central speaker. Despite this timid output from the centre however, the stereo imaging from the 2 front speakers is excellent and the vocals from Diamond and the backup singers are easily discernible even with the full band playing, down to the last p’s and t’s and sibilants. This type of mix is much preferable to one with a strong centre speaker output which overwhelms and destroys the stereo illusion (for audiophiles getting a centre speaker is akin to getting the bubonic plague). The interesting thing about this particular 5.1 mix is that whilst it uses the centre sparingly as an in between “filler”, it uses it more as an ambience channel. Listen to tracks with strong audience noise like claps and whistles and sing-alongs and you’ll notice strong ambient noise coming from the centre. This, I think is to convey the illusion of sitting in the front row facing the stage in the gold fish bowl that is Madison Square Garden where of course the ambient noise surrounds you 360 degrees ! Good sound then and not a bad sound stage either.
The video quality is more of a mixed bag. When the lighting is just right you get the high def picture you expect from a blu ray but oftentimes when Diamond moves to a darker area the picture is noticeably softer and some long shots of the audience in poor light show up fuzzy and grainy. A 4 out of 5 perhaps.
But nitpicking aside it is the performance that matters most, and man can this guy perform ! Whether it is in the all out sock-it-to-’em numbers such as Holly Holly, Cherry Cherry, Crunchy Granola Suite and Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show, or in the declamatory I am…I Said, or the syrupy Sweet Caroline or the intimate You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, Neil Diamond sizzles, the band is hot and the audience laps everything up clamoring for more, more. What a night. Diamond seldom ever disappoints in a live concert, and this performance is a real gem, 5 carats and all of flawless.

The Interpreter Widescreen Edition Product: The Interpreter Widescreen Edition-Retail $9.99! Sale Only $8.99! List Price: $9.99 Amazon Price: $8.99 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

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Academy Award winners Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn star in the action-packed thriller, The Interpreter. In one of the hidden corridors of power at United Nations headquarters, translator Silvia Broome (Kidman) overhears a potentially explosive secret about a planned assassination attempt. But when federal agent Tobin Keller (Penn) investigates her claim and digs deeper into Silvia’s dangerous past, he begins to question whether she is a victim - or a suspect. From Oscar-winning director Sydney Pollack comes the riveting, edge-of-your-seat story of international intrigue that Ebert & Roeper give “Two thumbs up!”

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8293 in DVD
• Brand: Universal
• Released on: 2005-10-04
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French, Portuguese
• Subtitled in: French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 128 minutes

“The Interpreter” translates very well
“The Interpreter” is an excellent movie. Nicole Kidman plays Silvia Broome, an African-born U.N. interpreter who overhears a conversation about a plot to assassinate the dictator of Matobo. Federal agent Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) is then assigned to protect Silvia and crack the case.

This is a great suspense thriller with an interesting and witty plot. It’s also a psychological drama of sorts: Tobin and Silvia are both coping with personal losses while trying to deal with the stressful situation at hand. Kidman and Penn are both amazing Oscar-winning actors, and they turn in amazing performances in this film.

My favorite thing about “The Interpreter” is that it is the only feature film that has ever been shot on location inside the United Nations. It was great to see the details of these famous and somewhat intimidating government buildings and watch this exciting story unfold. (There are also some really great scenes shot in the streets of New York as well.)

The only thing that bugged me about this movie was the ending. Silvia kind of flips out at the end of the film, and although she definitely has clear motivation for what she does, I had a hard time buying into the fact that she wigged out to such an extreme, and also that her little speech to the dictator appeared to have such a profound effect on him. The story wraps up pretty nicely at the end, though, so that one little inconsistency can easily be forgiven.

I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a good suspense thriller: good movies are hard to find these days, and “The Interpreter” is definitely one you don’t want to miss.

The First Commercial Movie Filmed Inside the United Nations Building.
“The Interpreter” has the distinction of being the first commercial movie to be filmed inside the United Nations building in New York City. The UN Charter prohibits commercial use of the building, but director Sydney Pollack was able to get permission to film from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the grounds that the film’s themes support the UN mission. It helps that “The Interpreter” was able to film on location inside the UN, as that building’s huge open spaces and natural light improve the film’s aesthetics considerably and would have been impossible to recreate. The premise is that Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman), a simultaneous interpreter at the UN, overhears a conversation about an attempt on the life of Edmond Zuwanie (Earl Cameron), President of the fictional African nation of Matobo, who is scheduled to give a speech before the General Assembly. Secret Service Agent Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) of the Dignitary Protection Squad, and his partner Agent Woods (Catherine Keener), are assigned to protect Zuwanie and to investigate Silvia’s claim. Even when it becomes clear that her life is threatened, Silvia’s politics concerning Zuwanie and her involvement in the drama are still suspect.

Silvia Broome and Tobin Keller are not what I’d call well-written characters, but Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn give them more weight than lesser actors would. Silvia has a bizarre, unidentifiable accent. The character has one British and one white African parent. A South African accent would seem appropriate, but that’s not what she has. The Matoban language “Ku”, which Silvia translates, was created for the film at the South African Language Institute in London. It is a cross between Swahili, commonly spoken in East Africa, and Shona, a language of Southwestern Africa. “The Interpreter” is a suspense/thriller, so what the characters and audience don’t know is what makes it work. Edmond Zuwanie’s enemies may want him dead, but his supporters also want to prevent his speech at the UN, so it’s anybody’s guess which camp the assassin might come from. Silvia Broome is far from disinterested in the politics of Matobo, her home nation, but is she acting on her interests or her ideals? Those are the questions that keep everyone guessing. “The Interpreter” isn’t a great thriller. It didn’t have a script -or rather, the script was written as they were shooting, and it shows. But if you’re looking for a reasonably entertaining film featuring talented stars, “The Interpreter” fills the bill. 3 ½ stars.

The DVD (Universal 2005): Bonus features include a less probable Alternate Ending (3 minutes), 3 deleted scenes (2 minutes), 4 featurettes, and an audio commentary. In “Sydney Pollack at Work: From Concept to Cutting Room” (10 minutes), the director talks about what he likes about directing, the challenges of filmmaking, and shooting this film without a script. “Interpreting Pan & Scan vs. Widescreen” (5 minutes) is Pollack’s explanation of why he objects to pan and scan. “The Interpreter” is the first film Pollack has shot in wide screen in a long time, as he felt compelled to shoot in full screen format because his movies were being panned and scanned for television and video. “The Ultimate Movie Set: The United Nations” (8 minutes) talks about shooting inside the UN building. “A Day in the Life of Real Interpreters” (8 minutes) is an interesting look at the challenges of simultaneous interpretation, explained by Diana Liao, Chief of the Interpretation Service at the UN, and Brigitte Andreassier-Pearl, Chief of the French section of the Interpretation Service at the UN. The audio commentary by director Sydney Pollack is sporadic, with long lulls, but it is interesting. Pollack discusses the intention of the scenes on which he comments, what he added after shooting and took out in editing and why, story, locations, and some technical challenges. Subtitles are available for the film in Spanish and French. Captions are available in English. Dubbing is available in French.

Clearly up for interpretation
I’m surprised there are so many so-so reviews of this movie - I thought it was really good. The plot was pretty hard to follow at times, but Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn were great, and there were times when the suspense was almost too much to take. The twist at the end was totally unexpected - all along I thought I knew what was going on, and who the bad guy was, but that was completely shattered in the last scenes. The only reason I’m not giving it five stars is that it was a little long and convoluted - I kept thinking the movie was about to be over with, and then a whole new plotline would come up.

Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie Description:

The most magical event of the year is now even bigger, with more thrilling adventure! Wizards Of Waverly Place The Movie Extended Edition features exclusive footage, behind-the-scenes bonus and awesome extras that take you deeper into the mysterious world of wizardry!

Embark on a supernaturally exciting adventure as the Russos, your favorite family of wizards-in-training, join together on a quest full of heart-stopping action and hilarious magical mishaps! While on vacation, Alex (Selena Gomez) accidentally casts a spell that threatens her family’s existence! Max (Jake T. Austin) tries to keep his parents together while Alex and Justin (David Henrie) use every trick they know as they search for the “Stone of Dreams” to reverse the spell and save their family. You won’t want to miss one extraordinary moment of this extended, magic-filled and action-packed movie!

