Lawrence of Arabia (Single Disc Edition)

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There's no getting around a simple, basic truth: watching Lawrence of Arabia in any home-video format represents a compromise. There's no better way to appreciate this epic biographical adventure than to see it projected in 70 millimeter onto a huge theater screen. That caveat aside, David Lean's masterful "desert classic" is still enjoyable on the small screen, especially if viewed in widescreen format. (If your only option is to view a "pan & scan" version, it's best not to bother; this is a film for which the widescreen format is utterly mandatory.) Peter O'Toole gives a star-making performance as T.E. Lawrence, the eccentric British officer who united the desert tribes of Arabia against the Turks during World War I. Lean orchestrates sweeping battle sequences and breathtaking action, but the film is really about the adventures and trials that transform Lawrence into a legendary man of the desert. Lean traces this transformation on a vast canvas of awesome physicality; no other movie has captured the expanse of the desert with such scope and grandeur. Equally important is the psychology of Lawrence, who remains an enigma even as we grasp his identification with the desert. Perhaps the greatest triumph of this landmark film is that Lean has conveyed the romance, danger, and allure of the desert with such physical and emotional power. It's a film about a man who leads one life but is irresistibly drawn to another, where his greatness and mystery are allowed to flourish in equal measure. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Amazing........2007-09-17

Lawrence of Arabia (David Lean, 1962)

There has been a good deal of debate recently among bloggers and critics of my generation and that below me-- the new critics, as it were-- about the "old" critics' 100-best lists and the rather heavy concentration in them of "old" movies (for the purposes of this argument, we'll define "old" as "made before 1970"-- at least for the movies), and that when new movies do make the list, they are, by and large, foreign films. When you expand to critics' thousand-best lists, where one might think to find a good deal more new films, the trend actually gets more pronounced. The basis of the argument is that new movies deserve just as much respect as old ones. There's certainly some validity to this point; good movies are made every year. However, I don't think simple nostalgia is the sole basis for this seeming prejudice; let's face it, the film industry in the English-speaking world has changed dramatically in the past forty years. Case in point: try to imagine Columbia, or any other major Hollywood studio, releasing, or even greenlighting, David Lean's magnificent Lawrence of Arabia today-- a war film that comes in just shy of four hours, with as much (if not more) emphasis on the development of two of its main characters as there is actual action. I'm pretty sure any studio exec seeing this script on his desk today would have a cow, or at least a goat. I read an amusing article by Ken Russell today where he calls this mindset the butt factor-- how long a person's butt can stay in a cinema seat before it goes numb-- and he notes that where Hollywood is concerned, the butt factor is about two hours. He implies, by linking this to some of his older films (1969's Women in Love and 1971's The Devils-- both of which, it should be noted, are regular entrants on those thousand-best lists), that the butt factor had been two hours in Hollywood studios for quite some time now. Ah, but such was not the case, thank heaven, in 1962.

To film his life of T. E. Lawrence, David Lean rounded up a stable of well-known, well-loved actors (including Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Claude Rains, and Jose Ferrer, among many others), and then set atop them two relative unknowns: Peter O'Toole, in his first big-screen appearance, and Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, none of whose films had, at the time, been released in America or England. A surprising move, perhaps, and I have little doubt there was carping at the studio over using two unknowns in the top slots of what was to be a lavish, expensive effort. Lean knew what he was doing, though, as history has borne out; O'Toole, nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for this film, snagged his seventh Oscar nomination (all seven, interestingly, have been for Best Actor) in 2006, while Sharif, also Oscar-nominated for his role here, has become a legend both on the screen and at the card table. Between them, the movie's principal actors account for thirty-two Oscar nominations over the years, with four wins; not bad, not bad at all. The movie itself won only seven of the ten Oscars for which it was nominated, with both O'Toole and Sharif missing out (losing to Gregory Peck and Ed Begley, respectively). Still, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Picture, not a bad haul.

Lawrence of Arabia is one of those movies where you don't have to get it to get it. You don't have to notice that almost all the action in the film goes from left to right for your subconscious to figure it out and attach meaning to it. You don't have to notice the incredible cinematography, for which at least one custom lens was developed. All you have to do is sit back and watch two great actors at work. O'Toole's Lawrence may not have won the Oscar, but AFI called his Lawrence the finest screen performance of all time; I'm not sure I'd go quite that far, but to say it's impressive would be greatly understating the case. Equally impressive is Sharif's Ali, but the interplay between them is more than the sum of its parts. Lean and screenwriters Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson never let the viewer assume that the friendship between Lawrence and Ali is on firm ground, even when one is risking his life for the other; both are complex characters, and their relationship reflects all the pressures, both internal and external, on each of them.

That's not the only reason to watch this movie, of course. It is expertly paced; the crossing of the Nefud, which takes up the bulk of the second quarter of the film, flies by. Who knew that a bunch of guys on camels picking their way over rocks could be compelling? David Lean did, I guess, and we should thank him for giving us as much of it as he did.

An amazing, beautiful piece of work that must be seen to be believed. **** ½

cinematic masterpiece..........2007-09-06

what more can be said about one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces in film history. The kind of film that could never be made today. Peter O'Toole is astonishing, Omar Shariff is mesmerising, Anthony Quinn amazing. The score by Maurice Jarre is legendary. The bigger the screen the better the viewing. There are some cinematic shots here that will literally take your breath away.

Surprising quality.......2007-09-02

The quality of this DVD surprised me. I did not expect such a long movie to come through so clear and sharp when recorded to a single DVD.

there once was Arab glory.......2007-08-21

When I first saw Lawrence of Arabia in 1962 I was 26 years old. I knew very little about the history of WWI or the Arab Middle East. Nonetheless the movie was riveting. Now seeing it again at age 70, with some accumulated knowledge of both subjects, it is truly spellbinding. This has to be one of the greatest films ever; perhaps, the greatest.

Whatever one's political persuasion about the present turbulent Middle East and The West's role in it, one can gain a feeling, an insight into the people and region from this film that simply cannot be depicted in print.

The modern media images we have of Arabs today are as either fat, bloated Saudi royals, ragged street people in a rage, insane suicide bombers, or down-at-heel scrofulous politicians. We hear of a time when there was an Arab "glory" but it is unimaginable given the present sorry state of the Middle East.

It's difficult to conceive of physically fit, courageous, self-reliant Arabs, not merely surviving, but thriving in their natural environs; the vast and unremitting desert. The film imagery of the agile camel rider Omar Sharif and the robust horseman Anthony Quinn is stunning. This is a new perception, that of Arab as athletic, splendid-looking and master of his domain. Sharif as warrior/dreamer and Quinn as warrior/strongman, in the best roles of their lifetimes, will forever change your image of "the Arab."

I've nothing to say about Peter O'Toole's quirky portrayal other than it doesn't interfere enough with the rest of the production to keep this from being the great movie that it is. I think a perfect companion read would be David Pryce-Jones, "The Closed Circle: An Interpretation of The Arabs." HarperCollins 1991.

What, no sub-titles?.......2007-08-20

This was one of my favorite movies years ago, which proves its excellent worth, for there are no women in it! No love interest! And you don't realize it, you don't miss it at all! GREAT movie!

BUT - I won't buy it on DVD unless it has English sub-titles. Otherwise it is of little use to me in my old age! The description of the DVD says nothing about sub-titles; does that mean there are none, or is their lack of mention merely an oversight??

