Posts Tagged ‘Videos On Demand’
Gabriel Iglesias: Hot and Fluffy Review.
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Gabriel Iglesias: Hot and Fluffy
Product: Gabriel Iglesias: Hot and Fluffy Review. List Price: —- Amazon Price: $2.99 Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available |
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- Amazon Sales Rank: #15572 in Movie
- Released on: 2008-09-30
- Running time: 61 minutes
Fantastic!
I’m a fan of stand-up in lieu of most comedy movies. But I’m not always that easy to satisfy. I’ve finished many a stand up special with a simple Eh.
Gabriel is flipping hysterical. He cracks me up with his self deprecating style and people learning to laugh at themselves once in awhile. He didn’t touch on too many controversial topics or sound like he was asserting political opinions in his comedy. There is very mild foul language which, while it doesn’t bother me if it is, I know it offends a lot of other people. I think most people could enjoy his comedy and not be too afraid of the kids overhearing some of it. I’ve seen this special several times, and he still makes me laugh every single time.
Very Funny Routine – Great Talent
I laughed so hard watching Iglesias do his thing in front of a hometown audience. The sound bits can get a little tiresome but overall the stories, his delivery, and perspective are tightly woven to create an amazing show.
What Doesn’t Kill You Sale-$14.99!
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What Doesn’t Kill You Sale-$14.99!
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What Doesn’t Kill You Description:
- Amazon Sales Rank: #11334 in Movie
- Released on: 2009-10-05
- Rating: R (Restricted)
- Running time: 101 minutes
Customer Reviews:
Environmental influences breeding sociopathy…a true story.
Mark Ruffalo (Brian) and Ethan Hawke (Paulie) are childhood friends, growing up on the mean-streets of South Boston. Early on, they are overtaken by the path of least resistance toward easy money, through the negative environmental influences surrounding them. They eventually become runners, and, the heavy-hand, for organized crime boss Pat Kelly (Brian Goodman). Sadly, given their surroundings, it became their destiny—’the apple does not fall far from the tree.’
As the viewer you are able to observe these boys evolve from small time crime, to full-blown, risk-taking, men, with little remorse for social misconduct and an aversion toward authority figures. Interestingly, Antisocial Personality Disorders only need to have 3, or more, of 7 traits, and these characters portrayed them all—to perfection. You begin to see neither of them as having any socially redeeming value. Could redemption be possible with such a prognosis?
This film is brilliantly acted, and a textbook portrayal of budding sociopathy and the destruction it creates. If you have interest in dysfunctional personality dynamics, you will really enjoy it. However, some may not, because this is not a high-action film, or one of those bloody, chop-off-fingers types, with nausea inducing, gratuitous violence. Yes, there are some violent scenes, but this film is more of a character study of Brian and Paulie. One examining consequences of choices, and whether or not redemption can be found—if it’s even sought, when there is a rusty moral compass.
Mark Ruffalo is outstanding in this role. The hospital scene, alone, when he is demanding more ‘pain medication,’ and his subsequent behaviors afterward are textbook, drug-seeking, antisocial. I can vouch for this, first hand, as I have been on the receiving end of such tirades, as a health care professional.
Although left with a message of hope for one of the primary characters, the problem I had with this film, was the inability to have much empathy for any of them. Even for Ruffalo’s wife, who functioned as an enabler; a wounded personality, herself. But, I don’t think we were meant to have empathy—perhaps just a better understanding of how some criminals and addicts amongst us are created, with a little window into their mind.
Brian and Paulie’s story did touch a nerve for me, that we need more intervention, better schools and community outreach in neighborhoods such as these—that we as a society keep dropping the ball. When every child isn’t given more opportunities to roll out from under that apple tree, we ALL suffer the negative consequences.
A solid performance film, an average Blu
I was pleasantly surprised in seeing this excellent minimalist crime drama by first-time writer/director (and former jail occupant) Brian Goodman. For as little as the Blu format gets tested with this film though, I still appreciated the landscapes being preserved in 1080 to give this a decent rating.
The story centers on two childhood friends in South Boston and their 20+ year span of semi-organized crime, drugs and family life. Ethan Hawke and Mark Ruffalo both give outstanding performances with all of their usual nuances, and even a few new ones; Hawke’s voice and demeanor has changed significantly of late. The trailer shows most of the action in the film, but just expect a well crafted dialogue and bleak visuals story about crime, addiction and loss.
