Nameless [Blu-ray]

Get the more expensive version.
This is a great movie.
It will scare you.
It has a excellent story
It has good special effects,
BUT, this budget label version from EchoBridge Entertainment is listed as widescreen and it is not. ITS FULL FRAME!!!!
I am glad I waited and did not get rid on my Spanish import.
You can purchase the $17.99 version on the old Miramax label (its the one listed above this one on Amazons search page for The Nameless).
Such a shame-this budget version would have been a great deal for $6.99 if it was really widescreen.

Lost in Translation
The film starts off with the gruesome, ritualistic-style murder of a young girl that's more graphic and disturbing than anything you'd see on CSI. This accurately sets the stage for the disturbing, underlying plot: that there's a secret society of pathological killers operating just under the radar and they're committing incredibly unspeakable acts of all kinds - without conscience, for the sake of evil itself. All the makings are there for a great psycho-drama, but too much happens in a vacuum for it to be believable. While the film does keep you on the edge of your seat, I found myself yelling at the screen asking the characters "how could you be so stupid?"; people going into potentially dangerous buildings alone, being forewarned about impending doom and yet still casting common sense aside and putting themselves in harm's way. If it wasn't for the the lack of intelligence of the characters portrayed in the film, this secret society couldn't stand on its own.

Putting...

A Spanish example of horror done absolutely right
It was only as the opening credits of this film rolled that I realized the story was based on a novel by Ramsey Campbell - one I had read a few years ago. The only thing I clearly remember about the novel is the horrible ending, which I described as a betrayal of the evil Campbell had spent so much time creating. This movie, on the other hand, does things absolutely right in my book, creating a bold, shocking ending that made me want to stand up and cheer - not for what actually happened, but because the filmmaker ended the film in such heroic fashion - American filmmakers always seem to cowardly sell out at the end of films. The Nameless is in fact a Spanish production (Los Sin Nombre), directed by Jaume Balaguero, the same man behind the film Darkness. The film is dubbed in English, but I have no complaints about the dubbing whatsoever.

I love European horror. There is a completely different mood and feel compared to American horror films, which at this point...

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Fresh [Blu-ray]

"Anything lost can be found again, except for time wasted."
Michael, a.k.a. "Fresh", is a 12-year-old drug dealer who lives in a run-down house with his aunt and other orphaned children in a dangerous Brooklyn neighborhood. Having grown up in a harsh culture, he is a boy who shows little emotion despite witnessing the revulsion of street life on a regular basis. His mother is long gone, his sister has resorted to prostitution, and his father is completely estranged-although every now and then he meets with his father to play speed chess, through which he is taught street knowledge. At first Fresh aspires to live the life of a powerful drug dealer, but one day a heartrending incident causes him to rethink his dreams and consider a better possible future.

Directed by Boaz Yakin (who also directed "Remember the Titans"--a *completely* different film), "Fresh" is an astonishingly well-done film that left me stunned long after it ended. By depicting a brutal life through the eyes of a young boy, the film tells a bleak story by taking its viewers...

An INCREDIBLE movie that suffered from lousy distribution
With the exception of a audio track that sometimes gives the impression that students were hired to record the sound, this is quite possibly a perfect movie. Given two thumbs WAY up by Siskel and Ebert, this film is a tightly written and well acted. The initial opening, which confused me at first, on later viewings revealed itself to be the setting of the chessboard upon which the title character plays his most important game -- Namely, his life. If you are a lover of suspense, intelligence, or chess (Fresh uses chess tactics to checkmate his opponents and save the "queen") than This is the film for you. Because, at first glance, this film is about African Americans and drugs -- but with relatively little violence, the distributors had no idea what to do with it and it received lousy distribution and little advirtising. It is NOT however so much a film about drugs and violence, as it is about an incredibly intelligent, hard working kid who uses all the resources...

An Overlooked Gem
This is a very recent film that I watched at the suggestion of one of my co-workers (Hey Harlan!). I was captivated by this film from beginning to end. Its raw power is undescribable, and the performances by the lead actor in particular (Sean Nelson) was brilliant. The story deals with a young boy who has become a pint size drug runner. He, however, is extremely intelligent and knows that there is no future in this type of life. He sets out to become a man, and in the process many lives are changed, most importantly his own. It is a film of astonishing and unrelenting power which should be seen by everyone. I was very impressed with screenwriter/director Boaz Yakim's decision not to put the usual soundtrack that befuddles urban films, instead, the instrumental score brings yet another dimension to this already multi-layered motion picture. Kudos to Giancarlo Esposito in the role of Esteban.