Susan

Average customer rating:

The Start of a Great Saga
"What kind of knight are you?"
Alright Shrek, you and me, bring it on!
best movie ever!!!!!!!!
Entertaining

Shrek (Full Screen Single Disc Edition)
Starring: Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , Cameron Diaz , and John Lithgow
Director: Andrew Adamson , and Vicky Jenson
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Animated
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ASIN: B00009ZYC1
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Amazon.com

William Steig's delightfully fractured fairy tale is the right stuff for this computer-animated adaptation full of verve and wit. Our title character (voiced by Mike Myers) is an agreeable enough ogre who wants to live his days in peace. When the diminutive Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) evicts local fairy-tale creatures (including the now-famous Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and the Gingerbread Man), they settle in the ogre's swamp and Shrek wants answers from Farquaad. A quest of sorts starts for Shrek and his new pal, a talking donkey (Eddie Murphy), where battles have to be won and a princess (Cameron Diaz) must be rescued from a dragon lair in a thrilling action sequence. The story is stronger than most animated fare, but it's the humor that makes Shrek a winner. The PG rating is stretched when Murphy and Myers hit their strides. The mild potty humor is fun enough for 10-year-olds but will never embarrass their parents. Shrek is never as warm and inspired as the Toy Story films, but the realistic computer animation and a rollicking soundtrack keep the entertainment in fine form. Produced by DreamWorks, the film also takes several delicious stabs at its crosstown rival, Disney. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

The Start of a Great Saga.......2007-08-29

This is the first in a great series of fairy tale parodies! A must buy!

"What kind of knight are you?".......2007-08-18

The answer to the question is that Shrek is one of a kind. Mike Myers is the voice behind the best-known ogre in the movie industry. Shrek lives in a secluded area of the forest, but when Lord Farquaad resolves that all the fairy creatures need to live in this area, Shrek's peace is seriously affected. Thus, he focuses on scaring everyone away, even though at heart he is a big teddy-bear. One day, he sees a regiment from the kingdom of Far Far Away capturing fairies. Lord Farquaad, the leader of the oppressors, thinks that the talking donkey deserves to be incarcerated, but Shrek cannot help himself and rescues the poor thing.

This is not the last Shrek and Farquaad will see of each other. The latter decides that he would like to marry Princess Fiona, but there is a small obstacle in the way. She is held hostage in a castle defended by a fierce dragon and many have succumbed in their rescue attempts. Therefore, Farquaad organizes a tournament to decide who should go to bring back his wife-to-be. You can take a guess as to who the lucky winner is.

This is not your typical fairy tale, and it is definitely intended for an audience a little more mature, but it is an enjoyable one. There is one word that defines this movie to the T: humor. The actors selected to give voice to the characters of Shrek (Myers), Lady Fionna (Cameron Diaz) and Donkey (Eddie Murphy) are perfect for their roles. The writers also did an excellent job in picking the jokes and the funny comments throughout the production are something to cherish.

There is also a wide selection of extra features in the two-disc DVD; including an area designated as Dreamwork Kids that allows you to select you favorite scenes, watch two music videos (Baha Men and Smash Mouth), and play interactive games and trivia. My favorite extra feature was the one that discusses the technical aspects of the animation, because this is one of the most amazing aspects of this film. Nowadays there are many examples of animation of this quality, but when "Shrek" first came out, it was one of a kind. Finally, the music completes the total package, since it blends perfectly with the different parts of the plot and it is catchy and enjoyable. Overall, a great effort that cannot be missed!

Alright Shrek, you and me, bring it on!.......2007-08-02

I've had a bone to pick with Shrek for like, what...6 years now? It's time to settle the score. The Patriarch way!

Shrek is supposed to be a kid's movie. Thus it is filled with bathroom humor and other crude jokes supposed to appeal to a five year old. Also, as with every other "kid's" movie made today, it's filled with jokes only adults would understand. This is what makes the film popular with children as well as adults. This is just wrong though, a lot of these jokes aren't appropriate for children. For example, at the end of this movie, during the credits, an anthropomorphic cat licks it's genitals. This is sick. Having an animal with the attributes of a human lick itself is the same thing as having a human lick itself.

How about the morals this movie teaches. Shrek is a crude, rude, disgusting ogre. A human example of him is that guy that drained your septic that one time and had no qualms about using foul language and farting around you. Or Michael Moore, take your pick. The moral of this story is to see past his grossness and see the good person inside. If it's all the same to you, I don't want my children hanging around with hobos, drug addicts,and trailer trash because this hokey film told them to. In the end of this movie, the princess becomes a disgusting ogre too. So this is supposed to tell my kids, what? That people that look nice on the outside are really disgusting inside? The Shrek generation is going to be so messed up.

I wanted to ignore these grievances, honestly I did. But when they release sequel after sequel, and no matter where I look is Shrek!, I can't hold it in any longer.

I haven't seen the other Shrek films in this series, so I can't review them. I can only imagine how much worse they are however. Shrek 3 apparently has shrek and Fiona having an ogre baby together. Great. Now my kids are going to learn the facts of life from a movie about ogres.

PS: Okay, everybody reading this. I am making this clear-I just coined the phrase, "The Shrek generation." I am going to have this copyrighted. If I ever see a book or movie or documentary, that uses the phrase, "The Shrek Generation" I am going to sue you and demand royalties of some kind.

PPS: This also applies to any variation like, "Generation Shrek" or "Star Shrek: The next Generation"

best movie ever!!!!!!!!.......2007-07-20

Hi well to start This is the funniest movie in the world! It's truely awesome!!!! I really can't describe it it's so awesome!!!! But I can tell you this it's hillarious!! Well hope this was helpful brooke

Entertaining.......2007-07-05

I don't watch many animated features but I did watch Shrek and I thought it was an excellent movie. The actors brought the characters to life and I really liked the movie. In fact we bought the other two Shreks.

Average customer rating:

Aaah... sooo sweet!!!!!!
Always a classic
The Parent Trap
Sweet, charming and satisfying, makes for a great time with the family...
Try to enjoy Lindsay Lohan's first film without the ironic frame of reference

The Parent Trap (Special Edition)
Starring: Lindsay Lohan , Dennis Quaid , Natasha Richardson , Elaine Hendrix , and Lisa Ann Walter
Director: Nancy Meyers
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B0007LXPBI
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Amazon.com

If you were a kid in the early 1960s, then you saw The Parent Trap with Hayley Mills--it's as simple as that. Now Disney has pulled the beloved comedy--about a pair of twins who meet for the first time at summer camp and vow to reunite their long-divorced parents--out of the mothballs and remade it with a decidedly '90s feel. This time, the twins act is performed by newcomer Lindsay Lohan, who plays both Hallie and Annie, who each live with one of their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson). Adversaries when they first meet at camp, Hallie and Annie become, well, sisters when they figure out that they are siblings. The comedy springs from their efforts to sabotage Dad's impending marriage to the gold-digging Elaine Hendrix, while reintroducing Dad to Mom. Quaid has a nice, loosey-goosey way with slapstick, as does Richardson, who plays a very funny drunk scene. --Marshall Fine

Description

What makes the Special Edition of THE PARENT TRAP so cool isn't just that you get to enjoy Lindsay Lohan's amazing theatrical debut, but that's it's filled with bonus materials you've never seen before. Hallie Parker, a hip Californian, and Annie James, a proper London miss (both played by Lohan) are identical twins who don't even know each other exists -- until they accidentally meet at summer camp. Now they're up to their freckles in schemes and dreams to switch places, get their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson) back together, and have the family they've always wished for!

