Reviews (26)

A Sandler CelebraSHON
For me, Saturday Night Live stopped being funny enough to watch about the same time Adam Sandler left the show. This collection of Sandler moments is a little uneven and fails to include some of my favorites, but there is still plenty of great comedy to be found here. You get performances of such Sandler classics as The Chanukah Song, Lunch Lady Land, and a less famous little Christmas ditty (but, alas, no Red Hooded Sweatshirt song), not to mention his Springsteen performance of Dancing in the Dark alongside Courteney Cox. His Operaman persona is well represented with performances scattered throughout the 87 minutes of comedy mayhem. Cajun Man puts in an appearance, as does Lucy the Gap sales girl. The Canteen Boy segment is rather hard to forget, featuring the icky advances of Scout leader Alec Baldwin to Sandler's innocent persona. Proving that this comedy remains timely, Iraqi Pete shows up to draw the jeers of an American audience. There are a couple of skits of the typically inane SNL variety that seemed out of place here: the house-sitting and New York restaurant guide commercials; it is actually Chris Farley who manages to extract significant humor out of these otherwise unimpressive offerings. The selection from The Denise Show is very funny, but I would have favored the final one featuring Nicole Kidman as the better choice. I was very happy to see one of Sandler's Halloween costume suggestion skits included here; as funny as this selection is, though, I was a little disappointed that it was not the very first one-that was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. All in all, there is something here for every Adam Sandler fan; it is a tribute to his comedic genius that there was not enough room on this tape to include all of his fans' favorite moments from the show.

Please God, give me cancer now!
This is probably funnier than all of AS's films, and that is saying a lot! From the Zagat's skit (the book is gone, but the mouth keeps on!) to the now classic Schmitts Gay commercial, it really is the BEST of Adam Sandler, the best in the series. The Denise Show was a skit I don't remember, but it's funny as hell. (here's the part of the show where I absolutely lose it!) and of course Canteen Boy is another great one. (Alec Baldwin-a great SNL host) The Operaman montage is hilarious (I especially love the two Pearl Jam bits, the Al Gore song, and of course the Demi Moore "dry-humpo!" song) Cajun Man is in here, as well as the Hannukah song. Of course, the now classic "Bellissima!" skits are untouchable, and the Gap girl skits are hilarious. It's very hard to pinpoint the best skit on here, but I would say a tie between Canteen Boy and the Operaman montage. Opera Man, bye bye!

Omigod! It's The Best Of Adam Sandler!
While not as versatile as Dana Carvey or Phil Hartman, Adam Sandler had his own special brand of humor that made him one of "Saturday Night Live's" must - watch comedians during the early 1990s'. Relying more on characters than impressions, he had an intense flair for physcial comedy, something few castmembers were good at.

For a solid 70 minutes of laughter, this dvd can hardly be beat. All of his most popular charcters are here - "Canteen Boy" (in a rather memorable sketch with Alec Baldwin), "Cajun Man", Lucy the Gap girl and , of course "Operaman". Also, there's more than a few one - time characters who make their appearnaces. "Iraqi Pete" seems is hilarious, though has eerie echoes of what's going on in the world today. The bellboy from the "Room Service" sketch (actually, he also appeared in the "Il Cantore" sketch) is also funny. My favorite is Hank Gelfand from the "Zagat's" sketch, though Chris Farley actually does better than him here.
And of course, there's the music: "The Hanukkah Song", "Present Song" and "Lunchlady Song" (though in this one, Farley once again outshines him). Plus, there's his hilarious costume suggestions ("I'm Backwards Man").

I suggest this dbd. I guarantee you'll laugh your pants off. Here's hoping tha Lorne Michaels gets his stuff together and asks Sandler to host the show again soon.

Magnifico
During the years 1986 to 1991, a few new comedians joined the cast of NBC's "Saturday Night Live". Dana Carvey, Mike Meyers, Kevin Nealon, Dennis Miller, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, Victoria Jackson, Phil Hartman, John Lovitz, Julia Sweeney, Chris Farley and a host of others built what is arguably the only ensemble to rival the first five years with Gilda, Dan and Chevy. Another comedian who joined the show around this period was Adam Sandler, then a struggling comedian who (as one reviewer pointed out) had already starred in one movie called "Going Overboard".

"Saturday Night Live - The Best Of Adam Sandler" is an excellent compilation of some of his zaniest characters (and some in which he plays himself singing a song or giving costume suggestions to the unfortunate ones who couldn't find one for Halloween. There are 20 skits here, so I'm going to just the name a few of my favorites.

"Zagats" is my favorite. A bewigged Sandler acts alongside Chris Farley and David Duchovny (both in drag) as an elderly Jewish man who is celebrating his 35 th anniversary with his wife Bev (played by Farley). Sandler's insults and one - liners ("Give me cancer now, God") are among his best work. Liken him to Mr. Roper from "Three's Company", only Jewish.

"Canteen Boy" is a rather provocative skit, with not - so - subtle allusions to sodomy and homsexuality, with Alec Baldwin as a scout master pining for a more than a little uncomfortable Sandler. Very racy, but extremely funny stuff.

Finally, there are four different "Operaman" skits. Here is where you'll hear Sandler zing such notorious figures as Amy Fisher, Lorena Bobbit, George Bush, Hilary and Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks and a hilarious song about Pearl Jam in which Operaman expresses his non - gay crush on Eddie Vedder. John Lovitz and Glenn Close also pop as Operaman's brother and his sister - in - law.

Other skits like "The Denise Show", "Grandma" and "The Herlihy Boy"are equally funny and memorable. For me, the only skit not included that I wish they did was "Operaman's Lotto Ticket". But this is still an essential collection, especially if you are a big Sandler fan.

Not the best of Adam Sandler, but still fun for "SNL" fans!
During the early to mid-90s, a few comedians ruled NBC's "Saturday Night Live," and they got future film careers out of it all. Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, and now even Rob Schneider have all gone on to fruitful film careers, with Carvey finally getting back in the game (hopefully) after heart problems (though "Master of Disguise" didn't help him too much). Other funny comedians such as Kevin Nealon and Phil Hartman, though equally funny, never got very far. Nealon made some cameos in his fellow "SNL" friends' films ("Happy Gilmore," "Master of Disguise," "Anger Management"), while Hartman was shot by his wife before he got anywhere at all.

Adam Sandler has probably gotten the most out of "Saturday Night Live." He appeared in one film prior to his casting on "SNL." It was a film called "Going Overboard," and it is a true cinematic disaster. After "SNL," however, he has appeared in such flicks as "Billy Madison," "Happy Gilmore," "The Waterboy," "The Wedding Singer," and last year's "Punch-Drunk Love," in which he displayed his true feelings behind the goofy boy persona.

"Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler" is a compilation of his greatest moments on the famed television show, ranging from skits involving original characters such as Canteen Boy and Operaman, to the host of "The Denise Show" and The Herlihy Boy Homesitter.

I stumbled upon this DVD while I was at my video store picking up another "SNL" DVD. I was happy because I like the early 90s segments of "Saturday Night Live" much more than the recent episodes, especially now that Will Ferrell has left the show. I was pretty excited that I had found it.

