Reviews (7)

BONANZA Restored To Its Original Quality!
Bonanza is at last available as its meant to be...Digitally Mastered, original music, the burning map, and the beautiful watercolor drawings of the opening and closing credits.

The various repeat airings on television since the series ended were edited by up to 10 minutes to allow for more commercial time. This DVD presents the episodes in their original form. And the picture quality is no doubt better than the quality of the then-new color TVs when the series originally aired.

May this Volume 1 sell enough that Republic/Artisan continue to remaster the original prints from the series. There are many classic episodes that have never seen release on video, and were sadly edited in tv repeats...

Springtime, The Hayburner, Hoss and the Leprechauns, The Wooing of Abigail Jones, etc.

The original masters of the Bonanza series need to be restored and preserved on DVD.

For die-hard Bonanza fans only
The class act in classic TV westerns seems to be Have Gun Will Travel, which works on many levels and effectively engages the modern audience. Bonanza fans may appreciate the excellent DVD transfer, gorgeous settings and selection of episodes in this product. But the rest of us would be better advised to select something with vision and adult-level dialogue going for it.

Why not Season Box Sets?
This is a great compilation of classic episodes of one of the best shows in TV History.My only complaint is the lack of the deserved respect for such a show.Many classic shows from the 60s and 70s have been released in wonderful quality season box sets.Why not Bonanza?

A Western classic!
So,the waiting time is over.A beautiful DVD in Top Quality of the great Bonanza TV-Show.I am astonished about the remarkable Choice about the episodes.The Crucible and All about Walter,one dramatic and one funny,are truly some of the greatest from the complete Run.And the Orginal Sound and Opening Sequence let the heart jump.Bonanza Fans,this is the first real deal on DVD.Buy it and lets hope there will be more.And my wish is that there will be more classic shows like Branded,Man called Shenandoah,Lancer,High Chapparal,Bronco,Laramie or Gunsmoke.I think there is a big market for these treats.

great all around dvd
this is the best dvd yet and i would highly recommend. i too will be waiting for future editions from artisan. now if we can only get alias smith and jones by someone like "artisan"!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

After the success of the wicked little sci-fi satire Death Race2000, producer Roger Corman quickly recast David Carradine, this time as arebel warrior in the year 3000 paired with B-movie vixen Claudia Jennings. Theresulting mix of barbarians and bikers lacks the inspired humor and satiricaltwist of its inspiration, but it works just fine as a drive-in action pictureabout gladiators on motorcycles and bug-eyed mutant cannibals in second-ratemakeup. Carradine gets to go all kung-fu and Jennings bares all in completelygratuitous (and frankly bewildering) torture scenes, and for all their New-Ageyphilosophy mumbo jumbo, they rise to the occasion in the gladiator ring (thedeathsport of the title), where they pack in enough cycle stunts and fierycrashes to please an exploitation junkie. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Better than Kill Bill!!! Carradines best work!!!
Oh man. My friends and I went to Blockbuster to look for movies, and saw this movie. The cover looked totally tremendously spectacular! it was like.. omfg it owns the matrix special effect. The motorcycles were totally cool looking, and theyr swords are SO AWESOME, CUS THEY WERE CLEAR!. and oh man, i love how they recycle scenes over and over and put funny buzzing noises everytime the awesome motorcycles roll bye. The BEST, AND I MEAN BEST PART about this movie is when the girl gets naked in the torture chamber omg, my friends mom came in while we were watching, and we changed it right away, but thats another story. HAHA OMFG, THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME, the girl is hot too! and i love their ray guns, where whatever they shoot just dissapears, i also love how things explode for no reason. Yeah thats about it. A+!! I REALLY SUGGEST YOU BUY THIS MOVIE!... lol oh man... their swords... are... GREAT.

Death Sport
Entertaining cheerful low budget crap, that is strangely less dated than the bile of sword & sorcery films that came in the next decade.
Looking at this film now it is basically an adult version of Battlestar Gallatica, with violence and female nudity
David Carradine sleepwalks through this and he is still superb.
However this not in the same league as the brilliant satire DeathRace 2000. Still it's fun to see films like this, that would
not have a pray of being made in this day and age.

Post-apocalyptic World of the DeathSport
Death Sport is one of my favorite films. It is the best of the post-apocalyptic action genre which, sadly, with the fall of the Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union has seen its heyday. No one has done it better than Roger Corman. David Carradine, a free and independent "guide," exhibits a cold-blooded and deadly swordsmanship showing no mercy to the "enforcers," a uniformed, motorcycle-riding force of "state-men," the conformist and totalitarian-ruled city-dwellers of the future "after the neutron wars." Claudia Jennings co-stars as a warrior equal in prowess to Carradine and equally deadly to the "enforcers." Richard Lynch is superb as a renegade "guide" who joins the "enforcers" and leads them in their evil plans to capture enough "guides" to hold the Death Sport, a gladiator-like motorcycle combat in which the "enforcers" hope to prove the superiority of the "Death Machine" over the swordsmanship of the "guides." It's the details that make this movie so different. Carradine cleaning the blood from his sword on his cape, the sound-effect when he skewers an "enforcer," the short screams of the "enforcers" when they see imminent death in the upraised swords of Carradine or Jennings, or get vaporized by a "Death Machine," and the whole cold, death-embracing world created in the film. I find myself strangely attracted to this world in which I wouldn't last my first encounter with an "enforcer." Finally, Jerry Garcia did electric guitar-work on the soundtrack. The special features don't match the DVD case - there is no eight page booklet of an interview with Roger Corman - but I didn't buy this DVD for the interview.

Best Movie Ever
Death Sport is the greatest movie ever made. It was on clearance ...and although i own 100,000 copies i couldnt resist so i bought it. the movie has some great action scenes all leading up to the final duel between some guy and another guy who looks like chuck norris. In one scene you can actually see a rope connected to the stuntman. Also scenes are used over and over just with different noises. there is some great machines in the movie such as a scooter painted silver made to be a motorcycle. this movie shows that with the trillions of dollars it costed to make it the movie was great

Death Sport, Death Machines -- How about Brain Death
With this kind of movie you know three things are going to happen: (1) lots of explosions, (2) naked women, (3) none of it will make sense.

As mentioned by another reviewer, most of the "action" is seeing a bunch of motorcycles being driven around fields, rocks, and something that appears to be borrowed from a monster truck rally.

The climatic swordfight has only one good choreographed move, when Moor does a nice somersault kick--too bad Oshay forgot to react. Almost the entire sword fight is filmed really close-up so you don't see them actually hitting the swords together, just swinging elbows. Of course, since the "crystal" swords are clear plastic, they would have broken on the first hit.

If you really want to see this movie, wait until you can rent it for free at your local video store. Should you get the VHS or DVD? With a movie as lousy as this, does it really matter? ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Short and sweet
This is the ultimate film for people who say Woody Allen plays the same role every film. I noted some Marx Brothers homages-you wonder why it's called Bananas? Well, it's a nod to the Marx Brothers' Cocoanuts, there first actual film (the Marx Brothers films' titles didn't make sense, either (at least for Paramount)). There is also a harp solo, which Harpo Marx commonly did. Although not as funny as Annie Hall, Bananas has some great moments-especially when he buys food for an entire army and "plays dead" against the car. The infamous finale is good, too. All in all, worth renting. Thank you for taking the time to read my review and feel free to leave me a helpful/not helpful feedback. God Bless America!

Marx Brothers Inspired, Woody Silliness at its best.
The mixing of bad puns, intellectual comedy, satire, farce and slapstick isn't seamless, but it sure is funny. Most of the jokes are as funny or as bad as they were 30 years ago. Some of the jokes have turned out to be prophetic.

I had not seen the film in nearly 20 years yet remembered it well as I watched the recently released DVD. It's still very funny stuff. The pacing of course is a little slower than how it might be done today--but not much.