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Hellraiser VII: Deader [Blu-ray]

This re-release is in fullscreen, 1.33:1 & devoid of extras...
...but the bargain price was right up my alley to see these later Hellraiser films for the 1st time. I only owned the 1st 3 on DVD and saw Hellraiser IV: Bloodline back in the 90's, a title I was initially disappointed with back then but have more appreciation for now despite being not as good as the classic earlier films.

The fullscreen presentation right off the bat cuts off the beginning credits as all the names of the stars & crew get cut off at the sides, such as star of the film "Kari Wu"! She's not even Asian. The sound quality is a bit lacking also as some dialogue is hard to understand versus the music, and there are NO subtitles or closed captioning. No anything on the menu screen except "Play" and "Scene selection".

The previous release of Deader on DVD according to Amazon's page is 1.85:1 widescreen, but I don't own that disc but those out there may want that version if bothered by the boxiness of this newer disc.

not your normal hook and chain
We've all gotten use to the cult classic masterpiece that we know as Hellraiser. Our beloved Pinhead, the beautiful and mysterious puzzle box that gets the ball rolling, and Kirstie Cotton's character going head to head with one of our favorite movie monsters. This story takes a slightly different angle, as does "Inferno" and "Hellseeker" even though one of our favorite heroins reprises her role from the first two films in "Hellseeker". It does get confusing at times but if you pay attention and stick with it, its worth it. The story takes on the journey of others who have the misfortune of crossing paths with the beautiful and mysterious puzzle box that unleashes utter chaos on those who are stupid enough to open it cause it's pretty. The story was interesting and well played and the actors were very good. It pleases me to say how much I enjoyed this movie. It's not our traditional Hellraiser tale but it kinda puts Pinhead's role more in perspective and reveals a little more to...

Hellraiser: Deader
I think if Hollywood were to take anything away from the Hellraiser franchise it would be this: quit being such cheap bstrds out to save a little cash and spring for an original friggin' script! HELLRAISER 7, aka HELLRAISER: Deader (2005) is just yet another in a long line (the third so far) of Hellraiser movies that began life as entirely separate entities. Neither HELLRAISER: Inferno, HELLRAISER: Hellseeker nor HELLRAISER: Deader were written as Hellraiser movies, but Dimension films decided they wanted to make more Hellraiser movies and, to not have to pay for a new, original script, they took some old unproduced scripts off the shelf, did some re-writes to include the Lament Configuration and the Cenobites, and they made their movie. And with each one, they just drive the franchise further and further into the ground. Gone is the once-great mythology, gone is the feeling of menace the Cenobites once inspired, and definitely gone is any of the heart Clive Barker put into his...

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Legacy: The Complete Series

Bring it back
I just watched the series and loved each and everyone. I can't remember when I enjoyed a series/movie as much as I have this one. It was incredible. Like the other reviewers, I was saddened by the ending and wished it would have been continued. I hope that someone will see the real value of this series and produce more of them. Wonderful characters that fit perfectly into their roles. We need more movies like this one to inspire and uplift us. All I can say is FANTASTIC!!

So disappointed!
What a wonderful, wholesome family show. Real life lessons in a wonderful family setting. But like so many shows that are worth watching and great for the whole family it was pulled and replaced with a show of violence and mayhem. Seems the world is more interested in violence, nudity and non family values. What a shame,but when you take God out of the equation that is what happens. I hope a network re looks at this series and brings it back to finish it in the right way. We need more good family programming.

Good show...but this set is incomplete
We were really interested in this show but the packaging is misleading...it is 18 episodes, but there is no "closure"...Did they cancel suddenly and fail to alert the writers so that the story could be completed in a satisfactory manner? It "ends" with the entire family at odds with the (usually great) father, and with a couple of scammers about to murder him and fight the children for the horse farm. Looks almost like a season ending "cliff hanger"...but I can't find more DVD's...so would not recommend it at this point.
The music and scenery are beautiful, and the characters are well developed and interesting. It's extremely fictional, but entertaining. We were just disappointed with the ending.
It's set in Kentucky, post Civil War...a widower and his four children plus an "orphan" he took in who is a love interest for the oldest daughter as well as creating some competition with the two sons. The Father is wonderful, loving and wise--some episodes had us laughing...

