Children Who Chase Lost Voices

Truly one of the Best!
This is truly one of the best animes I have ever watched,the intensity and emotion behind each of the characters and their actions is overwhelming at times and these emotions certainly won't fail to move any person who has had any relation to love, loss of someone important or simply just a person who has the felt the warmth of motherly love. Story is great and I like the fact that it doesn't beat around the bush but it constantly keeps focusing on the most important aspects of the movie. The development of the main character, Asuna, and her relationship to the other characters as we move forward in the movie.

The art was what was truly amazing about the anime and definitely its selling point. Nearly every scene involving the environment or the atmosphere around our characters was simply breathtaking and almost without comparison. In addition to these scenes being absolutely amazing there weren't just a few of them but this movie was filled with beautiful landscapes and sky...

(4.5 stars) Children Who Chase Lost Voices" is a gorgeous, touching animated film worth watching!
Makoto Shinkai, the former Falcom graphic designer, who took the anime industry by storm back in 2001 when he released his anime OVA titled "Voices of a Distant Star", which he created on his Power Mac G4 and using several software and voice acted by he and his wife Miko and music provided by his friend Tenmon.

The OVA inspired many for the fact it was independent, created on a small budget but looked significantly better than some major anime series by well-known animation studios.

Suffice to say, the person who grew up inspired by Miyazaki films was now given a chance to create more animated films and he would eventually achieve success with "The Place Promised in Our Early Days" (2004) and "5 Centimeters Per Second" (2007).

In 2011, Shinkai returned with the animated film "Children Who Chase Lost Voices ("Hoshi o Ou Kodomo") which he directed, wrote and produced.

And now the film was released in the U.S. on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of...

Children Who Chase Lost Voices
First, I want to comment on the dvd itself. This dvd was from Malaysia. Before I ordered, I was concerned about that quality and that it might be a bootleg. I'm still not 100% sure, but it played without problems on my region 1 player. The video, audio and english subtitles were all perfect. So all-in-all I'm satisfied with the product.

Now onto the movie itself. I purchased this simply due to the fact it is a Makoto Shinkai film. I'm a big fan of his work. I wasn't disappointed. The animation is beautiful and vibrant as expected. This story is more of a "fantasy" film than some of his others. Without going into detail, it's basically about a girl who embarks on a mysterious journey with many weird, scary, dangerous, touching, happy sad events happening along the way. It's an interesting journey. Something along the lines of a Miyazaki film ala Spirited Away. Will the girl survive the perilous journey and make it home safely? Better find out for yourself.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Marines in the Pacific

Marine Combat film in the Pacific
Was too much of a compilation of war pictures and they were were used over and over again. It was accurate about the war zones. Ed





Click to Editorial Reviews

Nitro Circus The Movie

3D review. This packs a punch.
Nitro Circus takes a group of daredevils and shows what happens when you take stunts to the absolute limits. This is truly a heart pumping ride worth taking. You'll see tri-cycles jump ramps across buildings,huge car flips,insane dirt bike jumps,buses flying across the sky,wheel chairs attempting to go through loops,and the whole time the cast takes it as if it's just another day at the office. The whole films leads up to a finale which highlights the first live Nitro Circus show in Vegas.

The 3D here is a nice supplement. The material doesn't need it,but it certainly adds to the overall experience. The movie itself is quiet a knockout,but the 3D insures you stay down for the count.

Pros: The stunts are insane here. Without a doubt it's hard to believe no one has been seriously,life crippling injured attempting any of this. Some of it is pretty funny as well.

Cons: I felt at times they took too long in between shots to get the input of celebrities and...