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5094 in DVD
• Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
• Released on: 2009-12-15
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 98 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 0786936793420
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

More Endearing Than Any Individual Episode
Though each individual episode of the hit Disney Channel TV show “Wizards of Waverly Place” is fun and quirky in its own right, all the material (acting, plot, witty one-liners) seems to fly by so fast that the viewer isn’t left with much real emotion. It’s almost as if the show gets so caught up in the formula (Alex does bad but prevails, Justin does good but never gets rewarded, etc.) that it doesn’t take enough time to slow down and really examine the relationships between any of the characters. Luckily, the “Wizards of Waverly Place” movie solves that problem.

For a basic plot summary, the magical Russo family begins the film with Mom and Dad dragging the kids off on a vacation to recreate their honeymoon. The usual eye-rolling and complaints begin, but Alex (played by the always-entertaining Selena Gomez) takes things one step too far by metaphorically wishing (while holding the family’s magic wand) that her parents had never even met, thus they wouldn’t be on this “stupid vacation” in the first place. Of course, thanks to the wand, that wish is granted, and suddenly the Russo siblings are no longer part of a family, as Mom and Dad don’t even recognize each other. The rest of the film, then, centers on the kids’ quest to find the “Stone of Dreams”, a magical, enchanted item that can grant any wish or reverse any spell.

With the expanded feature-length runtime, the plot and character development of the film are able to be realized much more deeply than in any previous episode. We get to learn more about both parents and why they are like they are, as well as how the Russo children (namely Justin and Alex) view each other and what can be done to better those relations. In a touching scene that just might make you start to see through some mist, both Alex and Justin come to terms with each other involving the sometimes-bitter sibling rivalry that has existed between them from the very beginning. This plot line is also a great message for younger children, promoting the values of family and working together.

As usual, the acting is also spot-on. Dad (David DeLuise) and Mom (Maria Canals-Barrera) are at their over-the-top best, while Alex (Gomez) and Justin (David Henrie) are constantly involved in a brilliant give-and-take that will have you both laughing and misting over at different occasions. Even youngest brother Max (Jake T. Austin) hits all the right buttons as the somewhat dumb-founded, yet very innocent bringer of the more physical comic relief.

So, considering this film’s ability to delve deeper into the relationships between each character, I consider it to be a rousing success and look forward to great things from the show going forward. Plus, the climax of the final results in the long-awaited “Wizard Challenge”, which will determine the Russo child who will come away with the magical powers into adulthood and thus set the stage for Season Three on the Disney Channel.

Enjoyable family film! DVD doesn’t have that many special features but does come with a wish stone!
In “Wizards of Waverly Place - The Movie”, the Russo family have a family vacation in the Caribbean that both Jerry and Theresa are excited about. But Alex who dislikes going on family trips, has a problem with her parents because she wants to party with her friend Harper Finkle (played by Jennifer Stone) and have fun. But when she steals her brother Justin’s spellbook (which was given to him by her father), she misuses it and nearly gets herself and Harper killed. Her mother has had enough with her antics and she is told that she will be going on the family vacation and a rule to all kids, no magic will be used. Unknown to Justin, Alex has hidden the spellbook with her and plans to bring it on the trip.

While arriving at the Caribbean,the Russo’s meet up with a street magician named Archie who claims he is a wizard like them (after Max uses his magic in public and levitating him). Archie tells them the story about how his parrot Giselle was actually human but needs their help in trying to revert her back and need to obtain a special stone. Of course, for Justin, he enjoys the adventure and to visit wizard sites but their parents who are protective of their children, tells Justin no.

As the family is having fun on their vacation, Alex is not. In fact, she wants to start having fun with the first guy she meets in the Caribbean and is invited to go out. But her mother forbids her to and Alex becomes inconsiderate to her mother. Because of that, her mother scolds her and tells her that when they arrive back home, she is grounded. Upset with her mother, she tells her that she wishes that she and her father never had met.

Not knowing that she has activated a powerful spell from Justin’s spellbook, now she has accidentally changed reality for her parents and her siblings. To make things worse, because Alex’s parents now have never met, that means that they would never have children and will not exist.

So, immediately the children must fight against time and reverse the spellbook or else they will be gone from existence and lose their memories of family. This sets Justin and Alex on a trip to find the stone to reverse the spell but also trying to help out the unusual street magician at the same time. Meanwhile, Max tries his best to play matchmaker between Jerry and Theresa and making sure Jerry is not messing around with other women. But this proves a bit difficult as Jerry and Theresa’s first encounter with each other was unpleasant.

Will the Russo children be able to fix the problem before they forget their memories?

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Wizards of Waverly Place - The Movie” is presented in widescreen (1:78:1). The shots from Puerto Rico look absolutely beautiful. A good number of outdoor scenes, so there is a lot of sunlight to make the scenes look quite vibrant. I’ve read that this is the first Disney Channel Original Movie to receive a widescreen transfer and that there were 350 special effects used in the film. Some of those special effects were well-done and some CG effects looked quite campy but then again, this is a TV movie and doesn’t have a tremendous high budget, but for the most part, picture quality was solid and compared to the television show, the film looked great.

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. For the most part, the film is front and center channel driven but there are a few action scenes (such as the train sequence and the wizard challenge) that utilize the surround channels. Dialogue and music are clear and understandable. Also, included is the French and Spanish language tracks.

Subtitles are presented in English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Wizards of Waverly Place - The Movie” features the following special features:

* Wiz Pix - (10:25) Featuring the cast and crew of “Wizards of Waverly Place - The Movie” on location in Puerto Rico and behind-the-scenes of the making of the film. Also, the cast showcase their personal photos from the set.

“Wizards of Waverly Place - The Movie: Extended Edition” comes with a special color changing wishing stone. Instructions explaining the different colors are included.

JUDGMENT CALL:

“Wizards of Waverly Place - The Movie” is an enjoyable family film. Before the film aired on television, my son was highly anticipating this film and wanted us to watch it with him. And obviously the series is enjoyed by many as it received over 11.4 million viewers for its premiere and becoming the Disney Channel’s second most-watched movie after “High School Musical 2. Also, becoming the most watched TV movie on cable this year.

Similar to “Hannah Montana: The Movie”, it’s not required that you watched previous episodes to understand what is happening in the film but it does help. Personally, I have logged many hours in the past year watching this show along with my son and for the most part, it’s an enjoyable Disney Channel teen sitcom.

As a parent, the film is safe. There are no scary scenes or anything that parents have to worry about aside from Alex’s behavior towards her mother and of course, she is punished for that. The film does get emotional near the end when Alex discovers the repercussions of making the wish but for the most part, the film is safe for children and most importantly, the film has an important message of the importance of family. I also enjoyed how the film integrated the parents along with the children, so the parents do play a major part in this film.

As for the DVD, personally I can not tell you what is the difference between what aired and what is featured on this extended version, so I’m not entirely clear of where the extra footage is in the film. I do think the addition of the mood stone was pretty cool and my son has literally had fun playing with it. But I will say that I wished that there were more special features included on the DVD. There is just the one 10-minute special feature included and of course, the usual promotion for Disney Blu-ray and Disney’s Digital Copy. So, I was hoping for the usual Disney fare of music video or behind-the-scenes or even a gag reel, especially since this is a film, you would expect something more in terms of special features.

But overall, “Wizards of Waverly Place - The Movie” is fun, heartwarming and most of all an entertaining film for the whole family. Fans of the show will definitely want to pick this one up!

Another Great Disney Movie!
Once again,Disney has captured the essence of “Disney Magic”,and with another great movie with Selena Gomez.This movie is great for all ages,young and old..then again those “young at heart.Alex and her family go on a trip to Jamaica,and along the way
we see Alex,Justin and Max up to their usual wizard antics.
In the end,Alex becomes the family wizard.It’s a very well
written movie,I only wish it were alittle longer.
If anyone has a bright future ahead,its none other
than Miss Selena Gomez.

Relive the adventures of Alex,Justin and Max,as they attempt to restore
their family with the help of the stone of dreams.I think from this movie,
Alex has learned “be careful what you wish for”.