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Grifters [Blu-ray]

ELEVATOR TO HELL
Produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by Stephen Frears, THE GRIFTERS is a winner. With three top actors, Anjelica Huston, Annette Bening and John Cusack, Frears invites us to a non-stop ride to hell.

Caught between his mother and his girl-friend, John Cusack will have a hard time to survive and become a man. You can almost touch the hate those two women feel for each other. Their last encounter is really a scene you will remember : set in Phoenix, in a motel, in a subtle variation of PSYCHO's first murder, it is a moment of great cinema.

Cusack is outstanding as the gentle grifter, Frear's cinematography is first class and Anjelica has never been so devilish. No doubt about it, THE GRIFTERS is a masterpiece of the film noir genre.

A DVD that bleeds.

Nice Special Edition of a great movie
A fantastic movie about con artists. The tone of this movie is perfect: utterly unsentimental, deadpan, cool and calculated. Great score, great performances (not just the three leads, there are tons of bit parts that are very memorable), great dialogue. The pacing is snappy. I'm not going to say the movie is flawless, but honestly I can't think of anything particularly negative to say about it.

The DVD is a modest collector's edition. Some may say the extra features are a bit spare, but what is here is very useful and informative. The commentary track is consistantly listenable. There are four participants: the director, the screenwriter, and stars Cusack and Huston. The four were recorded separately and edited together seamlessly to make an entertaining and insightful track. Also here are two short but well-made featurettes, one covers the making of the film and the other sheds some light on the work of the author who wrote the book upon which the film is based.

Superb
I've never been a John Cusack fan, but he's utterly riveting in the role of a coming-of-age grifter caught between two indelible women. Annette Bening, at least here, is a pure force of nature, a sexy tsunami overwhelming everything in her path. And Anjelica Huston??? Her entire career has been one splendid performance after another, and this is one of her finest. You simply cannot take your eyes off her. The interaction of these three is one of the best examples of ensemble acting outside of an Altman film. And the little subtleties around these three -- from the brilliant set piece of the orange scene to the almost-identical dresses worn by Lily and Myra to Elmer Bernstein's moody score -- make The Grifters a compelling experience. The only disappointment is that the CD has NO extras at all, but you could certainly make the case that this is a movie that can stand completely on its own.

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Dragon Lord [Blu-ray]

Awesome
If you want action and comedy at the same time this is your movie. With a 1/2 tea spoon of comedy, a 1/3 tea spoon of Action, a 2/4 tea spoon of comedy and a hole lot of Jackie Chan makes any movie awesome.

Upscaled?
We need to start knowing if these recent blu-rays of chinese films are just dvd upscales and not really high definition restoring the picture.. These companies keep ripping us off giving us films that are on dvd for less than 5 dollars and giving us the same exact copy upscaled to blu-ray.. SHAME ON YOU FORTUNE STAR and KAM AND RONSON! These companies are stealing your money Jackie Chan!

Chinese film...dubbed in English
I like Jackie Chan, so I keep getting suckered into these cheezy films hoping for something better. Even my teenage son who loves martial arts will not watch it...buyers beware!

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Committed [Blu-ray]

Refreshingly offbeat!
I need somebody to explain to me why uninteresting, predictable, so-called "romantic comedies" like "Runaway Bride" are successful, and a movie like this can't find an audience. Admittedly, Heather Graham's past performances have been nothing to write home about, but she blossoms in this role a young woman who's genuinely trying to figure out her life. Graham is hugely appealing and shows real comic timing. The script is great, the supporting cast (including Casey Affleck, Goran Visjnic, and Patricia Velasquez) is talented and funny, and, perhaps most delightful, the film is unpredictable--unlike a lot of more mainstream movies, you honestly can't tell what's going to happen until it does. I see "Committed" as the more offbeat, intellectual, American version of "Bridget Jones's Diary" (which I also enjoyed), and I recommend it to everyone in the mood for something different and refreshing.