Which is why I was a bit disappointed. I liked this collection of his so-called "greatest moments," but I can't necessarily say that I've seen nothing better. In fact, some of the skits on this DVD are not that funny after a while. The Herlihy Boy Homesitter gets old pretty fast, and while I liked "The Denise Show," I recall seeing a much funnier sequence of the same fake TV show with Nicole Kidman as a guest star - and it was funnier than this one.

Thinking back, I didn't laugh a whole lot at all the skits. They weren't as funny or outrageous as those included in this year's "The Best of Will Ferrell." Is it because Adam Sandler himself isn't funny? Many people think so. I think he's good at what he does. I like his goofy comedies like "Happy Gilmore" because they put a smile on my face (though he's far from being a great comedian at all). Also included on the DVD is the song that inspired his animated feature film "Eight Crazy Nights," as well as Iraqi Pete (an odd skit but pretty funny). I had already seen a few of these skits on television before, including that involving Kevin Nealon and guest star Kirstie Alley being bothered by sex-craved Italians in a hotel.

My favorite skit, however, would have to be one that has Michael Keaton paying Chris Farley to keep an eye on his frail grandmother while he goes back to his room with a girl for a half hour. The grandmother (played by Sandler with a wig) wants Joey (Keaton), and she doesn't want anything to do with Farley. Farley tries to help her with everything but "she" screams and claims he's attacking her. Keaton comes out and beats up Farley a few times in the process. Funny stuff, but still a long shot from anything extraordinary.

And just as with "The Best of Will Ferrell," I am disappointed in this DVD's length. 73 minutes is short for a collection such as this. I understand that it originally aired on television, and with commercials it runs to a full 90 minutes. However, why not make it a full two hours with commercials? That would mean the DVD, without commercials (of course), would run closer to 90 minutes than 70. Or why not include a batch of extra "Best Of" scenes for the Special Edition DVD? That would interest many more buyers.

There are also no special features on this DVD, save one single photo gallery that scans through a handful of snapshots from the skits for about thirty seconds. The new "Best Ofs" contain dress rehearsals, outtakes, Conan O'Brian interviews, and photo galleries. I suppose there wasn't much footage left over since Adam Sandler's skits were filmed before DVDs and Lorne Michaels never thought of saving some deleted scenes and so on and so forth. But it would have been interesting to have more than a photo gallery. Maybe even trailers for some of Sandler's movies?

Strictly speaking, it's not an overblown Special Edition DVD like so many nowadays. It is basically exactly what it says - a collection of his best moments. No real special features, no commentaries, etc. Just the same as the TV broadcast only on DVD format. I guess that's OK.

If you're a fan of "Saturday Night Live" or Adam Sandler, I recommend picking up this DVD. However, if you want a good laugh, I recommend picking up "The Best of Will Ferrell" or "Dana Carvey," which I am told is hilarious and is next on my list. Steve Martin is always a good bet, too, but you may have more trouble finding older episodes - not many people care for them anymore. I'm still waiting on "The Best of Dan Aykroyd," "Chevy Chase," and "Gilda Radner," to name a few of many....

"Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler" runs 73 minutes, and includes many different skits. It is not rated and contains some sexual content and language. Its single bonus feature is a photo gallery. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

great acting!
Athough I have viewed this movie a couple of times on tv, when
I watched it on DVD it seemed like a whole different movie. The
background music was fantastic (horns, sax, etc.). All actors
portrayed their roles quiet well.

Could've Been Better, But Still Great
From Covenant Avenue to St. Nick-Harlem, once
the mecca that African-Americans lived, breathed and
thrived in, has become a pocket of infestation, a neigh-
borhood in hell, a timeshare in Vietnam. There's a war,
children, a war of values, of ethics, of lives, of genera-
tions and, ultimately, the spoils are simply blood, mate-
rial goods and empty futures. Wesley Snipes stars in the
new film Sugar Hill, which follows Roemello, a mid-
level drug kingpin, through the course of what seems to
be a week. Roemello is tired, but why he is exhausted is
never made clear. The film, directed by Leon Ichaso,
takes an unflinching look at both yesterday's addicts
(Roemello's parents) and today's (Roemello's brother
and partner Ray N athan) .The central theme is whether
or not Roemello will choose the true love of his girl-
friend Melissa, played with a defiant presence of char-
acter by Theresa Randle, or his surrogate father Gus,
mafia lord, supplier and the man who attempted to kill
Roemello's now-decrepit father. A battle over territory
ensues between Roemello and a competitor brought in
by Gus.
Roemello's father, played by Clarence Williams III
(who will be overlooked for an Oscar due the film's
release date), dealt drugs, supplied his wife's habit
(which leads to her death) , and lives in a walking death
of memories, regrets and heroin when the film opens.
Ray Nathan, played by Michael Wright, is the clingy,
needy older brother who relies on his Georgetown-
educated brother to balance his street insanity with
calculation and diplomacy. We then begin to see that all
Roemello is, all he has trusted, has abandoned him. Seen
this way we can finally understand why he's looking to
distance himself from his past. But the past is a curious,
vengeful, entangling animal tha t stalks all of Roemello' s
attempts to leave behind a vicious life for...? Well,
Roemello is never quite clear about where he'll go.
Sugar Hill is not one film, but several, and not one
story, but a legion of tales that fold into one another and
entangle tentacles of power, greed, lust, loyalty and
even family values. Two criticisms of this film are, one,
Roemello's character is made peripheral to the business
he actually controls. In a sense, we only see his hands
dirtied twice by murder. One is understandable, though
unjust, while the second is both unjust and inevitable.
Roemello, for all that his character embodies as an anti-
hero, becomes heroic as a drug dealer. His sense of
honor, supposedly gained through experience, makes
his moral caliber above those he deals with, and this is
where the film falters. How can the audience relate to
a good man who commits such a vile act as the extermi-
nation of his own people, his own father through
providing drugs? Is this a good man? Secondly, the film
also falters in that we, the audience, see the shadowed
results of murders-some not even shown. The audi-
ence can't visually connect to the crimes of the film
actually being committed by those we're supposed to
feel something for. In fact, a split occurs between the
good-bad guys and the bad-bad guys. Too many loop-
holes of justification and reverse condemnation perme-
ate the film. Are we, as an audience, so often spoon-fed
pabulum entertainment that we can't handle a mature
film where the characters redeem themselves not into
angels, but at least into something better than what
they were before? Do we need the hero going off into
the sunset so badly that we're willing to justify murder,
drug dealing and racial supplication just to feel good?
Make no mistake, Sugar Hill, even with it's intermit-
tently hard-soft hitting, is a film that needs to be seen, that
needs to beunderstood, and whose complexity and shades
of grey needs to be revealed and delved into. I highly
recommend it and feel strongly about the film, but I do
resent the soft-shoeing around the total impact that could
have been made. It's rated R, we're all adults, so let's live
in reality.

A cross between The Godfather and Jason's Lyric
I really liked Sugar Hill. If you've seen The Godfather series and Jason's Lyric, you'll be quick to recognize similarities. (I do realize Jason's Lyric came out after this movie.)

It's a story of two brothers being pushed into the drug/crime world by fate. One of them wants to leave the world behind, and the other doesn't want to let him go... and they've got to watch out for everyone on the street..