BORING!!
I am a big fan of Travis and Friends and have purchased all the previous videos. I was not entertained. I called my friends to watch for the first time and most left early.
Looks like they must have had a contract to fulfill and were just going through the motions.
Second: I would like to ask ....Did Travis retire? its seems all he did was congratulate others for doing stunts.
SO DISAPPOINTED

NITRO!
If you liked the show, you'll love the movie. It's Nitro Circus, what's not to love? I mean, it's Travis, Jolene and the crew. Buy it. Now.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Lawrence of Arabia (Restored Version) [Blu-ray]

Review of 2012 2-disc Blu-ray edition 2001 2-disc DVD edition
** UPDATED NOV-15-2012 **

An extraordinary film has now become an extraordinary Blu-ray. David Lean's 1962 desert epic film about the enigmatic British officer T.E. Lawrence and his successes and struggles in the Arab countries during the early 20th Century remains (sadly) as relevant as ever regarding the Western world's unending struggles in the Middle East regions. The Oscar-winning classic is also a landmark event in film history, as it set a very high standard in epic film-making, acting, and, for the making of this Blu-ray, in film restoration as well. Director Lean and then-unknown actor Peter O'Toole's contribution in this film remain influential in the five decades since the film's initial release. And if it had not been for the efforts of restorers Robert A. Harris and Jim Painten, who discovered the film's original negative inside crushed and rusting film cans in Columbia's vaults in the 1980s, and proceeded to restore it to its original glory, we would not...

The desert is a sea in which no oar is dipped.
It is unsurprising to me that some people find Lawrence of Arabia boring. If you have the attention span of a hummingbird, this is not a film you will enjoy. It has no car chases, no bikini-clad supermodels, and nary a kung-fu move to be seen. Instead, all it offers is tortured respect for everything it touches. Lawrence of Arabia is a film that elevated the art of cinematic storytelling to new heights, and it shows. It is the journey, not the destination, that the viewer should focus on. In order to enjoy this film, you must make a commitment to watch it. Get comfortable, have something to drink on hand (you'll know why about halfway through), turn off the phone, and put the remote under a pillow. I've seen a lot of films, and some I've liked to varying degrees, and others I've simply been satisfied that Hollywood didn't butcher the underlying work or premise too badly in pursuit of the lowest common denominator. Lawrence of Arabia is different. It is one of those truly...

Amazon posting INCORRECT reviews - not for this version.
Dear Amazon,

Please stop posting reviews for films that are, essentially, written for another version of the DVD's (and cd's) and not the one posted.

There are several DVD versions of Lawrence of Arabia. They all differ wildly from each other in picture and sound quality.

How do you expect us to chose which is best for us if you post the same review from the 2001 version over and over and over again?
"Best dvd version yet."

Yeah, right - in 2001 that may have been true. But Amazon, you've posted this review for every version of this DVD even though the review was for a DVD originally released in 2001!
Lawrence of Arabia has been remastered twice since then, and the subsquent versions are very, very different.

Please stop this and take some responsibility and post reviews ONLY for their specific versions - or at least specify that the review was written for another version.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Dream West

Excellent Series
Well acted, enjoyable series for most any age. recommended without reservation . I'm sure you would enjoy if you like stories about a part of our history.

It's about time!
I've been waiting for this mini-series to come out on DVD for years. The story of John C. Fremont is well told and chronicles his explorations and mapping of the American West. Alice Krige does a wonderful job of portraying Fremont's strong-willed wife and the cast is stellar. The picture quality is very good considering this was televised almost 30 years ago. I never could figure out why it hasn't been shown again and why it took so darned long to come out in DVD format. Even though this is no "Centennial" or "The Thorn Birds", Richard Chamberlain does a very good job as Fremont in this lesser known miniseries. Well worth purchasing--however, you might want to shop around for a better price. I got mine through WB Archives at a more reasonable price than I see listed here.

Dream West DVDs
I was very disappointed that it did not have closed captions. After about 15 minutes trying to understand what the actors were saying I put the DVDs away. For elderly persons who are hard of hearing, it was a waste of money.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Spartacus: Blood and Sand / Gods of the Arena [Blu-ray]

Spartacus: Sex and Violence
This combo pack was a great way to get the first seasons of this great series on blu ray. While the effects in the first season may not have aged well, the acting and storytelling are top-notch. The commentaries and bonus features are great too. This series is not for the faint of heart.