I wonder if people under 25 will understand how funny the scenes with Howard Cosell are? Will they know how outrageous and even daring this material was 30 years ago? I'm not sure.

Some of the references and therefore the jokes might fall flat if you don't have a knowledge of late 60's/early 70's American pop culture and news events.

Early in the film Allen who plays a product tester, is testing an executive exercise device, paying homage to Chaplin's Modern Times, and it seems like the scene could have been out of the Farelly brothers latest comedy.

There are several one-liners like one about how common it is to attack an American Embassy which were fairly innocent and funny in 1971, 8 years before Tehran, but are more double edged when heard today.

The film is an homage to his favorite film comedians, the Marx Brothers. The title; Bananas a nod to the Marx Brothers Coconuts, the plot loosely inspired in spirit by Duck Soup and there's even a gag involving a harp, a tribute to Harpo.

We have very witty comments about the media, the very funny (and before it's time) New Testament Cigarette Ad, Allen's first dream sequence involving two groups of monks carrying two men on crosses (one being Allen, one being Allen Garfield) who wind up in fisticuffs over a parking place.

There's the wonderful scene where Allen desperate for some companionship tries to impress a female signature gatherer (played by Louise Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Lasser --his then wife) by pretending to be interested in Yoga, and attending various protests. This leads to Allen unwillingly joining a real revolution in a small South American Country, impersonating it's president to ask the American Government for money and... well don't ask... it actually almost makes sense which is part of what makes it all the more funny.

There's also Howard Cosell and AbC world wide Sports coverage of the assasination and later the wedding night, and for all of us who grew up on the East Coast, newscaster Roger Grimsby playing himself. The wonderful goofy musical score by Marvin Hamlish is just right too.

The DVD has a great transfer of a beautiful wide-screen print but no extras. Although the DVD didn't include the original brilliant radio ad for the film, it does have the wonderful original theatrical trailer for the film which is almost as good. It's one of my favorite trailers.

Chris Jarmick, Author (The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder-a steamy cyber- thriller ...)

Good
This is so bad, it's good.

Allen humor is like few others...he has a unique way to make people laugh.

You Must Suck Out The Poison
This is classic Woody Allen from the early years. Allen's earlier films were satiiric masterpieces with a generous helping of slapstick thrown in and this is one of the better ones. There are so many funny scenes but when Allen is kidnapped by the rebels in a fictional latin country and wakes up in their camp the results are hilarious. His training includes the "Suck out the poison " line in the event of snakebite, Each of these tough rebels is asked to repeat..."What do you do ?" Response.. Suck Out the Poison..then Wood responds " I never suck the leg of anybody who I'm not engaged to"
The dinner at the Dictators mansion is equally hysterical....Allen shows up with a bakery box full of patries and El Presidente turns up his nose and says." Prunes...I don't like Prunes."
Just a sample of countless funny and memorable lines.

SCREWBALL ANTIWAR SATIRE..
From the outrageous name "Fielding Mellish" to the screwball humor in this MAD-magazine type antiwar satire, this is one for the Best of Woody pile. The film grabs you from the first gag, and never lets go. It is laugh-out-loud hillarious with whacky situational scenes as a simple NYC boy gets embroiled in a rebellion in a small South American country (the rebels did not have a good tailor though, but couldn't wait). I was surprised to see a very young pre-fame Sylvester Stallone in a minor side role as a subway crook. The denouement of the movie is somewhat of a let-down (it may be me) but that's no reason to miss out on this superb comedy. ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "Night of the Meek" (Ep. 47, December 23, 1960) - Christmas in the Twilight Zone. Art Carney is a forlorn department store Santa who takes to drinking--only to find himself experiencing the nicest Christmas ever! "The Invaders" (Ep. 51, January 27, 1961) - A flying saucer lands in the attic of an isolated house inhabited by an impoverished woman--who soon becomes panic-stricken as tiny spacemen begin to stalk her! "Nothing in the Dark" (Ep. 81, January 5, 1962) - An old woman has fought with death a thousand times and has always won. But now she finds herself afraid to let a wounded policeman (Robert Redford) in her door for fear he is Mr. Death. Is he? ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Superb performances from great actors in "The Twilight Zone"
Volume 1 of "The Twilight Zone" presents a trio of classic episodes where the performances by the actors are as memorable as the stories with their infamous Twilight Zone twists. "The Invaders" is a tour de force performance by Agnes Moorhead in an episode written by Richard Matheson. Moorhead plays a woman living alone in a farmhouse who finds that a miniature flying saucer has landed on her roof. The woman has to fight against the strange tiny invaders with their advanced technology. But then remember, this is the Twilight Zone. "Night of the Meek," written by Rod Serling, finds poor Henry Corwin (Art Carney), a department store Santa who shows up drunk on Christmas Eve and is fired. Wandering the streets, he discovers a magic bag that can dispense any gift he asks for. Definitely a seasonal message from Serling and directed by Jack Smight, with John Fielder and Burt Mustin in the cast. "Nothing in the Dark," written by George Clayton Johnson, offers Gladys Cooper as Wanda Dunn as an old woman who has barricaded herself in her basement apartment for years, fearing that Mr. Death with kill her with a touch. Wanda knows that Death can take many disguises. But despite her fears, when Harold Beldon, a young policeman is shot outside her door, she drags him inside. Of course, the fact Beldon is played by Robert Redford might have something to do with her letting her guard down. This DVD includes "Inside The Twilight Zone", with information on Rod Serling, a history of the series, reviews of each episode, cast information and a season-by-season commentary. Not a bad first disc, but there is much better to come. However, you will not find a better trio of performances than you find here with Moorhead, Carney and Cooper.

Santa, Twist Endings and more are Just the Beginning
Indelible episodes, NOTHING IN THE DARK and THE INVADERS have to be two of the most viewed stories from "The Twilight Zone." Gladys Cooper and Robert Redford give very credible performances in this story of 'Mister Death' knocking at the door penned by George Clayton Johnson. THE INVADERS is a classic episode in the true sense of "The Twilight Zone." Richard Matheson wrote a memorable story and Agnes Moorehead gave one of the greatest visual acting jobs of all time. Alfred Hitchcock would probably call this episode an example of 'pure cinema.' NIGHT OF THE MEEK is a great Christmas holiday episode. Art Carney plays a drunken department store Santa who comes across a magical Santa's sack that generates gifts for those that are needy. Filmed directly to videotape and written with great warmth by Rod Serling this is one of the best and loved episodes. This is a good cross-section of shows from this series.

Awsome series!
Wow, I just watched these episodes and I was impressed. Very entertaining. I'll do a review for each episode.

Night of the Meek- This is a great Christmas episode, even though it was october when I saw it. (***)

The Invaders- When I first saw this, it really creeped me out. I was even screaming! There was a wonderful twist at the end. (***)

Nothing in the Dark- This is another one that gave me the creeps. Death comes walking up to your door. Probably the best one on the disk. (****)

The first and best of Science Fiction Television
First collection of shows from the 1959 to 1964 TV anthology by Rod Serling, which showcases both great acting and outstanding writing done by both Serling and frequent writer contributors like Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont. Show put acting and writing ahead of any fancy special effect shots or cheap creature make-up work done (which is so commen on certain shows and films shown on a cable network today that shall remain nameless). Great first edition for anyone who likes the best of what television can offer.

Enter the 5th dimension....
Besides the TV Plays that you will buy this for, there are some DVD goodies (extras.):
Special "Inside the Twilight Zone" Section Written by Marc Scott Zicree
Biographical info on Rod Sterling
History of the Twilight Zone
Cast information
A season-by Season commentary

They claim to be digitally re-mastered yet there are still a few glitches and snow.