The outer channels get used very little except for two or three gun scenes, and the picture clarity was all about seeing Boston in winter. There were actually no colors in the entire film except for one scene in the jail (bright yellow fencing). This would be more of a display test for your whites, blacks and silver hues. The supplements contain some standard deleted scenes, a typical “everyone is awesome” behind the scenes and a commentary with also first-time writer Donnie Wahlberg (has a small supporting role).
Not a technically outstanding Blu, but a worthy owner for fans of the actors, even for the Amanda Peet followers, she showed the best I have seen in her since she started.
And yet another kids to criminals to wake up call movie
This film is yet another rehash of that glut of films about kids who begin lives of crime early on, go to jail, and come out either enlightened or unchanged. Set in South Boston, WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU happens to star some fine actors in Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke, and Amanda Peet, and their presence makes the film watchable. It is just tiresome to watch repeats an this ‘bad kid’ (Ruffalo) turned junkie turned convict turned negligent husband and father turned AA whose ability to make decent decisions finds him clueless until the end of the film.
The flavor of South Boston and prison and petty crimes becoming major crimes is well paced by writer/director/actor Brian Goodman. But this rambling story is ultimately boring – except for the pleasure of watching Mark Ruffalo inhabit this loser of a character. An OK movie, not a great one. Grady Harp, May 09
Buy Good Burger At Amazon!
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Buy Good Burger At Amazon!
Compare & Purchase Good Burger at Amazon by clicking here! List Price: —- Amazon Price: $2.99 |
Good Burger Description:
- Amazon Sales Rank: #2046 in Movie
- Released on: 2009-12-18
- Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Running time: 96 minutes
Customer Reviews:
We’re all dudes!!
I own this film on VHS, DVD and even have the CD soundtrack (not to mention the poster on my wall!!). I suppose this is strange coming from a 22 year old rocker! It’s the ultimate feel-good film and is always there for me when I’m feeling blue. I guess I’m quite obsessive over this flick, I think EVERYONE needs to own a copy.
“Not To Your Knowledge” ~ Kenan & Kel Discover the Secret Sauce to Success
Who would have thought Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson could pull it off? Just thinking about it sends up a lot of red flags doesn’t it? Sure, there slapstick style comedy works well on Nickelodeon but that’s television. A half hour of funny on the T.V. screen can turn into 95 minutes of pure stupidity and torture when stretched into a full length motion picture if it’s not done correctly.
Believe it or not, `Good Burger’ was done absolutely to perfection (pun intended). Kenan and Kel star as Dexter and Ed, two high school kids working at the local fast-food restaurant known as, Good Burger. Yes, the movie contains loads of the over-the-top physical comedy the two are known for, but it also boasts a very inventive, well thought out script containing lots of quotable lines, a strong storyline and a great supporting cast that keeps your interest peaked from beginning to end.
Your children will love it and so will you!
The subtle nuiances of the plot make it a classic.
Brian Robbins portrayal of the common man floundering in the mud and misery of his making gives a dose of existentilism that would make Jean Paul Sartre proud. Robbins makes Waiting for Godot and No Exit look like superficial rubbish. The hidden meanings in phrases such as “give me a good shake” can be directly linked, with the clarity one usially associates with the works of Beckett and Camus, to the plight of the Prolitariat in modern, corporate, America. Robbins also shows his unique grasp of the modern philosophical implications of mutidimentional string theory and quantum electrodinamics. When watching be sure to associate Good Burger with the dynamic, non-linear, corrdinate system that it is.
Purple Rain Sale-$2.99!
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Purple Rain Sale-$2.99!
Compare & Purchase Purple Rain at Amazon by clicking here! List Price: —- Amazon Price: $2.99 |
Purple Rain Description:
- Amazon Sales Rank: #9345 in Movie
- Released on: 2008-01-15
- Running time: 112 minutes
Customer Reviews:
Great movie….not so great DVD unfortunately…
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Purple Rain and Prince ‘s (the artist) music, but this DVD was kind of disappointing. The video quality of the transfer looks pretty good for its age, but why isn’t there a widescreen version? The production notes that Warner puts on their DVDs are annoying and glare off the TV. Oh, and a trailer. I know this isn’t a special edition, but there was so much stuff that could have been used. I guess you get what you pay for though. The movie gets 5 stars, but the DVD gets a 2/5.