Customer Reviews:

Aaah... sooo sweet!!!!!!.......2007-08-23

This movie was soo sweet and cute. Lindsay used to be so innocent! I didn't really like the original, this one is way better! There's some really funny scenes, and I liked the British accent. I would totally reccomend buying this movie!

Always a classic.......2007-08-07

The first version of this movies was one of my favorites when I was little. My kids love the new version. Its not often that you find a remake that rivals the original but this one definately does. Great entertainment!

The Parent Trap.......2007-07-30

I disagree with a lot of a people. This movie is really safe and sweet and Lindsay Lohan is an amazing little girl in this movie who wants to see her parents get back together again. It's true she grew up to make mistakes, but it's parents fault. It's her mother's fault for giving her a bad upbringing and it's her father's fault for doing drugs when she was a kid and for being in jail and then ten years later going around thumping the Bible on her when he himself is a grade A loser. A lot of great people in the world were born to losers. I like Lindsay Lohan. I really do. And as for I Knew Who Killed me, I'm sure it's not as bad as people think. And nothing was funny about Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine dancing like that. It was good and I think actresses take roles like that to show they have an edge to them. And maybe they just want to make people see how they'e matured. So there.

Sweet, charming and satisfying, makes for a great time with the family..........2007-07-30

If you want to watch something sweet, something fun and something memorable look no further than Disney's 90's remake of `The Parent Trap'. It's funny, it's charming and it's sure to be appreciated time and time again. Young Lindsay Lohan is so preciously sweet here that you can't help but fall in love with her. And talk about talent. This young actress may not have really struck it big until her `Mean Girls' stint, but `The Parent Trap' may very well hold her finest performance to date. She's convincing as two totally separate children, accent included, and that is a tough feet for most adult actors. But here Lohan pulls it off with flying colors, never once missing a beat.

The film follows the original film, at least in general plot, but it updates it quite a bit for modern society. Lohan plays both Annie James and Hallie Parker. Hallie lives in California with her father Nick, played by Dennis Quaid while Annie lives in London with her mother Elizabeth, played by Natasha Richardson. When they first meet at summer camp they are camp rivals, but soon after realizing they are in deed sister, identical twin sisters, they devise a plan to reunite their parents and become a family again. They swap places, each getting to meet and spend time with the parent they've never known and then, when their secret is exposed and they're forced to swap places again their parents will see one another and the wheels will be set in motion for their love to rekindle.

There's only one problem. Their father is falling in love with a horror show of a hot young thing named Meredith Blake, played brilliantly by Elaine Hendrix. Annie realizes soon after meeting her father that she is in way over her head with his new arm-candy. She's manipulative and beautiful and her father is obviously blinded by her legs. Hallie doesn't believe the danger is real for as far as she knows her father is never serious about any woman and besides the fact, she wants to spend more time with her mother. But the problem is serious for her father intends on marrying the gold-digging tramp and if that happens the girls plan would be ruined.

The hi-jinx's that ensue are hilarious and the acting is superb. Lohan outshines all, but both Quaid and Richardson do a wonderful job as the two loving parents. In fact, they are both so lovable and charming that it's hard to understand why their marriage didn't work in the first place. As I mentioned, Hendrix is deliciously evil here and works her character to the bone. My favorite supporting character though is Lisa Ann Walter who plays Nick's housekeeper. She's effortlessly charming and sweet and so good natured. I just love her character and her interacting with Lohan is fantastic. Simon Kunz is memorable as the James' butler and Ronnie Stevens is more than effective as Elizabeth's father.

The film is a wonderful experience from start to finish and monopolizes very well on the charm of the entire cast and the popularity of the original film. It's a remake that was worth being remade and it'll be sure to bring plenty of smiles to the faces of everyone in the family. As many have mentioned, Lindsay's life has taken a huge detour down to the gutter, but put your preconceived notions about her off-screen antics aside and embrace the career she could have had had she stayed cute and adorable and level headed.

Try to enjoy Lindsay Lohan's first film without the ironic frame of reference.......2007-07-30

I am sure the reason "The Parent Trap" is airing on cable television today is not because of Lindsay Lohan's arrest this past week but more because this past Friday "I Know Who Killed Me" opened. So you have to appreciate that they are showing Lohan's first movie on television the same weekend that what may well be her last movie is opening in theaters. It is hard to watch this 1998 remake of the 1961 Haley Miles film of the same name, which is an American version of the German story "Das Doppelte Lottchen" by Erich Kästner filmed in 1950, and not wonder what happened to sweet little Lindsay Lohan. Watching this version again I kept thinking of Rob Schneider's joke on "The Tonight Show" about Lohan being worried about losing jobs to the English chick that played opposite her in "The Parent Trap" (Erin Mackey was the acting double, but that is not who he mean), but the basic situation is way too sentimental to be caustic and cynical for too long when watching this movie again.

My problem with this movie is neither Lohan nor her performance, but rather the parents and the premise. I am tempted to review "The Parent Trap" as a horror film. You have these two people, Nick Parker (Dennis Quaid) and Elizabeth James (Natasha Richardson), who get married and after the birth of twin girls not only get a divorce but decide that to guarantee they never have to see each other ever again they will each take one of their infant daughters and go their separate ways, she to London, England and he to Napa Valley, California. The fact that the roots of this story go back a half-century to post-war Germany makes a lot of sense to me because I can see circumstances warranting such a separation making a lot more sense than a mother deciding she hates her husband enough to give away one of her children. I mean, come on, when Solomon offered his 50-50 deal way back when it was not a serious proposition (I want to ask what sort of parents break up immediately following the birth of their children, but Kevin Federline can now go for the hat trick on that score).

Fortunately, we only have to deal with the interaction of the parents in the third act of this film and as a general rule of thumb if there is not at least one Lindsay Lohan in a scene in this film, it tends not to work as well. The first act finds Hallie Parker and Annie James both arriving at the same Summer Camp (sending your kid to Summer Camp in another country across an entire ocean strikes me as being rather bizarre parental behavior, but it is a necessary plot device in this film). Eventually the girls will figure out the connection between them, which leads to the second act where they switch places to meet the parent they have never met. But before that they terrorize each other in an escalating series of camp hijinks that suggest they are forces to be reckoned with individually, so imagine what they can do if they team up.

The second act is far and away the best part of this film because it is pretty much impossible not to be moved when each girl finally gets to meet their other parent and when the parents finally realize what is going on (although my favorite moment is when Annie reveals her true identity to Lisa Ann Walter's Chessy). Coming clean is mandated because Annie, pretending to be Hallie, learns that their dad is going to marry Meredith Blake (Elaine Hendrix), apparently because he is the only one who cannot tell she is a money-hungry ice queen. So it is up to the twins to set things right, or at least set their parents up so they can do the right thing. One of the things that I think are required in a romance is what I call the "grand gesture," and when Nick takes Elizabeth down to his private wine cellar that is exactly what we get. The two-fold problem is that it does not work and that this particular grand gesture begs the question that needs to be asked of both parents as to why they never bothered to track down their other child. Part of me thinks that the twins would be better off with Chessy and Martin (Simon Kunz). If you can suspend your disbelief with regards to the stupidity of Nick and Elizabeth and the horrible thing they did to their daughters, then you can enjoy this film and the Lindsay Lohan that was.