Episode 47 "Night of the Meek" December 23, 1961

As with short TV plays there is not real time for a buildup. Art Carney is an out of work person that plays Santa Claus. Because of his disappointment in life he indulges in libations. This leads to his dismissal as a store Santa. I will say not more as you are about to enter the twilight Zone.
Things had to move fast as there was only a half hour to complete the story.

Episode 51 "The Invaders" January 5, 1961

Agnes Moorhead is a woman living alone in an old farmhouse without any conveniences such as electricity. She is preparing supper when she hears a mysterious sound. Something appears to have hit the roof. She goes to investigate. I will say not more as you are about to enter the twilight Zone.
This episode thought well played seems to drag a bit as the woman is spending a lot of time searching around and licking her wounds. She says little (ok nothing) but conveys her part well. See Agnes Moorhead again when she has a lot to say in the movie "Dark Passage."

Episode 81"Nothing in the Dark" January 5, 1962

Long After the movie "Death takes a Holiday", in this episode death (Robert Redford) takes on the appearance of a wounded police officer.
Gladys Cooper plays an old woman afraid of Death. More than the scenario, of which we all know the eventual outcome, is the interaction between the two characters. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Who but Pedro Almodóvar would make a movie in which a nightclub singernamed Yolanda, whose boyfriend has died from a heroin overdose, hides fromthe police in a nunnery--only to discover that the nuns have more perverselifestyles than her own? The nuns of Dark Habits use drugs, writelurid pulp novels, design high-fashion habits, and keep a tiger in theircourtyard. Yolanda (Cristina Sanchez Pascual) gets caught up in the headnun's scheme to regain the patronage of a wealthy noblewoman, butbetrayal, illicit love, and a campy musical number are waiting in thewings. Dark Habits features Almodóvar regulars Carmen Maura andMarisa Paredes, as well as a bit part by Cecelia Roth of All About MyMother. Fans of Almodóvar's magnificent later films (like Habla ConElla (Talk to Her)) may find Dark Habits a bit thin, but it offers its owncharms and comic delights. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Old School Almodovar
Seeing that Almodovar's new movie (La Mala Educacion) has to do with the catholic church, I felt it appropriate to go back and see this old one. Glad I did. Very funny film.
Though the dvd quality is not that great (and several scenes have been deleted), the film still stands up to the test of time. A drugged out singer takes refuge in a convent run by nuns with serious issues. These nuns do heroin, drop acid, read trashy novels, and even have lesbian tendencies.
The acting is great, the women (most of whom you are familiar with if you've seen other Almodovar films, Carmen Maura, Marisa Paredes, etc)do a fine job, they created a very charming and entertaining group of "sisters."
While this is not the best Almodovar film, it is still a funny ditty that is better than 95% of the films that come out these days.

Sad Release
It is amazing that after all these years wating for such a great movie on DVD it finallly comes out with some scenes deleted... plus the DVD transfer is not so great... avoid this and go for the VHS, it contains the complete movie and quality is about the same...

If you love this movie, the DVD is not for you
Sadly, this release has been edited. Four to five scenes have been deleted and, for the life of me, I cannot understand the reason behind these cuts. The scenes in question did not contain any material that could be offensive to anybody. Maybe the studio has plans to release the "Director's cut" in a few months, thus hoping, that all of us idiots would go out and buy it again.

The Pleasures of Pedro Almodovar
Perhaps it is because Spain is the place of origin of the Surrealism movement in art that has propelled Pedro Almodovar's career. But whatever the genes or historical influences, Almodovar is one of the most consistently creative and outrageous directors working in the industry today. The public has become aware of his gifts through his recent tender films (All About My Mother, Talk To Her, etc) but this zany romp dates back to 1983 when he was able to take on anything and create parody (Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down, Matador, etc).

This time around it is the Catholic Church he examines. A convent exists for women in the throes of desperation (drugs, prostitution, other crimes) and the Sisters all bear humiliating names (Sister Rat of the Sewer, Sister Manure, etc) as per the design of the order. The hilarity comes form the sub-vocations of the nuns which include dealing and using heavy drugs, writing pulp novels, voyeurism, etc. Even the Priest affiliated with the convent is more committed to sewing gaudy dresses than tending to his parish. The story is slight - a victim singer takes refuge in the declining convent and helps to salvage its support from a stingy and wealthy widow of their main source of financing. Things just get crazy, zany, and at times ridiculous, but you just can't help liking this batch of ladies. A refreshing romp!

BEWARE!! THIS IS AN EDITED VERSION!!
I must foremost thank Wellspring, the distributor of this film, for releasing this Almodóvar masterpiece on DVD..however..I am not sure who was behind this release..but, being familiar with the original release of this film..I was shocked and perplexed for the fact that this DVD issue is an EDITED version, cutting off approx. 15 mins of this film. I dont know WHy they did this, or what...I felt they cut off some important scenes..

#1..Yolana Bell's opening number, where we first see her performing..she did a song called "Dime" (which is in fact, a Spanish version of Morris Albert's "Feelings")

#2. a conversation among the Redeeming sisters and a redeemed girl from the past, where they run into each other on the Sister's outdoor stand, where they sell cakes, flowers and peppers.

#3. The Sisters' explaining to nuns from their mother chapter, that they had been robbed, talking it over the punch bowl. Also cutting off a funny line, where the sisters gossip over a younger nun, saying that "she's far to pretty for this vocation, but time will take care of that"

#4. A small bit of Sister Rat From Sewer's opening speech before Yolanda's performance for the Mother Superior's birthday party. in this DVD issue, they go straight to Sister Rat talking on stage, completely taking out her peeking out from the curtain and quieting down the crowd.

but ultimately, I am happy that this movie saw the light of day AGAIN, it had been out of print on video for years..so, its a great buy, but be bewared that it's edited. If u have never seen this movie before, then it wont be a problem. Hardcore fans like myself might have a problem. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before hitting the big time with his second film Boogie Nights, young filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson impressed critics with this deftly conceived, low-budget film noir chamber piece. With its minimalist plot, deliberate pacing, and brief, but shocking bursts of violence, Hard Eight won't please everyone, but Anderson and his first-rate cast were clearly working on the same authentic wavelength. It's a mystery at first why a solemn professional gambler (Philip Baker Hall in a captivating performance) cares for a down-and-out loser (John C. Reilly) and a dimwit, Reno cocktail waitress (Gwyneth Paltrow). But his motivations become clear--and the movie packs a quietly effective punch--when the gambler faces blackmail by a small-time crook (Samuel L. Jackson). This unheralded film seemed like a closely kept secret itself, until it showed up on the 1997 top-10 lists of several prominent critics. In tandem with Boogie Nights, it marked the arrival of a new filmmaker whose talent is as impressive as that of that other '90s hotshot, Quentin Tarantino. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (51)

A nice Find
Hard Eight is one of those sharp character driven dramas that film fans will appreciate if they Like Paul Thomas Anderson in general. Anderson is the kind of writer that brings new things to life each time out. This time he finds a lonely gambler in his later days who befriends misfits. A great cast led my Phillip Baker Hall and John C. Reilly make the movie a treat and Sam Jackson and Gweneth Paltrow also show up for supporting roles.

The Special Features offer three scenes from the movie shot on video as part of a Sundance workshop. It also has two commentary tracks. The first one with Anderson and Hall is interesting, because Anderson is really funny and well spoken and has a lot of interesting things to say. Hall, on the other hand, drones on and on about character motivation and dynamics and sounds like a junior level college course on acting. Not to take away from Hall's performance which is top notch, but listening to actors talk about what goes on in an actor's mind is numbing.