I cannot wait to see what other movies lie ahead in Selena’s Future.
This is definitely one for the Family DVD Library,of those who are true
diehard Disney Families,who love movies that have a heartwarming story.

Amazon.com
The Disney series Wizards of Waverly Place has spawned its first full-length movie, and the film is full of out-of-control magic, teenage angst, and challenging family dynamics. Alex has never lacked attitude, but when she disobeys her mother, almost wrecks the diner, and risks the lives of herself and her friend Harper, her feistiness lands her in the middle of a magic-free Caribbean family vacation in which her attitude may just spoil the trip for everyone. Unbeknownst to their parents, Alex smuggled the forbidden book of spells into her luggage, and even the perfect Justin was unable to resist bringing along the family’s all-powerful magic wand. After days of turning up her nose at her parent’s romantic reminiscing and complaining throughout every family activity, Alex shouts out an impulsive wish that her parents had never met one another. The problem is, Alex is holding the family magic wand when she makes the wish and it instantly comes true. As Alex, Justin, and brother Max begin to realize the dire implications of their new situation, they try every spell they can think of to reverse the wish. When nothing works, they look to a street magician and his bird to help them find the stone of dreams, an important wizard artifact that possesses unlimited power. Their quest is filled with peril, but as Justin and Alex make their way through each challenge, they begin to realize how much they need one another and how important family really is. In the end, Alex and Justin are forced to compete against one another in a life-changing battle from which only one sibling can emerge victorious–the question is, even if one of them wins, will the family still lose? Also included on the DVD is a 10-minute bonus feature highlighting on-location fun and photography in Puerto Rico along with some of the cast members’ favorite stunts, effects, costumes, and props. (Ages 7 and older) –Tami Horiuchi

Friends: The Complete Fourth Season Description:

Continuing episodes of the smash-hit television comedy series, documenting the lives and loves of six pals in New York City. Features all-star guest appearances by Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Sarah Ferguson, Tom Conti, Teri Garr, Giovanni Ribisi, Jennifer Saunders, Michael Vartan and Charlton Heston.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Producer audio commentary on 3 episodes.
Biographies:What’s Up With Your Friends video cast biographies
Documentary:Friends Around the World documentary
Interviews:Friends of Friends video guest book
Other:Who Know’s Who Best Ross’s Ultimate Triva Challenge game.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2086 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2003-07-15
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Cantonese, English, French, Korean, Spanish
• Number of discs: 4
• Dimensions: .75 pounds
• Running time: 555 minutes

Features

• Continuing episodes of the smash-hit television comedy series, documenting the lives and loves of six pals in New York City. Features all-star guest appearances by Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Sarah Ferguson, Tom Conti, Teri Garr, Giovanni Ribisi, Jennifer Saunders, Michael Vartan and Charlton Heston.Running Time: 559 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR Age: 085392424

Customer Reviews:

Definitely one of the best!
Friends - The Complete Fourth Season is one of Friends’ best and most memorable seasons. With happenings like Chandler spending Thanksgiving in a box, Phoebe becoming a surrogate mother for her half-brother, Ross getting married and saying Rachel’s name instead of Emily’s and of course, Monica and Chandler hooking up, the fourth season of Friends contains some of the show’s best moments, which makes it a must have for any Friends fan.

1. “The One With the Jellyfish”- In Montauk, Ross dumps bald Bonnie after kissing Rachel, who gave him an 18-page letter that he fell asleep reading. Chandler pees on Monica’s jellyfish sting.

2. “The One With the Cat”- Phoebe finds a stray cat and she thinks that it’s the reincarnation of her mother. Joey gets locked in his entertainment center that he is trying to sell, while the potential buyer robs the apartment.

3. “The One With the Cuffs”- Chandler and Joey furnish their looted apartment with a canoe and some patio furniture. Rachel’s boss, Joanna, who is seeing Chandler, leaves him pantless and handcuffed in her office.

4. “The One With the Ballroom Dancing”- Treeger, the building’s superintendent, threatens to evict the girls unless Joey can teach him to dance.

5. “The One With Joey’s New Girlfriend”- Ross and Rachel attempt to make each other jealous with their new significant others. It turns out that Ross’s new squeeze just wants him as a babysitter and Rachel’s beau is an immature thief. Phoebe discovers her sexy phlegm voice while she has a cold.

6. “The One With the Dirty Girl”- Ross dates Cheryl (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), a paleontology doctoral candidate, who happens to be very sloppy. Chandler buys Kathy a copy of “The Velveteen Rabbit” as a birthday gift.

7. “The One Where Chandler Crosses the Line”- Kathy becomes aware of Chandler’s feelings for her and lets him know that she feels the same way by making out with him.

8. “The One With Chandler in a Box”- It’s Thanksgiving and as a punishment for Chandler for kissing Kathy, Joey makes him stay in a box. Monica injures her eye, goes to the ophthalmologist and the doctor turns out to be Richard’s son.

9. “The One Where They Are Going to Party”- Monica’s scathing review of a local restaurant gets her hired as a chef. Mike “Gandalf” Ganderson (”only, like, the funniest guy in the world” according to Ross) is coming to town. Joanna is killed by a cab.

10. “The One With the Girl From Poughkeepsie”- Monica is sick and tired of the staff at the restaurant treating her so badly, so she decides to hire Joey just to fire him in front of the crew to show them how tough she can be.

11. “The One With Phoebe’s Uterus”- Frank Jr. and Alice ask Phoebe if she’ll be a surrogate mother for them. Ross gets Joey a job as a tour guide for the museum.

12. “The One With the Embryos”- It is Rachel and Monica vs. Chandler and Joey in a game to find out who knows who the best (”He’s a transponster!”). If the girls win, the guys have to get rid of their chick and duck. But if the guys win, they get the big, purple apartment. Phoebe undergoes implantation of Alice’s embryos and later finds out that she is pregnant.

13. “The One With Rachel’s Crush”- Kathy’s sexy appearance in a play has got Chandler worried about her faithfulness. Rachel tries desperately and clumsily to get the attention of Joshua, a newly divorced client.

14. “The One With Joey’s Dirty Day”- Rachel asks Ross to take out Mr. Waltham’s niece from England, Emily. Monica and Phoebe try to help Chandler get over his breakup with Kathy by taking him to a strip club. Charlton Heston guest stars.

15. “The One With All the Rugby”- Trying to impress Emily’s rugby playing friends, Ross takes up the sport.

16. “The One With the Fake Party”- When pregnant vegetarian Phoebe is tortured by her cravings for meat, Joey offers to trade dietary preferences with her. Rachel is determined to invite Joshua to an unplanned bon voyage party for Emily.

17. “The One With the Free Porn”- Joey and Chandler come upon an unscrambled porn channel and decide not to turn off the TV, in case that would make them lose it. Phoebe finds out that she’s having triplets.

18. “The One With Rachel’s New Dress”- Ross gets nervous when Emily hits it off with Susan (his ex-wife’s lesbian lover).

19. “The One With All the Haste”- Rachel is irked by the singing neighbor across the alley and the battle to re-swap the apartments is on. Ross asks Emily to marry him.

20. “The One With All the Wedding Dresses”- Rachel blurts out an impromptu proposal to Joshua, which scares him off. Monica and Phoebe hang out in wedding dresses.

21. “The One With All the Invitations”- Writing out invitations to his wedding causes Ross to have flashbacks about his relationship with Rachel.

22. “The One With the Worst Best Man Ever”- Phoebe’s horrible mood swings have Rachel and Monica walking on eggshells. Joey doesn’t know what happened to Emily’s missing wedding ring.

23. “The One With Ross’s Wedding”- The gang, sans a pregnant Phoebe and a heartbroken Rachel, head to England for Ross and Emily’s wedding. But Rachel decides to fly to London herself and tell Ross that she loves him. She ends up losing her nerve to tell him when she gets there, but, of course, he ends up saying her name during the ceremony.

