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- First reviewApril 20, 2008
- Last reviewNovember 15, 2008
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![Child's Play [WS] [20th Anniversary Edition] [DVD] [1988]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/9015/9015013_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
An entertaining horror film that still works today
on October 10, 2008
Posted by: CrimsonKing42
Child's Play is a fun experience, especially when you watch it and realize that surprisingly enough, instead of just being a slasher film about a killer doll stalking the young boy who owns him, the film is actually a surprisingly subtle critique of the 80's obsession with the ownership of kids' dolls. In all fairness, this is hardly a socially subversive masterpiece, but it is a lot of fun, and manages to be less shallow than a lot of similar slasher films.
Child's Play is the story of Karen Barclay, a single mom in financial trouble who desperately wants to get her son one of the popular new Good Guy dolls for his birthday, but she can't afford one, unfortunately. When she gets the chance to buy one from a homeless man at a cut-rate price, she can't resist, and that's how little Andy Barclay gets his new doll Chucky. Little does Karen know, unfortuantely, that the doll was taken from the scene of a destroyed toy store where cop Mike Norris chased down Charles Lee Ray, the Lakeshore Strangler. As he lay in the store dying of a gunshot wound, Charles used voodoo magic to transfer his soul into the doll, which is now in the hands of young Andy. The body count begins to accumulate, and soon Karen doesn't know if her son is the killer, or if it is actually possible that her son's doll is alive.
The technical aspects of the movie are reallly impressive. At no point does Chucky appear to be cheesy or stupid-looking. Whenever it was illogical for them to film the doll from far away, they did a close-up shot that hid the tracks or whatever they were using to move him, making it look more believable. The result is a series of effects that are still quite adequate by today's standards.
The level of gore isn't too high, but good enough to satisfy horror afficionados. Overall, this is a tense, fun horror picture with good casting and some fun timeless appeal. If you're into the genre, I'd recommend this film.
Child's Play is the story of Karen Barclay, a single mom in financial trouble who desperately wants to get her son one of the popular new Good Guy dolls for his birthday, but she can't afford one, unfortunately. When she gets the chance to buy one from a homeless man at a cut-rate price, she can't resist, and that's how little Andy Barclay gets his new doll Chucky. Little does Karen know, unfortuantely, that the doll was taken from the scene of a destroyed toy store where cop Mike Norris chased down Charles Lee Ray, the Lakeshore Strangler. As he lay in the store dying of a gunshot wound, Charles used voodoo magic to transfer his soul into the doll, which is now in the hands of young Andy. The body count begins to accumulate, and soon Karen doesn't know if her son is the killer, or if it is actually possible that her son's doll is alive.
The technical aspects of the movie are reallly impressive. At no point does Chucky appear to be cheesy or stupid-looking. Whenever it was illogical for them to film the doll from far away, they did a close-up shot that hid the tracks or whatever they were using to move him, making it look more believable. The result is a series of effects that are still quite adequate by today's standards.
The level of gore isn't too high, but good enough to satisfy horror afficionados. Overall, this is a tense, fun horror picture with good casting and some fun timeless appeal. If you're into the genre, I'd recommend this film.
What's great about it: A good mix of horror and occasional humor, with great voice-acting from Brad Dourif and effective amounts of suspense
What's not so great: A lot of it isn't really scary once Chucky is revealed, but some of the early parts are rather tense
I would recommend this to a friend!
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3of 3voted this as helpful.
![Suspiria [2 Discs] [DVD] [1977]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8453/8453425_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Possible THE horror masterpiece
on October 9, 2008
Posted by: CrimsonKing42
Dario Argento's Susperia is a masterpiece in a genre where that description must often be taken with a grain of salt. That is not the case with this film. Argento takes this film and every aspect of it very seriously, and the result is a brilliantly shot, timeless piece of art that just HAPPENS to be terrifying. The atmospheres created by the excellent musical score and the exemplary cinematography is unmatched in any other film.
The story beings as American girl Suzy comes to Europe to study ballet at a prestigious academy. She arrives late one stormy night, and as she arrives she catches sight of another girl running away from the academy. That night the girl is brutally murdered along a with the friend she was staying with. Soon, mysterious and terrifying things begin happening to Suzy and the others at the academy, and her new friend Sara begins to fill Suzy's mind with strange and terrifying thoughts of what may be happening.
This film is widely considered to be Argento's best. I have not seen any of his other films unfortunately, but I must say I can definitely see why one would make such a bold statement. This is a brilliant film. Though it (along with much of Argento's work) is best known for its brutal levels of gore, this is in fact a fine FILM, and would serve just as well as a highly respectable example of brilliant cinematography as anything else.
