The Nutcracker: The Untold Story (2010) Reviews

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I'm not the only reviewer disturbed by this production. I took a script writing course one semester. I was disturbed then too..that the instructor didn't think my storyline was dark enough. He taught that the antagonist should prevail for the like 97% of the story..the idea bein,g "oh what a relief it is" when evil is overturned...which is unrealistic, anyone knows.

The problem is we all have this sparkling, magical, happy association with Christmas, well not everyone, but most of us, try our best to make it the happiest time of the year for our children, And the Nutcracker has been a part of this American festive occasion for two generations. "Visions of sugar plums dancing in our dreamy heads"...

But nooooo...we have to give children visions of snarling, murderous, sadistic Rat Faced Nazis for a long...long time. Explosions, threats of 'biting the fingers off of our heroine, one finger at a time'...isn't that special. What then?..replace dreams of toys and deleirous, magical happiness..with a bleeding nightmare?

Who are these people who decide to spend the money producing slimy crap like this?

As the other reviewer said, don't let the sparkling , smiling, hppy faces on the cover fool you. That to me, is the purist and cruelest example of deception possible. DEceeption, bait and switch, slobbering greed..."visions of a film to be bought over and over, and played again and again, like Tchaikovsky's masterpiece..laughing all the way to the bank year after year. Well guess what,

Rat Faced Producers...you have blood and gore on your faces. There is a special place in Hell prepared just for you. Tons of vermin. Enjoy your undeserved wealth while you can.

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This movie was horrendous! The rat king's teeth morph into this incredibly scary monster and scared my 6 year old girl and 2 year old boy. Although my 8 yr old boy didn't mind all of the horrific effects, it was no Christmas movie. There was no hint on the dvd cover that this movie would be so dark and violent. Why would they do this to the Nutcracker? They tore apart a beautiful concept. I would guess Nathan Lane and John Turturro were appalled when they saw the final cut. I can't imagine they were proud of this Christmas production. After watching it, it made me want to write a letter to Lane, Turturro, the producer, director, somebody and tell them they should be ashamed and tell them what a terrible waste of time and energy this movie was. We all sat down as a family waiting to see a beautiful Christmas story and we were all incredibly disappointed. The dvd cover is very misleading and does not show any pics of the scary or dark stuff. There is one scene where the rat king chews through the door of the elevator to get to the little girl and it scared me! I hated this movie so much and wish my children had never seen it, that I am writing this review on Amazon and I didn't even buy it online here. I bought it out of the $10 WalMart bin no wonder it was in there. Don't waste your money or scare your children!!!!!! As I am writing this review tonight, my 6 year old and 2 year old have already called me crying because they can't get the rat king out of their head! just awful.

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HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE! Can you ever find a way to butcher a beloved Christmas classic? I almost bought this piece of garbage movie at the store a while back but DVR-ed it instead. Glad I did. God, Tchaikovsky would be rolling over in his grave! Really? Albert Einstein? Freud? A musical...? They only did like 3 Nutcracker songs anyways!

How can this possibly watched by children. The Rat King would horrify any young child. Talk about making them hate this classic. The creators ought to be ashamed of themselves...come on, the Holocaust in the NUTCRACKER?!?!

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The featurette accompanying this film goes some way to explaining what went wrong and why some people love it and others hate it: The director declares outright that he has no interest in the story of the Nutcracker, which he dismisses derisively as a "festival for children" and explains that his real interest lies in much darker areas such as the Holocaust. He fulfills his directive of filming the Nutcracker in the first half hour of the film though with a complete lack of emotional commitment, resulting in a pallid, rather morose and lifeless quality and then quickly passes on to the subject that interests him, the Holocaust. The remaining 70 minutes of the film are taken up with a documentary about the Nazi occupation of Europe which is definitely not for children and depicts Jewish children being led away to the gas chambers and SS officers torturing people by slamming their heads into the table and so on. There is one point of historical inaccuracy Hitler is shown torturing a shark to death by electrocuting it, something he is not known to have done.

Those people who enjoyed this film are older audiences who also enjoy films like 'Hostel' and 'Saw'. Those who were looking for a beautiful, magical children's film based on 'The Nutcracker' were disappointed and shocked. Despite the title, this film bears no resemblance to more familiar ballet versions and is not intended for young audiences.

As a further point, the film was not made in 3D but was merely converted from the 2D format, so if you are committed to watching it, simply buy the 2D version and use the conversion process on your television or 3D-player and you'll be just as far along. The only shot that was digitally altered to be genuinely 3D was a shot of the snow flake fairies dancing, so if you think it's worth paying the extra for that...