Average customer rating:

Comes off a bit awkward, out of place, confused and, well, broken...
A Little Zoë Cassavetes Triumph
A Masterful Posey Keeps Cassavetes' Low-Budget Debut Film Afloat
Journey into Myself
I just want to be loved

Broken English
Starring: Tim Guinee , Josh Hamilton , Dana Ivey , Bernadette Lafont , and Melvil Poupaud
Manufacturer: Magnolia
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Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OU082G
Release Date: 2007-08-21

Product Description

Croatian born NINA (Aleksandra Vujcic) escapes with her family from their war ravaged homeland to the culturally mixed suburbs of Auckland New Zealand. Smothered by the controlling love of her volatile father IVAN (Rade Serbedzija) Nina finds tender roFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 876964000895 Manufacturer No: 10089

Amazon.com

Though made by the daughter of iconoclastic filmmaker John Cassavetes, Broken English is a surprisingly old-fashioned affair. Just as her friend Sofia Coppola wrote about a woman much like herself for Lost in Translation, Zoe Cassavetes has done something similar for her first film (although Before Sunset seems to have exerted a greater influence). Nora (Parker Posey in typically fine form) works in guest relations for a hip New York hotel, just as the writer/director once did. Her best friend, Audrey (Drea de Matteo, The Sopranos), has been married for five years, while Nora remains single. Her mother, Vivien (Gena Rowlands, Zoe's real-life mother), would like to see her settle down. First, Nora goes on a date with self-obsessed actor Nick (a mohawked Justin Theroux), then blind date Charlie (Josh Hamilton). Neither ends well. Nora laments, "Men hate me," but Audrey argues that Nora really hates herself. Her self-confidence gets a boost when she meets Julien (Melvil Poupaud, François Ozon's Time to Leave), a chain-smoking, fedora-sporting Frenchman. Just as she starts to falls for him, Julien returns to Paris, so Nora has to decide whether to stay...or to go. Much like the ladies of Sex and the City (on which Theroux guested), she's the kind of character who appears to have it all, but feels worthless if she isn't in a relationship. It isn't a particularly progressive notion--that the right man will solve every problem--but that doesn't mean plenty of women won't be able to relate. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

Comes off a bit awkward, out of place, confused and, well, broken..........2007-09-11

I have a real problem with this film because I know what it was trying to achieve and for all means of discussion it should have been able to get there. The script itself is decently penned, while not truly revolutionary. It pales in comparison to its closest comparison, ala Sophia Coppola's brilliantly crafted `Lost in Translation', but it still should have been able to transcend its familiarity and deliver some goods. The overall direction is a bit shoddy, almost like its lost true grip on where the film was headed. There are some scenes that feel so out of place that the film itself comes off a bit lost. And speaking of out of place leads me to Parker Posey. I am a huge fan of Parker and she was the reason I grabbed this of the shelf at my local video store and decided to give it a try. As much as I love her she comes off way too awkward here. There are quite a few scenes where she seemed so detached from her character it was painful to watch. Maybe I just have to watch it a few more times to appreciate her performance but upon my initial glance I'm left cold.

The film doesn't know if it wants to be dramatic of comical and in the sheer confusion it fails to deliver on either level. Like I said, I know what Cassavetes was trying to accomplish here, and that makes it ever more disappointing for me to watch her fail at it.

So Parker Posey plays Nora, a thirty-something hotel worker who can't seem to find a good man. She has failed relationship after failed relationship and the one good man she could have had she set up with her best friend Audrey who is now unhappily married to him. Nora's mother would love to see her daughter finally settle down, but the truth of the matter may be that Nora is not ready for it, at least not until she finds herself. So yes, this is one of those `coming of age' type films for the middle age woman. Supposedly most women are supposed to be able to see themselves in Nora, but I can't really judge as I am not a woman myself. My wife thought this was ridiculous and abhorred the film, so I don't know if that says anything, but she's not middle aged and never struggled to keep a man so what does she know, right? Regardless, Posey to me drops the ball here. Scarlett Johansson did a much finer job with ultimately the same character in `Lost in Translation' (yes I know the age difference and setting is far from the same but the whole `finding the right person, finding yourself' type void is found within both characters).

One shining light in the midst of the film is the performance of Drea de Metteo as Audrey. I've loved Drea since her Sopranos days and here she comes off so naturally that I wish they would have given her the role as Nora. I feel she would have handled it much better. I also enjoyed Justin Theroux as Nick, the actor jerk that ultimately starts the downward spiral that is Nora's journey to self appreciation. I liked his character and feel that a further fleshing out of his relationship with Nora could have proved more suitable for the film. The departure into foreign territory (literally) with the introduction of Frenchman Julian was just a bit unrealistic. His character was just so clichéd to me. He had no purpose other than to help Nora find her purpose and Poupaud did absolutely nothing to make Julian even the slightest bit attractive (emotionally that is).

So, this is no `Lost in Translation', and that's not to say that it had to be, but it could have been better than it is. Zoe Cassavetes certainly has the talent running in her blood, but unlike her friend and fellow golden child Sophia Coppola she was unable to bring her A-game to her debut film. `Broken English' goes to prove that personal projects (as in based off life experiences) don't always translate as beautifully as we'd like them to. Maybe next time she'll try something different.

A Little Zoë Cassavetes Triumph.......2007-08-27

BROKEN ENGLISH has so many of the elements of films that are becoming difficult to find these days - superb intelligent script, a story that is frankly what it is instead of an overdone parody of itself, a director who knows how to pace a storyline to keep it compelling, and a cast of first class actors who have the gift of diving right to the core of characters we all meet every day and making us care about them. Writer/director Zoë Cassavetes may be young in her trade, but she here gives evidence that she clearly knows her way around creating fine movies!

Nora Wilder (a mesmerizingly fine Parker Posey) has looks, a good job as a client relations director of a smart New York hotel, but she is now in her thirties and in comparison to her friends she is a social wasteland. She simply cannot find a satisfying relationship in this time of fast one night stands. Her mother (Gena Rowlands) is supportive of her plight and her best friend Audrey (Drea De Mateo, proving that she indeed is a fine actress) who is supposedly in a 'good marriage' with Mark (Tom Guinee) understands her needs and is willing to help, but all Nora can end up with are losers like mouthy actor Nick Gable (Justin Theroux) and morning after hangovers - until she encounters Frenchman Julien (Melvil Poupaud). Julien sees and appreciates Nora for who she is and while Nora seems on the brink of having found the perfect guy, her past history of failed romances prevents her from staying in the moment. But when Julien must return to Paris (seemingly the door of exit for yet another mismatch), Nora eventually gathers her courage and accompanied by Audrey sets off to Paris in hopes of joining the effervescent Julien. In Paris the two women search but cannot find Julien, but what Nora finds is herself - and that is rewarded by a climax that brings the film to a satisfying close.