One of the best seasons
This is definitely one of the best season of Friends. Here is a list of the episodes:

The One With The Jellyfish
The One With The Cat
The One With The ‘Cuffs
The One With The Ballroom Dancing
The One With Joey’s New Girlfriend
The One With The Dirty Girl
The One Where Chandler Crosses The Line
The One With Chandler In A Box
The One Where They’re Going To Party!
The One With The Girl From Poughkeepsie
The One With Phoebe’s Uterus
The One With The Embryos
The One With Rachel’s Crush
The One With Joey’s Dirty Day
The One With All The Rugby
The One With The Fake Party
The One With The Free Porno
The One With Rachel’s New Dress
The One With All The Haste
The One With The Wedding Dresses
The One With The Invitations
The One With The Worst Best Man Ever
The One With Ross’s Wedding, Part 1
The One With Ross’s Wedding, Part 2

The One With the Embryos is the proclaimed best episode of Friends so far. This is definitely worth the money!

Possibly the best season
Season 4 could be the best season of “Friends”, which is saying a lot, as this is, in my opinion and in the opinion of many others, the best show ever. It has had excellent ratings for years, and continues to be consistently funny every year. Sure, it has its low points, but even “Seinfeld” had episodes that weren’t that funny.

Season 4 has such classics as TOW the Embryos, TOW the Worst Best Man Ever, and my personal favorite, TOW Chandler in a Box (Michael Vartan fans, this is the episode where he appears as Richard’s son). These episodes alone make the DVD worth having. Now add 21 hilarious episodes to those, and that makes this the best buy ever.

If you’re a “Friends” fan, this is a must-have.

Amazon.com
Friends‘ fourth season, one of the very best and most consistently satisfying, begins with Chandler urinating on Monica’s leg to relieve a jellyfish sting. It ends with the two in bed and in lust. In between are several benchmark episodes and rich, character-enriching plot developments that keep this series from coasting on comfort level. Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) agrees to become a surrogate mother for her long-lost brother (Giovanni Ribisi). Chandler (Matthew Perry) “crosses the line” after falling in love with Joey’s girlfriend, and is forced to spend one memorable Thanksgiving in a box. Rachel (Jennifer Aniston in what should have been her Emmy year) desperately pursues the recently divorced Joshua (then real-life squeeze Tate Donovan). Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Chandler trade spaces with Monica (Courtney Cox) and Rachel, and then, with provocative (albeit offscreen) sapphic compensation, return to their humble abode. And Ross meets the warm and wonderful Emily (Helen Baxendale), setting the stage for a London wedding and classic season finale that revitalizes our rooting interest in the whole Ross and Rachel thing. Especially jolly good in this two-parter are the scene-stealing British character actors, including Hugh Laurie as the unfortunate airline passenger seated next to Rachel as she wings toward London to tell Ross she loves him (”And by the way, it seems to be perfectly clear that you were on a break,” he tries to reason with her), and Tom Conti and an absolutely fabulous Jennifer Saunders as Emily’s squabbling parents. As Friends winds down, it is a pleasure to return to one of its glory years. –Donald Liebenson

Transformers Product: Buy Transformers At Amazon! List Price: $19.99 Amazon Price: $13.49 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

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From director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg comes a thrilling battle between the heroic Autobots® and the evil Decepticons®. When their epic struggle comes to Earth, all that stands between the Decepticons® and ultimate power is a clue held by young Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf). Unaware that he is mankind’s last chance for survival, Sam and Bumblebee, his robot disguised as a car, are in a heart-pounding race against an enemy unlike anything anyone has seen before. It’s the incredible, breath-taking film spectacular that USA Today says “will appeal to the kid in all of us.”

• Amazon Sales Rank: #413 in DVD
• Brand: LABEOUF,SHIA
• Released on: 2007-10-16
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds
• Running time: 143 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 0097363455349
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

A blend of cringe inducing screenwriting, nostalgia and mind blowing action
For a nerd that used to drool over this show as a kid, this movie hooks you from the very beginning. From Optimus Prime’s summary intro (with Peter Cullen still at the helm of our favorite alien semi) to the Decipticon attack on the military base, you have no doubts that this is Transformers. Shia LaBeouf makes his entrance and proves the perfect part for this movie. He’s actually pretty funny and acts the part well. As far as the rest of the humans in this cast, not as much can be said.

After the awesome introduction, the first part of the movie deals mainly with Shia LaBeouf’s Sam purchasing a Camaro that actually turns out to be the Autobot Bumblebee (in the cartoon, originally a VW Bug. I think the yellow VW Bug in the car lot next to Bumblebee was a homage.) Sam unknowingly uses his alien car to impress a girl. Of course she actually is impressed when they find out it’s an alien. There are some pretty funny scenes in this part of the movie as well as some action scenes that are very well done.

Soon comes the arrival of the other Autobots and they reveal to Sam their true purpose, which is to locate the Allspark -a powerful device capable of transforming a planet- before the Decepticons get a hold of it. I thought at this point that the slow parts of the movie were over, but not quite. From here we go into a few too many scenes dealing with side characters, from video game playing computer experts to goofy secret agents whose quirks border slapstick comedy. Too many of these characters could be chalked up as comic relief, and most of what they attributed was not very funny. There was a slightly funny but overly long scene where Sam was trying to hide the autobots while he searched through his house for a relic they needed. And then arrived John Turtorro (playing the said goofy secret agent) whom I love, but who severely overstayed him welcome in this. Other performances, namely John Voight’s, were just plain campy and the cookie cutter dialogue was cringe inducing at times.

Luckily, I forgot most of that by the time the movie got to its last act. Once the Decepticons arrive in force the movie is a non stop ride of action and jaw dropping effects. While someone who’s not familiar with the characters and story might not care what the outcome is, I found myself with memories as a kid, watching the 1986 movie for the first time. I forgot about the humans and their ho-hum sotrylines as my favorite characters and toys from my childhood crashed and shot and ripped each other apart. I forgot that I was watching CG effects as the transformers look as real as the environment they’re destroying. The action scenes are larger than life and I’m amazed at how well the battles of the cartoons translated onto big screen. The transformers themselves were all very well done, applying actual physics to their transformations and robot appearances. They look real and modern but don’t lose the heart of what the fanboys loved about them from back in the day. And Hugo Weaving as Megatron was genius. I missed hearing the original Starcream, but the original voice actor died many years ago, and the two or three lines Starcream had in this sounded suitable.

Despite the great flaws in acting, dialogue and script, I left this movie with that rare itch to want to go straight back inside and watch it again. From the previews, it looked like the movie was going to take a realistic perspective and show the warring alien machines from a human point of view. But that’s really not the case at all. In every other Michael Bay movie, the corny dialogue and overdramatic characters ruin an otherwise good premise. But Transformers is based on a cartoon, so why shouldn’t the movie feel like one? Here it works. It’s big, dumb nostalgic fun that the kid in me has been after for 20 years.

better than expected
Maybe it’s not the best movie as far as dialogue goes, but for being an action movie about robots from outer space, it’s good. The transformations are good enough to not raise doubt about the mechanics of them (which is good for me as an aerospace engineer, because I tend to notice these things). This is the kind of movie that makes large HD televisions and high-quality sound systems worth having.

Lacks that All-Spark
Growing up in the 80s, I saw the 1986 Transformers movie in the theaters and recently watched it again, and even though I’m in my late 20s now, the movie holds up remarkably well: it has a good pace, great balance of storylines, well-defined characters, and plenty of action that builds towards a monstrous battle that includes a genuine surprise.

Unfortunately, the Transformers 2007 movie lacks almost all of that. Credit Shia Lebeouf for his role in this movie, because he carries the entire overwrought monster for a good two hours or so, and his ability to do both comedy and drama in a single movie is impressive. And there are many more people here that turn in solid performances, including Megan Fox, his female costar. Beyond that, though, we get a smattering of comedy here and there along with maneuvering, slow reveals, and more buildup, and more, and more until, almost two hours into the movie, we finally see most of the Decepticons, and there is finally a real battle … which lasts for about 15 minutes.

This movie is big … very big … and the final battle has a lot of action (though Bay’s direction insures that it’s nearly impossible to tell what’s going on a lot of the time). Coupled with some very sophomoric humor, the audience here is clear: it’s young adolescents, fresh out of being tweens, who still want good action and jokes but crave a bigger storyline and higher stakes.