This is a film dripping with suspense and atmosphere. Around every corner lies a terrifying new bit of tension and possibility. If you like horror, or even if you just appreciate film in general, I recommend this film.
The story beings as American girl Suzy comes to Europe to study ballet at a prestigious academy. She arrives late one stormy night, and as she arrives she catches sight of another girl running away from the academy. That night the girl is brutally murdered along a with the friend she was staying with. Soon, mysterious and terrifying things begin happening to Suzy and the others at the academy, and her new friend Sara begins to fill Suzy's mind with strange and terrifying thoughts of what may be happening.
This film is widely considered to be Argento's best. I have not seen any of his other films unfortunately, but I must say I can definitely see why one would make such a bold statement. This is a brilliant film. Though it (along with much of Argento's work) is best known for its brutal levels of gore, this is in fact a fine FILM, and would serve just as well as a highly respectable example of brilliant cinematography as anything else.
This is a film dripping with suspense and atmosphere. Around every corner lies a terrifying new bit of tension and possibility. If you like horror, or even if you just appreciate film in general, I recommend this film.
What's great about it: Brilliant cinematography, atmosphere, tense storyline filled with suspense, and above-average acting
What's not so great: Some people have considered the ending to be inferior to the rest of the film. I disagree, but it's worth mentioning.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Wire: The Complete Second Season [5 Discs] [DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6946/6946497_sa.jpg)
This box set contains every episode from the second season of HBO's crime series The Wire. Each is presented in its original broadcast aspect ratio. Supplemental materials include commentary tracks recorded by members of the cast and crew on some of the episodes and a recap of each episode. English soundtracks are rendered in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Stereo, a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround, and a Spanish soundtrack is available in Dolby Digital Stereo. Subtitles in all three of those languages are accessible.
Customer Rating
5
The best show on television
on October 8, 2008
Posted by: CrimsonKing42
The Wire is the best show on TV. Period. Nothing else compares to its bold realism and refusal to shy away from the harsh underbellies of Baltimore. For those who don't know the show, it began in the first season with a police unit being put together to take down a gang of drug dealers. There is no simple solution to anything in this show, however, since whenever the characters in the unit try to do anything, they must fight through politics, corruption, and even the law itself to get the job done. And it never gets completely done. Nothing is that easy.
This season begins with all of the previous season's major police protagonists in career slumps. Daniels is in charge of storage, which is the lowest of the low, and is planning to quit the force. Greggs is behind a desk to satisfy her girlfriend, who can;t stand the thought of her getting hurt in the line of duty again. Presblewsky is back to being a nobody. The worst of the group is McNulty, who, having stepped on every toe he ever came in contact with, now finds himself in the one place he can' stand being: the marine unit, in what he calls "retirement". The others aren't doing much better. The only crew member who's really profited from the last case was Freamon, who has been brought back into real police work after thirteen years of being stuck in filing.
The new case beings when patrol officer Beatrice Russell discovers a canister full of dead girls on the Baltimore docks. The docks are run by union leader Frank Sobotka, who is secretly involved with a gang of criminals who use him to steal from the docks. Sobotka himself is only into the deal to try to advance his union, whose members are facing not only insignificant amounts of work, but possibly outright extinction. Unfortunately for Sobotka, he steps on the toes of Baltimore police Major Valczek, who uses his influence to get a unit together to investigate Sobotka, and soon enough, Daniels is back in charge of the same unit as in the first season, only now he's managed to get guarantees that they'll be kept together permanently as a special case unit.
The show's greatest strengths all remain for this second season, and in fact only get greater. Its unflinching look at what it takes to enforce the law in the face of politics and corruption of the system are both shocking and revealing. Also, the show incorporates several storylines into its narrative, and isn't afraid to not wrap them all up. It is truly meant to reflect the reality of police work in the modern day.
One of the greatest surprises for me was how this season continues to show the ongoing struggles of the gang of drug dealers from the first season. Though many of its members are in prison (and their situation is shown in plenty of detail), the gang continuesto do its business. If anything, seeing the many issues that come up for the group now that it's missing some of its key players is even more fascinating than seeing the gang's inner workings in the first season.
This is an excellent show. i would recommend not seeing this season before the previous one, because they are very much interrelated. However, if you have seen the previous episodes, know that this is even finer storytelling than the previous efforts, and that the show is a must-see for fans.
This season begins with all of the previous season's major police protagonists in career slumps. Daniels is in charge of storage, which is the lowest of the low, and is planning to quit the force. Greggs is behind a desk to satisfy her girlfriend, who can;t stand the thought of her getting hurt in the line of duty again. Presblewsky is back to being a nobody. The worst of the group is McNulty, who, having stepped on every toe he ever came in contact with, now finds himself in the one place he can' stand being: the marine unit, in what he calls "retirement". The others aren't doing much better. The only crew member who's really profited from the last case was Freamon, who has been brought back into real police work after thirteen years of being stuck in filing.