Definitely worth watching if you haven't seen it yet!

SONS OF THE FATHER
OK, OK so it's a story that has been told many times before --- good kid becomes a bad guy due to circumstances beyond his control but who, when he regains control as a successful adult, wants to become a good guy again.

But must inherit the wind.

So what? Just as an opera changes according to the players and a symphony is different every time it's played this is a story that is poignant despite its retelling --- especially if it is well mounted. And this one is.

Wesley Snipes is excellent as the drug-dealing son trying to throw off his past and his present in a troubling search that goes back to the future; Michael Wright provides a quirky performance as the older brother who suspects that he lives only as a reflection of his younger, stronger, smarter sibling.

Both perform a shadow play in the flickering light cast by their drug-addicted father, Clarence Williams III. Williams turns in an astonishing performance that, by itself, makes watching the movie worthwhile.

A controlled but authentic performance by mob boss Abe Vigoda is the grimy pallet upon which this tragedy is played out.

At a seminal point in the movie Snipes kills a man after telling him "I'm not like my brother." Yet he is --- but he is not. This ambiguity gives depth and dimension to a fairly pedestrian story line --- and sets the movie apart from the genre.

Superb direction by Leon Ichaso (Crossover Dreams, Bitter Sugar), an arresting ensemble cast, and a melancholy score makes this one of the best-overlooked movies of the early 90's.

The Critics Are Partly Wrong.
After reading how the critics panned this movie I wonder if they watched it. The movie has a very dark yet thoughtful feel to it. If we understand that critics rarely have talent as actors or screenwriters we can see how this nice movie could be so underrated by them. Wesley Snipes plays his role with a warm compassion for those around him. Michael Wright does overact quite a bit but he probably had a few years to go to become a good actor. Clarence Williams III was superb as the father. Theresa Randle is very good as the girlfriend. I almost fell in love with her myself. She seemed like the perfect woman. The rest of the movie is straight gangster done by a black cast except for Abe Vigoda who played his part excellently.

The opening scene and the scene about the mother and father is very good and sets up the whole movie. Especially the scene with the father and the thugs on the roof, which is fantastic. We understand so much about Roem's motives from that scene that we appreciate his later life and his rage toward the things which affect him later.

I usually don't like movies which are from the nineties but this one stands out. It is worth watching. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hilarious
When one sees the opening sketch, "Total Bastard Airlines", one is suddenly reminded of the wit and humor that "SNL" skits once possessed...This is the first "Best Of" dvd to be devoted to more than one cast member. Here, 5 cast members get their due: Adam Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock and Chris Farley. And it stays true to the title, showing each cast member at their raunchiest.

Sandler seems to get the most coverage, appearing in about half the sketches. His are probably my favorite. I enjoyed every minute of his sketches, from "Operaman" to "Canteen Boy" to "The Hanukkah Song", I laughed my pants off. I only wish they'd included "Cajun Man" and "The Present Song".

Spade gets some coverage as well. In addition to a well - thawed "Hollywood Minute Montage", he captures the audience with his witty sarcasm in "Total Bastard Airlines" and the one in which he plays Dick Clark's snotty receptionist who is able to absorb catchy comebacks from Roseanne Barr.

Scheider does not appear that often, but when he does, you can't help but laugh. He seems to be at his best when he is doing his famed Richmeister (makin' copies) sketch with Sting. But he's even funnier in "The Gap Girls" and "Orgasm Guy".

Unfortunately, Rock and Farley do not get as much coverage, but when they appear, they steal the show. Rock's "Nat X" and editorials are some of the freshest and rawest humor "Saturday Night Live"'s writers ever came up with. Farley outshines the rest with his interview wuith Jeff Daniles and his chubby Gap Girl.

It's especially funny when more than one cast member works together in the same sketch. Schneider and Sandler have a ball playing sex - crazed Italian waiters pining for Kirstie Alley at "Il Cantore" alongside a showstoppingly funny Dana Carvey. And Sandler and Farley are just to funny for this world in the uproarious "Zagat's".

I recommend this dvd to just about every "SNL" fan in the world. It features some extremely funny stuff, some of which is all too underrated. I hope to see a dvd in the future devoted to women of "Saturday Night live", like Jan Hooks, Molly Shannon, and Tina Fey. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Predictable but pleasing
I recently saw this movie on my flight back from Paris. "Passionada" is set in the small port town of New Bedford, MA with a charming Portugese community. Sofia Milos plays Sally Amonte: a widowed mother who's a textile worker by day, and a diva by night. Years ago, she lost her fisherman husband at sea and is still remorseful of his death. Jason Isaacs plays a motel-dwelling gambler named Charlie who's trying to lie and cheat into her heart. Emmy Rossum (who plays Jake Gyllenhall's crush in "The Day After Tomorrow") is Vicky: Sally's sexy, rebellious daughter who tries to learn the art of gambling from Charlie and set him up at the same time.
It's a short and simple romantic film. My advice: rent it.

Suspend disbelief and just enjoy it
Yeah, yeah, it's a highly unlikely situation, and it's not believable in lots of parts. But still. Just get over it and sit back to enjoy this lovely and entertaining movie. Set in New Bedford, a Portuguese fishing town, it tells the story of a drop deal gorgeous widow (Sofia Milos) who spurns all potential suitors, is living adjacent (duplex) to her mother-in-law (the mama from Real Women Have Curves), and is raising her teenage daughter very strictly. The only place she releases the soul of her passion is in restaurants where she sings fado music, passionate Portuguese ballads of intense drama.
Of course the daughter is no dummy and finds ways to sneak off to casinos; for inexplicable reasons, she yearns to be a card shark. She finds a guy who just might be willing to teach her a thing or two. Happens the guy also has heard Mama singing her fado gig and has fallen ace over deuces for her.
Some great scenes, some great music, some poignant scenes, lots of touching humor. A satisfying way to spend an evening.

Sweet and Simple
Being a Jason Isaacs affectionado, I could not pass it up. I'm glad I didn't. It's a sweet little romance about a Portuages women who vows never to love again after loosing her husband at see. Then in comes Jason,aka Charlie Beck who is a gambler and falls in love with the lady after hearing her sing. I'm quite curtain this is Jason's first Romantic-Comedy leading role and he pulled it off without a hitch. The other actors were just as wonderful, which is important to make a movie memorable.

Sofia Milos Shines in Otherwise Bland Romance.
In the Portuguese community in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Celia Amonte (Sofia Milos) lost her fisherman husband to the sea. Seven years later, Celia works in a factory by day, sings passionate ballads by night, and still grieves for her husband. One evening, a professional gambler named Charlie Beck (Jason Isaacs) hears Celia sing and falls head over heels for her on the spot. But Celia is married to widowhood and distrustful of gamblers. Celia's brash teenaged daughter, Vicki (Emmy Rossum), proposes to help Charlie hide his lifestyle and woo her mother in exchange for lessons in card-counting.