It’s Not Just A Music Video
Leonard Maltin’s review missed the main point of this movie. The movie is not primarily about a young musician who “struggles to gain acceptance for his own brand of … rock music”. Instead, the movie is about a man who has acquired his not only some of his father’s musical interest and talent, but also his father’s emotional instability and occasional abusiveness towards others, especially women. Maltin is correct that Prince’s character is sexist and unappealing, but that’s crucial to the movie. By playing his character as emotionally unstable, insensitive, and occasionally cruel, Prince de-glamourizes the cool, rebellious rock star image, showing that fame and talent are neither a guaranteed road to happiness nor a good excuse for being cruel to your girlfriend. This movie, rather than being a “soppy story” wrapped around concert footage, is instead genuinely literary. The concert footage is not an excuse for a movie; some of the concert footage is integral to the story. The title song, “Purple Rain”, is used very effectively in the movie as a point of conflict between Prince and two of his female bandmates.
This movie, like Quadrophenia, would make a good subject for an English literature class targeted towards aimlessly rebellious under-achievers (rather than the 4.0 GPA high school students that most English literature classes are designed for).
[This review is based on the VHS version of the movie.]
Purple Rain 20 years later
I remember when I recently saw Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back,Jay showed his affinity towards Morris Day and the Time.Then some teenagers called Purple Rain “a crappy 80′s movie”.Although most of Y generation view Purple Rain like the second coming of Grease 2,Purple Rain rocked back in ’84 with people actually dancing in the isles.
This movie finally brought Prince into the mainstream and showed the genius that he was.Although he’d been making records since 1978,he made his mark with such albums as Dirty Mind, Controversy,and 1999(his breakout album with his first top ten hit Little Red Corvette)but only to a limited R&B and underground market.But once Purple Rain hit,things were never the same.The movie also brought Morris Day and The Time to the mainstream which unfortunately they would soon break up to never enjoy the fruits.
The movie is pretty much about a musician called The Kid (Prince) who dreams of making it despite his troubled homelife and a rival band, The Time.The movie has it’s fair share of bad acting as well as misogyny (“That ain’t Lake Minnitonka”)it’s the musical numbers as well as Morris Day’s comic timing that steals the show.The music still sounds fresh, especially the minimalist When Doves Cry which could even be released today.
Hopefully Warner brothers will release a 20th anniversary edition DVD with loads of extras as well as deleted scenes which were featured in the trailer.And with Prince’s comeback in 2004 including his Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame induction, Grammy performance and tour,it would really be the year of Prince.
The Blind Side Review.
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The Blind Side Review.
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The Blind Side Description:
- Amazon Sales Rank: #8 in Movie
- Released on: 2010-03-23
- Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Running time: 129 minutes
Customer Reviews:
Sandra Bullock finally shows us how good she can be
My wife and I just went to a double-feature. I picked AVATAR and she picked THE BLIND SIDE. Now, there couldn’t be two movies on a different plateau than AVATAR and BLIND SIDE, but I’m so glad that she brought me to see this movie. AVATAR, I gave 4 stars, BLIND SIDE, 5 stars. BLIND SIDE, for what it was, was flawless.
With BLIND SIDE, the story tells itself, because it’s the true story of 2009 Baltimore Ravens Right Tackle Michael Oher, or possibly Michael Williams, or maybe something else, and his improbable escape from oblivion with the love and care of a rich white family in Memphis, Tennessee. Michael Oher’s greatness, first showed up in his size and athletic potential and then in his courage to forget and go forward. Michael Oher, a kid who struggled at basic study skills and education, but scored a 98% in protective instincts. A tribute to his lifestyle and his ability to survive, homeless, with two shirts, a pain on his face that couldn’t be explained.
Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, and I haven’t seen a whole lot of nominated movies this year, but if she isn’t at least a runner up to the best actress of the year, I’ll be stunned. This was Sandra Bullock’s shining moment. She is strong and she is funny and she is exceedingly brilliant at hiding the tears she sheds throughout the movie as her personna won’t allow her to be seen crying. No scene was more poigniant than the one where she makes a bedroom for Michael in her beautiful home with a chipperness that you would expect from a spunky Tennessee mother. Michael says, “I’ve never had one of these before.” and she says, “What, a room?” “No, a bed.” he says. She looks at him, stoned faced, gives a quick nod and exits the room, enters the bathroom, locks the door and although we don’t see it, we know exactly what she’s doing.
THE BLIND SIDE is a testimant to what life is all about. The Tuohy families link to Michael Oher may have been a rare occurence, and that’s why there’s a movie about it, but if we all looked out for each other a little more, despite color boundaries, despite class boundaries and just showed a little love and extended a helping hand when we could, the world would be a better place.
The Tuohy’s didn’t just extend a hand, they extended their hearts and lives.