I did not experience the skipping and other problems some other reviewers had. My discs worked just fine.

GREAT STORY AND AWESOME PRICE
I would have spent over $60 in the store for both sets of movies but paid wwwaayyyy less, and Im very happy with this product. A truly great value!!

Great Deal
Packaging was excellent, and a great over all deal. Two seasons for less than the price of one at a retailer.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Ryder Cup 2012 Official Film (39th)

Ryder Cup 2012 DVD
Product claims all regions but is shipped as incompatible with the US Market. Have caution when ordering. The DVD I received was only for European DVD systems. This has happened a few times to me and is very frustrating.

Ryder cup official film
Gave it one star because it simply states it has all the action from the holes. Lies. It is only a putting compilation. I really would like my money back.

Watch out if you live in the US
This Blu-Ray is configured for European models only. That means it will not play in Blu-Ray players bought in the US, or on computers for that matter. I didn't read that anywhere in the description, so the seller might want to try to make that clear.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Heaven's Gate (Criterion Collection)

Happy 25th Birthday, HEAVEN'S GATE!
1980 marks the 25th anniversary of one of the strangest media events ever. There was an eagerly-awaited invitational preview on a Thursday for a four hour Michael Cimino western called HEAVEN'S GATE. The whole industry came out in force to see Cimino's first movie since his Oscar-winning THE DEER HUNTER (1978) and, at a budget of $40 million, a movie that had bankrupt United Artists. The result was apparently an unholy disaster-so awful that Friday opening day regular engagements were abruptly cancelled. Reviews were venomous, focusing much more on the hefty budget and how an arrogant auteur filmmaker had brought down a studio with his excesses. Roger Ebert was particularly hostile. The 219 minute movie was sent back to the editing room with Cimino and several original editors. In mid-1981, an all-new HEAVEN'S GATE was brought out at only 149 minutes. The same hostile reviewers, except for Kevin Thomas in THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, still hated the movie for being too long and not...

A Loss Of Innocence
There is just no beating around the bush when people mention Michael Cimino's 1980 film, "Heaven's Gate." You either love it or hate it...there is only black and white when discussing this film. Having just seen the reconstructed director's cut, I will follow that trend and state: "Heaven's Gate" is a superior film.
I first saw the butchered, approximately 2+ hours version in the theaters several years ago and had to agree that it was pretty bad: incoherent, of course... badly edited...in both sight and sound. At the time it reminded me of those badly made European productions in which every actor is speaking a different language and after the fact, the film is dubbed into Italian or French. The film was literally a mess.
In its glorious 3-

Chris Isaak: Beyond The Sun Live

Avoid if you're a videophile/audiophile
After listening to his previous bluray release (Chris Isaak: Live / Greatest Hits: Live [Blu-ray] (2005)):
(...)
I was expecting the same level of video and audio quality. Unfortunately this production falls far short in both areas. The audio level is quite low and the audience applause seems to much more elevated in the rear channels. In addition fast moving objects have a strobe-like effect -- similar to a 24fps->30fps transfer without motion compensation. Whoever did the mastering on this disc obviously did not know what they were doing. Finally, for whatever reason, they cut out the Wanda Jackson parts. So if you're expecting the same performance that was broadcast on PBS you'll be disappointed.

I'm a huge Isaak fan and this disc is a disservice to him and his band.

Disappointing
This DVD only goes for 55 minutes which is disappointing when you see the song list in the bonus material. Sound quality is good and performance is great which is not unexpected if you have ever seen Chris Isaak live.

Beyond the Sun Live Does Not Feature Much from Beyond
Only 14 songs featured out of a concert that had well over 20 songs and only five tracks were featured from Beyond the Sun recording. Performance of all tracks are first rate though.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Young Believers

Perfect for inspiring young Christians to stay grounded and faithful
This movie is excellent for Christian youths to watch because it has very relatable conflicts and a message that is clear and inspirational. To live in the world, not of the world. 4 high school seniors struggle with worldly temptations and push through them with the power of the God and the strength of there friendship. They create a club called the Young Believers in middle school and have stuck with the rules (things like no fornication, drugs, alcohol, etc) for 4 years. Now in their last year of high school they are hit with temptations from all angles. These young actors do a great job at portraying these various roles as well. Great cast and writing.