Engaging Film from Lisa Krueger
Some people drift through life, moving from one thing or one person to the next without batting an eye; others latch on to a cause, another person or a principle and remain adamant, committed to whatever it is-- and figuratively or literally they give their word and stand by it. But we�re all different, �Made of different clay,� as one of the characters in this film puts it, which is what makes life so interesting. Some people are just plain crazy, though-- and maybe that�s the way you have to be to live among the masses. Who knows? Who knows what it takes to make things-- life-- work? Writer/director Lisa Krueger takes a shot at it, using a light approach to examine that thin line between being committed-- and how one �gets� committed-- and obsession, in �Committed,� starring Heather Graham as a young woman who is adamant, committed, obsessive and maybe just a little bit crazy, too. Her name is Joline, and this is her...

The first comedy that ever made me re-examine myself
It takes a certain type of person to enjoy this movie for what and who it tries to appreciate. For the extremely introspective, honor-obsessed, and non-conventional folk out there, this IS the comedy to watch. I was left falling in love with the main character - sometimes reminding me of myself, or mostly of people I know - and was also left with one dominate, repetitive thought: I'm not alone.

People usually associate the comedy genre with lightness, and fluffy, not-too-deep mania. (I'm guilty of it myself) It just catches you off-gaurd how deep this movie really is, and how much it reveals about the human mind and emotions. The "let down" the other reviewers speak of, is going in to see this movie, looking for the wrong things. Perhaps we've ALL forgotten that deep thoughts can be funny.

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She's So Lovely [Blu-ray]

Disparity of response
If you read the various reviews of this movie, you will find an amazing array of responses to it. I think this is largely a function of the horrid marketing of this movie. When my friend recmmended that I watch it, I did a once-over of its packaging and decided I wasn't interested. He insisted, and so I reluctantly agreed to watch it. Despite it's packaging, this is not a sentimental romantic comedy in the "Pretty Woman" or "Look Who's Talking" vein. If this is the sort of movie you like, you should move on and not waste your time with this.

The movie is divided into two parts. The first focuses on the troubled relationship of derelict couple Eddie and Moe (played by real-life spouses Sean and Robin Wright Penn). Penn's character is dissolute, and puts Moe in the bad position of being vulnerable to the sleazy advances of a neighbor (played well by The Sopranos' James Gandolfini). When Eddie finds out what happens as a result, he becomes steadily unhinged. His performance in a...

In defence of She's So Lovely
What is it about a down and out romance like 'She's So Lovely' that seems to polarise an audience into those who see it as a trashy, confusing and unrealistic ride, and those of us that find it endearing, amusing and utterly, utterly charming. Perhaps we find a grain of truth within She's So Lovely that identifies with our own lives. Husband + wife team Sean + Robin Wright Penn deliver sterling performances and an unmistakable on-screen chemistry as they come to terms with their roller coaster relationship, and their sense of belonging in a changing society. Nobody plays the down on his luck,loveable loser quite like Penn, and Robin Wright Penn is a revelation as his ideal companion. This is the perfect antidote to all the high budget - low chemistry romance/dramas on the racks, combining superb acting and great dialogue, with an engrossing and uplifting story.

They Put The Mad In 'Madly In Love'
I've read interviews with Sean Penn wherin he laments the fact that this film was overlooked. But somehow I believe that they WANT this film to be 'underground'. Otherwise, how could they do such a poor job marketing it?

For starters, the title is completely misleading. "She's So Lovely" absolutely screams Romantic Chick Flick but this movie couldn't be further from that. Mabey the script's original title, "She's De Lovely," would have seemed clever once you'd seen the film, but they went with "She's So Lovely," which, frankly, (...). It makes no sense, has absolutely no relevance and misrepresents the movie.

Huge marketing error #2 is the packaging. One word: Horrible. My copy says "Demo Tape - Box Art May Vary", and I said to my friend "God, I sure hope so!". However, I see they stuck with the exact same blurry photos of the stars with a brown line over their faces...it looks like a preliminary effort for the screener box they never got around to finishing up.

I think...

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Best of the Best: Without Warning [Blu-ray]

FANATASTIC!...Looking forward to Best of the Best 5......!
Rhee has outdone himself with this one...the series just keeps on getting better. This film has everything; fast-paced action, drama, comedy...I especially enjoyed the martial arts scenes; there was even an arness scene, and I really love that style. Unlike the previous 3 films, there was no reference to them, maybe so that even those who had not seen them would enjoy. But, even a small reference would have been nice. The budget must have been extremely high, seemed like no expense was spared. I'm already looking forward to Best of the Best 5, and anything else Rhee signs!