A true story that will move you.
I go to see movies all the time while they are still in release.
At this time of year we have high profile movie offerings like A Christmas Story, New Moon (same vampires), and the world coming to an end with 2012. So. it’s easy for this movie to get lost in the shuffle.
It would have been so easy to miss this movie, and such a mistake to do so. For, this is one of the best movies of the year, and one of the few I recommend whole heartedly.
Sandra Bullock gives probably the best performance of her career, playing Leigh Anne Tuohy, a tough business like mom, who sees big Mike, a young oversized kid who never had a role model, and who never did well academically, because he had no reason to believe in himself. He is the underdog we love to root for.
The Tuohys take him in to their plush house, and we get drawn into the experience, perhaps sucked into this story might be a more apt description. Yet Mike has a hidden gift which others like the sports coach can identify, and other teachers start to have faith in him, so who knows what will happen.
If you’re like me it’s a movie about the importance of a mentor and believing in people, the more you believe in them the more they start to believe in themselves. If you like this one, I also recommend Akeelah and the Bee, another five star movie. In its first 14 days The Blind Side has done over $108 million at the box office, assuring that it will be one of the big hits of the year.
While the Academy does not typically reward comedies with awards, Sandra Bullock may get a nomination, and so might the writers for best adapted screenplay, and she might win a Golden Globe for her performance.
A point of interest in the movie is Lily Collins daughter of Phil Collins who plays Sandra Bullock’s daughter.
Update, Jan 29, 2010. As she has now won the Golden Globe, which is a dress rehearsal for the Oscars, I expect she will get the Oscar nomination, and it sets the stage for an interesting contest with Meryl Streep for her performance in Julie and Julia. Both actresses played real life characters, with an interesting mix of drama and humor. Although Oscars are not usually given for this type of performance, the exception is Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny. I predict this will be the year of the exception. Streep has been nominated 15 times winning only twice. This would be Bullocks first nomination.
Update 2/3/2010. The Blind Side has been nominated for 2 Academy Awards, for Best Actress, and Best Picture. As of 2010 the Best Picture category has been expanded from 5 to 10 pictures, partly because of falling ratings, and partly because many popular movies have not historically received the same level of Oscar love, as movies such as The Blind Side has received from the public.
Blind Side has grossed over $238 million dollars domestically, making it the 8th highest grossing movie of 2009, and no 63 all time for domestic box office, and it’s still in release.
I hope this was helpful to you, and I think you will enjoy the movie.
My surprise favorite of the year!
First, let me lay a couple of cards on the table. I don’t usually like Sandra Bullock. Also, I don’t like football, and therefore I don’t like football movies (with the exception of KNUTE ROCKNE: ALL AMERICAN). In fact, there are just a handful of sports movies that I do like.
But THE BLIND SIDE is not a sports movie. (Or if it is, then it’s the kind that’s not really about sports.) It’s a movie about family. And it boldly states that your family is not necessarily the people you’re biologically related to or share the same skin color with. Your family is the people you live with and cannot live without.
Michael Ohr is the quintessential – gigantic but timid and gentle – hero that everyone would love to have by their side. And so is his adopted mother, Leigh Anne (portrayed by Sandra Bullock in what is easily her best performance). One of the more important lessons Leigh Anne teaches Michael is to protect your family and loved ones both on and off the field. When one of his former acquaintances speaks disparagingly of Leigh Anne and her daughter and then threatens him he….Actually, I don’t quite remember what he did – it all happened so fast. But one guy was slammed into a wall, and I think one was thrown against another. And it seemed like he nearly caved in a stairwell. It was so fast, it made Jason Bourne look like The Nutcracker.
One of the many things I love about THE BLIND SIDE is that the family is a family of faith. Sean and Leigh Anne are Christian parents and extend Christ-like love to Michael.
I cannot conclude this review without stating my favorite line from the movie. Leigh Anne has been threatened by an inner city thug who also plans to harm Michael. She rips him a new one even in front of his hoodlum buddies and says, “I’m in a Bible study with the D.A., and I’m a card-carrying member of the NRA!”
While this movie is very much about family, it is definitely not a family movie. It earns its PG-13 rating quite well. It’s not for the younger kids. But it has a better message than probably any other film you’re likely to find.
Saw III Lowest Price!
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Saw III
Product: Saw III Lowest Price! List Price: —- Amazon Price: $2.99 Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available |
- Amazon Sales Rank: #8687 in Movie
- Released on: 2009-02-01
- Rating: R (Restricted)
- Running time: 114 minutes
SAW 3 wraps up tight…can you find the key in time?