THE GOOD: Some of the jokes work, and work well. Shia and Megan do a great job in their roles. Seeing Optimus Prime, Jazz, Starscream, and a few other familiar faces gave this Transformers fan a warm feeling.

THE BAD: You see Autobots play glorified hide and seek with Shia’s parents, a dog pee on a robot, a robot pee on a person, John Turturro stripped down to an undershirt and boxers, enormous plotholes involving the All-Spark, no Dinobots, no real use of Starscream, a completely anticlimactic battle between Optimus and Megatron that ends in an enormously stupid way, two long hours of build-up for one confusing battle, and to top it all off, Anthony Anderson.

The original Transformers movie was for the fans, then and now. This one’s a dull mess that is for the 2007 box office receipts. Rent it, and then buy the original.

I Love Lucy - The Complete Fifth Season Description:

It’s I Love Lucy’s fifth hilarious season, as Lucy manages to find trouble in Hollywood, Manhattan, Paris, London, Rome, and everywhere in between. Before leaving Tinseltown, Lucy bags the ultimate souvenir—John Wayne’s cement footprints from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre! Then, on board the train back to New York, Lucy can’t resist adding a few unscheduled stops—courtesy of the train’s all-too-convenient emergency brake cord. Next, Lucy goes to extremes to catch a luxury ocean liner when it sets sail for Europe with Ricky and the Mertzes aboard—but with Lucy still on the dock. On the Continent, Lucy’s madcap escapades include getting thrown in a Parisian jail, modeling a French “designer” potato sack, causing an Alpine avalanche, hitting an accidental jackpot in Monte Carlo, and—in one of TV’s funniest scenes ever—soaking up a whole lot of “local color” in an Italian grape-stomping vat!

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4608 in DVD
• Brand: I LOVE LUCY
• Released on: 2005-08-16
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Subtitled in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 4
• Dimensions: .90 pounds
• Running time: 680 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 0097368882744
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

John Wayne, NYC, Europe, the Queen, Grapes & Cheese
Over 50 years ago during the early years of broadcast television, the very inspired talents of Lucille Ball (1911-1989) and her then husband Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) were showcased on their hilarious television show “I Love Lucy”. TV execs had initially rejected the plausibility of the show because of Desi and because they intended to tape the shows. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of Lucille Ball and Desi’s obvious talents, the show first aired in 1951 and quickly became one of the most successful TV shows during all six of its regular seasons. As Lucy and Ricky Ricardo on “I Love Lucy”, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were joined by William Frawley (1877-1966) and Viviane Vance (1909-1979) as their best-friends/apartment landlords of Fred and Ethel Mertz.

The fifth season of “I Love Lucy” that aired between 1955 and 1956 has 26 memorable episodes:

1. “Lucy Visits Grauman’s”: With Ethel’s help, Lucy steals John Wayne’s footprints from Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

2. “Lucy and John Wayne”: Lucy and Ethel try to return the footprints that they stole, but they break; so Ricky enlists the help from John Wayne (himself) to make a new set. More than one may be needed.

3. “Lucy and the Dummy”: After Ricky backs out of a party where Lucy wants her big break, Lucy makes a dummy of Ricky to dance with at the party.

4. “Ricky Sells the Car”: After Ricky sells the car, Fred & Ethel think they’ll have to ride a motorcycle back to NYC; but Ricky buys train tickets for all.

5. “The Great Train Robbery”: Thinking there’s a jewel thief on board the train to NYC, Lucy can’t stop pulling the emergency brake cord. (Train conductor played by Frank Nelson, 1911-1986.)

6. “Homecoming”: Upon returning to NYC, Ricky is a big star, but Lucy initially doesn’t share in everyone’s worship of him.

7. “The Ricardos Are Interviewed”: Ricky & Lucy consider moving and Ricky is to be interviewed on a prestigious show.

8. “Lucy Goes to a Rodeo”: After Ricky can’t help Fred with a rodeo-themed show for his lodge, Lucy & Ethel volunteer to help.

9. “Nursery School”: After Lucy’s fear of Little Ricky getting sick at nursery school comes to pass, she is determined to stay with him at the hospital.

10. “Ricky’s European Booking”: When Ricky can’t afford to take Lucy on his European tour, she & Ethel dream up a raffle to help the “Ladies Overseas Aid”, which they think is themselves.

11. “The Passports”: Lucy can’t find her birth certificate so that she can get her passport.

12. “Staten Island Ferry”: To help Fred overcome seasickness, Lucy takes him onto the Staten Island Ferry; but she gets seasick herself and may be late to the passport office. (Passport clerk played by Charles Lane.)

13. “Bon Voyage”: When the ship leaves port for Europe, Lucy is inadvertently left behind; so she’ll have to get to ship via a helicopter. One of the best fifth-season episodes!

14. “Second Honeymoon”: Lucy wants the Atlantic cruise to be a second honeymoon, but Ricky is too busy with the band.

15. “Lucy Meets the Queen”: After Lucy misses seeing the queen at Buckingham Palace, Ricky gets invited to met the queen, but not Lucy. Of course, when has “no” ever stopped Lucy?

16. “The Fox Hunt”: Bragging that she can ride, Lucy gets to show how well she can actually ride a horse in a fox hunt.

17. “Lucy Goes to Scotland”: Lucy wants to travel to Scotland to meet her distant McGillicuddy relatives. The dream sequence that unfolds is unforgettable.

18. “Paris at Last”: Not having any French currency, Lucy, Ethel & Fred exchange money with a so-called French artist (Shepard Menken, 1921-1999), who turns out to be a counterfeiter. The translation sequence is priceless, as is Lucy’s introduction to escargot!

19. “Lucy Meets Charles Boyer”: Lucy & Ethel are star-struck when they encounter Charles Boyer (himself) at a sidewalk cafe.

20. “Lucy Gets a Paris Gown”: When Lucy goes on hunger strike to force Ricky to buy her an expensive French-designed dress, Ricky & Fred have dresses custom-made out of burlap. (A fantastic episode!)

21. “Lucy in the Swiss Alps”: Lucy, Ricky, Fred & Ethel get trapped in an avalanche while mountain climbing until they here “La Cucaracha” being played.

22. “Lucy Gets Homesick in Italy”: In this heart-warming episode, Lucy misses Little Ricky during his birthday, so a little Italian shoeshine boy (Bart Bradley) and his friends get to celebrate with her.

23. “Lucy’s Italian Movie”: In one of the best episodes of all time, Lucy takes “getting some local color” a little literally when she travels to an old-fashioned Italian winery to press grapes to impress an Italian film director. (Italian wine stomper played by Theresa Tirelli, 1907-1989).

24. “Lucy’s Bicycle Trip”: Lucy has trouble crossing back into France when she can’t find her passport.

25. “Lucy Goes to Monte Carlo”: When Lucy picks up a chip in a Monte Carlo casino, she inadvertently wins thousands of French franks.

26. “Return Home From Europe”: To sneak home a 30-pound cheese, Lucy dresses it up as baby to fly home to NYC; but the passenger (Mary Jane Croft, 1916-1999) next to her flips out when the cheese disappears.

Paramount Home Video’s superb job of packaging all 30 episodes of the fourth season of “I Love Lucy” onto 5 DVD’s is a good indication as to how they will similarly package the fifth season onto 4. Overall, for superb packaging and a great price, I rate the “I Love Lucy: The Complete Fifth Season” DVD box set with an anticipatory 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it!

From LA to Europe
Season 5 of this classic sit com begins just a few months after season 4 ended. The gang is still in Los Angeles where Ricky has just finished filming his picture. Fortunately, there’s still time for a few hijinks, including trying to steal John Wayne’s footprints in the two hilarious episodes that start the season. Even traveling back is an adventure when Lucy decides there’s a robber on the train.

Things are just beginning to settle down in New York when Ricky and his band get a series of bookings in Europe. Soon, the foursome are off again where Lucy meets the Queen in England, gets arrested for counterfeiting in Paris, and gets trapped in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.

The most famous episode from this season comes near the end. “Lucy’s Italian Movie” is better known as the grape stomping episode and has one of the classic physical comedy routines from the show in it.