"Passionada" was directed by Dan Ireland and written by Jim and Steve Jermanok. Setting this romance in Portuguese community of New Bedford gives the film a nice texture and sense of place. The cast is impressive. But somehow the story is just flat and not quite credible. Sofia Milos gives a charismatic and emotionally astute performance. She commands the audience's attention in every scene that she's in, and she is "Passionada"s greatest asset. The rest of the film's cast is convincing enough, but not able to overcome the story's clichés and general blandness. Lupe Ontiveros delivers another of many apt matriarch performances as Celia's mother-in-law. Emmy Rossum, whom you might recognize as "the daughter" in Clint Eastwood's melodramatic noir "Mystic River", plays another daughter of a different disposition here. Rossum is a real up-and-comer whose talent and screen presence shows through the weaker spots in this script. Theresa Russell gives a strong supporting performance as Lois, a friend of Charlie's, which made me wonder why I don't see more of her in movies these days. "Passionada" has some talent behind it, and Sofia Milos really impresses as Celia Amonte. But this film lacks spark in spite of its capable cast.

The DVD: Bonus features include a deleted scene, an alternate ending, and two audio commentaries. The alternate ending is from an earlier version of the film and played poorly with test audiences. It's mismatched and ill-conceived by the director's own admission, so it's not worth your time. The deleted scene and alternate ending are accompanied by optional commentary from director Dan Ireland, Jason Isaacs, and Sofia Milos. The first audio commentary by director Dan Ireland and cast members Jason Isaacs and Sofia Milos is pretty good. The second commentary is by the film's writers, brothers Jim and Steve Jermanok. This commentary is very low-key and discusses the writing process from the screenplay's conception to fine-tuning the script. It's slow, but if that's your area of interest, it will give you insight into how people go about writing a film.

a limpy but still watchable movie
the actor was not a best choice and actually a very bad choice. the female actor, a top-notched choice and performance. the storyline, very limpy, loose and snail paced. the songs, fantastic and moving, even you don't know what the details and the meaning, because she sang from the heart and showed her soul. but one thing you have to ask yourself: are these sad songs good for your appetite? should these sad songs been sang in a restaurant that would enhance the appetite of the diners? these songs should be only performed in a concert or a funeral instead of in an eatery. ... Read more

Description

Merchant Ivory Productions, The Criterion Collection, and Home Vision Entertainment are proud to present The Merchant Ivory Collection

The Householder is the story of a shy, young, underpaid Delhi schoolteacher (Shashi Kapoor) who marries and then, little by little, gets to know his young wife during their first year together. She is a charmer with a mind of her own, yet is as little prepared for marriage as he. Their story is full of a variety of subtle but shining pleasures and charming touches of humor. The characters they encounter are unforgettable, especially his mother-in-law, a tearful tyrant who comes to live with them, and the platitudinous headmaster and obsequious senior master at the school. The wonder of this story derived from the culture of modern, middle-class India is that it is able to transcend national boundaries and relate to the problems common to young couples everywhere. This landmark film also marks the first collaboration between producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory, and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (adapting her acclaimed novel for the screen), a productive artistic relationship that has continued for forty years and produced many award-winning films. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Film!!
This is a great film from India about a newlywed husband being troubled by his independent wife who seeks advice from his overbearing mother and his American friend.It's a must see great film!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wake up, everyone!
Why haven't you commented much on these Lizzie DVDs recently? This is good stuff! If you have the time to write a review on these DVDs, then y'all better get busy!

Lizzie McGuire: Totally Crushed
This DVD features the episodes:

01. First Kiss - where Lizzie goes out with her paper boy

02. The Greatest Crush of All - where Lizzie has a crush on her substitute English teacher

03. Just Friends - where Lizzie tries to become Ethan Craft's perfect girl

04. Scarlett Larry - where Lizzie and Larry Tudgeman are an item

05. The Courtship of Miranda Sanchez - where Miranda has a crush on a guy in her drama class and Lizzie tries to get them together, but eventually leads to the guy thinks that Lizzie likes him and not Miranda ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best movie of 1998
A friend of Casanova once told him after reading his memoirs that one third made him laugh, one third was erotically stimulating, and one third gave him food for thought. This movie does the same- it is simultaneously funny, sexy, and inspiring without resorting to cheap sentimentality. Dr. Akagi is either a crank or a shining example for anyone who wants to be truly human. ... Read more

Description

A spectacle of magnificent proportions, Kon Ichikawa's Tokyo Olympiad ranks among the greatest documents of sport ever committed to film. Utilizing glorious widescreen cinematography, Ichikawa examines the beauty and rich drama on display at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, creating a catalogue of extraordinary observations that range from the expansive to the intimate. The glory, despair, passion, and suffering of Olympic competition are rendered with lyricism and technical mastery, culminating in an inspiring testament to the beauty of the human body and the strength of the human spirit. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The human side of sport without the sap...
A lemon placed as a totem on a starting block. The torn feet of drained marathoner. The fleshy cheek of a shooter oozing over the butt of his rifle. The turkey-like jowls of older spectators. The squint against blinding lights of an athlete from Chad as he steps off a plane and into the alienation of city life for perhaps the first time. Rain on a sopping wet track. Trains clattering over bridges. The splat of a hammer in wet turf. The almost obsessive-compulsive preparation of a shot-putter has he prepares for his throw. The nonchalant strength and focus of a winning judo expert. A yachtsman, while leaning far out over the water to balance his craft, capricously dipping his hand into the water as it passes inches from his face. The giddy excitement of a little girl spectator clapping and cheering for the sake of it. A member of the American delegation breaking the solemn ranks of the opening ceremonies to chase away a pigeon.

All these things, and countless other human details, are elements that make up director Kon Ichikawa's loving portrait of human aspiration: "Tokyo Olympiad".

At least as important as what it does, is what "Tokyo Olympiad" does not do. Unlike television coverage of the last few Olympic games, it does not plead for our sympathy by drowning us in "human interest" stories of hardship, cancer and family tragedy. Unlike in newspaper and television coverage of the games, the politics and ambition of individual nations' teams is far in the background. Unlike Leni Reifenstahl's "Olympia", it does not hold the athletes up as demigods, asking us to fawn over the glorious perfection of their shining bodies and heroic achievement. And, most importantly, it does it seek present a complete account of the final results of the events. Doing so in a 2 1/2 hour film would be impossible anyway.

More important to Ichikawa is the experience of the event itself- from both the spectators', and participants'- both winners and losers- point of view. Each event that that falls under the directors gaze, is presented in its own idiosyncratic way- with much attention given to the composition and visual texture of events as well as the human elements of each sport.

In one of my favorite segments- the women's 80m hurdles- Ichikawa begins by showing us an almost abstract close-up of the race we are about to see. In this way, the director seems to be saying that it's not the official result, but the intense feeling of being in such a race, which is important. Cutting back to before the race, the camera follows the athletes as they pace the field and go through their often quirky preparations. The Japanese runner, psyching herself up, jerks her head from side to side, does a childlike summersault, jerks a few more times, then does a cartwheel. In the next shot, with no explanation, we see that she places a lemon on the staring block, which Ichikawa allows us to consider for a second. With the runners lined up, the camera goes into extreme slow motion. We witness the sinew, focus and tension at the starting block. The din of the crowd is faded out, and all that remains is the sound of ropes rhythmically clanging against the stadium's flagpoles in the wind. Then even that fades out, the gun fires, and, as the runners powerfully push out of the starting blocks, silence. We are shown a front view of the brief race in extreme slow motion. The mood is pierced once by the bang of a single runner hitting her hurdle. Then, as the final hurdle is cleared, the roar of the crowd swells and the lead hurdlers break the tape.