Saw 3 does what most third installments don’t do; it comes back at us with a tight script, super laden with mystery and yet despite all the loose ends that tighten, does not lose its power. Coupled with this are supreme images of ghastly terror within the modernized medieval type torture devices that we never get enough of.
Saw 3 picks up lightly where the 2nd one left off, but does not dwell there long. In this film, we’re reintroduced to jigsaw yet again, but more of the focus is on his apprentice this time. Meantime, several characters, some strangers, some not, come into play. One of the “key” (no pun intended) members of this cast is Jeff (played by Angus MacFadyen). Jeff is apprehended by someone and soon finds himself in quite a predicament. The key (again, no pun intended) here is that unlike other victims of the vigilante/vengeance psychopath known as “jigsaw”, Jeff is not shackled, bound or trapped. His quest is to take place throughout the industrial maze of brick, steel and cement landscape that has become a staple of “Jigsaw” hangouts. Jeff has not been paying attention to the family that needs him, but only because of hatred that has filled him over the loss of a loved one. Now he must play jigsaw’s final game, to see if he can overcome his problems and in the process, simply survive the carnage.
Jigsaw’s apprentice (Amanda, played by Shawnee Smith) has quite a past of her own as we soon discover. Despite the power you would think she would yield, we quickly learn how fragile all the seams of life really are. Saw 3 again shows great imagination and unique direction in the horror genre with such devices as the shotgun collar, attached body chains, ribcage reversal vest, the ice shower, pig guts vat, and another called “the rack”. Jigsaw (played brilliantly by veteran actor Tobin Bell) has more tricks up the sleeve than you can shake a blade at. The writing of Saw 3 is superb as it intertwines multiple characters on a destiny soaked with death. The key again, is also its ability to not make to much of a puzzle of it as much as intertwine past events of the first two movies to make it come together with one final showdown. What will become of Jeff? What happens at Jigsaw’s bed when the minute is up? Will the apprentice fulfill her mission or die trying?
Gore Factor of this movie is a 9 of 10. At times Saw 3 is able to freak you out with its nailed hands, ripped skin and breaking bones. The humanity and irony that surrounds some of its more special parts is often drowned out with glimpses of complete carnage so gory that you just better hope you saved Dinner for later.
Squeamish Gore-fest with a disturbing ending
I’m not even going to bother going over a synopsis of the plot. All you horror fans need to know is that this movie surpasses the first film, but in my opinion, it doesn’t stand up to the second film in terms of suspense. Saw 3 is the goriest, most disturbing of the films. It seems like 2006 was the year of gore! First came Hostel, with it’s torture and blood, then came The Hills Have Eyes, with it’s rape, animal killings, parent killings and brutality, and now comes Saw 3…With it’s flesh tearing, bone breaking, head twisting, gore splattered shock-fest. I have NEVER, in all my years of watching horror, had to actually cover my own ears and close my eyes while watching more than one scene in a movie before this one. The opening scene had me squirming in my seat with my lids tightly shut (after 15 seconds into the scene I had to mute the tv because I was so grossed out by the noises) and the scene involving a victim trapped in a device that “TWISTS” every limb on his body until the skin tears and the bones break made me want to literally vomit. But, still, the movie was very suspensful and horrifying. It kept you watching and interested. If you can stomach extreme gore and terror then you might enjoy this film. I have to admit that I REALLY hated the ending though. I can’t even explain how upset it made me, but overall, the movie was very scary and disturbing. Better than the first, not as good as the second…give it a try…but do it on an empty stomach!!
A touching and disturbing film
How can a film be the least violent yet the most violent in a series at the same time? This movie once again from the start, takes us into the mind of Jigsaw as he lays on his death bed. His comrad Amanda is still there yet not as sane or calm as before) However, in his newest game there are not as many players, it really takes you back to the atmosphere of the first one. We first see Lynn, a doctor who has lost contact with her children and her husband, disconnected and lost from her own world. She is choosen to keep Jigsaw alive until his final game has finished (if not the results will be deadly). Then we have Jeff, a man who has lost his son, as he was killed by a drunk driver and seeks vengeance against all involved. That is his prison, that is his torment. As Jeff is put to the test, we see he really isn’t in any physical pain, in fact it is much worse pain he must confront. All, the people involved, witness, judge, drunk driver are hidden in rooms and if jeff wishes to survive, he must do the most painful thing of all. Help them, keep them alive and worst of all, forgive them. This movie also features many flashback scenes from 1 and 2 and also, what happens in between these films. The saddest has to be with Adam (inbetween 1 and 2) and the one with Eric Matthews is great as well. This also features the most gruesome traps ever seen in the Saw franchise. This movie, shows growth in the series, not only does it carry the important message and classic gore we want from Saw but it also was a very emotional movie this time around. 5/5 Not as good as the first but better than the second.