Actually, the last several episodes are sharp as “Lucy’s Bicycle Trip,” “Lucy Goes to Monte Carlo,” and “Return Home from Europe” are also absolutely hilarious episodes.

Even after five years, this show hasn’t lost any of its laughs. In fact, the situations just seem to get more outrageous and yet they work. If we’d started with some of these stunts, it would seem implausible, but by now when Lucy wins a fortunate at roulette accidentally, we buy it. As with any season of any show, this one has its week moments. I find the England episodes rather dull. But over all, this set is more then worth it.

And this set continues to meet the high standards set by the previous releases. Since there are only 26 episodes this go around, there are only four discs. Still, the picture is sharp. The sound seemed a little weaker then normal is spots, but it’s only a minute or so once or twice at disc. On the whole, it’s fine. The discs are still loaded with the behind the scenes info we’ve grown to expect.

A brief note about “Lucy and the Dummy.” The back of the box mentions it is edited from its original version. As the disc itself explains, the episode ran short originally, so they included a preview of a new movie coming soon from MGM. Since they couldn’t get the rights to that promo, they couldn’t include it here. Still, they have restored the run up to it, and it has nothing to do with the storyline or any of the jokes. We aren’t really missing any I LOVE LUCY here.

This set has so many classic moments it’s hard to list them all. Pack your bags and get ready to travel and laugh with Lucy.

Hollywood! Europe! So many fantastic episodes in one season!
I must first get something out of the way: another reviewer stated that this 5th season is “the last season of I Love Lucy.” No. I Love Lucy had six seasons (they moved to Connecticut in the the 6th), followed by 3 seasons of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (though each season was quite short). Okay, with that out of the way… This season is fantastic! The Ricardos and Mertz’s are still in Hollywood when the season opens, they return to New York, then go to Europe for the rest of the season. Some of the best episodes of the sitcom’s (and television’s) history are included in season 5. It’s so interesting to look back and note how television didn’t have to resort to season cliff-hangers and shocking season premieres to gain an audience back then! (You’d never see a modern sitcom just leave with the character in the middle of a trip to L.A. and return the next season as if it was the next week!) I Love Lucy was a special show that still stands the test of time.

Amazon.com
I Love Lucy: The Complete Fifth Season finds Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) making an international mess out of husband Ricky’s globe-trotting tour as an entertainer. Beginning with “Lucy Visits Grauman’s” and “Lucy and John Wayne,” the impulsive redhead risks Ricky’s sanity in Hollywood by stealing a cement slab, from the famous entrance to Grauman’s Chinese Theater, that contains the imprint of John Wayne’s footprints and signature. In the tradition of superstars playing themselves on I Love Lucy, an exasperated (and very funny) Wayne gets into the act over and over and over again, making new imprints on multiple slabs because Lucy keeps messing up the results. After more shenanigans in Los Angeles (Lucy attends a ritzy party with a dummy substituting for her unavailable husband) and a disastrous train ride home, it’s time to jeopardize Ricky’s success during an interview show that ends disastrously.

Lucy’s fifth season travel theme continues when Ricky and his band are booked on a European tour that does not include his wife or the Mertzes. Of course, that doesn’t stop the determined Lucy (or Ethel), who schemes her way into Ricky’s plans, only to have a number of snafus arise as she tries to leave the country. In the I Love Lucy tradition, entire episodes are written around such simple matters as trying to get a passport, or helping with Fred’s fear of getting seasick while traveling. All this show’s stars really need is a ridiculous, open-ended situation to exploit, and the comedy flows from there. “Bon Voyage” is a particularly funny episode in which Lucy gets left behind by the European-bound ship carrying Ricky and the others, and she has to find a way to get back aboard. The hilarious “Lucy and the Queen” finds her angling in London for a way to meet the Royal Family after Ricky is invited to say hello at the Palladium. From there, Lucy creates chaos in Scotland (this episode includes a memorable dream sequence in which Ricky appears as Scotty MacTavish MacDougal MacCardo), Paris (where she and Ethel plot to meet guest star and good sport Charles Boyer at an outdoor café), Rome (the outstanding “Lucy’s Italian Movie” finds her dispatched to a vineyard, where she has to crush grapes–brilliantly–with her feet). Lots of special features, including a behind-the-scenes peek and bloopers. –Tom Keogh

28 Days Special Edition Description:

A disastrous drunken episode lands successful new york journalist gwen cummings in rehab, where she encounters a bizarre assortment of characters and unique rituals during her touching and often hilarious road to recovery. Special features: interactive menus, scene selections, and much more.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1505 in DVD
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2000-09-19
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 104 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 9780767851268
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

Here’s Looking at You, Sandra Bullock
Director Betty Thomas has achieved something rare: A modern movie that tackles a serious issue and emerges with it’s tastefulness intact. “28 Days” has the plot of a drama, the soul of a comedy, the feel of a documentary and a fabulous performance by Sandra Bullock that gives each genre a place in the delicate mix of this wonderful movie.

Bullock is Gwen Cummings, an alcoholic, pill popping journalist who is sentenced to spend 28 days in a rehab center she drunkenly steals a limo and crashes it into a house. Leaving behind her boozy British boyfriend Jasper (superbly played by Domonic West), Gwen soon finds the support and understanding of her eccentric and often hilarious new neighbors. There’s Eddie (Viggo Mortensen), the washed up baseball player who’ll sleep with anyone; Oliver (Mike O’Malley), the wisecracking Park Avenue pot addict; Andrea (Azura Skye), a young woman addicted to drugs and a preposterous soap opera called “Santa Cruz,” which she eventually turns everyone on to; and Gerhardt (Alan Tudyk), the wacky German. “28 Days,” unlike an “Erin Brokovich” where one star dominates, is an ensemble film that allows a variety of talents to shine. And with a cast of this caliber, sometimes that shine rivals the stars themselves in brightness.

Despite many humorous moments, it’s the dramatic aspects of “28 Days” that make it great. When Gwen becomes so desperate for her pills that she jumps out the window to get some she threw away earlier, the obsessiveness and despair of dependency are captured at their most vivid. Then there’s her troubled relationship with her sister Lily (sensitively portrayed by Elizabeth Perkins), who can’t decide whether she wants to give up on the woman who has never been there for her, or stand by her in the hope that she will reform, risking having her heart broken yet again.

It’s because Bullock and screenwriter Susannah Grant have made Gwen such a likable character that these situations have real bite. Sine we can’t decide whether we love her or hate her, we keep watching the movie on the edge of our seats, searching for something that will proove to us once and for all what Gwen Cummings is. The movie wisely avoids giving us a straight answer to that and many other questions, allowing the viewer instead to make their own decisions and create their own relationaships with the characters and the things they encounter.

“28 Days” is a triumph for all involved. There’s nothing better for a cynical critic like me then proof on the screen that films moving stories with engaging characters are still being made. Perhaps the best news of all is the resurrection of Sandra Bullock’s career after three flops in a row. If she continues to show such wise judgement in choosing her projects, this poor man’s Julia Roberts may be topping the A-list once again.

Sandra can play ANYTHING well
Sandra Bullock is the industry’s favorite girl next door, much to her own well-reported chagrin. But there is just something about her that exudes “next-door” charm, whether or not she supports the label’s overuse. Maybe it’s because she’s such a gem of a person, especially compared to the coldness of many of today’s big stars.

So when you are about to see this film you will anticipate that it be light-hearted, not serious, in other-words, totally Sandra. But the only thing light-hearted about the movie are the circumstances several of the supporting cast members get themselves into. Sandra plays this alcoholic with all of the angst she’s got. And it’s a heck of a lot more than anyone would have pegged her for.

So is she depressing to watch like this? Yes and no. Depressing because, based on those nasty preconceptions us lazy viewers have, you’re waiting for her to jump out and say “Just kidding!” throughout the movie - her usual style - and, to everyone’s surprise, she really doesn’t. She gives every ounce of credibility and intensity to a role that many would like to write off simply b/c it is too hard to change one’s preconceptions.

I am so excited when I stumble upon a performance, such as this one, that allows me to deepen my respect for an actor. Sandra has deepened everyone’s respect with this role. She is a consummate professional actress: She plays every role as if it were herself and only herself on the screen.