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The movie started out magic and beautiful as one should rightly expect. I loved Nathan Lane's character. The the Rat scenes were so horrible and scary, my almost 10 and almost 12 yr olds begged me to turn it off and then had nightmares. Most of the scenes were depressing. It is a wee bit redeeming in the end, but the horror of it all negates any value to this film.

Not a film for children and yet not sure why any adult would bother. Don't waste ant precious resources ( time nor $) on this film.

Spider-Man 3 (2-Disc Special Edition) (2007) Review

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This movie is a "must see" for all superhero fans, action movie fans, and especially Spider-Man fans. There were many negative reviews floating around about this movie, but also many reviews claiming it was excellent as well. The range of different opinions was really surprising.

Modern special effects really do Spider-Man justice, and it is clear that a lot of thought went into this movie, as well as a lot of hard work with the computer animation effects. They are very high quality and truly seem real. There was so much going on, really a lot to sink your teeth into. It's complicated but still manages to be understandable throughout. It's around 2 1/2 hours long, but time flies because you are having fun. Some complained that there was not enough time with Venom, which is a valid point, but I'm sure that the movie in it's entirety will make up for that. All I can say is if you fit into one of the said categories, give this movie a chance. You will not regret it.

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I just wrote a scathing review of Seinfeld season 9 before I came to this review. And how much happier I am for it. The basis for my critical review of Seinfeld was the elitism present in the cast away from the camera. How much nicer is it to see Tobey McGuire and this talented cast. I'm quite certain that Tobey McGuire is a nice guy (very much like Peter Parker) and that's a good thing. As for the movie itself: it really grows on you. The first time I viewed it was at a movie theater and, like many, I thought they tried to do too much. But the second time I saw it, it got better. The third time I viewed it, better still. I don't think they tried to do too much at all now. As someone that never read the comic books I didn't really know much about some of the villains in this movie (Sandman...the whole Black Spidey thing, etc). I remember seeing, in passing at local 7-Elevens, the black spider-man on the front cover of the comic books. But I never took the time to learn about it. So it was kinda nice (as a casual fan of what spider-man is all about) to learn a bit about its history.

Again, Tobey McGuire was the absolute perfect choice for Peter Parker, well done guys.

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Spoilers!

I thought it was pretty good while watching it and then after it was over, several things began to bother me.

If one is going to have Harry die at the end, why not have him just die after the ally fight? It would be great seeing Peter have to fight Sandman with that guilt on his shoulders too.

So Sandman is just going to fly around for the rest of his life and rip people off and Spiderman is okay with that at the end?

Why have Harry make Mary Jane break up with Peter if that was never going to come back into play at the end with Harry saying, "I'm sorry," and Mary Jane confessing what had happened. I mean they were so giddy to talk about their feelings throughout, why stop there?

I think it would have been better to have Harry find a way to make Peter break up with Mary Jane so Peter would have that hanging on his shoulders too.

Also at the end, since Eddie/Venom is pissed that Peter "stole" his girl (actually Eddie and Gwen only had one date briefly mentioned in a throwaway bit of dialogue so they weren't actually going out) why not have both Mary Jane and Gwen hanging from the rooftops at the end so Peter would really have to make a choice and Mary Jane would be shown that Peter truly loves her.

And yes, Venom is handled so fast, so abruptly that one is left with wondering why he is in the movie at all. I mean there are other characters in this series who are supposed to turn into villians too but they haven't so far, so it would been better to just have Eddie in this film and transform him in a later film.

Overall, I was entertained but this is the weakest in the series so far as a film.

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Once upon a time there was a comic book company named Marvel. It was a tiny enterprise that was struggling to stay afloat in the shadow of its huge competitor, DC. A man named Stan Lee worked for this company. He had a vision that one day comic books would be more than, well, comic books. Instead of simplistic plots and one dimensional characters he imagined story lines with heroes that shared all of the foibles of regular mortals, including fear, doubt, anger, hope and internal conflict.

Stan Lee poured this vision into a person he created named Spiderman. The character was an instant hit and showed that Lee's vision had potential. Marvel went from being barely known to becoming the gold standard in its industry.

Spiderman 3 is the ultimate fulfillment of Lee's vision. This movie is a true epic. Tobey Maguire plays the role of Peter Parker/Spiderman with incredible acting skill. As the superhero's popularity grows he is faced with new temptations, including the desire to misuse his powers and give in to the dark side of his nature. This is personified in the arrival of an extra terrestrial symbiont that gives Spiderman vast new powers but also magnifies his feelings of hatred and aggression.