The new case beings when patrol officer Beatrice Russell discovers a canister full of dead girls on the Baltimore docks. The docks are run by union leader Frank Sobotka, who is secretly involved with a gang of criminals who use him to steal from the docks. Sobotka himself is only into the deal to try to advance his union, whose members are facing not only insignificant amounts of work, but possibly outright extinction. Unfortunately for Sobotka, he steps on the toes of Baltimore police Major Valczek, who uses his influence to get a unit together to investigate Sobotka, and soon enough, Daniels is back in charge of the same unit as in the first season, only now he's managed to get guarantees that they'll be kept together permanently as a special case unit.
The show's greatest strengths all remain for this second season, and in fact only get greater. Its unflinching look at what it takes to enforce the law in the face of politics and corruption of the system are both shocking and revealing. Also, the show incorporates several storylines into its narrative, and isn't afraid to not wrap them all up. It is truly meant to reflect the reality of police work in the modern day.
One of the greatest surprises for me was how this season continues to show the ongoing struggles of the gang of drug dealers from the first season. Though many of its members are in prison (and their situation is shown in plenty of detail), the gang continuesto do its business. If anything, seeing the many issues that come up for the group now that it's missing some of its key players is even more fascinating than seeing the gang's inner workings in the first season.
This is an excellent show. i would recommend not seeing this season before the previous one, because they are very much interrelated. However, if you have seen the previous episodes, know that this is even finer storytelling than the previous efforts, and that the show is a must-see for fans.
What's great about it: Even better than the first season
What's not so great: None. None whatsoever.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Clint Eastwood Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector's Edition [7 Discs] [DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8801/8801406_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
At last, a worthy collection of this great series
on October 7, 2008
Posted by: CrimsonKing42
The newest release of the Dirty Harry series on DVD is the one that was worth waiting for. This is without a doubt the right way to view these classic cop thrillers. The films have been remastered in a way that makes them so crisp and clean that they might as well have been made in the last decade. The sound is also top-notch.
These are timeless pictures, particularly the first two films. Clint Eastwood''s performance is unforgettable, and it was the one that redefined his career following Sergio Leone's Man With No Name trilogy. He has become the archetype for the cop on a mission who is willing to do whatever it takes to carry out his assignment. Anyhow, who could forget the man with the famed .44 Magnum?
Here is a brief synopsis of each film's plot:
Dirty Harry: Harry Callahan is a San Francisco detective who's stepped on every toe in the department. When San Francisco is attacked by the vicous Scorpio killer, Harry swears that he will take him down for good, no matter the means. With the help of his new partner, Harry sinks into the depths of the city's filth to stop a maniac
Magnum Force: A series of murders targeting organized crime figures shake the city of San Francisco. Harry investigates, and soon comes to suspect that the culprits may be police officers.
The Enforcer: As part of a new city initiative to move toward equality on the force, Harry is assigned a female partner. As the two struggle to cope with a predicament that neither wants to be in, they must unite to stop a band of young extortionists who steal a number of weapons from a storage facility and hold the sity for ransom.
Sudden Impact: The only Harry film directed by Clint Eastwood, this is the story of a woman who, having been brutalized years earlier, now goes on a murder-spree to avenge what happened to her and her younger sister, who is now in a mental facility. Harry, menawhile, has gotten in trouble with the police management yet again, and has been forced to go to a small town to investigate some murders there that are connected to those in San Francisco. This investigation leads Harry to unknowingly cross paths with the murderer, and things become much more complicated than he expected.
The Dead Pool: Harry takes down a major mobster, which puts him in the limelight for his 15 minutes of fame. Meanwhile, a group of celebrities are playing a morbid game in which they each put together a list of celebrities whom they expect to die in the near future. When a killer starts knocking off celebrities that are on these lists, Harry must investigate and find the killer...because Harry himself is on the list.
This DVD set is a superior collection. These are all very entertaining films at least, and some of them have had a profound influence on our culture. The box set is the best option for those who want the films. It comes with some really neat additions, such as a map of the Scorpio killer's activities in the first film and a collectible booklet. Also, it comes with a bonus feature-length documentary about Clint Eastwood's career. If you have not seen these films or have yet to purchase them, this is the option for you.
These are timeless pictures, particularly the first two films. Clint Eastwood''s performance is unforgettable, and it was the one that redefined his career following Sergio Leone's Man With No Name trilogy. He has become the archetype for the cop on a mission who is willing to do whatever it takes to carry out his assignment. Anyhow, who could forget the man with the famed .44 Magnum?