And hey, even if it IS only acting, she fooled me . . .

“Everybody hurts everybody, it’s the human condition.”
Maybe you are thinking what I was thinking when I first heard about this movie. “Oh great, they are making a cute movie out of a horrible problem called addiction, and are going to sum up rehab in a darling, romanticized way.” I refused to watch it for a long time because of this presumption. Relax, and give the film a try. Although cute in places and using some subtle but great humor, ‘28 Days’ does not romanticize the problem of addiction.

What it does manage to show, much to my amazement, is how trite and cheesy ‘Recovery’ can seem to the addict. The scenes of chanting, serenity prayers, and singing ‘Lean On Me’ are not portrayed as inspiring or moving, but as irritating customs of the Center. Perhaps portions of the movie go to the far edges of each condition, drunkenness and sobriety, but it does not come across as contrived. People really do these things, and some people really recover from it, and ‘28 Days’ follows Gwen Cummings story, who is an exceptionally “gravitational” personality, easily allowing for a larger than life story.

Gwen (Sandra Bullock) is a writer, and along with party-time boyfriend Jasper (Dominic West) show up late and manage to ruin her sister Lily’s (Elizabeth Perkins) wedding. After being late, Gwen ruins the mother-in-law’s dress, takes a spin on the dance floor and winds out crushing the wedding cake, then steals a limo to drive to a cake store and replace it. Careening down the road, Gwen wrecks the limo into the side of a house. Sentenced to twenty-eight days in rehab or prison, Gwen finds herself at the Serenity Glen Rehabilitation Center.

Gwen’s lifestyle as a New York writer/columnist is not conductive to sobriety, but even Gwen never realized the extent of her reliance on booze and prescription drugs. Not until she breaks the rules of Serenity Glen and her counselor Cornell (played by the amazing Steve Buscemi) arranges to have her sentence continued in prison. Only when Gwen practically leaps from a third story window in an attempt to retrieve the pills from Jasper that she earlier threw away does Gwen realize something is wrong with her. She decides its time to do something for herself, and convinces Cornell to let her stay at Serenity Glen.

Gwen must face many aspects of herself that she finds intolerable while sober, while also facing visits from Jasper who doesn’t see the point of leaving their old life behind for sobriety. What follows is a touching, and yes, comical romp through Gwen’s rehab, but it fits well because Gwen has a tendency to use humor to deflect emotional response.

The characters in this movie are outstanding. Sandra Bullock plays Gwen to perfection. Steve Buscemi is amazing as always, Dominic West as fun-boy Jasper is perfect, and look for a ridiculously intriguing performance by Alan Tudyk as Gerhardt, the funniest character in the movie. Gerhardt is an eccentric, over-the-top, emotional, stammering geek, and steals the movie with only a few lines. (”Oh my God, look at my package!” and “I want my foreskin back, no one asked when they took it, they just took it.”) Also, at the very end of the movie, check out Gerhardt’s T-shirt that he’s wearing. Hysterical!!

Even through the horrid cheesiness of ridiculous rehab ritual, Gwen manages to make friends. Aside from Gerhardt, there is Daniel (Reni Santoni) the doctor who used to pump his own stomach, Andrea (Azura Skye), Gwen’s roommate, a seventeen year old heroin addict who is far wiser than her years, Betty (Margo Martindale) as the crotchety but not humorless receptionist, and Eddie Boone (Viggo Mortenson) a professional baseball player addicted to booze and sex.

I was surprised at how well this movie actually turned out, comparing in my opinion to the classics ‘Days Of Wine And Roses’ and ‘Lost Weekend’. Pay special attention to Cornell’s speech for the group, where he talks about using whether something happened or nothing happened. While there is good humor in this movie, and it realistically portrays the cheesiness of all those rehab clichés, it still winds out to be a good (though somewhat tragic) story about a good person. Gwen is obviously a loveable personality, both drunk and sober, which makes her choice more realistic than someone who makes a “dramatic change”. There is a very funny scene where Gwen uses her talents as a writer to create an impromptu play based on Andrea’s favorite soap opera, Santa Cruz. The clips of this soap opera are so over the top that you will laugh your hinder off at them.

Great acting, fantastic characterizations, good photography, a healthy dose of realism, a great script, and insightfully surreal flashbacks made this movie much better than it should have been. Oh, and it made me thirsty (he he he). Definitely a ‘buy’, but I always recommend rent first. Enjoy!

Amazon.com
To appreciate 28 Days, it’s best to be thankful that director Betty Thomas hasn’t forced Sandra Bullock into a remake of Clean and Sober. Instead Thomas has balanced her comedic sensibility (evident in Dr. Dolittle and Private Parts) with the seriousness of alcoholism and substance abuse, and she succeeds without compromising the gravity of the subject matter. Some critics have scoffed at the movie’s breezy, formulaic portrait of 27-year-old boozer and pill-popper Gwen Cummings (Bullock), but this smooth-running star vehicle does for Bullock what Erin Brockovich did for Julia Roberts, focusing her appeal in a substantial role without taxing the limits of her talent. It’s no wonder that Susannah Grant (who wrote both films) was one of the hottest new screenwriters of 1999. She writes “Hollywood Lite” without insulting anyone’s intelligence.

As played by Bullock, Gwen is an alcoholic in denial whose latest bender with boozer boyfriend Jasper (Dominic West) ruins the wedding of her sister (Elizabeth Perkins) and lands her in a month-long rehab program with the requisite gang of struggling drunks and junkies. Newcomer Alan Tudyk steals his scenes as a gay German rehabber who might’ve dropped in from a Berlin performance-art exhibit, and Steve Buscemi aptly conveys the weary commitment of a counselor who’s seen it all. Thomas has surrounded Bullock with a sharp ensemble, and the addition of singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III (as a kind of Greek chorus crooner) is sublimely inspired. Certainly no surprises here–the warring sisters will reconcile, and at least one rehabber will fail to recover–but there’s ample pleasure to be found in Bullock’s finely tuned performance, and in Thomas’s inclusion of flashbacks and tangents that add depth and laughter in just the right dosage. –Jeff Shannon

The Visitor Description:

Hailed as “one of the year’s most intriguing dramas” (Claudia Puig, USA TODAY), The Visitor stars Richard Jenkins (Six Feet Under) in a perfect performance (Lisa Schwarzbaum, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY) as Walter, a disaffected college professor who has been drifting aimlessly through his life. When, in a chance encounter on a trip into New York, Walter discovers a couple has taken up residence in his apartment in the city, he develops an unexpected and profound connection to them that will change his life forever. As challenges arise for his tenants, Walter finds himself compelled to help his new friends, and rediscovers a passion he thought he had lost long ago. The year’s first genuine must-see film” (Ann Hornaday, THE WASHINGTON POST) about rediscovering life’s rhythms in the most unexpected places

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2551 in DVD
• Brand: FOX Home Entertainment
• Published on: 2008-01-01
• Released on: 2008-10-07
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, HiFi Sound, NTSC, Surround Sound, THX, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 104 minutes

Features

• ISBN13: 0013138000897
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

Give me your tired, your poor…
Dr. Walter Vale’s (Richard Jenkins) not interested in going to New York City to present a paper at a conference to help a fellow colleague and co-author. His own life takes precedence. Unfortunately, his dean doesn’t see it that way.

When he arrives in New York, he discovers that someone’s bathing in his tub. That would be Zainab (Danai Jekesai Gurira), a young Senegalese woman who is as surprised to see him as he is her. The person sleeping in one of his beds is Tarek (Haaz Sleiman), a young Syrian man who sublet Vale’s neglected apartment from a person that Vale doesn’t even know.

Vale cannot turn the pair out into the street, so he allows them to remain. As their acquaintance grows, Vale learns how to play the djembe from Tarek and also the plight of illegal aliens–particularly Muslim ones, post 9/11 after Tarek is erroneously arrested in the subway over jumping the turnstile.

One of the most heartbreaking scenes in this movie is when Vale takes Zaineb and Tarek’s mother Moona (Hiam Abbass) to Staten Island. The women, who are both illegal, see the Statue of Liberty in all her glory. Zaineb relates how Tarek, who is now in detention, used to ride the ferry and jump up and down every time Lady Liberty came in sight pretending it was the first time to be in America.