Though Parker Posey has given us some excellent independent film roles in the past, nothing can match the magic she brings to this role. In fact the entire cast is so fine and so well motivated and directed by Cassavetes that every detail of the film is polished and shines like a the little triumph the film is. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, August 07

A Masterful Posey Keeps Cassavetes' Low-Budget Debut Film Afloat.......2007-08-27

Like father, like daughter. As the daughter of maverick indie filmmaker and actor John Cassavetes and actress Gena Rowlands, first-time director/screenwriter Zoe Cassavetes has a pedigree that inevitably comes with exalted expectations. Interestingly, you can see traces of her father's recognizably low-budget, improvisational-feeling style in this 2007 character study masquerading as a romantic comedy. She's fortunate to have recruited the wonderful Parker Posey to portray Nora Wilder, a confident guest-relations manager at a luxury boutique hotel who is also a neurotic thirty-something concurrently longing for and repelled by the thought of a long-term commitment with a man. What makes this film a bit meatier than an episode of Sex and the City is in the idiosyncratic ways Posey informs her multi-layered performance as she attempts to show a flailing dignity in the face of every possible humiliation she could suffer as a single woman within her married social circle.

The rest of the film does not quite measure up to Posey, as Cassavetes has her going through the paces of dating men particularly bad for her until by happenstance at a co-worker's cocktail party, Nora meets Julien, an affectionate Frenchman who appears quite smitten with her. They naturally embark on a weekend fling that neither wants to end. The rest of the movie plays out in a predictable pattern but with some odd quirks along the way. The result is not a misfire. However, there seems to be a desperate reliance on Posey to bring it all home, which she does handily. Still, there is a charming performance by the charismatic Melvil Poupad as Julien, and he makes Nora's attraction understandable even if the script does not allow him to counterbalance the film.

As married best friend Audrey, Drea de Matteo plays a frustrating character drawn strictly by the numbers, while Justin Theroux manages to exude smarmy conceit as the self-absorbed actor who manipulates Nora. Cassavetes conveniently has her mother play Nora's meddlesome, well-heeled mother with a not-quite-present Peter Bogdanovich as her second husband. The film drags somewhat in the last third, and the ending is both pat and familiar given all that has come before. Still, it's hard to resist Posey excelling in such a fully dimensional role. There are quite a few extras on the 2007 DVD - a fifteen-minute making-of featurette, a thirty-minute episode of HDNet featuring extensive interviews with Cassavetes and Rowlands, and about sixteen minutes of deleted scenes, two of which are comically awkward encounters at the opening cocktail party with an urbane married older man (Griffin Dunne) and a friendly lesbian (Nadia Dajani).

Journey into Myself.......2007-08-23

This is one of those movies that you watch solely for the great performance alone. Zoe's film hovers between being a movie about self-discovery (which is far more interesting!) and being a trite little romantic comedy (boring!, who cares!).
Parker Posey however is a wonder to behold, she makes sitting at home alone seem somehow heroic and yet not overstated. It was a joy for me to watch her performance as Nora because there are moments when you see her world unravel and she does the brave thing of trying to be herself. When she finally gives in at the end and goes after what she knows she really needs it's somewhat bittersweet because I wanted her to be herself on her own terms and not depend on a guy (the guy is average by the way!).
If you love Parker Posey, I know I do, then see this film just don't expect any wonders from Zoe.

I just want to be loved.......2007-08-22

Have you ever known that you would just love a movie without having seen it or heard anything about it? I was at Best Buy and I just saw the cover and recognized Parker Posey and bought it without thinking, a little impulsive. Or maybe I just always expect great things from Parker. From the beginning lyrics and opening scene I knew I was in for a treat.

Parker plays Nora Wilder, an average twentysomething female just kind of living her life, but not loving life. In the opening scene we see her get ready for a dinner party and she is walking around anxiously. Sipping red wine and staring at herself in the mirror we can tell that she is a little broken. She is beautiful but she doesn't know it. She is unsure of herself and is afraid.

All of her friends seem happy and Nora just kind of tip toes through life. She dates but nothing ever goes her way, though no fault of her own. She just wants to be truly loved, but she has no love for herself. Nora reminds me of myself and I am sure every woman has a little Nora in her.

But one night Nora bumps into a man that takes a notice to her and through all her fighting and insecurities she submits and lets herself get swept away. But she is so desperate for someone to love her that she has put a wall up because she is ultimately afraid of getting hurt and this has created somewhat of an anxiety disorder. There is a great scene that shows just how vulnerable she is. She is having dinner with a man and thinks that he is mad at her so she excuses herself to the bathroom and starts to yell at herself for making a mistake.She ultimately ruins the evening because she has to run home to take medication for her anxiety.

The plot thickens when she falls in love with the mystery guy but he is only in town for a few days and he is leaving for Paris soon. Will she stay or will she go? She needs to decide what her life has become and what makes her happy.

This is a long movie- and I enjoyed every second of it. This is a movie about an insecure woman who is coming to grips with her insecurities and her emotions and decides to take charge. But this isn't an overnight solution- it takes time and heart. Broken English really touches at reality and our real relationships with ourselves. We don't always hold our head up high and we often try to go through life unnoticed. But in the end the message is clear- to be loved we must learn to love ourselves.

Independence Day (Single Disc Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

what is the problem?....
one of the great sci-fimovies of all time
Ignore Naysayers. GR8 FLICK!!
The Fight For Survival Has Begun...
What is the backlash?

Independence Day (Single Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Will Smith , Bill Pullman , Jeff Goldblum , Mary McDonnell , and Judd Hirsch
Director: Roland Emmerich
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Alien Invasion | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Aliens | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00005V9IK
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Product Description

On July 2nd, communications systems worldwide are sent into chaos. A number of enormous objects are on a collision course with Earth that are revealed to be gigantic alien spacecraft. After attempts to communicate with the aliens go nowhere an ex-scientist turned cable technician discovers that the aliens are going to attack. On July 3rd, the aliens destroy New York, Los Angeles and Washington. The survivors devise a plan to fight back and July 4th becomes the day humanity will fight for its freedom. July 4th is their Independence Day...

System Requirements:

Running Time 153 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

In Independence Day, a scientist played by Jeff Goldblum once actually had a fistfight with a man (Bill Pullman) who is now president of the United States. That same president, late in the film, personally flies a jet fighter to deliver a payload of missiles against an attack by extraterrestrials. Independence Day is the kind of movie so giddy with its own outrageousness that one doesn't even blink at such howlers in the plot. Directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day is a pastiche of conventions from flying-saucer movies from the 1940s and 1950s, replete with icky monsters and bizarre coincidences that create convenient shortcuts in the story. (Such as the way the girlfriend of one of the film's heroes--played by Will Smith--just happens to run across the president's injured wife, who are then both rescued by Smith's character who somehow runs across them in alien-ravaged Los Angeles County.) The movie is just sheer fun, aided by a cast that knows how to balance the retro requirements of the genre with a more contemporary feel. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

what is the problem?...........2007-09-17

I saw this film long before war of the worlds, and I loved it! The acting is good, the charecters believable, and the special f/x are excellent! Alot of critics despised this film, my question is, why?
Because the charecters were too stereotypical, nonsense! The three main charecters-Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman and Will Smith do the best job, and Margaret Colin, Vivica A. Fox, and Judd Hirsh are pretty good too, this film was 10 times better than Mars Attacks!-that was good the first time, then it got stupid. Director Roland Emmerich may have used alot of cliches with this film, but is there an unwritten rule that all cliches are bad? I'm getting pretty fed up with critics expecting absolute plausibility in movies, movies are supposed to be entertainment, not a confirmation of reality, unless they say, `based on a true story.' To make a long story short, too late!) Critics get over it!