The lovely and immensely talented Kirsten Dunst does a fantastic job playing Mary Jane as a caring, sensitive, highly vulnerable young lady who is struggling with her own conflicts. She becomes embroiled in the movie's climactic scene in which Spiderman must fight enemies created largely by his own misdeeds. The result is one of the best battle scenes in motion picture history, where special effects are used to enhance and amplify the story line, not replace it. The end is in equal parts tragic, inspiring, touching and romantic. It explores the questions of what qualities make up a true hero as well as what motivates those who do evil.

In my opinion the large cast is not a hindrance to this film. Rather the sizable set of characters only adds to its epic status.

In a day where authentic heroes are desperately needed, Spiderman 3 rises to the best standards of film making. It gives us a character that not only entertains but also encourages all of us to live to the best of our natures. In short, this isn't just a great superhero movie. It's a great movie, period. If you don't see this one you'll be missing something truly special.

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Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) has finally found a balance between his life as Spider-Man and another with his long-time girlfriend M.J. Watson (Kirsten Dunst). However, his former long-time friend Harry Osbourne (James Franco), is still upset after finding out that Peter killed his father (Willem Dafoe), and donning his father's Goblin outfits, he plans to do anything possible to see him reduced to patheticness. Of course, Peter recently found out the real man behind his Uncle Ben's (Cliff Robertson) death: ex-con Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), who was recently involved in an experiment gone wrong, and has become the Sandman. And a symbiote from space has infected Peter, turning him into an arrogant, overly confident punk who gets frisky with the New York captain's (James Cromwell) daughter Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard) and embarasses co-worker Eddie Brock (Topher Grace) to the point of revenge. Eventually, a bit from the symbiote has also turned Eddie into the monstrous Venom. So Peter must make up with M.J., quench Harry's thirst for revenge, stop the symbiote from taking over, and discover why Marko killed Ben.

Right up there with Bryan Singer's "X-Men", the "Spider-Man" movies have been the epitome of superhero movies since it started. Throwing in high-quality acting talent, a twisted sense of humor (from the likes of J.K. Simmons as arrogant Daily Bugle chief J. Jonah Jameson and Bruce Campbell playing different roles), affecting drama, slick special effects, and slam-bang action, director Sam Raimi has created a treat for the eyes and the heart that would lead up to "Spider-Man 3". In work since "Spider-Man 2", this is Raimi's most ambitious, expensive (the budget comes in at a whopping $250 million) project. And the wait was worth it.

It's also long. Clocking in at two hours AND thirty minutes, "SM3" is loaded with everything. Raimi includes another batch of villains to the process, which include New Goblin, Sandman, and Venom, with aliases of misunderstood chums (Harry Osbourne is filled with passion to kill Peter Parker/Spider-Man, whom he believes to be his father's killer; Flint Marko is an ex-con who does whatever it takes to help his ailing daughter, even though his wife totally despises him; Eddie Brock is upset at Peter Parker for exposing him of a fraud, and a symbiote from Peter's suit turns him into the maniacal Venom). Raimi doesn't mind letting the viewer care for them, even though they're doing awful things (the Marko subplot is the most effective).

Of course, he throws in a bunch of useless subplots. The revealing of Marko as the man who killed Uncle Ben, while weaving into the story, doesn't seem satisfactory. The Gwen Stacy subplot seems like an attempt of soap opera ridiculousness, something that the series knew well of steering clear from. And Mary Jane Watson still has no luck keeping a job (this whole subplot is getting old fast, even though Dunst manages to leave with a shred of dignity thanks to some effective line-readings). It seems like Raimi was afraid that his iconic franchise might come to an end (which it fitfully does), considering rumors going about, that he decided to throw everything but the kitch sink. Sharp line readings and good story-telling aside, maybe they should've saved some of that stuff for the recent video game adaptation.

As usual, star Tobey Maguire is sharp and intense as he's ever been. With Peter Parker faced with alot of drama in his life losing M.J., turning into an egomaniac that would put Tom Cruise to shame, and fighting off his enemies the actor helps all of Parker's actions ring true. While he does overplay his hand with a dose of weepy scenes, that doesn't mean he continues sharing great chemistry with co-star Dunst (who still works her magic, but that ain't no surpris).