Hard Eight is as interesting if not as ambitious as Anderson's later projects. If you like his other films, you'll do yourself a favor seeing this one.

compelling and heartfelt
My personal favorite of Paul Thomas Anderson's films, Hard Eight quenches my thirst with a good twist and ending. Boogie Nights and Magnolia seemed to me to be primarily centered around the characters (which is great in it's own respect), but both movies left me wanting a bit more. Philip Baker Hall stars this time as elderly lonesome gambler Sydney, who, for reasons unknown, helps two young confused kids find love and peace in the world.
This film deals with issues of regret, guilt and self-redemption as Sydney's generosity and charity is not as selfless as it may seem. And so we follow the daily lives of Sydney and these young adults, as their neuroses guide them into very unique situations which brilliantly outline the chaos they feel in their lives. The characters are sad, realistic, and evoke empathy from the viewer simply on maintaining their everyday lives.
The question that is raised is whether or not personal guilt of the past can ever be abolished by performing acts of kindness in the present. Can a man redeem his character even when he is in his 70's, or have his bad choices set the tone for his existence? Is covering up the past while refusing to deal with it head-on a detrimental decision? These questions are left unanswered in this compelling story of a lonely old man's attempt to clear his conscience.

SLICK
Move over Tarantino and Mamet we got a new writer director in town.Paul Thomas Anderson.Boogie Nights and this one Hard Eight
make him an easy competitor in the world of indie film-making
this movie is great.Philip Baker Hall finally scores a lead role
and does an outstanding job as Sydney,the kind,nice,and all to
calm and slick pro gambler who helps John(John C. Reilly)a down
on his luck chum.Then they become good freinds and we skip a head
2 years and we meet Clementine Johns new love played good as usual by Gweneth Paltrow and slick casino pro Jimmy played by
Samuel L.Jackson who is the standout.This movie crackles with
dialogue and your never bored because you never know whats gonna
happen next and we find out secrets about our nice freind Sydney
and from their it gets interesting.SEE IT NOWWWW

Too ambiguous and understated
Maybe I was born into a generation of short attention spans, but I just felt this movie moved too slowly. I understand that it's a character-driven drama and not an action flick, but I do now believe there's such a thing as too much subtlety. Ninety percent of the film consists of extremely drawn-out, quiet conversations between two characters, with lines no more than a couple of words long: "Cigarette?" "No thanks," etc. It seems too artsy and contrived. A lot of filmakers - I can't help but mention Tarantino here - use mundane, understated dialogue to act as comic bathos, or to develop character, but it doesn't work so well in Hard Eight.

That said, it still deserves at least 3.5 stars (rounded to four). Hall's unrelentingly phlegmatic Sydney plays so well off of Jackson's 'enobled thug' Jimmy; the scenes where they confront each other, Sydney doggedly trying to assert his principles, Jimmy exposing Sydney's hypocrisy and condescension, are well played-out. You have trouble deciding where your sympathies lie, which always good, and I was strangely satisfied with the ending as well. Also, it's such a short, simple and (in some ways) unpretentious movie that it's hard to judge it very harshly; it would be like condemning a nice little schoolhouse in relation to the Taj Mahal.

Hard To Stay Awake...
Don't get me wrong here. I am a fan of Anderson's work in general, especially Boogie Nights and Punch-Drunk Love. But I just could handle Hard Eight. Usually Anderson's slower pace is a welcome change for me as I really enjoy character driven dramas. The acting was pretty good, but I just thought the script lacked anything of interest. Maybe next time, but I can't recommend actually buying this one unless you want a complete Anderson collection. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

These are some annoying characters.
Near the end of Anything Else, Woody Allen's character tells his comedy writing partner, played by Jason Biggs, if he has to steal material, make sure he steals from the best. Allen has taken this to heart as he has basically rewritten Jane Austin's Emma. Not only has he given himself the role of Emma, but also given himself the best and funniest lines and made himself the least annoying character in the entire film.

There are some of the best one liners Allen has come up with in years here and he even gives a couple to Christina Ricci, but the characters are so contemptuous and obtuse that you want to throttle them all. This is probably Allen's plan so not only do you want to root for his newly discovered comedy writing partner, Jerry Falk (Biggs), to get out of every relationship he's in, but you are begging to have Allen back on the scene for a couple more laughs.

Purposely done? Probably; however, Allen is the master of the neurotic and he knows how to get under the skin of one especially Falk's girlfriend, Amanda (Ricci). Of course, Ricci knows how to play a sociopath. Just look at The Opposite Of Sex. But even this can't make anything else of Anything Else except an uncomfortable character study with a few good laughs.

"There was something compelling about your apathy."
In "Anything else"--a Woody Allen film, Jason Biggs plays Jerry Falk--a comedy writer based in New York. Falk lives with Amanda (Christina Ricci), and while Falk is enthralled with Amanda, it's obvious that the couple have serious problems. Amanda is unreliable and flakey, but Falk finds excuses for Amanda's behaviour. Paula (Stockard Channing), Amanda's out-of-control mother moves in. Falk's agent is Harvey (Danny Devito)--who's as greedy as he is incompetent. Falk finds excuses for Harvey too. Falk has a pattern of absorbing outrages.

Enter... David Dobel (Woody Allen)--another comedy writer (and teacher). Dobel and Falk immediately strike up an easy friendship. With Dobel, Falk finds that he has a confidant, friend, and mentor. Finally, Falk can express himself to someone who is interested.

"Anything Else" does not compare to Woody Allen's best films "Crimes and Misdemeanors", "Purple Rose of Cairo", etc., but, nonetheless, this is vintage Woody Allen--perceptive & humorous. The film's biggest failing is in the casting of Jason Biggs as the comedy writer. He is the foil to Woody's peculiar, eccentric worldly wisdom, but the Falk character is not quite believable somehow. I kept seeing Edward Burns in this role. Christina Ricci was great as Falk's self-centered, pretentious girlfriend, and Stockard Channing ( a very talented comedienne) was amazing as Amanda's ridiculously demanding mother. Channing and Ricci made a very believable mother-and daughter team. The character of David Dobel was fascinating, and I would have to say that he is responsible for the 5 star rating. David Dobel's dialogue was always hilariously surprising. So for Woody Allen fans, I recommend "Anything Else." It's good to see Woody back again--displacedhuman.

Not as good
Anything else id not as good as Allen's other. The neurotic character is more in Biggs character, than in Allen's. Biggs is like a young Allen, and it's not that great. Besides that the movie is pretty funny, not rolling on the floor funny, but funny.

Insert audible sigh here
Let's be honest and upfront about this. I love Woody Allen movies and always have, right up through his last truly great film, Bullets Over Broadway. Since then, it's been scattershot. Mighty Aphrodite and Everyone Says I Love You were okay. Hollywood Ending wasn't that bad. Deconstructing Harry was an interesting change of pace. Other than that, I can't say that I've enjoyed any of his more recent films. Celebrity, Small Time Crooks, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion - nearly unwatchable. It almost seems like he's phoning it in.

So turning to Anything Else, it appears that he might have learned some lessons from his previous efforts by removing himself as the romantic lead. Thankfully - who wants to see Woody wooing Christina Ricci? And also thankfully, he gave himself a part that is actually the best one in the film. His wisecracking Dobel generates most of the genuine laugh moments in the plot alongside an under-used Danny DeVito. Unfortunately, since Woody is not playing the main "Woody" character, it's left to Jason Biggs to more or less assume the persona which gave me some qualms, especially remembering Kenneth Branagh's Woody impersonation in Celebrity. Surprisingly, Biggs pulls it off without lapsing into caricature but it's hard to digest that a twenty-something man would just happen to possess all of the neuroses and cultural tastes of Woody Allen as we have come to know him.

The same goes for Christina Ricci. She doesn't do anything horrible in the film but her character becomes very tiresome very quickly and while it enhances the comedy elements surrounding Biggs's character, it's probably not the best idea for a romantic comedy to make one half of the loving pair so annoying.

Stockard Channing is also a wonderful actress with an interesting character who doesn't get enough screen time. I know that a lot of actors make sacrifices just for the sake of being in a Woody Allen movie, but some deserve more when they achieve something. I mentioned Danny DeVito earlier - his scene in the restaurant and Stockard Channing's when she plays the piano are gems.