"All I wanted to do was to bake a cake!"
To date, "Best of the Best: Without Warning" is the last film Phillip Rhee has directed or performed in. Given his level of talent, this is disappointing, and even more so for the fact that this film ends the Best of the Best franchise on a relatively low note. It's still an okay action outing that's even better by DTV standards, but it lacks both the emotional content and the martial ingenuity of its predecessors. As a somewhat generic standalone adventure with no ties to the prequels besides its main character, "Without Warning" is the only real throwaway addition to an otherwise above-average franchise.

The story: martial arts instructor Tommy Lee (Rhee) finds himself pulled into a deadly money-printing scheme by the Russian mafia when he unknowingly acquires an essential data disc, putting both himself and his young daughter in danger.

Villains Tobin Bell...

worth the rental fee.
i've seen and own best of the best 1 through 3 and would have liked to have seen some reference in this movie that linked it to the others. especially some background on the events that led to Tommy Lee becoming a father and moving back to LA. however, the action was not lacking in this movie and phillip rhee's martial arts skill was very entertaining to watch.

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Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball [Blu-ray]

Better than you might think.
This is actually on the par of those made for Cinemax or Showtime movies, actually better. There's a degree of comedic interplay between Dudikoff and Howard that's entertaining enough to raise the basic material. I liked it enough that I went out and bought the first Hard Bounty and found that just as good.

good action movie
this movie has tight action fair storyline if you so i really like this movie worth seeing or renting it is a good movie

dvd
Bounty Hunters 2, great movie and great story. I really do love to watch these movies. I especially like the dynamics between the lead actors.

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Jersey Girl [Blu-ray]

Painfully underrated
Jersey Girl is something new for writer/director/star Kevin Smith and, opening to credits, it's his first big-name all-"serious" flick, and it's wonderful. 10/10 material, in this reviewer's opinion. As stated elsewhere, this movie would have been box office gold if not for the media circus surrounding "Bennifer" before its release.

Jersey Girl stars Ben Affleck as Oliver Trinke (Trink-ee), a successful young publicist who falls in love with Jennifer Lopez (er, her character Gertrude Steiney). Tragedy ensues, and not to spoil the moment, but Affleck must raise their daughter as a single parent. Trinke's stress at having to be a single parent drives him to explode at work during a critical press conference, and he loses his job. Now depressed by both the loss of his job and his single parent status, Trinke must find a way to deal with life and love once again as he seeks out a new place for himself in the world.

Liv Tyler makes a splendid performance as a sort of...

"You have to be the guy that gets done by six"
This is a comedy that does not present the viewer with novel ideas and that does not use innovative ways to make us laugh. But, even though the plot may be trite, the outstanding Raquel Castro, in her role of Gertie, gives a freshness to this film that makes it worth watching. This little girl captivates the hearts of the viewers, and allows us to enjoy the time spent on this otherwise average comedy.

Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck) is a successful New York publicist working for the music industry. One day he meets Gertrude (Jennifer Lopez), a serious business woman, who right away makes him fall for her. Everything happens quickly; Ollie takes Gertrude to Jersey to meet his father (George Carlin) and then asks her to marry him, getting her pregnant that same night. Things are going great, the couple is in love, they keep up with their busy lives and they are fashionably late for every event they have to participate in. Everything turns south though when Gertrude dies after an...

Impressive
I'm a big fan of Kevin Smith's first five movies, but I was well aware before entering the theater for Jersey Girl that this was not View Askew's classic blend of dick and fart jokes. If I hadn't known that, I might have wondered what the hell was going on, as this is actually a touching movie.

Jersey Girl has less similarities to Mallrats and more to Chasing Amy; it's about how love doesn't always go the way you think it should, but that doesn't mean it sucks completely. One thing that really took me by surprise was that the movie was less about Ollie Trinke and the video store clerk falling in love, but more about Ollie connecting with his daughter, and discovering what he really wants out of life, with a little help from Will Smith (ANOTHER big surprise there! Sorry if I ruined it for ya).

The movie may not be as slapstick and vulgar as Smith's previous works, but that doesn't mean it's squeaky clean and straight-laced; plenty of laughs in this flick. I liked the fact that...

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