The rest of the cast fares well. James Franco, coming off a series of bombs ("Annapolis", "Flyboys", and "Tristan & Isolde"), reclaims his powerful, brooding performance as Harry. Topher Grace, J.K. Simmons, and Bruce Campbell (now playing a French waiter) provide plenty of comic relief in their roles. Thomas Haden Church, known for playing the cocky friend of Paul Giamatti's character in "Sideways", is affecting in his role as an ex-con who may or may not have purposely killed Uncle Ben. Other memorable performances also come from smaller roles played by Elizabeth Banks (Betty Brandt) and Bill Nunn (Robbie) among others.

I'll go out on a limb here and say that "SM3" is a delgiht. The film ends on a note that the trilogy has come full circle, which probably explains why so many characters and subplots have been added. If so, hat's off to Raimi for making one of the best comic book movies of all time.

Review of Toy Story (Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (1995)

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Cowboy doll Woody is Andy's favorite toy, and as part of that comes the privilege of being the leader of all the other toys. His world is suddenly turned upside down when Andy gets a Buzz Lightyear action figure for his birthday. Suddenly, Woody finds himself in danger of being replaced as Andy and all the toys flock to Buzz. Worse yet, Buzz doesn't know he's a toy. He thinks he's the real Buzz Lightyear. But when the two toys get lost a couple days before Andy moves, they'll have to work together to get home. Can Woody work with Buzz when they don't have the same goal?

I can't believe it's been ten years since this movie came out. It's had an immeasurable impact on the animation field and movies in general. At the same time, its flaws are evident. The humans look as plastic as the toys, and the fur on the dog is laughable. Computers have come a long way in ten years.

Whether this movie was any good or not, it would have been an important milestone. Fortunately, it succeeds on an entertainment level as well. The story is masterfully told revealing plot points and character equally. The movie is extremely funny as well; with lots of jokes for the adults in the audience and some classic lines I quote all the time. Plus it introduces us to a Pixar staple, the climax that will not quit.

Pixar has released great DVD's from the start, and this two-disc set is no different. The movie is transferred directly from the digital files, so the picture is perfect. Sound is wonderful in two separate 5.1 surround tracks. Many of these extras are from the Ultimate Toy Box release of a few years ago, and they are well worth having. The commentary is very informative. The deleted scenes are interesting, but it's obvious why they were deleted. The new features looking back at the movie from ten years later are wonderful as well.

This is a ground breaking movie that is just as much fun to watch as it is historic. I hadn't watched it in quite some time and was reminded just how fun it is. I've got to watch it more often.

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This is the first of the Pixar films, and it remains the best. The movie is full of lovable characters, and full of wonderful lessons about friendship and trust that will delight all ages. Of all the computer-animated movies that have come out since this classic, this is with out a doubt the best.

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"Toy Story", the landmark movie that ushered animation into the computer age, is still a bona fide family classicand funny as all get-out to boot. This superb package brings it all back, both the movie itself and an Al's Toy Barn full of bonuses.

First things firstthe movie looks and sounds fantastic!

I don't have one of those flashy home-theater outfits, but this digital print shows off some great color, with the various toy characters in pristine, bright glory. Sound master Gary Rydstrom upgraded the soundtrack to the point where you can hear the click of the tiny toy soldiers. Best of all, you don't need a 50-inch screen or ultra-Dolby amp to enjoy this newer-than-new view.

The movie, of course, introduced a new, innovative animation outfit called Pixar to the worldand what a job they did on this first feature effort! Woody and Buzz Lightyear, of course, are icons to kids of all ages, but all the other members of the "Andy's Room" community were greatand funny. Mr. Potato Head (voiced by Don Rickles), Rex the dinosaur (Wallace Shawn) and even the little green Army sergeant (war-movie vet R. Lee Ermey) are just a few of these classic inanimate objects turned flesh-and-bloodwell, almostcharacters.

The storylinea combination of buddy comedy, toy fair, sci-fi flick and domestic sitcom (to name a few elements) is, in its own way, as multi-layered and satisfying as the most mature adult dramas. From the moment all the toys come to life when Andy's away to a great exit line when the toys learn about his latest surprise gift, you're drawn in to this unusual world that's as striking now as it must have been a decade ago.

Disc 1 has both the movie and a new feature with both the Pixar team and a few others (Chris "Robots" Wedge, George Lucas, Roy Disney) offering their views on what "Toy Story" did to transform the entire animation genre. It's Disc 2, however, that has the goodsa couple of dozen features, clips and art galleries that literally break down the walls and give both the kid/family core crowd and the animation scholar a remarkable look at how much effort goes into this sort of film. The fact that Pixar and the CGI form themselves were in their infancy at the time only enhances just what great craftsmen these people are.