Fortunately for the film, Jason Biggs can do subtle comedy and his character generates a lot of empathy. Hopefully Woody has found a new niche for himself in his films as a major supporting character. Dobel allows Woody to lapse back into some of his early career schtick without crossing the line that made most of us cringe at some of his more recent work. Just in looking at the advertising and PR for this film, one would never know that it was a Woody Allen movie and it's a shame that it's come to the point where his name might be construed as a negative.

Woody: The Exterminating Angel
Woody Allen's films have been gifts, balms, salves in my life -
when every other thing that happens around me seems to be
a knock on Camus' door of unhappiness. His films may appear
to be more and more flawed - but not to me.

Robert Motherwell said, " All of my life I've been working the work...Each picture is only an approximation of what you want...you can never
make the absolute statement, but the desire to do so as an approximation keeps you going. " Think about Woody Allen's

career as a film maker - and perhaps this movie will not stand
out, but there are qualities in it that do.

Imagine a retrospective of the best moments of Woody's films, like
the coda-retrospectives in some of them ( Annie Hall ) - it would
be an amazing collage of scenes and lines that we remember
and quote and are reminded of every day.

It is hard to like Anything Else. Christina Ricci's character, no matter how well-played, no matter how agreeable she is to look at, is unbearable.
I rented the movie, and had to turn it off now and then, because I
couldn't understand why Jason Biggs didn't hand her her hat or
strangle her.

Were it not for Woody's character, I may have cancelled the movie.
Dobel ( Allen ) is so nimble-minded, clever in scathing thought
( I'll quote his comment about vomiting in Carnegie Hall to my
college art students ) that I would have been satisfied by the scenes
of Jason and Woody alone.

They both stammer. Woody, like Jimmy Stewart, has made stammering
an art. If you have a problem with one actor stammering, get ready.
Jerry Falk ( Biggs ) can't get through a thought without an eraser.

The music is perfect.

The sly references will please those who grasp
them, and alienate those who don't. Some are just slivers: a couple
exit a movie house and we hear the man say something about why didn't the dinner guests just get up and leave? Woody is honoring
Luis Bunuel's The Exterminating Angel, and sending a little

Valentine to those in the audience who know it.

There are no special effects, eviscerations, frontal nudity, car
chases --- just people talking with people about what ( some )
people talk about. These are my favorites movies. Anything Else
won't get high mention in Woody's obituary - but I dare you not
to be amused every time Jason appears in his therapist's office - or
not to add Dobel to the list of nuanced visionaries and nutcakes
that Woody has created and given to us. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Richard Attenborough's passion weighs so heavily on every frame of Grey Owl, the true story of a pioneering conservationist in the Canadian wilderness, that it tends to smother the characters. Pierce Brosnan is stiff, deliberate and terse as Archie Grey Owl, a part Scotch Native American adopted and raised by a Canadian Ojibwa tribe. He gets by as a trapper, hunting guide, and sometime writer, but becomes an internationally revered activist in the 1930s when he publishes a book on the vanishing wilderness. Annie Galipeau is the native Canadian woman who sees through his tough hide and secretive quiet: "Yeah, I know. You're a loner. You have to live in the wilderness. I hear it everyday." But she doesn't pierce his most zealously guarded secret, a distracting subplot that most of the audience figures out in no time. Attenborough's hushed reverence for Archie's dream slows an already lugubrious drama, and Brosnan all too often comes off as a walking cliché, his flat speech and long, slow stares a Brit's idea of a movie Indian. The real star of the film is the magnificent Canadian wilderness: carpets of forests, clear crystal lakes, and vast blue skies. There's no doubting Attenborough's good intentions, and his love for the wilderness is felt in every gorgeous frame, but somewhere in the forest he loses track of his story. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (19)

I liked this movie
The first time I saw this movie I wasn't sure about it. After watching it many times since I find that I really like this movie. I have read books about Grey Owl, and I am glad the movie did not focus on Grey Owls battle with alcohol. It would have diminished the character. I thought this was a romantic movie that I enjoy watching over and over. As for Pierce Brosnans portayal of Grey Owl, excellent!!! This was quite a stretch for Mr Brosnan. I think his Bond, Remington Steele and Thomas Crown roles are pretty much in character for him. I think he had to work hard at this role and I feel he did an excellent job. I loved it when he showed the softer side of Grey Owl, I just fell in love with that character. Pierce looks good with long hair, or short hair, he would probably even look good bald. The man is #1 in my book. I did feel that the role of Anahareo could have been done better. I have never seen Annie Galipeau in anything befor. She is beautiful but this role was not for her. I agree with another review that her acting went from sometimes good to sometimes, well lets just say it was hard to watch. I don't think she complemented Pierce, the chemistry was not there. I feel sorry for Mr Brosnan because from what I have read he put his heart into this movie, and the movie industry thumbed their nose at the movie. If a movie is good it does't need sex and violenc to enhance it. This was a good movie that can stand its own. Lets hear it for Grey Owl and .

Not all Gems Sparkle Like Gold.
When I first sat down to watch GREY OWL, I thought to myself, "You've got to be kidding. Pierce Brosnan as an Indian?". It didn't seem to fit. Of course, I grew up watching Brosnan as Remmington Steele so him in any role other than one of class seems out of place. However, as I was swept into the world of the movie, I actually began to believe that Brosnan was Grey Owl, aka Archie. He seemed a little different than other Native-Americans, but not so different that he seemed totally out of place. By the time the movie ended and after I had done a little research about Grey Owl, I felt Brosnan had done a wonderful job and had been perfectly cast.

GREY OWL is a film directed by Sir Richard Attenborough and tells part of the story of Grey Owl, aka Archie, a Canadian Indian who began a conservation crusade to protect the native wildlife of Canada in the early twentieth century. However, Grey Owl has a secret that once revealed threatens everything he has fought to perserve.

The movie itself is engaging and has a great story to tell. It's filled with beautiful images of nature and has a strong message. GREY OWL is a film that is often overlooked, but after watching it, I am reminded that not all gems sparkle like gold.

A Surprise Gem
I rented this video on a whim; I'd never heard of Grey Owl and had more than a little difficulty picturing Pierce Brosnan as a believable Indian. I was transfixed by the story of Grey Owl, and pleasantly surprised by Brosnan's excellent portrayal of this complicated but important figure in conservation. It's a movie I've since purchased, and one I enjoy every time I watch it. Having done a fair amount of reading of Grey Owl's works after my first viewing, I've learned this is a moderately accurate portrayal of a complicated figure. It doesn't reveal all of his warts, but the focus of this film is rightly not just Grey Owl as a person, but his conversion and ultimate contribution to conservation. The public has a tendency to view heroes (or anyone) in black and white terms, and is notoriously uni-dimensional in their views of such people. Grey Owl (ironically, given his name) suffered that same fate. It's a story well worth watching and watching again. The cinematography alone is a treat for the eyes.

ABOUT TIME
Having read all Archie's books, Anahareo's book "Devil in Deerskins" and all of his publisher's (Lovat Dickson) books, I liked the movie. About time Gery Owl was reintroduced to the world! As stated in other reviews Pierce was a little 1940's movie Indian but he did all right. Essentially accurate it's difficult to tell a man's life in 2-3 hours. Attenborough is good with biographies but Hollywood is not in the business of making historical documentaries; movie "histories" are good for peaking one's interest--then go out and read about it yourself!

Wow - great autobiographical flick!
I didn't know much about the story of Grey Owl much less that this story was a true one! I just bought it since I'm so much into indiginous people's history and stories and this didn't disappoint in the least!