Burn it, shred it, I don’t care.-Retail —-! Sale Only $1.99!
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Burn it, shred it, I don’t care.
Product: Burn it, shred it, I don’t care.-Retail —-! Sale Only $1.99! List Price: —- Amazon Price: $1.99 Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available |
Compare Prices on Burn it, shred it, I don’t care.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #868 in TV Series Episode Video on Demand
- Released on: 2009-01-15
- Running time: 44 minutes
Bertie Sets Sail Discount.
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Bertie Sets Sail Discount.
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Bertie Sets Sail Description:
- Amazon Sales Rank: #17001 in TV Series Episode Video on Demand
- Size: 1
- Released on: 2008-09-26
- Running time: 52 minutes
Customer Reviews:
Ever so goosey goosey goosey goosey!
The dim, cheerful aristocrat and his impeccable manservant find that America is just as troublesome as England in the third season of “Jeeves and Wooster.” While the American stories lack the usual all-out hilarity, the second half of the season is pure comedy from start to finish.
With Aunt Agatha determined to marry him to the horrible Honoria, “Bertie Sets Sail” for America. But domineering Lady Malvern wants Bertie to babysit her creepy son and keep him out of mischief — except Monty is determined to live a Paris-Hiltonesque life…. every night. Bertie tries to escape to the country, only to find that his pal Tuppy is besotted with one of Bertie’s ex-fiances.
The next is definitely “A Full House.” Bicky wants to live in Manhattan, without his ducal dad knowing. And Rocky wants to live in the country, but his aunt wants him to “experience New York.” Ever the loyal friend, Bertie volunteers Jeeves and his apartment to keep up the dual ruses. But when both the duke and the aunt show up unannounced, how can Jeeves and Bertie keep them from running into each other?
Aunt Agatha sends theater enthusiast Cyril Bassington-Bassington to New York, so Bertie can babysit him. The problem is, Cyril throws away the “no theatres” letter on the boat. As a result he ends up getting a part in an off-Broadway play, and Bertie happily follows the successful show all across America. But when Cyril attacks a sponsor’s son, the entire play may go under… with Aunt Agatha in the audience.
Going back to England doesn’t help matters, since Aunt Agatha insists that Bertie go to Deverill Hall and woo Gertrude Winkworth (who is also a pal’s girlfriend). His pal Gussie is also required to present himself to Gertrude’s mother. But after Gussie is arrested for hitting a cop, Bertie has to impersonate him. And Gussie has to impersonate Bertie. Of course, nothing can end well…
Scandalous memoirs are “Hot off the Press” when Bertie’s new fiancee Florence announces that Sir Watkyn Basset, her uncle, is publishing a scandalous memoir. She insists that Bertie steal the book, or else. Even worse, wannabe Nazi Roderick Spode also wants Bertie to steal the book. And if things don’t get straightened out by Jeeves, Bertie might end up marrying the soppy Madeleine Basset…
Finally, Bertie’s always-in-love pal becomes “Comrade Bingo” when he falls for a comely Communist, and blackmails his uncle into providing money for the wedding. Unfortunately Roderick Spode is also in the area with the Blackshorts, causing a nasty clash between the Nazis and the Communists. Meanwhile, Aunt Dahlia is ordering Bertie to steal a hideous painting, not realizing that Spode is also trying to steal it.
The world of PG Wodehouse is full of domineering aunts, dumb young men with lots of past engagements, aspiring Hitlers, intelligent butlers and dim socialites who never seem to clue in that their attentions are unwanted. And the TV series did it justice, in a manner that Wodehouse himself would have been proud of — good acting, clever scripting, and goofy direction.
The first half of the season is quite funny, but somehow taking Jeeves and Bertie off their native soil depletes some of the humor. Jeeves out on the town is a bit funny, but it seems rather out of character to see him smoking cigars and partying with actresses. But when Bertie returns to England in disgrace, it all returns. There are all sorts of hilarious scenes like Gussie attacking a bouncer, Madeleine reciting gooey poetry and the safe being blown up.