Here is a brief synopsis of each film's plot:
Dirty Harry: Harry Callahan is a San Francisco detective who's stepped on every toe in the department. When San Francisco is attacked by the vicous Scorpio killer, Harry swears that he will take him down for good, no matter the means. With the help of his new partner, Harry sinks into the depths of the city's filth to stop a maniac
Magnum Force: A series of murders targeting organized crime figures shake the city of San Francisco. Harry investigates, and soon comes to suspect that the culprits may be police officers.
The Enforcer: As part of a new city initiative to move toward equality on the force, Harry is assigned a female partner. As the two struggle to cope with a predicament that neither wants to be in, they must unite to stop a band of young extortionists who steal a number of weapons from a storage facility and hold the sity for ransom.
Sudden Impact: The only Harry film directed by Clint Eastwood, this is the story of a woman who, having been brutalized years earlier, now goes on a murder-spree to avenge what happened to her and her younger sister, who is now in a mental facility. Harry, menawhile, has gotten in trouble with the police management yet again, and has been forced to go to a small town to investigate some murders there that are connected to those in San Francisco. This investigation leads Harry to unknowingly cross paths with the murderer, and things become much more complicated than he expected.
The Dead Pool: Harry takes down a major mobster, which puts him in the limelight for his 15 minutes of fame. Meanwhile, a group of celebrities are playing a morbid game in which they each put together a list of celebrities whom they expect to die in the near future. When a killer starts knocking off celebrities that are on these lists, Harry must investigate and find the killer...because Harry himself is on the list.
This DVD set is a superior collection. These are all very entertaining films at least, and some of them have had a profound influence on our culture. The box set is the best option for those who want the films. It comes with some really neat additions, such as a map of the Scorpio killer's activities in the first film and a collectible booklet. Also, it comes with a bonus feature-length documentary about Clint Eastwood's career. If you have not seen these films or have yet to purchase them, this is the option for you.
What's great about it: Breathtaking remastering of each film in the series
What's not so great: The Dead Pool isn't as good as the other films in the series
I would recommend this to a friend!
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
![A Nightmare on Elm Street [Special Edition] [2 Discs] [DVD] [1984]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/7949/7949385_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
One of the best horror movies of all time
on October 6, 2008
Posted by: CrimsonKing42
Wes Craven's arguably best (and best-known) slasher monster piece "A Nightmare on Elm Street" is one of the longest-lived pieces of slasher genre fiction in film history. It did not create the genre (Halloween did in 1978) and as far as I know the genre has never really been revolutionized, but Nightmare has an undeniable appeal, which comes largely from its creepy dream-killer narrative and one of the most memorable movie killers in history, Freddy Krueger, a disfigured maniac with a razor-claw glove that he uses to gruesomely violent ends.
This is the story of young Nancy, who, after the horrific death of a friend in her sleep, begins to find her nightmares plagued by a disfigured monster/man, whom she eventually learns is Freddy Krueger, who was a child serial killer during his lifetime. After Freddy was released from prison, a group of parents from the neighborhood got together a good-old-fashioned posse and burned the killer alive, but before his death he swore that he would avenge himself on their children. As it turns out, he kept his promise, and has returned to claim them in their dreams.
There is plenty of lasting appeal to the film. It's not art by most means, but it has a definite style to it, thanks to a very competent direction from horror legend Wes Craven, who does some of his best work ever here. The film is also helped greatly by an unforgettable turn from Robert Englund, who will always be best remembered for this character, and who is at the scariest he's ever been here. After this film, Freddy became a somewhat lighter character, often spouting out one-liners before slashing his victims to ribbons.
There are also a few very memorable, classic horror scenes here. My personal favorites are the scene where Nancy falls asleep in class and dreams of being stalked in an abandoned factory of sorts. Freddy gives his best line here ("Come to Freddy"), and the framing of the shots, which keeps Freddy's identity obscure and mostly shows just bits and pieces of him is very effective.
The other great scene is one in which one of the characters is layng one his bed and suddenly Freddy's hand comes out and pulls him into the bed, and all of his blood shoots out toward the ceiling. As far as horror movies go, that's downright art.
This is a classic, and has mostlly survived the test of time. The special effects quality is high by mid-80's standards, and it's not too laughable even today. If you like the genre, this is one to see.
This is the story of young Nancy, who, after the horrific death of a friend in her sleep, begins to find her nightmares plagued by a disfigured monster/man, whom she eventually learns is Freddy Krueger, who was a child serial killer during his lifetime. After Freddy was released from prison, a group of parents from the neighborhood got together a good-old-fashioned posse and burned the killer alive, but before his death he swore that he would avenge himself on their children. As it turns out, he kept his promise, and has returned to claim them in their dreams.