Great Story ... Bad Acting
I love the story of this movie, but it had very bad acting. I fought myself to watch all the way through. It will be hard for young people to sit through it. I don't recommend it.

I didn't like it
I was buying this to show to my youth group because the story seemed interesting, but after watching it myself, it was just a really for me to see the youth in my youth group relating to them. Maybe others would, but it seemed really out of reach and not very believable.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Pete Walker Collection (House of Whipcord, Die Screaming Marianne, The Comeback, Schizo) [Blu-ray]

The Pete Walker Collection
A lot of horror and thriller films, with a dose of the erotic, were released in Europe during the seventies, and many of them have survived the test of time. Pete Walker (1939- ) was one of the English directors that represented the trend, and it has been said elsewhere that he "tested the limits of film censorship in the UK with a string of gruesome and erotic thrillers." For our pleasure, then, we have now available "The Pete Walker Collection," a remarkable and historically important set of films that represent a testament of those glorious years, with the best of quality possible.

The collection is comprised of four titles in four Blu-ray discs, each remastered in HD from original negatives. The first one, "House of Whipcord," is "dedicated to those who are disturbed by today's lax moral codes (we are taking 1974) and who eagerly await the return of corporal and capital punishment." Everything begins when a good-looking fellow goes to the city, makes ladies fall for...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Ramrod [Blu-ray]

Range wars and then some
One of the bitterest of all range war westerns, Ramrod is an early example of Andre De Toth's muscular intensity that characterises all his work in the genre through the string of very satisfying Randolph Scotts in the 50s to the extremely bleak Day of the Outlaw (1959). Joel McCrea is just fine as the initially weak cowpoke who tries to keep peace on the range in the face of two rival camps, one led by rancher's daughter Veronica Lake (in a ferocious, chilling performance) and the other by tough hombre Preston Foster, who loves and is rejected by her.

De Toth handles the complex plot and screenplay with his usual sharp explorations of shifting allegiances and betrayals of trust; Don Defore's edgy performance as McCrea's erstwhile friend is pivotal in embodying the film's dark mood and tone which some commentators have labelled noir.

It's great to see some of the Scott/De Toths on or soon to be released on DVD. Why not this film? Its brooding sense of evil is...

great movie..... not so spectacular BR disc....
I loved this movie.... and boy is it packed with star power from McRea and Veronica Lake to Lloyd Bridges and Donald Crisp and lets agree that Andre De Toth knew how to direct. I'd give this a solid 5 star review if the BR disc was priced at $15 and was a beauty to behold. As it is ...its $25 bucks and not restored ...full of dust and other issues which should be addressed at this level of price in today's market place. I'm happy to own this disc but I can't give it any more than 3 stars when you consider its high price and low quality of image.

I've had good luck with Olive Films blu rays but it seems they just spit out whatever they get so I'll proceed with caution going forward. The Trap starring Richard Widmark was another of theirs I picked up today and its just a dreadful transfer.... truly horrible and again $25.

DAVE NASH--RAMROD.
A ramrod or segundo is the owner's man, his or her representative standing between the owner and range crew. In this case Dave Nash, newly appointed ramrod, is called upon to stand not only between his boss and the crew but also every other cattleman on the range. The reason is that the the 66 outfit is contemplating introduction of sheep to what has been up to now only open range cattle country.

As the film opens, we seem to be getting 'in medias res' after certain things have happened, events of which we have no information. As things move along many things become clear, however, the cheating, lying, murder, and out-and-out villany continue to unfold anew. As one character eventually states, too many men have died in this unofficial range war. For it has become open season, with many characters, including Dave Nash, to have seemingly changed their typical, accepted pattern of behavior.