Compared to this, who ended up winning the race is mere trivia.

Each event is treated in own careful manner- revealing not the sporting drama of scores, distances and times, but the feeling of human aspiration embodied in motto "citius, altius, fortius". The dramatic marathon, the last event to be shown, is a masterwork, into which is impossible to not be drawn in.

Ichikawa views the Olympics idealistically. Through stunning images, and the color-commentary-like narration (in subtitled Japanese) we come to experience the Olympics as an event about human beings (instead of nationalistic athletic juggernauts) coming together to compete in an atmosphere of peace. After seeing athletes and spectators from all over the world cheerlly mingle, cheer, and celebrate, one sees the Olympics as a reminder what world peace can look like. It's just the sort of thing that the planet needs from time to time. It gives us something to work towards.

The DVD is mastered beautifully, and the colors are subtle and rich as a documentary film from 1964 can be. The sound is excellent. The enclosed liner notes by sports-writer legend George Plimpton are vivid and enlightening. (Can you tell I like this DVD?) The commentary by Peter Crowie provides the fascinating back story of the film through stories of the athletes of the Olympics themselves- though I would recommend watching the film without it the first few times. He also makes comparisons between today's Olympics (Sydney) and these games- relatively (though not entirely) untainted by the politics of performance enhancing drugs (though it is quite likely that they were used extensively) and the excessive commercialism of the modern sporting world. The finely sculpted, corporate sponsored, bodyguard protected, superstars of today seem, somehow, less human than these athletes- allowed to walk freely around the field before their heat, who were not ensconced in some distant, private training camp away from the lesser mortals from lesser countries, and who were allowed to experience the Olympics in much the same way that Ichikawa wishes to portray them- as a big celebration of what it feels like to have something in common with new friends from all over the planet.

In the included 1992 interview in Tokyo Stadium- where the track events had taken place 28 years earlier, Kon Ichikawa was asked how he would film today's Olympic games, if commissioned to do so. "Pretty much the same way", was his reply. I would love for this to happen.

Greatest of All Olympic Films
I am ordering this post-haste.

I had the extreme thrill of seeing this film several times on the huge movie screen of a theatre Toho operated in Los Angeles when the film was released. About five years ago, I saw it in a smaller theater and it holds up wonderfully.

This is one of the most majestic films I've ever seen, but it is also dramatically compelling with sequences that will always be memorable. Perhaps most memorable is the real sense of caring and comradre among ALL the athletes AND spectators. Since these Olympics, the games have degenerated into political doo-dah of the worst sort. These games and this film have a dignity, humaneness and spirit that has all but been lost.

This is worth owning just for the Ethiopian's winning of his second Olympic marathon in a row. I seldom care about sporting contests, but the marathon literally had me grasping the theatre seat and verbally pulling for this incredible man--who along with Ali--is the greatest athlete I've ever witnessed.

The American version praised by another reviewer here, was IMO one of the worst desecrations of a masterpiece I can imagine. It was cut from the almost three-hour original version to about 90-minutes and accompanied by the most inane sports announcing ever. If you saw this atrocity, you haven't seen "Tokyo Olympiad."

If you are an Olympic fan or love breathtaking, intelligent and humane filmmaking, Ichikawa gives you the royal treatment in this film.

Thank you, Criterion, for re-issuing this. My only regret is that it isn't being re-released in big-screen theatres, where it can be properly appreciated.

See this. I think most of you will be cheering this monumental achievement.

Memories of good ol' Tokyo
I was only 2 when the Olympics was held in Tokyo in 1964 but had various opportunities to view excerpts on TV. It was really nice to see what people wore, drove, etc during that time. It was especially exhilarating to see footage of Abebe Bikila running thru the streets of Tokyo and winning the Gold Medal two Olympics in a row. I think he is one of the greatest atheletes who ever lived and they don't make them like him no more.

Perhaps more appeal for the cinephile than the sports fan.
there is something about sport that seems to lend it to abstraction. Once you have removed the familiar 'narrative' elements (start/finish, victory/defeat, struggle/result etc.), what is left - movement, bodies - becomes formalised, ritualised. The 1964 Olympics were the first mass live TV Games, so when Kon Ichikawa came to assemble his film, he knew millions had watched the 'real time' experience of the events, and so could be freer in his own interpretation.

And so he magics the most extraordinary visual architecture, constructed from a blueprint of pure lines - the gestures of the human body; its movement (or that of sporting implements) through space; the markings on tracks, pitches, courts, pools etc.; the structure of arenas and halls; the urban grid of Tokyo itself, its buildings and roads - all captured in exquisitely formal widescreen photography, in which the most banal element, be it the colour of a pair of shorts, or an official carrying a towel, becomes a vital part of its design.

Ichikawa's most obvious predecessor for this aesthetic is Leni Riefenstahl's 'Olympia', a film under whose shadow he clearly operates: like Riefenstahl, he breaks up the narrative by disjoining the soundtracks and image, by freeze-frames or sudden jump-cuts; the amazing gymnastics sequence, a sport which can be most readily appropriated for abstraction, is a case in point, colour, form and movement turning athletics into a kind of live action painting.

Of course, 'Olympia' was created to glorify the Third Reich; the Tokyo Olympics were specifically a celebration of Japanese pacificism and post-war economic recovery, as the opening shots of a blinding dawn sun and the ruined buildings of Hiroshima suggests. These Olympics were fraught with political significance - East and West Germany competing as one team, for example, or the debut of many newly independent African states - but Ichikawa films everything with relative, unportentous calm and detachment, especially compared to the over-determined, bludgeoning fascist aesthetic of Riefenstahl. Ichikawa had to negotiate similarly formidable logistics (over 100 cameramen etc.), but the resultant film seems effortless, whereas 'Olympia' flaunts its technical impossibility.

for the non-sports afficanado, the marathon is always the most fascinating event - its gruelling length seems to expose and reveal human nature more starkly, the struggles, the waiting, the glimpses of agonising failure after superhuman effort. Ichikawa creates a supreme mini-epic out of the marathon here, with the refreshment stalls acting as a strange opportunity, like a hidden Candid Camera, to see how individual, unwitting athletes behave. The montage of bodily decay and exhaustion is somewhat at odds with the ennobling, 'official' sentiments of peace and brotherly harmony. By the end of the film, though, you're as exhausted as the athletes.

Athletics as powerful art
Having seen version dubbed in English (I believe David Wolper was involved in some way) I beg to differ with Leonard Maltin's assessment that the English text was "insipid." In fairness to his review, I haven't yet seen this version, but I will remember forever the power, the grace, the photographic artistry . . . and the beautifully-written English text for the film. I am not a sports "fan," but if any film made the case for organized athletics, this one did! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The BEST Heist Film Ever Made!
This film gets two thumbs up and even some toes! The actors were incredible. The middle was a bit draggy, but Stephen Dorff ruled this movie. His character Skip stopped at nothing to get what he wanted and this is one of Dorff's best films. Keitel and Hutton were good too. The movie is fast-paced for tough men and women who like their action and money fast! If you ever need hints on how to rob a bank or jewelry store, City of Industry is the movie for you! If you're looking for a good film to watch and kick your feet up with...be my guest. This movie was all that and a bag of chips!