There is plenty of lasting appeal to the film. It's not art by most means, but it has a definite style to it, thanks to a very competent direction from horror legend Wes Craven, who does some of his best work ever here. The film is also helped greatly by an unforgettable turn from Robert Englund, who will always be best remembered for this character, and who is at the scariest he's ever been here. After this film, Freddy became a somewhat lighter character, often spouting out one-liners before slashing his victims to ribbons.
There are also a few very memorable, classic horror scenes here. My personal favorites are the scene where Nancy falls asleep in class and dreams of being stalked in an abandoned factory of sorts. Freddy gives his best line here ("Come to Freddy"), and the framing of the shots, which keeps Freddy's identity obscure and mostly shows just bits and pieces of him is very effective.
The other great scene is one in which one of the characters is layng one his bed and suddenly Freddy's hand comes out and pulls him into the bed, and all of his blood shoots out toward the ceiling. As far as horror movies go, that's downright art.
This is a classic, and has mostlly survived the test of time. The special effects quality is high by mid-80's standards, and it's not too laughable even today. If you like the genre, this is one to see.
What's great about it: A film that overflows wtih cultural relevance and remains entertaining to this day
What's not so great: The kind of occasionally slipshod writing and acting that can be expected from a horror film
I would recommend this to a friend!
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
![Robot Chicken: Season Three [2 Discs]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5ea110b5-1d8c-4b05-bece-c491faac4734.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Continues the hilarious tradition of Robot Chicken
on October 5, 2008
Posted by: CrimsonKing42
Season 3 of Robot Chicken has everything going for it that the first two seasons did. Thus, if you already like this show, then know that this season is more of the same quality, and just stop reading now. You already know enough to decide if you want this DVD.
If you're new to Robot Chicken, have no fear. This is just as good of a starting point as the other seasons, because there is absolutely no connection between any of the skits and others in the previous seasons. The short skits (which can go as long as three-four minutes or be as short as a couple of seconds) are merely humorous bits that mock pretty much whatever comes to the minds of the writers. This show is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. It is at times very clever, though it is far from above toilet humor, heavily suggestive bits, and bad language. It's sometimes extremely childish, but seeing as this whole show is done in stop-motion animation using things such as barbie dolls and claymation, it's hard to really blame it for "childishness".
I really recommend this show, and this season. If this is your type of humor, season 3 is definitely for you.
If you're new to Robot Chicken, have no fear. This is just as good of a starting point as the other seasons, because there is absolutely no connection between any of the skits and others in the previous seasons. The short skits (which can go as long as three-four minutes or be as short as a couple of seconds) are merely humorous bits that mock pretty much whatever comes to the minds of the writers. This show is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. It is at times very clever, though it is far from above toilet humor, heavily suggestive bits, and bad language. It's sometimes extremely childish, but seeing as this whole show is done in stop-motion animation using things such as barbie dolls and claymation, it's hard to really blame it for "childishness".
I really recommend this show, and this season. If this is your type of humor, season 3 is definitely for you.
What's great about it: Hilarious skits and more of the always excellent stop-motion animation
What's not so great: Some of the episodes toward the end of the season came after the writers' strike, and are slightly less funny
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
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![Crash [Special Edition Director's Cut] [2 Discs] [DVD] [2005]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/7739/7739281_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Extremely well-acted, but too coincidental
on October 4, 2008
Posted by: CrimsonKing42
Crash unfairly received the Best Picture Academy Award in 2005. In my opinion, it was actually the weakest of the films that were nominated, but the greatest injustice was the defeat of Ang Lee's controversial cowboy forbidden love story "Brokeback Mountain". Crash's win seems like an excuse to avoid giving the Oscar to the movie about the cowboy love story by instead giving it to the film about racism. It's just a cop-out in my view.
In any case, Crash still has some things going for it, and those things that work in the film work very well. Paul Haggis is a very gifted director, and his work here is quite noteworthy. The film looks great, and there is a gritty yet lyrical quality to the look of it.
The acting is fantastic. The cast is about as A-List as an ensemble piece like this can get. Their participation (from Don Cheadle to Brendan Fraser) made the msking of this film possible, and it still took about two years to get made. It must be noted that this was a passion project for Haggis, which is obvious when one is viewing the film. I will not mention the acting, which is uniformly brilliant, save for one exception. The actor who gathered the most praise for this film is Matt Dillon, who plays a racist white cop. His father is struggling with urinary infections, and thus Dillon's character is shown both sympathetically in his struggles to help his father cope and negatively when he harrasses Terence Howard and Thandie Newton after pulling them over, and even molests Newton. The most incredulous part of the plot comes when less than two days after Dillon molested Newton, he must rescue her from her overturned vehicle before the leaking gas catches fire and blows up the car with her in it. It's a very powerful scene, but also somewhat ridiculous in its coincidence.