The story is a true one of an Englishman that moved to Canada at an early age and took on the role of a people he was fascinated with and becomes a trapper. He later grudgingly finds a special person who helps him strive to be more and he becomes one of our first environmentalists. I normally don't like to tell the story or give much away but I feel this is essential so you know what you are getting. In addition, many may wonder why in the heck Pierce Brosnan is playing the role of a Native American like I did!

The message is a great one and despite the deception, Grey Owl's story is an extraordinary one. The DVD is excellent as it has some historical film you can view of the real Grey Owl in the earlier part of the last century. That alone makes this DVD an exception purchase.

I wholeheartedly recommend it but cannot give 5 stars as I don't see it best in class for it's genre. However, it's among the better ones I've encountered for sure! It's an excellent addition to my DVD collection. ... Read more

Description

In VOLUME EIGHT, watch as Lucy gets chased by the masked Ramon in "Cuban Pals," gets locked up in "The Freezer," gets drunk on Vitameatavegamin in "Lucy Does A TV Commercial" and poses as the Maharincess of Franistan in "Publicity Agent." ... Read more

Reviews (5)

All you need to know: This is the one with Vitametavegamin
Volume 8 of Season One of "I Love Lucy" on DVD includes what has been universally recognized as the funniest episode of the classical sitcom. Need a clue? How about one word: Vitameatavegamin (and it's tasty too!). Even without that biggie the other three episodes by writers Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr. are way above average as well:

Episode 28, "Cuban Pals" (April 21, 1952) finds Lucy insanely jealous about the gorgeous Latin dancer (Rita Convy) who was Ricky's dancing partner back in Cuba. Whatever will the redhead do about this floozy?

Episode 29, "The Freezer" (April 28, 1952) contains another classic "I Love Lucy" sight gag. Lucy and Ethel have a new walk-in freezer that is not as big as think. As a result, the girls have to go into the meat business. Meanwhile, there is that walk-in freezer with a lock on teh door and that can only mean one thing with Lucy around.

Episode 30, "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" (May 5, 1952) is an absolute classic. Lucy has been trying to get into showbusiness and she may have finally found her opportunity as a TV pitchwoman for Vitametavegamin, a cure-all tonic (that is only 23 percent alcohol). What is interesting is that Lucy is pretty good when she starts practicing. But with each rehersal using the actual product she descends into a drunken stupor and ascends to the heights of hilarity. Note: Lucy appeared in the 1946 MGM movie "Ziegfeld Follies," in which Red Skelton did a burlesque routine in which he was peddling a product called Guzzler's Gin. Whether this was indeed the inspiration for this "I Love Lucy" episode or not, it indicates the Lucille Ball's gift was not in originality but in performance.

Episode 31, "The Publicity Agent" (May 12, 1952) has Lucy "helping" Ricky's career by posing as a Middle Eastern princess who is Ricky Ricardo's biggest fan. Of course, no publicity stunt by Lucy goes unpunished.

During the first season of "I Love Lucy" in 1951-52 the show had a Nielsen rating of 50.9, which means on Monday nights literatlly half the television sets in the United States were on and tuned to CBS at 9:00 p.m. (and the show only finished THIRD in the ratings). However, the next year the show would make it to the top spot in the Nielsens with a rating of 67.3 as Lucy, both the actress and the character, gave birth. Today you can take the ratings from the four main networks and probably throw the two minor ones into the mix and still not come close to that number during any hour of the week. This is why there is "I Love Lucy" and then the rest.

Vitameatavegamin and Some Other Laughs
The eighth volume of season one brings us one of the best known and loved episodes of I Love Lucy. But there are four episodes on this disc, all of which are great.

"Cuban Pals" gives Lucy and us a chance to meet some of Ricky's old friends. But when one of them turns out to be cuter then Lucy is comfortable with, she gets a visit from the green-eyed monster.

In "The Freezer," the gals get in over their head buying meat for a new basement freezer.

When "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," she gets much more then she bargained for when the product turns out to be alcoholic. While I normally don't enjoy people acting drunk, this episode kills me every time I see it. It's a classic for a reason.

Finally, we get "The Publicity Agent." This one finds Lucy pretending to be the Maharincess of Franistan to give Ricky some much needed publicity.

This DVD is a collector's dream. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. The sound is presented in mono. While it won't challenge your sound system, it serves the purpose well and is faithful to the original audio recording. The extras include the now familiar guest cast info, original opening, mistakes, and episode of "My Favorite Husband." It also features an excerpt from Jess Oppenheimer's books about the creation of "The Freezer" and "Lucy Does a TV Commercial."

I Love Lucy is a classic TV show, and this disc features a classic episode. Not only will fans of Lucy want this disc, so will anyone who loves all time classic TV.

"Hello friends! I'm your Vitametavegamin girl!"
I was very happy to see the release of DVD Volume 8 containing 4 more episodes from the first season of the classic television series "I Love Lucy", which aired on television for six seasons between 1951 and 1957. Lucy Esmeralda MacGillicuddy Ricardo (Lucille Ball), Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz), Ethel Mae Roberta Louise Potter Mertz (Vivian Vance) and Fred Mertz (William Frawley) have more hilarious hijinx occur in the four episodes presented in thid DVD:

Episode 28: "Cuban Pals" (April 21, 1952). Lucy and Ricky are visited by two of Ricky's Cuban friends (Alberto Morin and Rita Convy), as well as a dancer named Renita Perez (Lita Baron), whom Ricky used to perform with when she was a little girl. Lucy's jealousy of Renita leads to some classic hijinx at the night club.

Episode 29: "The Freezer" (April 28, 1952). Lucy and Ethel want to save money by getting a freezer to store a lot of meat that they could purchase wholesale. Ethel can get a freezer essentially for free from a relative, so Lucy orders some meat; but it's a bit more meat than Lucy & Ethel realize when three delivery men arrive (Frank Sully and Bennett Green). After they try to sell some of the excess meat, Lucy learns the true meaning of popsickle. Fred Aldrich played the butcher.

Episode 30: "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" (May 5, 1952). This is one of the best known and most beloved episodes of all time. In this episode, Lucy finagles her way into doing a TV commercial during a show that Ricky has been invited to perform in. The TV commercial is for that well-known elixir, Vitametavegamin; but the director (Ross Elliott) and Joe (Jerry Hausner) fail to mention that it has a lot of alcohol in it. After several takes, Lucy gets a bit tipsy.

Episode 31: "The Publicity Agent" (May 12, 1952). Concerned that Ricky isn't getting enough publicity, Lucy poses as a princess from the fictional country of Franistan who has travelled to NYC just to hear Ricky sing. Ethel poses as her consort. Peter Leeds, Bennett Green, Richard J. Reeves and Gil Herman guest star in this episode.

If you are debating whether to purchase any of the episodes on DVD, you won't be disappointed if you are a long-time fan of "I Love Lucy". As with the other seven volumes released so far, picture quality of the episodes is superb; and being able to watch the episodes uninterrupted and uncut is fantastic. I rate these 4 classic episodes with 5 out of 5 stars!

Lucy samples Vitameatavegamin and dances the rumba!
I LOVE LUCY continues on DVD with this 8th volume of episodes from the historic first season.

"Cuban Pals" - Lucy is delighted to meet a troupe of Cuban performers, touring through America, who are old friends of Ricky's. But when she discovers that the beautiful, lithsome dancer Renita Perez will be dancing with Ricky, Lucy sets out to replace her as the "Lady in Red", with hilarious results...

"The Freezer" - Lucy and Ethel decide to buy a freezer, stocking it with more meat than they can eat...or pay for! But with Lucy's brush with the meat 'black-market' turning into a dismal failure, the girls have to go home and face the boys...

"Lucy Does a TV Commercial" - Lucy decides to appear on Ricky's new television special, advertising a rather-suspicious health tonic called Vitameatavegamin. The tonic is largely made of alcohol, and Lucy bombs (and gets bombed) as she samples the elixer during multiple "takes"!