The cast is still in flux, with new actors in several roles like Stiffy, Bingo and Florence. But the core roles — Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry — are the same, and both are magnificent. Fry is quiet, witty and superior as the intelligent Jeeves, while Laurie gives Bertie a hapless, optimistic side that no other actor has managed.
The third season of “Jeeves and Wooster” suffers a bit compared to the first two, but is still cleverer and funnier than virtually any other comedy series. Ever so goosey goosey goosey…
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale Discount.
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Hachi: A Dog’s Tale Discount.
Compare & Purchase Hachi: A Dog’s Tale at Amazon by clicking here! List Price: —- Amazon Price: $14.99 |
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale Description:
- Amazon Sales Rank: #2033 in Movie
- Released on: 2010-03-09
- Rating: G (General Audience)
- Running time: 94 minutes
Customer Reviews:
Hachiko: Furry Fun and Tears
From Tokyo, where the film has just opened: In Japan, most people know about Hachiko, especially in Tokyo; his statue is a popular meeting place in the Shibuya shopping area. The true story of Hachiko is just as well known here in Japan. In this review, I assume that you know the basic story outline. Still, if you wish to avoid what you may consider a spoiler concerning a turning point in the story, then avoid reading after this paragraph, as I discuss a central plot point–but not one which really gives too much away, any more than it spoils the movie “Titanic” to know that at some point, they hit an iceberg. Still, I wanted to warn you just in case–someone who never heard of the Titanic before might enjoy the whole iceberg twist.
The story: a faithful dog comes to meet his master at the train station every evening when he returns home, and when the master, a college professor, dies at his school and does not return, Hachiko continues to come and wait at the station every day for nine years to wait for his master’s return. The very thought of such a loyal, sweet animal being so, well, doggedly committed to finding his master is bound to bring tears to most people’s eyes–and it didn’t fail here, with there being a considerable amount of sniffling and eye-dabbing in the theater. “Not a dry eye in the house” comes to mind. If you like schmaltzy tearjerkers and cute fuzzy dogs, then this is your kind of movie.
The basic story remains the same as the actual one, but builds up a new human dram around the dog story–which succeeds in not detracting from the central story at the same time. You never stray far from the dog, it’s clear that Hachi is the protagonist and at most we spend three minutes away from him at any one time. Nevertheless, the characters are fairly well developed for what they are–supporting roles. Joan Allen does a good job as the wife reluctant to allow another dog in the family after the last one left them. Jason Alexander has a bit of fun as the self-centered station manager, and recognizable character actor Erick Avari does an excellent job as a hot dog and coffee vendor outside the station. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa did surprisingly well as the Japanese expert at the college. But the dog is the star, and does a good job of keeping our attention.
I contrast this with a movie from last year in Japan, “The Tale of Mari & 3 Puppies,” about a Shiba Inu dog owned by a family when a large earthquake hits the region. The movie, billed primarily as a dog movie, mostly focused on the family and featured more than a little over-acting from the supporting cast, and failed to show us the cute doggies so much. In “Hachi,” it’s the reverse–you get lots of dog time, but also a nicely-rounded drama with good acting all around.
A few things were overdone, but not to bad effect. At the movie’s outset, we see Hachi as having been sent, unattended in a bamboo cage, all the way from Japan–not just Japan, but from a Buddhist temple in Japan–only to be lost on the last leg of his journey when he falls off of a handcart at Gere’s train station. That (a) the person pulling the cart could be so careless and (b) that whatever local person paid so much money to have the dog shipped and then never inquire as to what happened to him, well, is kind of pushing it. It feels as if Gere wanted to put in a nice Buddhist reference and have Hachiko’s tale be a bit more dramatic. You kind of roll your eyes at all this, but it doesn’t get in the way of the story. None of the overdone bits go so far as to really distract from the story, and they do work well at the emotional level. In the end, what you have is a fun little drama about an adorable, faithful dog with a tearful ending; the movie does very well being what it is supposed to be.
A bit of background: the story of Hachiko is not completely without controversy. There are some who claim that the story was deliberately popularized in fascist pre-war Japan as a means of inculcating loyalty to the emperor and to the state–the idea being that Hachiko’s utter faithfulness up to the bitter end was a model that the government wanted the people to follow in supporting the state. Of course, Gere’s film does not come close to this; there is even a specific reference to loyalty as pertaining to those one loves. Other detractors of the story contend that Hachiko was not being faithful to his owner, but had simply become addicted to the treats given to him by shops and vendors near the station (interestingly also included in the new film).