one of the great sci-fimovies of all time.......2007-09-14

well judging by the the other reviewers. im in complete agreement...this generations classic science fiction motion picture. from start to finish ....well made , great, ahead of its time for yes its special effects and to a degree .....like some of the explosions of goverment buildings yet to be surpassed even by todays standards. you cant get a more exiting movie than this.....yes some of it is old fashioned and yes some of it is far fetched .....but thats fine....their should more like it. i was grateful enough to meet dean devlin in hollywood a few years ago and you could not meet a more graceful and kind gentleman ...it is not be chance this wonderful movie was one the great worldwide box office success.. the people will let you know . you cant help but cheer for it in spite of its self. in closing this generations ...classic science fiction movies. an all time great that will stand the test of time. thank you dean devlin and rolland emerich.

Ignore Naysayers. GR8 FLICK!!.......2007-09-12

How could anybody give this movie a low rating. The special effects were great. The action was fast moving from the very beginning to the very end. The plot was quite good with many twists. The acting was great. This is a 5 star movie all the way. One you will want to own and watch over and over.

Anybody that gave this a low rating does not know what a good movie is. This has everything and then some. A must see.

Of all the "Aliens Attack Earth" movies, I cant think of many as good as this one.

The Fight For Survival Has Begun..........2007-09-09

The existence of life outside of our planet is an idea that has long captured the minds of many people. The thought that maybe their might be some other forms of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe is a concept that is both alluring and somewhat frightening at the same time, mostly because no one knows what the aliens (if they exist, which I don't believe they do) would be like. In the movies there are a few instances where aliens are depicted in a benevolent manner; examples would be films like, "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial", "Men in Black" (the good aliens), and even the 'Star Trek' series at times. However, the majority of the time when aliens are featured in movies they are malevolent creatures bent on our destruction, such as; "Men in Black" (the bad aliens), "War of the Worlds", and "Mars Attacks". One of the most successful entries into the alien invasion sub-genre of science fiction would be the visual effects blockbuster "Independence Day" starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum.

"Independence Day" begins on a day when all seemed to be normal in the world and another run-of-the-mill 4th of July weekend was upon us. However, when giant saucers begin to fill the skies above numerous big cities across the globe, everything quickly shifts from average to extraordinary. As humanity attempts to contact what is believed to be aliens residing in these giant ships, one former scientist turned cable repairman (Jeff Goldblum) discovers that these aliens are anything but peaceful, and as he warns the President of the United States (Bill Pullman), the aliens strike with deadly force. Now, with the attempted annihilation of the human race in full swing, our last hope rests upon humanity's ability to work together in the face of adversity, and on a daring mission led by a cocky pilot (Will Smith).

Here is a movie that beyond a shadow of a doubt, absolutely lives up to the term 'summer blockbuster'. What makes "Independence Day" such a great movie is not the fact that it is one of the best alien invasion movies ever made, of course that helps, but the mass appeal it has to such a wide audience. The film contains something for everyone; there's action, drama, romance, comedy, and of course, what would an alien invasion movie be without the prerequisite element of science fiction. All of those components when mixed together leaves audiences with an out of this world movie experience that they will undoubtedly want to enjoy time and again.

The acting for "Independence Day" was completely solid throughout, which was a pleasant surprise given the material of the movie and the fact that some of the actors aren't exactly known for their high-quality skills. Two actors that really surprised me by how good they were here were Bill Pullman as the President and Randy Quaid as a former alien abductee who's a little off in the head. Pullman surprised me because I hadn't really seen him do a whole lot of dramatic work, which was primarily his job in this film. All I'd seen of him were comedies, one was the Mel Brooks spoof "Spaceballs" and the other was "Casper", neither really tested him as an actor though, so I was surprised with how good he was in the role. And Randy Quaid, well he's done plenty of screwball comedies as wacky characters, so I knew that he could handle that aspect easily enough, but my fear was that he would ruin the movie by taking it too far into the stupid direction. Surprisingly, Randy played things with just the right amount of crazy without going overboard, and he even handled the dramatic aspects of his character, that appear later into the movie, with an earnest sincerity that was refreshing to see. Probably the biggest surprise in the movie was Will Smith's performance, though he was but one part of an ensemble cast, whenever he was on screen he made the movie his own with relative ease. I wasn't convinced that Will could truly handle a somewhat lead actor role for a big blockbuster film, since his previous movie was the highly successful actioner "Bad Boys" with Martin Lawrence carrying half the load. But once things got going, Will proved that he definitely had what it took to solidify his place among Hollywood's A-list stars, and his continuing success within the film industry is evidence of that.

Now on to the one thing that all reviews of science fiction movies require, the critique on the special effects work within the film. Top-notch special effects work is a key component to making any good science fiction movie, if you don't get the effects right and just wow the crowd, the audiences will turn on you in an instant. But for the folks that worked on "Independence Day" this turned out to not be a concern for them. The effects in this film were so top-of-the-line at the time the film was made, that most hold up very well to this day, a little over 10 years later. There are a couple of scenes that don't look so hot though, one would be the scene in which Vivica A. Fox's dog must jump into the hallway to avoid being burned alive, when the fire passes behind the dog it's a really obvious green-screen effect, of course there was no other way to do the scene, but I've seen better work done in plenty of other movies. Secondly, the scene where the alien attacks the doctors that are examining it within Area 51, the alien's movements look a little too hokey. Too much like stop-motion animation with all the tendrils whipping around, the movements felt choppy, kind of like when you watch some of the old Christmas TV shows that use stop-motion animation, the movements are fluid for the most part, but there's a slight choppiness that makes them feel somewhat awkward. But, other than those two times, I really can't come up with much else that hasn't held up from the special effects department, which is why this movie is still a favorite for many movie fans, and continues to hold its place as one of the best alien invasion movies ever made.

"Independence Day" is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and brief sensuality.

What is the backlash?.......2007-09-08

What is with all the one stars?

This doesn't pretend to be a Sundance entry...it's just one heck of a good time. Lighten up, appreciate it for what it is and is meant to be, and enjoy.

Average customer rating:

god awful
Brash, Class, And a Psychopath
ehh.... not bad
A psychological thriller with a shocking ending ...
Top notch thriller.

Seven (Single Disc Edition)
Starring: Brad Pitt , Morgan Freeman , Gwyneth Paltrow , Andrew Kevin Walker , and R. Lee Ermey
Director: David Fincher
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00011CZRE
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Description

A retiring cop and his replacement track a psychotic killer who's using the seven deadly sins as a guide. Starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Customer Reviews:

god awful.......2007-07-20

Disturbing, depressing, pointless let down. If they were trying to say something, I sure can't figure it out. I regret the time wasted watching it. I interpret it as yet another attack on Christianity from Hollywood's Left.

Brash, Class, And a Psychopath.......2007-06-25

Young Det. David Mills(Brad Pitt) and his pretty wife(Gwyenth Paltrow) have just transferred from smalltown USA to the big city. He is eager and rearing to go as he gets assigned to his first murder case("Ladies and Gentleman we have ourselves a homicide").