Vale, who’d failed piano lessons four times, learns there’s music in everyone’s soul. If you can’t play the piano, move on to another instrument until you find one whose music is in sync with your own rhythm.

My husband and I left “The Visitor” wishing there was more, hoping that there was a good outcome for the characters. In the lobby, we met a man who’d attended the Sundance Film Festival where “The Visitor” screened for the first time. He told us this was the only film that year that got a standing ovation. I understand why.

Rebecca Kyle, May 2008

McCarthy’s Small Film Shows Passion Can Be Found in the Most Unexpected Places
A genuinely unexpected gem. As he proved with his first film as a director and screenwriter, 2003’s The Station Agent, Thomas McCarthy knows how to convey the fine line between solitude and loneliness in his characters’ lives with an emotional preciseness that doesn’t call attention to itself. It’s not surprising that McCarthy is an actor because he’s able to capture the very subtle nuances in behavior in actors that make his work feel like Edward Hopper paintings come to life. As a result, you pay attention to a simple gesture, a passing glance, a resigned sigh. This time, his protagonist is Walter Vale, an enervated, middle-aged economics professor at a Connecticut college. Widowed and wholly lacking in professional motivation, he begrudgingly accepts an assignment to go to an academic conference at NYU and present a paper on globalization he really didn’t write.

Coming back to a Greenwich Village flat he rarely uses, he is surprised to find a couple living there. Not squatters but unfortunate victims of a rental scam, they turn out to be illegal aliens, a Syrian percussionist named Tarek and his girlfriend Zainab, a Senegalese who makes and sells handcrafted jewelry. As withdrawn from life as Walter is, he slowly finds himself bonding with the couple and lets them stay indefinitely. Zainab is slow to trust Walter, but Tarek and Walter become close over a mutual love of African drums. As his wife was a famous classical pianist, Walter had been futilely attempting to find musical inspiration since her death. However, just as this charming tale of world harmony plays out, it comes back to harsh reality when Tarek is arrested and taken to a detention center in Queens for deportation. What McCarthy does from this point forward is show how sadly restrictive the post-9/11 environment has made immigration laws and how there is no recourse to be found under the constant surveillance of a bureaucratic government protected by the latitude of the Patriot Act.

None of this is hit over our heads with a politically motivated sledgehammer. Far from such polemics, the story singularly focuses on Walter’s emergence of purpose in helping Tarek. When Tarek’s mother Mouna arrives from Detroit, McCarthy adeptly shows how Walter’s closeness to Tarek translates without condition to her. It’s a moving transformation of a formerly lonely man finding intimacy in the most unlikely situation. In a once-in-a-lifetime role, character actor Richard Jenkins brings heart and soul to Walter in the most economical manner. Best known as the ghostly father in HBO’s Six Feet Under, he has worked steadily in films for three decades, his most memorable turn being the gay FBI agent high on heroin in David O. Russell’s Flirting With Disaster. With his constant look of resignation on the verge of revelation, Jenkins gives a wondrously poignant, often dryly funny performance that deepens as the story evolves.

Haaz Sleiman and Danai Gurira are terrifically winning as Tarek and Zainab, and they make their bonding with Walter more than credible. As Mouna, Hiam Abbass is no stranger to persevering maternal roles as she brought her particular brand of strength to Hany-Abu Assad’s controversial Paradise Now and Eran Riklis’ family dramedy, The Syrian Bride. In response to Walter’s fumbling overtures, she affectingly conveys her character’s resolute stillness and gradual blossoming. There are brief cameos by comic actor Richard Kind as Walter’s unctuous neighbor, Deborah Rush as a wealthy and ignorant customer of Zainab’s, and Broadway legend Marian Seldes as Walter’s failed piano teacher. At first, I thought the film’s title was blandly generic in describing those who are here from other lands, but I realize now that the visitor is really Walter as he discovers his soul. The last shot is memorable and captures the fury of his passion with potent force. Strongly recommended.

Immigrant Detention: Another Point of View
Just when it seems that film makers have sold out to the idea of blockbuster instant wealth, along comes the very quiet little film THE VISITOR, reassuring us that quality independent films are alive and well. Written and directed by actor Thomas McCarthy, whose only previous film in the role of writer/director was the incomparable THE STATION AGENT, this subdued little miracle of a film further examines the concept of isolated man searching for connection. The impact of this simple story of friendship and bonding stays with the viewer, permanently imprinted on our view of the global community.

Professor Walter Vale (Richard Jennings in a career making role) is an older man, widowed and greatly diminished by the death of his opera singer wife, bored with teaching the same class on Economics at Connecticut College for years while writing yet another book that holds no interest for him - a lonely, embittered man longing for some meaning in his life, trying to learn piano from an older teacher Barbara (Marion Seldes) without much success. His college sends him to New York to ‘read’ a paper he supposedly ‘co-wrote’ with a colleague and he reluctantly goes to the city for the ‘task’: he owns an apartment there that he uses only occasionally. Upon arrival he finds a young, terrified couple living in his apartment - two illegal immigrants, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) from Syria and his girlfriend Zainab (Danai Jekesai Gurira) from Senegal. At first shocked by the couple, Walter soon feels their insecurities and invites them to stay. Tarek has been in America for three years, living in Michigan with his mother Mouna (Hiam Abbass), and has only been in New York a short while, following his dream to play drums and to be with his jewelry-making lover Zainab.

Over time Walter begins to absorb the joy of living Tarek displays while he is drumming and Tarek teaches Walter the art of the drum. Together they perform in parks while Zainab sells her jewelry in the streets. A minor incident in the subway results in Tarek’s arrest and because his is an illegal immigrant, he is placed in a Detention Center in Queens. Walter is shocked at the cruelty of the police action, remains supportive to the devastated Zainab, and visits the distraught Tarek daily in the Detention Center, finding a lawyer to help the case and in every way being supportive of his new friend.

Mouna arrives form Michigan to see why her son has stopped calling her and Walter and Mouna become close out of mutual concern and love for Tarek and his depressing situation. Though they try to recover Tarek from detention, the ‘methods and rules’ of the government are against their efforts. The film ends with a sigh, not trying to resolve the insoluble problems of immigrant detention in this country, but instead focusing on the impact these four very beautiful people have made on each other.

McCarthy’s concept and writing and direction are understated and all the more strong in the final impact of the film because of that approach. Each of the four main characters is outstanding: Jennings gives an Oscar worthy performance, the new face of Haaz Sleiman is a revelation, and the beautifully nuanced acting of Abbass and Gurira suggest strong careers in the making. The musical score by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek greatly enhances the film. This is a magically tender and beautifully sensitive film and deserves the attention of all who care about the global village and about the importance of independent filmmaking. Highest Recommendation. Grady Harp, July 08

Amazon.com
A deeply moving drama built around longtime character actor Richard Jenkins, The Visitor is a simmering drama about a college professor and recent widower, Walter Vale (Jenkins), who discovers a pair of homeless, illegal aliens living in his New York apartment. After the mix-up is resolved, Vale invites the couple–a young, Syrian musician named Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his Senegalese girlfriend (Danai Gurira–to stay with him. An unlikely friendship develops between the retiring, quiet Vale and the vital Tarek, and the former begins to loosen up and respond to Tarek’s drumming lessons as if something in him waiting to be liberated has finally arrived. All goes well until Tarek is hauled in by immigration authorities and threatened with deportation. His mother, Mouna (Hiam Abbass), turns up and stays with Vale, sparking a renewed if subdued interest in courtship. But the wheels of injustice in immigration crush all manner of hopes in post-9/11 America. Vale soon realizes his unexpected capacity for anger over Tarek’s plight, and the positive changes to his personal life that emerged from a deep involvement with his friend and Mouna, might be the only legacy he takes from this experience. Writer-director Thomas McCarthy has created a wonderfully measured story about change and renewal, and put it all on the shoulders of Jenkins, a largely unheralded but masterful performer whose time for renown has surely come. –Tom Keogh

Stills from The Visitor (click for larger image)

Beyond The Visitor

On Blu-ray

Soundtrack CD

Also directed by Tom McCarthy