"I'm my own police."
City of Industry is another entry into Tough Guy Cinema. The story could be from any noir of any decade. It's a stylish, violent crime movie. You're either on board or off.

Roy (Harvey Keitel) comes to LA to help his brother (Timothy Hutton) and two other hoods pull a high profile robbery. They take down a jewelery store and before you know it they're splitting the cash. Then Skip (Stephen Dorff) caps Timothy Hutton (who looks like preppy sleaze with that scruffy beard).

This movie is about Harvey Keitel getting revenge, no matter what. He dedicates his life, or about a week in his life, to hunting down Stephen Dorff. It's a stylish, slick film, full of LA 'industrial' locations of the machinery and criminal type. Take a bit of To Live and Die in LA, a bit of old fashioned noir, a lot of blood (including a head-bashing finale), and Harvey just being Harvey. A highlight is the laptpop bit in the lawyer's office. Subtle menace.

Highly recommended.

Get this-
Lucy Liu is topless in it. I'd say that's just about the only reason you need to buy this.

Very solid film
Start with the great depictions of some unseen parts of L.A. and graft on themes of revenge, anger, reciprocity, obligation and stoic acceptance and you have City of Industry - a little-seen film that pleases on a number of levels. Keitel is a master in this role and wonderfully plays against Jamsen, while Dorff's full bore anger makes his extermination that much more interesting. A real treat of a noirish-type movie with a stellar soundtrack that well matches the landscape and mood of City's undercurrent L.A.

Modern Film Noir
Interesting characters, believible plot. I have watched it a number of times, and enjoyed it each time. Probably my favorite DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Gripping story of a great Puerto Rican writer
"Pinero," written and directed by Leon Ichaso, tells the story of Puerto Rican playwright Miguel Pinero. Benjamin Bratt turns in a charismatic performance as the title character, and is ably supported by an outstanding group of fellow actors. Pinero's story is told in a fragmented style, and Latin music effectively accompanies the story.

The performances in the film are really special. Mandy Patinkin is a powerful presence as theatrical figure Joseph Papp. Giancarlo Esposito plays writer Miguel Algarin, and he has superb chemistry with Bratt. And I was particularly moved by Rita Moreno's portrayal of Pinero's mother; one scene between her and Bratt is particularly heartwrenching.

The film covers many important aspects of Pinero's life: his time in jail, the opening of his landmark play "Short Eyes," his Puerto Rican/"Nuyorican" identity, and more. Ichaso paints his canvas with some powerful and disturbing visuals.

Despite the many good aspects of the film, I didn't find it wholly satisfying; in a sense I find Pinero the man even more of an enigma after seeing the film. But this is still a film well worth seeing.

the voice of the nuyorican poets
He was a poet & an actor more so he was an artist, this film captures the essence of this brillant writer. Benjamin Bratt
becomes Pinero, you see pinero's spirit take on that of bratt.
It's hard to believe there isn't much on Miguel Pinero's life,
finally with this Film we get an window into the world of this man and his poetry. see this film with an open mind

You'll Want to Bathe After Watching This One!
This movie is a portrayal of the "Nuyorican" poet and playwright Miguel Pinero. Pinero wrote the play "Short Eyes" based on life in prison. It's a harsh look at the life Pinero lived, a life enveloped with crime, drugs, and disease. I'm not the one that picked out this movie, so I wasn't that interested in it even before it began. After watching the street life of Pinero I felt dirty!

A great movie although very sad and tragic
Pinero is based on the life of puertorican playwright, actor and poet Miguel Pinero. His life from early childhood was a constant struggle for survival since his father abandoned his mother (played by the great Rita Moreno)when he was a small boy. Pinero turned to a life of crime while still in his early teens and served time in Sing-Sing for arm robbery and stealing cars. While on the inside Pinero turned his anger and frustrations to writing short stories which later became plays such as his most successful and controversial play "SHORT EYES" which was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Play in the late 70's. Pinero also started a theater group in jail and perform for the other inmates plays that he had written. Joseph Papp, the legendary theater producer read Pinero's play "SHORT EYES" and decided to produced it Off Broadway while it became a success despite is limted run.

I have never been fond of Benjamin Bratt as an actor but in this movie he did an excellent job and really transformed himself into the character. This movie is a bit strong and somewhat harsh since it depicts the reality of the character. Miguel Pinero was not only a convict but a drug addict who took heavy doses of cocaine and would inject large quantaties of heroin on his arms. Pinero lived the life of a bum through out his life and even as he reached moderate success as a playwright he still hard a tough time fighting his inner demons. He died in 1988 at the age of 40 of Aids (I believe) after he overdosed on more heroin.

This movie is not for everyone but it is a good movie whose main character lived a very sad and tragic life and just as he lived life on the edge he ended his run on earth the same way.

Miguel Piñero, 150614
After his father abandons his family, Miguel Piñero starts a journey that will take him through the lowest and highest points imaginable. Miguel was prayed upon by perverted adults in his childhood, became a drug addict, and ended committing a series of crimes and going to prison (prisoner 150614). During his stay in Sing Sing a visit by his mother urging him to make her proud motivates him to start writing a play about life in prison called Short Eyes, which will be his first step towards stardom.

Life after prison did not change much, he was successful as a poet and writer, but his personality made him return to his bad habits. His belief was that a painful and troubling life results in devotion to the truth, and therefore allowed him to write in such an exceptional way.

The movie shows the particular relationship Piñero had with some of his friends, two of which appear as particularly prominent, Miguel Algarin and Tito Goya; the former a professor at Rutgers, the latter a partner in crime and drugs. This also shows the duality that was present in other aspects of his life. There are several other manifestations on this duality throughout the movie, for example Miguel had a "stable" relationship with Sugar, his girlfriend, but he also had amorous relationships with other men.

The style in which the movie is presented corresponds well with the inner turmoil Piñero experienced. There is an interesting use of alternation between black and white and color scenes and the action keeps moving forward and backward in time without any clear array.

The performance given by Benjamin Bratt is extraordinary. I do not like this actor particularly, but in this case I have to acknowledge he fitted the role perfectly. He also performed extremely well in the parts in which it is required from him to recite poems.

This is an amazing movie and I think everyone should see it. Nevertheless, if you are uncomfortable with non-linear sequence in the action, or are not interested in the least in poetry, it would be better for you to skip it. On the contrary for those of you that have watched and enjoyed the show "Def Poetry" in the past, this movie will be memorable. The poem in the last scene will give you goose bumps and leave you breathless! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

ONE OF ROCKY'S BEST!!!
This has been a pretty good year for fans of the lovely AND talented Raquel Welch. First 20th Century Fox released "The Raquel Welch Collection" box set, then Warner Home Video gave us "The Last Of Sheila" and now "The Wild Party", probably one of Miss Welch's best films! And thanks to the fine folks at MGM we have the ORIGINAL, UN-CUT version not the version originally released by AIP back in the 70s. And what a glorious film it is! Rocky is just great as Queenie, the mistress of Jolly Grimm (James Coco), a washed up silent movie comedian vainly attempting to make a comeback into pictures. She is endearing and sexy as his tender young lover, and the song she sings ("SINGAPORE SALLY") is a real treat!