This film of 1947 follows the Macmillian hardcover book by Luke Short...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Hard Core Logo [Blu-ray]

There is a superior, special edition DVD out there...
If you go to Amazon's Canadian branch (at www.amazon.ca), you can order the much superior version of this classic movie. Here's what you get:

A few years ago, Miramax released a bare bones DVD of Hard Core Logo, but now Bruce McDonald has re-released his movie with a new transfer (strangely full-frame as opposed to the 1.85:1 aspect ratio of the Miramax disc) and a new and improved 5.1 surround soundtrack.

First up is the rowdy audio commentary between Bruce McDonald, actor Hugh Dillon and the screenwriter, Noel S. Baker. McDonald and Baker dominate the track at first, but then Dillon gets more vocal (or is that drunker?) as the commentary progresses. There are a lot of interesting observations from all the participants. Initially, Dillon wasn't interested in doing the movie because he felt that most rock 'n' roll films didn't get it right but McDonald convinced him that this one would be different. What makes this commentary such a treat to listen to is that...

Callum's best
This movie is an absolute MUST for Callum Keith Rennie fans; he shines in his role as a reluctant returning member of the Canadian punk band Hard Core Logo for their reunion tour. This movie has been described as a dark, realist Spinal Tap, and was billed as a black comedy. While the movie has its funny, often hilarious moments, it actually concentrates on the real, human emotions driving each character. This is a character-driven movie, rather than a plot- or action-driven movie, and shows a great deal of insight about the internal politics of friendship. Though the performance scenes are also very cool.

Hardcore mockumentary
"This is Spinal Tap" created the mockumentary genre in film with brilliant caricatures of washed-up rockers, and a sly wit that often slipped past on the first viewing. Bruce McDonald has upped the ante with "Hard Core Logo," his mockumentary about a defunct band of punk rockers who come together for a charity show, stay together for a short tour, and implode rather spectacularly on the road from obscurity to nowhere.

Yes, it's funny. It's monumentally funny in a nasty, painful way. You can't like these people, but you can come to love them, unloveable as they are, because they are so completely human and messed up. Though you know there is no way on earth the band can hold together you'll find yourself wanting them to succeed. The performances are amazing; there is not a false note in the whole film. Particularly fine are John Pyper-Ferguson as John Oxenberger, Julian Richings as Bucky Haight, and Hugh Dillon who gives a brilliant performance as Joe Dick...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Bringing Up Bobby

Without Action, Milla gets to Act
The reviewer who thought this one was all about the money wasn't paying attention. This is Famke Janssen's project start to finish, she wrote the screenplay, produced and directed. And while it might seem like Paper Moon revisited, the cast makes this movie. Not every actress can pull off playing a con artist with a Ukrainian accent without turning the performance into a farce. Milla makes you feel Olive's love for Bobby and to get how she got to be who she is across without beating it to death. Bill Pullman and Marcia Cross bring depth to the wealthy couple who have issues of their own, but truly want to help. Spencer List as Bobby manages to be a real kid without making you hate him when he's a brat or over-playing the pathos. This is a very good movie.

thanks
Great movie and i'm happy to know that it was made here in my home state need more like it.....

really good
Considering the small amount of reviews this movie has been getting so far, I have to say, it's surprisingly underrated and totally worth viewing. It's a relatively simple story about the *gorgeous* Milla Jovovich playing the character of a con artist that eventually goes to jail and, upon release, has to give up her 11-year old son (named Bobby) to another family. The two families decide what's best for this boy, and visitation rights go back and forth between the family and Milla's character with their own dilemmas. The biggest problem is that Milla keeps getting involved with terrible people and Bobby can't behave.

I'm surprised how well-told of a story this is. The first half of the movie is more along the lines of subtle comedy with Milla dressing up in really beautiful red dresses (finger-bitingly beautiful, haha) and meeting new people (including a boyfriend and religious neighbor). Bobby the son is really cruel and mature for his age which leads to several...

Click to Editorial Reviews