"The Publicity Agent" - Ricky's career is in the doldrums, so Lucy decides to shake things up in the press by masquerading as the 'Maharincess of Franistan', who has come to America just to hear Ricky singing in his club!

Starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley. The DVD includes restored elements, special footage, a bonus episode of the "My Favorite Husband" radio show, flubs, guest-cast information and audio supplements. (Single-sided, single-layer disc).

The Queen of Comedy on DVD.
The eighth volume of I Love Lucy's first season contains episodes 28-31, which feature some of the show's best moments, like Lucy getting locked in a freezer, dressing up as foreign royalty and doing a commercial for Vitameatavegamin. Although, like I've said before, I wish they would release season-by-season DVDs, this is still a must have collection. Lucy's brand of humor and physical gags transcends time and it shows, like always, on this set. And who doesn't love Lucy?

1. "Cuban Pals" (aired 4/21/52)- When Carlos and Maria, old friends of Ricky's from Cuba, come for a visit, Lucy insists that another friend of his, Renita Perez, should do an act with Ricky at his club. Of course, this is before Lucy sees what a gorgeous woman Renita is now. Jealous, she has Fred pose as a taxi cab driver who is supposed to take her to the Tropicana, but takes a "shortcut" through Philadelphia.

2. "The Freezer" (aired 4/28/52)- The girls buy a freezer from Ethel's uncle and decide to order two sides of beef, not knowing that two sides of beef is over 700 pounds. Lucy's scheme to steal the customers away from the butcher shop to sell her beef to them fails, so while trying to hide the meat from Ricky, Lucy gets locked in the freezer.

3. "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" (aired 5/5/52)- Lucy is desperate to get a spot in the live commercial that will air during a TV show that Ricky is doing. She auditions as Lucy McGillicuddy and wins the part. But during rehearsals, she gets drunk on the Vitameatavegamin tonic that contains 23% alcohol.

4. "The Publicity Agent" (aired 5/12/52)- When Ricky thinks that his career is in a slump and that he needs some publicity, Lucy rises to the occasion to help him out. Unknowingly to Ricky, she transforms herself into the Maharincess of Franistan, who is so obsessed with Ricky Ricardo, that she travels clear around the world for a private command performance. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Sex? Voyeurism? Techno-mayhem? Slick futurism? You got it.
You also have quite a few detracting problems.

I must say, I'm surprised that there are no reviews for this item and I'm writing the first one. But then again, this movie has by-and-large, flown under most people's radar, and perhaps for most that is for the best.

I should probably say I hovered between giving this movie 2 or 3 stars for a while before I settled on 3. 2 seems to say "This movie is not worth watching" while 3 better says what I feel - "Might be worth watching."

Demonlover is a corporate intrigue and espionage film that seems to take place in the not-so-distant future, and concerns an employee named Diane who (ostensibly) works for a corporation looking to buy out a hot 3D cyber-pornography company called TokyoAnime. Also interested in these dealings are the fiercely, deadly competitive corporations of Demonlover and Mangatronics. The movie gives the impression that nobody is really what they seem in this movie, from Diane's boss, to her assistant (played by Chloe Sevigny), but you know, none of this really comes as any big surprise. Diane is not an ethical character, so when she gets more than she bargained for in finding out about a covert and dangerously-interactive S&M site, and soon... well, I don't want to give too many plot details away, but Diane raises the stakes for her own reasons...

After this, the movie descends into a sort of surreal, confused madness, sort of like the turn David Lynch took with Mulholland Drive, but... er, not really.

So, what's the problem? Well, for me, this movie never really distinguishes itself as or decides what it wants to be. It tries to put on some airs like it has the chops to be a high-concept art film, but a lot of it has that shoddy, direct-to-video, Cinemax pseudosexual thriller feel to it. This DVD is the R-rated version, and if you're looking for some direct, serious titillation, you'd probably be best served to look elsewhere, as more is implied than anything else.

I consider the photography and the cinematography to be pretty bad - I understand what they were trying to do, but I don't like the final product. As I said in my topic title, some parts of this movie are slick, if they had gone more with the slick, stylized photography instead of the "What the hell am I looking at" school of photography, I think the results would have been superior. This is a movie with flashy people, multinational corporations and high-tech cities, about pornography and voyeurism. A movie like this demands superior shooting and photography, which, especially in the latter parts, it does not deliver.

Many people will claim that the plot has no inconsistencies, and it takes you on the same wild, find-your-own-meaning ride that other, superior films do, but it doesn't. It tries the whole "confuse-you-to-make-you-really-think" ruse, but it's handled so ham-handedly and with such amateurishness that for me it doesn't work.

But this film is an interesting one at least, there are interesting elements to it, but I'm not sure I can recommend it. It's not horrible, but I'm not certain I could call it good. It's a fair movie, could have been *leagues* better. But, like I said, it feels less like a high concept art film than it does one of those sleazy-without-too-much-sleaze direct to video throwaways.

Brave New World
This highly sensual film uses the slick Emma Peel-in-a-skintight-jumpsuit-meets-the-Matrix veneer that most people associate with high stakes business acquisitions, fast cars and corporate espionage . . . and for the first half of the movie, that is exactly what is delivered---intrigue on a multi-national and multi-million dollar level showcased in exquisitely neoned Japan, overseas business class flights and minimalist board rooms. Diane, played to perfection by Connie Nielsen is the Emma Peel of a French investment house intent on acquiring a monopoly on Japanese animated pornography. Perfectly dressed and coiffed, she epitomizes the business woman who has it all: brains, savvy and a polished understated unfluctuating demeanor that make her hard to read and hard to penetrate. We watch her intriguingly non-react as she puts a woman colleague out of commission, discovers that someone else knows what she has done, make deals with an Internet pornography competitor on the metro and all around suppresses her intrinsic sense of womanhood as she stands by and watches----no smiles apologetically----a piece of Japanese anime explicit with enough sexist content to render anyone with the vaguest sense of feminism a bad case of the hives. The fimmaker's vision of people in general in a world consumed by a consumerism so out of control that it feeds off its own negative energy, is blurred; the defining line between men and women eroded by a viciously amoral competition.

Then comes the second half of the movie where so many things seem to happen for no real reason at all. Yes, we can see the varying factions surface as the desire to win control becomes more sharply delineated---but instead of making it all work somehow, where the message, although hidden, can be revealed by some careful consideration, the series of images seem to just run amok. At the end, Diane has reformatted herself a la Laura Croft to deliver the consumer with that which he desires. The message: I am unsure---perhaps intense interplay produces human anime with little sensibility other than winning the competition and delivering product. An unhumbled Diane glares out at the world from a computer screen---is she beaten---no---she has just metamorphed.

This film is not recommended to everyone. Those looking for a fluid plot will not be satisfied with its second half. However, if you enjoy the sense of the real world being shrunk even smaller in a global marketplace where nationality and language are no longer real issues and the Internet serves as a conduit for salving any desire, you may enjoy this director's vision.

What's With the Negativity?
When this opened here in San Antonio, the ad in the paper was very small. Upon arriving at the theater, I was astounded being the only person in the theater on a Saturday morning. Leaving the theater, I was like the Iraqi Army: in a state of shock and awe. I'm not sure why several reviewers here are trashing this film, because it is reflecting the times in which we live. For those of you who want to return to the days of Wizard of Oz, the Sound of Music and It's a Wonderful Life....stay in your homes and rent those DVDs because you just aren't ready to accept the new conceptual films that are coming from Europe.