He is paired up with the reserved, ready to retire Det. Somerset(Morgan Freeman). Somerset wants nothing more than to wrap it up and get on with his life.But this case is not going away so easily, they discover this is just one of deranged serial killer's,"John Doe", long list of victims. The list includes victims that John Doe (can't tell ya who plays him or I'll have to kill ya) deems have committed one of the seven deadly sins.He tortures them first in a style that would be appropriate to their sin.

Mills and Somerset frantically work and research the case as they know there will be at least seven murders. Their research leads them to discover the most disturbed psychotic imaginable. In his apartment they find volumes and volumes of notebooks chronicling his descent into madness. This guy is right up there with Norman Bates, Hannibal Lechter and Jaws!Five murders have already been committed. Will they be able to stop him from committing the last two?? Or are they part of his plan too??

The film is one of the best Psychological thrillers I've seen. It was well directed by David Fincher. If I wasn't on the edge of my seat, I was jumping out of it. Even the title credits are bizarre. Freeman and Pitt were excellent in their roles.

You'll love the DVD.The picture and sound quality are very good .

Get lots of popcorn ready for this one!...........Laurie

ehh.... not bad.......2007-05-14

"Seven" deals with two police officers (played by thespians Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) who are trying to track down and bring to justice a killer, except this is no ordinary killer. It is belief of the killer that he was sent through divine inspiration to put to death anyone in violation of the seven deadly sins.

A psychological thriller with a shocking ending ..........2007-05-04

This is one of those movies that makes you cower in your seat as you cover your eyes repeatedly while viewing it. Real scary stuff; one of the most frightening in its genre.

This movie was well formulated and the cast well-chosen. Brad Pitt is perfect in the role of the young detective who wears his emotions on his sleeve, while Morgan Freeman is wonderful as the older, more patient but cynical mentor who tries to help the younger man.

Kevin Spacey plays the part of the insane killer who is on a misguided mission to save mankind from sin, murdering sinners to do so. He's great in this role, also, leading the detectives from one bloody, gory crime scene to another and another, until he turns the tables on them in a surprise move.

The ending, though shocking and unexpected, is a brilliant piece of writing, but it ruined the movie for me. I not only gasped at the ending, I cried for both detectives. The movie left me craving a happier, more equitable kind of justice, so I had to lower my rating to 4-star, despite the extremely high-caliber of the acting and the screenplay.

SIDENOTE: You may have noticed that Amazon has made some changes to its website. If it looks the same to you right now, look out for a new format that will be rolling out gradually in the weeks to come. If you can see the changes, especially the review format, I'd like to know what you think. Please leave me a comment with your opinion.

"Love the new look" or "Hate the new look" comments are perfectly acceptable.

My e-mail address is at top of this review. Thank you for your time."

Top notch thriller........2007-03-29

If you loved The Silence of the Lambs, 7 will blow you away. The last 30 minutes of this film are incredible. The twist at the end will make you gasp. What a flick. Don't miss it.

Akeelah and the Bee (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

In my top ten EVER movies - not JUST for kids!!!
Outstanding
You go, Akeelah!
It's Often The "Small" Films That Pack The Most Punch!
I'm a sucker for a good montage sequence

Akeelah and the Bee (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Keke Palmer , Laurence Fishburne , Angela Bassett , Curtis Armstrong , and J.R. Villarreal
Director: Doug Atchison
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000G1R394
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Amazon.com

There aren't enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe the excellence of Akeelah and the Bee. Superbly written and directed by Doug Atchison, this PG-rated family drama covers the same dramatic territory as the acclaimed 2002 documentary Spellbound and the 2005 drama Bee Season, but the fictional story of 11-year-old Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) is, if anything, even more entertaining, inspiring, and full of hope for the potential of children everywhere. Although reluctant at first (and fearful of being labeled a "brainiac" by classmates at her under-funded middle school in South Central Los Angeles), Akeelah grows determined to win the district, regional, and ultimately the Scripps National Spelling Bee, aided by the able coaching of an English professor (Laurence Fishburne) who, like Akeelah's overworked single mother (Angela Bassett) is slowly recovering from a devastating personal loss. Structured like a conventional sports drama, Akeelah and the Bee rises above its generic trappings to become an uplifting and deeply moving study of friendship, pride, fair play, and above all, the value of self-confidence and realization that there's more to life than winning. As played by the young Palmer in an award-worthy performance, Akeelah is a winner in the best sense of the word, and so is this wonderfully positive movie. --Jeff Shannon

Description

An inspirational drama, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

Customer Reviews:

In my top ten EVER movies - not JUST for kids!!!.......2007-09-17

"Akeelah and the Bee" is not only inspiring; it will move you. You will cheer for Akeelah. You will cheer for her community. You will want to know a kid like Javier and giggle at just how completely silly, fun and sincere the kid is. You will have your mind blown by the performances of Keke Palmer and Samuel L. Jackson. There are some surprises along the way as well: such as the gangbanger who, in a moment of remembering his own 5th grade blue ribbon-winning poem brings out a hint of compassion and a spark of pride. Not just in himself and what he'd done; but in Akeelah and what she worked so hard for as well. The character you think is the antagonist and yet turns out to be something very different. This movie shows a lot of things that do happen within pre-teen friendships from bullying to jealousy within friendships and yet Akeelah remains human throughout. Keke Palmer's portrayal of her is more real than most "Actors" out there today. She showed a whole range of emotions; she showed determination and above all - she showed that she's got chops. She had BETTER go far in movies or there is no justice in the world!
This movie has inspired my 7 year-old to want to learn how to spell better - to beg me to buy word games such as Scrabble ("No, mommy, not Scrabble Jr, they didn't play that on 'Akeelah and the Bee', I want to play the REAL Scrabble!" and Boggle, Upwords, anything that will help her learn new words - even word-find books - she's devouring those now. If this movie can inspire a new spark to a love of learning, it deserves every award out there!
Word to the wise: There are no explosions in this movie - no car chases or anything along those lines. What you will see is a moving, intelligent movie that doesn't talk down to kids. It's more real than 90% of the movies out there with a cast that, though largely unknown (with the exception of Angela Bassett and Samuel L. Jackson and oh! yes, the Principal is, I believe, played by a bloke who was a bit of a surprise...you might recognize him from "Revenge of the Nerds" in which he played Booger! He's changed a bit over the years, I'm glad to say. Is much better in this role.
Casting directors need to have a look at the supporting cast of this movie. I don't know who taught these kids how to act; whomever it was needs to teach most of Hollywood remedial classes - these kid are better and more real onscreen than most of the big, over-exposed "actors" out there today. Get them out there and let them act more - let's see what they can do! As for this movie, it's already a favorite in our house. Five stars isn't enough, really. As I said, it's in my top ten *ever* list. No matter how many times I see the movie, I still find myself cheering for Akeelah - it's almost like a sporting event where you are shouting encouragement at the screen and your favorite players - our entire family shouts encouragement to Akeelah every time. That is something that's always spontaneously done. Now what other movies out there can inspire THAT sort of reaction?!
Don't think twice, just watch it.

Outstanding.......2007-08-21

One of the best movies of the year. Excellent acting and script. Heartfelt and humorous, also inspiring and intellectually engaging.
Totally excellent.