A small note: Hachiko, both in reality and in most of the film, was an Akita, but in this movie, Hachiko the puppy was played by a Shiba Inu, a smaller, related breed whose main difference is in their size and temperament. Despite being regarded as a “goof” in the IMDB database, this was an intentional choice by the film’s producers, who decided that a Shiba puppy would be easier to handle, easier to train for what was needed–so says a book released in Japan concerning the film.
The bonds of memory
“Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale” is directed by Lasse Hallstrom (The Cider House Rules), and is based loosely on the real life story of a dog, named Hachiko, who was born in Odate, Japan in 1923. His master, Dr. Eisaburg Ueno, was a professor at the University of Tokyo who died in 1925. Hachiko returned to the Shibuya train station the next day, and every day for the next nine years until he died in 1934. Today, outside the Shibuya train station, where Hachiko waited, is a bronze statue of Hachiko.
In this particular movie we have a similar story, only the dog is in transport to the United States, where he escapes, and ends up in Parker Wilson’s (Richard Gere) possession. Parker eventually decides to keep the dog since the owner cannot be found. Hachiko, or Hachi, as he is usually called here, at one point breaks free of his yard, and follows Parker to the train station. Eventually Hachi is allowed to accompany Paker to the train station everyday. But at one point Parker never returns to the train station, since he has died at the university.
The movie then becomes a tale of a loyalty that reaches far into the bonds of memory. Hachiko never realizes that his master has died, and even though he never sees his master again, he never forgets him. What is Hachi’s purpose now that his master has died? His purpose seems to be to wait for his master who will never return. It is at once moving and heartrending, as it is a tragedy of sorts, and one that is only resolved once Hachiko also dies. This is a beautifully told tale that makes one think about the things that are important for us to go on living, even after those that we have loved have died.
A Loyal Dog’s Tale: Simple Story Well Told
This is a story everyone in Japan knows. Based on the true story of a dog called “Chuken-Hachiko (meaning “A loyal dog Hachiko”) that lived in Shibuya, Tokyo, “Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale” is a moving tale about friendship and loyalty between a man and a dog.
In “Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale” Richard Gere plays Parker Wilson, a college professor teaching music. One evening Parker finds a lost puppy at the station of fictional east coast town Bedridge, where he lives with his wife Cate (Joan Allen) and daughter Andy (Sarah Roemer). (The film was actually shot in Rhode Island.) No one at the station knows why the puppy is there, so the professor takes the dog home and keeps him. The puppy’s name is Hachi, which means “eight” in Japanese.
Hachi grows up and it becomes his custom to wait for the professor at the station every day at 5 pm. Hachi becomes a fixture of the station and a favorite of the commuters. When they think their happy times last forever, however, something happens, and Hachi has to wait Parker much longer than he used to do.
Richard Gere (who also co-produced the film) turns in a solid performance as usual, as a family man who reluctantly takes care of a lost puppy, but the real star of the film is, not surprising, Hachi himself as the faithful dog. Among the supports, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Parker’s friend, Jason Alexander as the station master and Erick Avari as a hot dog vendor are memorable, but unfortunately female supports including Joan Allen, Sarah Roemer and Davenia McFadden are a bit wasted in this comparatively short film.
“Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale” is an American remake of “Hachiko monogatari” (1987) directed by Seijirô Kôyama. The Japanese film’s story is inspired by the true story of an Akita dog Hachiko (1923-35) and the professor of Tokyo Imperial University (today’s The University of Tokyo) Hidesabur Ueno (1871-1925). Those who have visited Tokyo may remember the bronze stature of the dog at JR Shibuya station where Hachi was once seen.
Helmed by the director Lasse Hallström (“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” “My Life as a Dog”), the film is a good example of a simple story well told. It is not a big story, but its emotional power is undeniable.
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The Eclipse Theatrical Rental
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- Amazon Sales Rank: #991 in Movie
- Released on: 2010-02-26
- Rating: R (Restricted)
- Running time: 88 minutes
Jump out of your chair
It took me about six viewings before I stoped jumping out of my chair at the ghost scenes. Celebrated Irish actor Ciarin Hines is a fantastic lead character, Michael. Paring him with Iben Hejejle was an inspired match. His humanity and her warmth kept me routing for a connection. The heart thumping kissing scene did not let me down. Aiden Quinn played a great selfish, drunk,jerk,Named Nicholous. I could not stand the guy. I hope it makes it to my small town so I can see it on the big screen. Im sure the video download was only an apetiser. Enjoy, RoseAnne