Picture and sound are both quite good on this disc and the extra's include the original trailer and a short interview with the director, James Ivory.

So, if you like Miss Welch (and how can anyone not???), check this disc out. You'll love it! Now if only MGM will release "Kansas City Bomber" and Paramount put out "Hannie Caulder", I'd be a really happy camper! - George Bauch,

Incredible restoration!
I am giving "Wild Party" 5 stars for a few reasons. Most significantly is that this is the version that James Ivory had submitted to the studio, which then recut it for distribution through American International.
I remember seeing WP when it was first released, and believe me that was an entirely different movie than is on this DVD. A.I. was known as the distributor that marketed exploitation flicks, so it purchased WP as it was cut to emphasize an orgy sequence.
Ivory is not a sensationalist, if anything his films incorporate sex to advance the story, here the wildness of the party is just a by product of a much richer story.
Raquel, Coco, Bolling and King are all terrific. The wonder of DVD is that this film makes sense, whereas the theatrical version and all the VHS versions do not. This is really an amazing movie that was never released as it was intended. Thumbs up to MGM for releasing this edition.

CHEERS!
THIS is one of those delightful, guilty, and dismissed treasures [alongside Glenda Jackson's 'Negatives', and what WAS the title of that vaguely soft-core porno type movie Richard Dreyfuss made???? "INSERTS!" Same period ....] HOWEVER, this Party is somewhat inspired by the Fatty Arbuckle event of the Roaring 20ties and fortunately does not follow the same route, but it is close, and naturally everyone associated or invited to the Party is affected by the outcome in one or another way .... you be the judge here.

Expertly directed - same goes for the Art and Costume design - makes a great companion piece to the rarely seen "SAVAGES" another Ivory gem! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

An okay movie
Jefferson in Paris is an alright movie. It is to long and quite boring. The movie starts out with Sally Hemings's son Madison telling the story of his mother's relationship with Thomas Jefferson. Most of the movie focuses on Jefferson's relationship with Maria Cosway. Why would they have Sally's descendant tell of Jefferson's relationship with another woman besides his mother? Sally doesn't even enter the movie until the end and that is when the movie gets good. The actors did a great job considering the boring roles they had and Nick Nolte and Thandie Newton were superb. If you can sit through the beginning of this movie then I recommend this movie. If you can't save your money.

A realistic true to life drama about a rather complex man.
"jefferson in Paris" is a realistc historically based film about the third President of the United states. It traces carefully, without overdoing it, his humanistic affairs with Maria Cosway from which the famous "Head and Heart" letters were written. Most importantly, it shows the skeptics that Mr. Jefferson did fall in love and enjoy a fruitful life with the woman of his choice. And not the one "people" may have wanted to choose for him. I believe the movie also dpicted what could be called an "almost too close" relationship with his daughter Martha. But, with nothing concrete, that relationship is left to the viewers discretion. Al in All, worthwile viewing.

Best film about our early history
Although some people may find this film boring, it may not be their type of film. For anyone who wants to see a film about one of our most fascinating Founding Fathers, this is the film to watch and own. Its my favorite film about any of the presidents and I wish they would make more of them. I especially loved the actress who played Marie Antoinette. She embodied exactly how I pictured Marie Antoinette to look and act when I only read about her. The same goes for Lambert Wilson, who played the Marquis de Lafayette...exactly as I had imagined him. My favorite performance though, goes to Thandi Newton as Sally Hemmings. Seeing her in this film when it first came out made me take notice of her and follow her career with interest. What I love most about this film is the glimpse it gives viewers of life during the pre-revolutionary period in France, and shows the absurdities of ritualized Court life and why the people demanded change. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were simply out of touch with ordinary people, and our Ambassador to France Thomas Jefferson was a first hand witness to it all. The film ends too abruptly for me. I would have liked a greater resolution than that...but since films like these are rare, and I wish that Hollywood made more films about our Founding Fathers, I can't complain with what this film accomplishes. Its certainly a lot better than the made for TV, "Sally Hemings" mini-series.

Long, boring and offensive (to me anyway).
Long and boring sum's this film up, and its anti-English (like most American film's these day's). Though you probably don't care about that. I'm going to keep this review short because this film does not deserve a long one.
Complete load of garbage.

Captivating
An engaging and thought-provoking movie; one of the best movies I've seen in a while. I didn't find it boring at all, the human drama unfolding in front of me had my full attention. I'm not judging it from the historical point of view, I'm sure history buffs can find plenty things wrong with it. But to me it wasn't about the facts; it could be set in any historical period, as far as I'm concerned. It is a story about human emotions, and, like the real world, it has an ambiguous feel to it; lots of grey, lots to think about. So if you're into "soap opera" love stories with a happy (or unhappy) ending, don't waste your time, you'll be bored. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Lizzie McGuire rules
i watch lizzie mcguire everyday and this dvd would be a great gift for a girl whose growing up. (between ages 10-14) it's great because it's really funny and teaches you stuff at the same time. i also recommend the lizzie mcguire movie dvd with this item. It's a classic!

Lizzie McGuire Rocks!
This DVD features the episodes:

Misadventures in Babysitting

Between a Rock and a Bra Place

Rated Aargh

Party Over Here

Lizzie Mcguire is fine!
I just want to say that some people think that Lizzie Mcguire isn't for people under thirteen, and that's not true! It is mostly for those pre-teen girls. It's not really for guys, or girls under the age of ten, but not because there's something bad about it, it's just that there's this episode about Lizzie getting a bra, and about five or six episodes where she has a crush on somebody. I don't recommend it for boys of any age though.

Not what it could have been--but far better than nothing.
I suppose one should start out with the 'bad' here.

Cons:

1. Merely adequate visual and audio. While certainly serviceable, the overall quality of the presentation isn't what one has come to expect from the DVD format.

2. No continuity of episodes. It's bad enough that the episodes are being parceled out like this, but it's as though the episodes chosen were purely at random. The episodes have nothing to do with one another. They're not even from the same season!

3. Severe editing. The credits for each episode have been expunged here. All one gets is one credit crawl at the very end of all the episodes only covering one of the episodes shown! Very poor choice there (and one would think it would violate SAG bylaws...). Also, one doesn't get to view the opening credits before each episode; it too is only shown once for all four.

The only 'extra' consists of a new music video featuring Hilary Duff's first single, "I Can't Wait".

Pros:

It's "Lizzie McGuire" on DVD! :-)

At the end of the day, one gets the feeling that Disney rushed this project in order to cash in on the current "Lizzie-Mania" that has swept the land. But they've had so much time to get all their ducks in a row, one should (and does) expect better from the product. Disney knows that the fans will eat up anything "Lizzie" related right now--sub par or not.

However, barring an expanded version at some point, this is all we've got, and as such is worth buying. A flawed "Lizzie" DVD is better than no "Lizzie" DVD.