The connections that are developped between all of the characters in the film take away some of its credibility storywise. However, the acting and direction are so good it's hard not to forgive these issues. Crash is a worthy film, though it tends to be overrated. However, since most people tend to really like it, you probably will too.
In any case, Crash still has some things going for it, and those things that work in the film work very well. Paul Haggis is a very gifted director, and his work here is quite noteworthy. The film looks great, and there is a gritty yet lyrical quality to the look of it.
The acting is fantastic. The cast is about as A-List as an ensemble piece like this can get. Their participation (from Don Cheadle to Brendan Fraser) made the msking of this film possible, and it still took about two years to get made. It must be noted that this was a passion project for Haggis, which is obvious when one is viewing the film. I will not mention the acting, which is uniformly brilliant, save for one exception. The actor who gathered the most praise for this film is Matt Dillon, who plays a racist white cop. His father is struggling with urinary infections, and thus Dillon's character is shown both sympathetically in his struggles to help his father cope and negatively when he harrasses Terence Howard and Thandie Newton after pulling them over, and even molests Newton. The most incredulous part of the plot comes when less than two days after Dillon molested Newton, he must rescue her from her overturned vehicle before the leaking gas catches fire and blows up the car with her in it. It's a very powerful scene, but also somewhat ridiculous in its coincidence.
The connections that are developped between all of the characters in the film take away some of its credibility storywise. However, the acting and direction are so good it's hard not to forgive these issues. Crash is a worthy film, though it tends to be overrated. However, since most people tend to really like it, you probably will too.
What's great about it: Great acting and direction
What's not so great: The plot relies far too heavily on coincidence to create connections between all of the characters
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Man Who Wasn't There [WS] [DVD] [2001]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6691/6691528_sa.jpg)
The Coen Brothers old-fashioned noir The Man Who Wasn't There comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The print is practically flawless, vividly recreating the striking cinematography of ace DP Roger Deakins. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, while a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Stereo. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible, and the English soundtrack is closed-captioned. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Joel and Ethan Coen along with lead actor Billy Bob Thornton. Notable for being the first "regular" commentary track the brothers have ever recorded (there is a hilarious fake commentary, believed by some to be the work of Ethan on the superb Blood Simple disc), their conversation is as quirky and entertaining as the films they have made. An interesting and informative almost hour-long interview with Roger Deakins explores his role in the creation of the finished film. Deleted scenes, a short making-of featurette, the theatrical trailer, and a still photo gallery round out this excellent package from USA Entertainment.
Customer Rating
5
One of the best Coen Brothers projects
on October 3, 2008
Posted by: CrimsonKing42
The Man Who Wasn't There, like many of the Coen Brothers' works is unfortunately overshadowed by some of their better known projects, such as Fargo and No Country for Old Men. That's not to say that those films are in any way beneath this one, but rather a critique on how many people are ignorant of the existence of this neo-noir masterpiece.
This is the tale of Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton), a small-town barber that no one notices and no one cares about, including his wife Doris (Frances McDormand) who is having an affair with her boss, Big Dave Brewster (James Gandolfini). Ed is tired of being a nobody, and just as he is in the midst of a crisis of identity in regards to how he'll get out of his personal predicament, he meets a traveler (Jon Polito, who is always FANTASTIC in Coen films) who tells him that he's getting himself set up in a new-fangled trend called "dry cleaning", and that if Ed can get him a couple grand, they can go into business together. Luckily for Ed, Big Dave owns a series of big chain stores, and thus by blackmailing him about his affair with Ed's wife, he hopes to get the money he needs to get out of his rut.
Naturally, since this is a Coen Brothers' film, everything goes horribly wrong, and bad things ensue for all concerned.
This film is delightful in so many ways. The actors and characters are brilliant, especially the boisterously charismatic Gandolfini, who gives you no doubt as to why Ed's wife prefers him to her nobody of a husband. The show-stealer, however is Tony Shaloub, as big-time lawyer Freddy Riedenschneider, whose legal savvy is the major source of the film's laughs. He's so good at what he's doing that you honestly forget how miserable everything around him in the film has become by the time he comes in. It's worth seeing for him alone.
Roger Deakins's cinematography is a highlight of the film, as is always the case with his work with the Coens. His manipulation of the black and white in this film is nothing short of art, and you really can't bring yourself to wish the film was in color at any point that you're watching this.
Neo-noir is one of my favorite genres, and this is a vibrant and important example of it. It's well-written in every sense of the term, features a sort of undetached nihilst view of the 50's, and quite simply shows you a man who has renounced his ordinary life, but just can't get over the bumps in the road to break his bonds.
This is great stuff. If you love the Coens, you should really have seen this by now, and if you're not familiar with their work, this is a great place to start.