You go, Akeelah!.......2007-08-18

Truthfully, I was NOT expecting to like this movie. I was sure I had seen it before in the same, tired, mentor-underprivileged kid(s) genre.

Three things made me give it a chance:

1. Laurence Fishburne who is always delicious to watch and can give a quiet dignity to any scene in any movie.

2. Angela Bassett who in her ever present gorgeousness and grace must have descended from a line of ancient royalty.

3. I am one of those nerds who actually watch the Spelling Bee on ESPN.

I am glad I watched it. My eyes stayed moist almost throughout the entire movie but my heart glowed. Keke Palmer does an awesome job as Akeelah blossoming from an uncertain progidy into becoming 'powerful beyond measure' and every nuance, change and unfurling is expertly captured on camera and that was my undoing: this subtle and powerful transformation.

Palmer holds her own amidst the screen legends and it was fascinating for me to see how both Fishburne and Basset somehow tone done their huge screen charisma on this small movie. It proved to me that these two are in a great class of actors, as yet undefined.

The DVD has pretty good extras and I do like how everything is spelt and pronunciations given. I thought is was funny, silly and slightly quirky.

My only hope is that Keke Palmer keeps this pace because if she does, she will one day hold Hollywood in the palm of her hand as do Fishburne and Bassett.

It's Often The "Small" Films That Pack The Most Punch!.......2007-08-07

I have come across a number of gems in "small" movies that tend to have the most impact. These are movies that seem to be overlooked at the box office by movie-goers. Perhaps there is a fear that they are too corny, sentimental, or just plain boring. However, many of these films are anything but.

Akeelah and the Bee dares Americans to face a glaring paradox: Everyone is a winner. Yes, we preach this and we try to teach this. This film actually makes this concept work. In a society that thrives (many times too much) on competition, we often forget that people have feelings. How often is it the kids who need to remind us of that fact. For example, in the Little League World Series, you often see many acts of sportsmanship.

Akeelah and the Bee is about a young African-American girl who lives in south central Los Angeles. She lives with her mother who works as nurse and struggles just to make ends meet. Akeelah discovers that she has a love for words, and spends hours looking through the dictionary to not only be able to spell the word, but also understand what the word means.

This is a hobby that she keeps to herself. She doesn't want her classmates to get wind of the fact that she just might like something academic at school. However, when her English teacher notices that Akeelah does exceptionally well on her spelling tests, the teacher immediately attempts to get Akeelah to participate in the school spelling bee. Reluctantly, she agrees.

As briliant as Akeelah is with words, she still needs a lot of work and help. Enter her "spelling coach," Dr. Larabee (played magnificently by Laurence Fishburne who was also a producer for the film). Dr. Larabee also has a love of words, but he has to encourage Akeelah to study the origins of the different words, and perhaps even more importantly, he helps to instill a confidence and a sense of self-worth in Akeelah. One of the first steps is that Larabee will not allow Akeelah to speak ghetto-talk. "You will speak intelligently," he says. It is a bit of a mystery at first as to why Larabee wants to coach Akeelah as it is apparent that there is something else going on. There is a touching reason that I will not disclose here.

Angela Bassett plays Akeelah's mother. And her performance, as in so many of her films, she does a great job. She plays a hard mother but a caring one. She is so busy with work, that it comes as a surprise to her when she finds out about Akeelah's talent.

Another surprising performance is given by Curtis Armstrong as Akeelah's principal. Armstrong has done mostly comedic roles, such as the infamous "Booger" in "Revenge of the Nerds." I was slightly apprehensive at first, but he also turns in a very credible job. He plays a very supportive school principal. After seeing this role, you might wonder why we don't have more "supportive" principals in our schools.

Of course, I can't mention performances without mentioning Laurence Fishburne. He is still one of my favorite actors. He is so brilliant at embodying the sage-like man who has an unswerving, and yet quiet wisdom. My two favorite roles of his are Morpheus from the "Matrix," and Furious Styles from "Boyz and the Hood." His performance here in this film is no less inspiring and thought-provoking.

At last, I have to talk about newcomer, Keke Palmer (Akeelah). This amazing, young actress turns in a great performance as the young spelling, whiz kid. While she plays Akeelah with a young, impressionable sweetness, she is also able to tap into the brewing teenage arrogance that is starting to come out. Akeelah has got some attitude, but Palmer is careful to not let that overshadow the softness and kindness of Akeelah.

This film may seem a bit formulaic, but I assure you, it has a surprise at the end that I would bet few people see coming. This is a film that will have you feeling good no matter how many times you've seen it. It has that kind of power that very few films are able to capture. These kinds of movies are called "gems" because very few of them seem to come along. I truly wish that there were more films like this out there. It demonstrates that movies can be so effective in inspiring and educating, but few movies are made to do this. Anyway, you can't possibly go wrong with this film which is easily watchable fo the entire family.

I'm a sucker for a good montage sequence.......2007-07-13

There are too few good family films around these days. Some of the kid's movies peddled by the major studios are okay, but they mostly try to appeal to adults by being saturated with snarky in-jokes and cultural references that only adults would get. I guess we are suppose to giggle demurely when the writers throw us a little treat right over our children's heads. They then try to appeal to kids with flatulence humor (which I'm all for by the way), by completely overpowering their senses, and, of course, the melodramatically enhanced death of a parent, which I guess is suppose to hook the young viewers by setting up some sort of repetition compulsion.

Akeela and the Spelling Bee is a breath of fresh air. It is a beautiful story that focuses on a young girl gaining confidence and a sense of mastery through working hard, using her natural gifts, and an impressive display of resilience. There are good messages in the film. Every character set up to be a villain is ultimately redeemed by Akeela's unflappable grace and inability to be seduced by thoughts of retribution. You do have the death of a parent as part of the backstory, but it is not played up in that manipulative lets-traumatize-the-children Disney style. It is there as a necessary part of explaining Akeela's character and the complexities in her bond with her coach.

And, you get montage sequences of Akeela cramming for the spelling bee. Not just one, but three. I always love that in a movie, when the music starts and you just see brief clips of the character studying in various settings. Many is the time in my own life that I gutted through exam preparation by dissociating to my own little montage sequence.

Some critics have focused on clichés in the movie. But they are not clichés to little kids who haven't spent the bulk of their time deconstructing cinema. And they aren't clichés to parents who can make a vicarious, playful connection with their kids and just take the movie at face value. In the end, your kids will love this movie and, if you let yourself get swept into it, you too will find yourself both inspired and entertained.

Average customer rating:

This one is a catch
a delightfully funny comedy,
Will Smith at his Best
Hitch just got hitched...
Hitch Cinema Psychotherapy

Hitch (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Will Smith , Eva Mendes , Kevin James (III) , Amber Valletta , and Julie Ann Emery
Director: Andy Tennant
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000957O82
Release Date: 2005-06-14

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Will Smith's easygoing charm makes Hitch the kind of pleasant, uplifting romantic comedy that you could recommend to almost anyone--especially if there's romance in the air. As suave Manhattan dating consultant Alex "Hitch" Hitchens, Smith plays up the smoother, sophisticated side of his established screen persona as he mentors a pudgy accountant (Kevin James) on the lessons of love. The joke, of course, is that Hitch's own love life is a