HILLARY IS "SO YESTERDAY"!
save your self money and your child's sanity! don't buy this DVD! as a teenager myself i strongly oppose of hillary duff/lizzie mcguire. her shows are very perdicatible! her parents are very liberal. how does lizze and ethan always get together as friends? they hardly ever talk to each other. isn't there one tv show on earth where the guy is cute and smart. and the main lead is NOT a blond. u gotta be blond and blue eyed to get a guy and that is exactly what hillary does. don't buy hillary duff products. it is a waste of money!!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fun, Fun, Fun!
I had the most enjoyable night tonight. My husband came home with free tickets to the alternative theatre for The Boys and Girl from County Clare. I LOVED IT! It was an upbeat Irish movie with lots of swearing and fiddle playing. I don't want to summarize the storyline cause I didn't know what it was about when I went and I think it made all the difference in my viewing enjoyment. Colm Meany (O'Brien from Voyager days) and Bernard Hill (Théoden from Lord of the Rings) were hilarious as were the many supporting characters. The appearance of one of the Corr sisters was surprising but she was a bit flat. Luckily her performance is of no consequence to the whole of the movie. I laughed my ass off from start to finish. The Irish scenery is beautiful as always even when it's grey and rainy. I'm telling all my friends to go see it.

Take a Trip To County Clare, In this soon to be Classic.
The traditional music of Ireland has told a many good stories. Stories of Struggle, loss, immigration, joy, optimism and . . . SIBLING RIVALRY?!. In John Irving's "The Boys and Girl From County Clare" we are introduced to two brothers who spend their whole lives in competition over outstanding musical ablility. The fuel to their fire burns higher when they both enter into a Ceili music competition held in Clare for "Best Ceili Band".

Originally Titled under "The Great Ceili War" [pre production name] 'County Clare' is about an hour and a half's worth of upbeat Irish tunes, loveable characters and lots of laughs. It stars some of Ireland's best known actors [Colm Meaney, Bernard Hill]as well as a few newbies [Shaun Evans and Andrea Corr]. Our standout star of the film is obviously Andrea Corr [Singer, The Corrs]who plays the role of Anne, a naive fiddler who dreams of a life beyond her controlling "Spinster" mother. Her search for love and curiosity for the outside world leads her to rebel against all that she knows and winds her into the hands of love.

My personal reccomendation of the film is this. If you love Ireland, if you love Irish culture, If you love comedy and most importantly if you love Irish Ceili music; The Boys and Girl From County Clare is just the right film for you. Although it takes no prior knowlege of Irish culture or of Irish music to love this film,it is so well filmed, so well told and so well produced that no matter where you live, you too will feel as though you are in Clare alongside our cast. I give this film 5 stars for original characters, unique acting, wonderful storytelling and outrageous music. I'd reccomend experiencing this film in a theater if you can get the chance, simply because it's magical. But if you cannot :) buy the DVD like I am going to in July.

ANDREA CORR shines in this BRILLIANT film...
The Boys and Girl from County Clare was one of the BEST films I have ever seen.Itcombines lots of Irish wit and humor with drama and keeps you interested the entire film.Andrea Corr does a phenominal job as Anne, this is her 3rd film after The Commitments and Evita.Bernard Hill and Colm Meaney also play convincing roles. This is the MUST SEE film of the century!

Irish fun to be had in Boys & Girl From County Clare
Corrs singer Andrea Corr stars as Anne a young talented fiddle player in an Irish ceili band trying to repeat as champions of the All-Irish band championship. Anne is sheltered by her mum played by Charlotte Bradley who is overprotective of Anne much to Anne's dismay. Anne wants to experience romance in her life but her mum has other plans which leads to conflict between the two. Bernard Hill plays John Joe the group's leader and Anne's mum friend. The leading contender to dethrone the band is a band from Liverpool lead by Bernard's younger successful brother Jimmy played by Colm Meany who hasn't seen or heard from John Joe for over 20 years.
The two feuding brothers seem to stop at nothing to prevent the other band from registering in the contest. While at the contest Anne falls for flute player Teddy-played by Shaun Evans who is also the rival band's best player. Anne's mother wants no part of this budding romance and forbids Anne from seeing Teddy. During the course of the contest Anne learns the truth about her father and why her mum is so bitter and protective of her.The movie is full of high-jinxs between the two brothers and the music in the movie is terrific!
The movie is full of emotional moments and you will laugh throughout the movie. Full of fine acting(Corrs singer Andrea Corr does a Brilliant job in her first leading role) and Irish scenery( filmed in Northern ireland) You will enjoy this movie! ... Read more

Description

As the fireworks explode overhead, the blood runs under foot. Zatoichi is provoked into a fury of sword slinging by a disreputable gang leader trying to oust a rival, good-natured boss. A houseguest of the peaceful Bunkichi boss, Ichi attempts to help his gracious host fight the greedy boss Yasugoro, but as a fugitive, Ichi’s honorable host must ask the blind swordsman to leave. With Ichi temporarily out of the way, Yasugoro makes his bloody move. But being a man of fairness and equality, Zatoichi makes sure Yasugoro gets what he deserves in the end. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Blind Swordsman = Incredible viewing
This is one of my favorite Zatoichi films. The best thing about Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) is that he can play a role with such sincerity and emotional involvement that he can pull you in to any one of his roles. He has had quite an acting career in Japan, this being his 7th Zatoichi full length feature. I think this is where the movies started going in a different direction. All of the movies are great. But this one in particular starts to show the true cinematography and action that really defined these movies and Katsu as truly ahead of there time.
The funny thing about these movies are,you don't even need to like martial art movies to like Zatoichi. ALL of the movies have an intricate plot and story line. Very impressive!
I'm extremely excited that they finally came out with good transfers to DVD of the Zatoichi movies. Very good Quality and a very good movie. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Side out, now there's a concept.
This is one of the worst films you are ever likely to see. The acting stinks, the action is awful, however, this is strangely compulsive viewing. You know exactly what is going to happen but for some reason you have to watch. This is a must for all useless movie fans. The other big problem is that somebody must have believed that beach volleyball was going to be huge, that never happened. Genius! once more C.Thomas Howell in a real stinker, keep up the good work.

Great movie until the end!
This would have been THE movie for beach volleyball, filmed in Manhattan Beach, has appearances from Sinjin Smith, Steve Timmons, Randy Stoklos, all the major pros of the time. Very fun to watch. Great movie except that the very last scene, without spoiling it for you, makes everyone who plays beach volleyball cringe because they end it with a very illegal hand set. This movie had so much potential but became the laughing stock of the beach crowd because of those 3 seconds of footage right before the credits roll. Too bad the film's editor didn't catch that, this would have been a much more popular movie.

An Absolutely Brilliant Piece of Filmmaking
Side Out is just an incredible film. From the moment Monroe Clark steps off the plane from Milwaukee and onto the hot sandy beach volleyball scene, the action just never stops. When Zack Barnes speaks you listen. Peter Horton's finest hour. C. Thomas Howell's career had nowhere to go but, downhill from here. How he got sunbbed by the Academny, I will never know. This is just a true classic and must have for any respectable movie collector.

Laughable, yet, enticing
OK, for so many different reasons I could easily pan this. The volleyball action by a certain duo, namely horton / howell, really stinks! The acting is out and out cra