This is the tale of Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton), a small-town barber that no one notices and no one cares about, including his wife Doris (Frances McDormand) who is having an affair with her boss, Big Dave Brewster (James Gandolfini). Ed is tired of being a nobody, and just as he is in the midst of a crisis of identity in regards to how he'll get out of his personal predicament, he meets a traveler (Jon Polito, who is always FANTASTIC in Coen films) who tells him that he's getting himself set up in a new-fangled trend called "dry cleaning", and that if Ed can get him a couple grand, they can go into business together. Luckily for Ed, Big Dave owns a series of big chain stores, and thus by blackmailing him about his affair with Ed's wife, he hopes to get the money he needs to get out of his rut.
Naturally, since this is a Coen Brothers' film, everything goes horribly wrong, and bad things ensue for all concerned.
This film is delightful in so many ways. The actors and characters are brilliant, especially the boisterously charismatic Gandolfini, who gives you no doubt as to why Ed's wife prefers him to her nobody of a husband. The show-stealer, however is Tony Shaloub, as big-time lawyer Freddy Riedenschneider, whose legal savvy is the major source of the film's laughs. He's so good at what he's doing that you honestly forget how miserable everything around him in the film has become by the time he comes in. It's worth seeing for him alone.
Roger Deakins's cinematography is a highlight of the film, as is always the case with his work with the Coens. His manipulation of the black and white in this film is nothing short of art, and you really can't bring yourself to wish the film was in color at any point that you're watching this.
Neo-noir is one of my favorite genres, and this is a vibrant and important example of it. It's well-written in every sense of the term, features a sort of undetached nihilst view of the 50's, and quite simply shows you a man who has renounced his ordinary life, but just can't get over the bumps in the road to break his bonds.
This is great stuff. If you love the Coens, you should really have seen this by now, and if you're not familiar with their work, this is a great place to start.
What's great about it: A great noir with wit and subtle dark humor
What's not so great: None. None whatsoever.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0of 3voted this as helpful.
![The Incredible Hulk [WS] [Special Edition] [3 Discs] [Includes Digital Copy] [DVD] [2008]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/9017/9017048_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
A solid popcorn flick and comic book adaptation
on October 2, 2008
Posted by: CrimsonKing42
The Incredible Hulk is a sort of winning combination of the more serious, story-driven comic book film that has become the trend lately (with excellent results) and the sort of care-free action/sci-fi style that used to be found in comic book films. The result is a fun but simple film that manages to avoid being entirely disposable entertainment.
At the center of it all is Edward Norton as scientist Bruce Banner, who after an incident caused him to turn into a giant green monster whenever he gets angry went to hide oout in Brazil, where he went to work in a bottling plant. It's not a glamorous life, but it keeps him hidden and safe until an accident involving a drop of his blood leads his nemesis, General Ross, to find his location.
Ross hires special ops expert Emil Blonsky to lead the team that will capture Banner, but of course Banner manages to Hulk his way out of it. Uncovered, Banner makes his way back to the U.S., once again hoping to find a cure for himself.
Ang Lee made a film version of the Hulk in 2003, and it was widely pandered by both audiences and critics. I personally liked the film a lot, even though it had nothing to do with the comics. To me it felt like an early sign of the character-driven style that comic-book-adapted films have now become. I was pleased to see that this is not a remake of the first film, but rather a sort of unofficial sequel. Nothing about the first film is really mentioned here, but the first film DID end with Banner hiding out in the jungle in South America, so this can easily be seen as a follow-up to that. No one really needs to see the origin story again; by now, we all get the gist of it.
This is worth seeing. It's fun and well-acted. I especially liked seeing Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky and William Hurt as General Ross. They are both perfectly cast. Also, the final battel between the Hulk and the Abomination (who is a visual treat) was one of the best action scenes of the summer. Give this movie a shot if you like the genre. It's good fun.
At the center of it all is Edward Norton as scientist Bruce Banner, who after an incident caused him to turn into a giant green monster whenever he gets angry went to hide oout in Brazil, where he went to work in a bottling plant. It's not a glamorous life, but it keeps him hidden and safe until an accident involving a drop of his blood leads his nemesis, General Ross, to find his location.
Ross hires special ops expert Emil Blonsky to lead the team that will capture Banner, but of course Banner manages to Hulk his way out of it. Uncovered, Banner makes his way back to the U.S., once again hoping to find a cure for himself.
Ang Lee made a film version of the Hulk in 2003, and it was widely pandered by both audiences and critics. I personally liked the film a lot, even though it had nothing to do with the comics. To me it felt like an early sign of the character-driven style that comic-book-adapted films have now become. I was pleased to see that this is not a remake of the first film, but rather a sort of unofficial sequel. Nothing about the first film is really mentioned here, but the first film DID end with Banner hiding out in the jungle in South America, so this can easily be seen as a follow-up to that. No one really needs to see the origin story again; by now, we all get the gist of it.