Criminally Underrated
Admittedly, DEMONLOVER makes a sharp left narrative turn at the halfway point that's going to confound viewers who are intrigued by the straightforward (and extremely absorbing) high-stakes opening. But that's no reason to dismiss the many, many things that writer/director Olivier Assayas gets absolutely right. In the end, DEMONLOVER is a fascinating mirror-world reflection (as William Gibson would call it) of where our global society might be just five minutes from now: the fittest who survive will be multilingual, career-consumed and ridiculously chic, but also soulless, as if missing the gene that supplies a sense of loyalty and ethics. The movie is a cautionary, though entirely plausible, tale of humans debased by their own lust for ungoverned capitalism. Every line of dialogue is about the business merger at hand; in the rare instances where feelings are discussed, they're usually about how *work* affects those emotions. The big wink here is that the characters don't even discuss business honestly, because each has duplicitous motives.

Technically, DEMONLOVER is a feast. Denis Lenoir's widescreen photography constantly dazzles -- many of the tracking shots are sustained in close-up (creating paranoia), and the color spectrum appears as if filtered through corporate fluorescence. (The neon-drenched Tokyo sequence is particularly hypnotic.) Jump cuts keep the narrative one step ahead of the audience. Sonic Youth's atonal guitar score creates the same mutant environment that Howard Shore pulled off in CRASH. Most significantly, Connie Nielsen's face (and hair and wardrobe) mesmerizes more than any CGI I've ever seen. Considering the labyrinthine motives of her character, Nielsen's exquisite subtlety may be lost on first-time viewers; on second look, her emotionless gaze speaks volumes.

Audiences (and critics) have unanimously attacked the "problematic" second half as an example of directorial self-indulgence. While I agree that it's not as satisfying as the first half, I don't think it's a total crash-and-burn (pardon the spoiler pun). Clearly, the ending is open to thematic interpretation, but I think Assayas is just saying that if our species isn't more careful, we'll end up like one-dimensional characters in a video game of our own devising - sure, winner takes all, but the rest of us suffer enormously.

Narrative ambiguity aside, DEMONLOVER is the great Hitchcockian/Cronenbergian espionage fantasia I've been waiting for. It makes sense that it would come from Europe, since Hollywood forgot long ago how to make their assembly-line genre exercises intellectually stimulating. (Like the animé porn within the story, Hollywood movies today represent no more than a calculated corporate commodity.) More than any other film from the last 2½ years, DEMONLOVER seems a product of the post-9/11 world - a not-so-distant future where overwhelming paranoia goads us to preemptively eliminate any form of potential competition before it can do the same to us. And how in doing so, we devour our own tail.

I expect this movie's reputation will grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years.

Demonlover, more like Boraphil....
Ok, it doesn't rhyme, but that is what this movie is. So if you're thinking, cool cast, Connie, Chloe, Gina; I'll give it a try, think again. The acting is just fine all around. Hats off to them. But the movie is sooooooooo slow. The payoff ain't worth time. It is about corporate espionage and some Japanimation porn. If you want a dark twisted movie, rent Dirty Pretty Things. That movie rocks. Late. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

90210 Dvd Debut!
So many petitions on the web have been crying out for 90210 to be released on DVD. Well its finally happened but not to the large scale everyone was hoping. Still one dvd release is better than nothing.

If enough people buy this DVD, then companies will take notice and begin to develop the Seasons everyone so dearly craves, converting them onto DVD for enjoyment.

This DVD is brilliant featuring the original pilot in its best form yet. The picture and sound have never been so finely tuned for a 90210 episode from season 1 which were always medicore in quality... UNTIL NOW!!!

You have the FULL cast featuring in this 90 minute pilot with the only exception being Luke Perry who plays Dylan. He is introduced in the second episode which follows the pilot. I can only hope that Season 1 will be released soon so we can all witness his big introduction into the show.

It's taken ages for this show to be released, dont follow the companies example and hesitate into whether you really want to purchase 90210 on DVD. JUST DO IT!

90210 FANS COME TOGETHER!~
First of all, it is NOT action packed, full of extra's and contains original music, like we'd all like. BUT THE POINT IS....... THEY HAVE PUT A 90210 product on DVD!!!! The more that are purchased may enhance our chances of ever seeing the entire series on DVD. I know a huge reason they havem't made the series on dvd yet is because all the music in all the episodes, and that would cause liscensing problems. If you are a TRUE 90210 fan, you will buy this simply to support any chance of them releasing the series in our lifetime. And I'm sure when they do, those box sets will include extras and fun stuff, but this is JUST the pilot episode, so you already know what you're gonna get, (if you've already seen the pilot.) One more note, on the cover of my now most favorite dvd, did anyone else notice they super-imposed Doug Emerson's head over top Luke Perry's body? Simply because "Dylan" isn't in the pilot, and "Scott" is. Sigh..... (Luke was HOOOOTTTTT!~ )Anyways, buy the dvd if you want to start your 90210 dvd collection, because I have faith in the powers that be that they WILL evetally put the series out. And when they do I'll buy every single season. WORD.

90210 on DVD!
One day in the near future...COULD WE PLEASE get 90210....all 10 seasons on DVD. I know a ton that would purchase them. They are a collectors. I grew up with this show. I could watch it everyday and never get bored.. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, I beg of you. PUT 90210 on DVD - You will make millions happy....and me!!! Good start with the pilot...but, lets keep going....lets get Season 1 out...!!!!

Please put it on DVD!
Hi,

i am really waiting for the producers to put the whole 10 seasons on DVD. It was so successful! Everything else is on DVD - why not 90210??? And please put it out in germany too! :-)

I grew up watching 90210 every saturday afternoon and i really would like to have it forever in my own collection.....

Jessie

French version PLZ
Hello, i'm french and i would like to order this DVD in French Version or with French Subtitles

Please do it for French people !!!

Merci beaucoup ... Read more

Reviews (261)

Stylish, beautiful, and mesmerising
I first saw Suspiria a few years ago as a VHS rental but I couldn't remember too much about it. But suddenly, the world of Italian horror has been broken wide open so I picked up this three disk limited edition. Watching Suspiria is sort of like dreaming awake. Colored lighting is used to great effect and the sound track just sort of lulls one into submission. The plot makes about as much sense as a dream, that is to say, the movie all makes sense while watching but looses cohesion quickly once one returns to the "real" world. I think that is why I only remember watching the VHS rental but not too much of the movie.

The three disc set includes a newly made documentary and a Goblin soundtrack from the movie. The documentary suffers from subtitles that are sometimes washed out against a light background. Otherwise, it is informative. The Goblin CD is a lot fun to listen to and I find myself humming the main theme all the time. Unfortunately, I do not find a listing for the names of the songs. The main disk also includes trailers and radio spots and a Goblin music video of Demonia, which appears to be the main theme song.

Terrific DVD for a terrific movie
What many claim is the definitive Dario Argento movie(some say "Deep Red" but I say this), has been put into a wonderful DVD. I waited for weeks for the limited edition. It was well worth the wait. The limited edition throws in everything, but the kitchen sink. While the laserdisc was in letterbox, the colors were washed out. Pity too, since that was they used a technique which enhanced the colors into a deeper, richer texture (in letterbox to show the entire picture). Thankfully, the DVD lets us see this wonderful enhancement beautifully. On the second disc, we see interviews with the filmakers and stars of the film. We also get a bit of a hint why we still haven't seen the conclusion of "Three Mothers" Trilogy. It also has an interesting interview of the composer of the bizarre music to the movie. The third disc is a CD soundtrack to the movie, which contains a terrific updated version of the theme song (a music video of the song is in the first disc). All in all, an excellent DVD set. Bravo to Anchor Bay!

"SUSPIRIA"-Dario Argento's stylishly artistic masterpiece!
Okay, to all those fans of the Italian horror genre (or 'giallo' films as some would call them) I'd like to say that I am a longtime fan of horror movies and am also new to the Italian horror genre. I'd have to say as strange as it is, "Suspiria" (1977) was actually the first one to get me into the Italian horror films. Considering that I personally do NOT like any of Lucio Fulci's work (e.g. "Zombie") Dario Argento is quite better and the atmosphere of his movies are a lot better to draw you into.

Jessica Harper (a very talented actress