This is worth seeing. It's fun and well-acted. I especially liked seeing Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky and William Hurt as General Ross. They are both perfectly cast. Also, the final battel between the Hulk and the Abomination (who is a visual treat) was one of the best action scenes of the summer. Give this movie a shot if you like the genre. It's good fun.
What's great about it: A fun action film with solid acting, generally good casting, and great effects
What's not so great: Liv Tyler's character, Betty Ross, is pretty much useless in this film
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [WS] [2 Discs] [Special Edition] [DVD] [2008]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8994/8994617_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Not as good as the originals, but plenty of fun
on October 1, 2008
Posted by: CrimsonKing42
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (KOTCS) is the newest addition of the timeless Indiana Jones series. All of the talent that made the first three films what they are has returned (including Karen Allen, Indy's love interest from Raiders of the Lost Ark), but there's one major problem with the film: It's been twenty years since the last Indy film was made, and thus a film that might have been much better received had it been made in the early 90's has become a mixed bag of tricks for most.
Now, I should first say that I rather liked this film, so if your opinion differs and you really refuse to hear otherwise, then this review is not for you. With that said, KOTCS begins in the mid-50's with Dr. Jones and his friend George finding themselves in the captivity of a gang of Soviet spies, led by Dr. Irina Spalko who is Stalin's head of paranormal research. It turns out that they've been taken to a secret facility at Area 51 (where, it turns out that the government stashed the Ark of the Covenant in the first film; not one of this film's more intelligent moments), and that Spalko wants Jones to help them find a mysterious artifact.
*There are spoilers below, but I recommend reading on even if you haven't seen this. It will likely make the movie easier to deal with when you see it*
It turns out the artifact is an alien body. The Russians are seeking a mysterious crystal skull which Spalko believes will allow the Soviets to eventually acquire mind control, with which they can indoctrinate the entire world. Jones must, of course, stop them, with the help iof teenage hooligan Mutt Williams who comes to Jones for help in finding his stepfather, an old friend of Indy's who in fact married Marian Ravenwood, Indy's love interest from Raiders of the Lost Ark.
A lot of the film lacks originality, as in the past twenty years, much of what the first three films made so fresh and timeless has been re-done a few too many times. It's possible that this film would have been better received as a unique entity, rather than as an attempt to recapture Indy's former glory. It's possible that the original trilogy has acquired a reputation slightly greater than what it deserved because it has become such a significant part of many of our lives.
I enjoyed KOTCS. There were some good chases, and in a few moments, the jokes about Harrison Ford's old age really hit home. This is a fun period actioner. If you liked the old films, and you're willing to forgive it's inferiority, give it a shot. Hopefully you'll share my opinion of it.
Now, I should first say that I rather liked this film, so if your opinion differs and you really refuse to hear otherwise, then this review is not for you. With that said, KOTCS begins in the mid-50's with Dr. Jones and his friend George finding themselves in the captivity of a gang of Soviet spies, led by Dr. Irina Spalko who is Stalin's head of paranormal research. It turns out that they've been taken to a secret facility at Area 51 (where, it turns out that the government stashed the Ark of the Covenant in the first film; not one of this film's more intelligent moments), and that Spalko wants Jones to help them find a mysterious artifact.
*There are spoilers below, but I recommend reading on even if you haven't seen this. It will likely make the movie easier to deal with when you see it*
It turns out the artifact is an alien body. The Russians are seeking a mysterious crystal skull which Spalko believes will allow the Soviets to eventually acquire mind control, with which they can indoctrinate the entire world. Jones must, of course, stop them, with the help iof teenage hooligan Mutt Williams who comes to Jones for help in finding his stepfather, an old friend of Indy's who in fact married Marian Ravenwood, Indy's love interest from Raiders of the Lost Ark.
A lot of the film lacks originality, as in the past twenty years, much of what the first three films made so fresh and timeless has been re-done a few too many times. It's possible that this film would have been better received as a unique entity, rather than as an attempt to recapture Indy's former glory. It's possible that the original trilogy has acquired a reputation slightly greater than what it deserved because it has become such a significant part of many of our lives.
I enjoyed KOTCS. There were some good chases, and in a few moments, the jokes about Harrison Ford's old age really hit home. This is a fun period actioner. If you liked the old films, and you're willing to forgive it's inferiority, give it a shot. Hopefully you'll share my opinion of it.
What's great about it: Amusing use of Harrison Ford's age and the same old breathtaking set pieces
What's not so great: Not as good of a story, and some conventions that have grown somewhat tired over time
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
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