After an entertaining coffee-talk session involving Pixar's "four horsemen"the core writer/artist/director/geeks who helmed every future project up to "The Incredibles"we can check out everything from sequence development, sketch to full-on; galleries on characters like Woody and Buzz set to music; a multi-language sequence (from Finnish to Chinese to Turkish!); even Randy Newman's original piano-and-voice (and he's a fantastic piano player!) demo score. NothingI say, nothingis out of place.

"Toy Story" is simple enough to be an ideal choice for a "child's first movie" yet sophisticated enough to give the serious cineaste plenty to study. It's as witty as the best literate comedies and as warm as an old-style family saga. It proved that top-drawer stars could also be great voice actors, and it entered a child's world with a fresh, not-so-"kiddie" angle. It balanced off sweet little Andy with mad-scientist Sid (his mutant monster-movie toy creations are a show in themselves)

in a great show of kids with personality. And it established Pixar as the flagship of animated featuresagain, it's incredible that this was their first!

"Toy Story", the super-deluxe edition, is a must for any animation buff, family with kids, or just about anyone who loves movies. I'm already on line for the upcoming (New Year's) "Toy Story 2" set, which will give its equally-great sequel (dare I say the "Godfather" and "Godfather II" of animation?) the format it deserves. With any luck, "Toy Story" will be one of the best-loved movies ever, to infinity...and beyond!

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Blu-ray purchasers should be aware that the Blu-ray/DVD combo is available in 2 different packages: Blu-ray Packaging and DVD Packaging. The discs and contents are the same, but if you prefer a certain case, make sure you order the correct one.

I have nothing else to add to the 250+ reviews already here, except to note that the Blu-ray transfer is GORGEOUS: crisp, clean, and perfect. An expert reviewer at the website DVD Beaver has said that out of the 900+ Blu-ray discs he owns, this is the best-looking one.

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This is a very cute movie about friendship that should be in everyones collection. The story is great for the kids, but the adults in the family will love the "in" jokes that go over the head of the little ones.

Point Break (1991) Review

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Generally panned by critics upon its release, Point Break has gone on to enjoy something of a minor cult following among action film fans who enjoy its breathlessly choreographed action sequences involving daring bank heists, car chases, skydiving and, of course, surfing one of the film's most important selling points. The film came along after Patrick Swayze's phenomenal success with Ghost and he went completely in the opposite direction with this film. Point Break also proved to be a warm-up for Keanu Reeves who would become a full-fledged action hero with Speed a few years later.

Point Break trots out and downright revels in stereotypes: Utah is the all-American good guy, Pappas is the burn out cop and they are constantly being chewed out by their jerk-off boss (McGinley) for their screwball antics. Surprisingly, it's Swayze's Zen master/surfer/bank robber that doesn't fall into an easy stereotype and comes across as the most interesting, charismatic character in the entire movie. And you have to give the credit to Swayze and his oddly fascinating performance. There is a nice scene where he tells Utah his philosophy of surfing, "It's a state of mind. It's that place where you lose yourself and find yourself." We find ourselves rooting not for Reeves' bland FBI agent but Swayze's thrillseeking surfer.

Point Break is the epitome of a guilty pleasure: to dumb to defend rationally but with action sequences too cool to dismiss totally. It's a big, loud comic book of a movie and it knows it and has the conviction to go for it. But is it worth purchasing on DVD if you already own a copy?

First up are eight deleted scenes that include more footage of Utah trying to surf. We also see him get more grief from his boss for his undercover work. There are other little bits of excised footage that doesn't really amount to all that much.

"It's Make or Break" is a retrospective featurette. Busey, Petty and Swayze all contribute new interviews for this DVD and talk about their experiences making the movie.

"Ride the Wave" examines the spirituality of surfing. The ocean is a double-edged sword at once very beautiful but also very dangerous. This extra also takes a brief look at the surfer culture.

"Adrenaline Junkies" examines the exciting stunts staged in the movie. Like his character, Swayze was into skydiving but the studio did not want him to do it. However, if you look at the first skydiving sequence, he really jumped out of the plane!

"On Location: Malibu" is a more light-hearted extra as two of the Ex-Presidents (who were actual surfers) John Philbin and Bojesse Christopher take us on a mini-tour of key locations in Malibu used in the movie. They crack jokes and reminisce about key scenes.

Also included are three trailers and a behind-the-scenes stills gallery.

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Having recently purchased a HD TV, i knew it was only a matter of time before i bought a Blu-Ray player as well. Sure enough, a week after buying the TV, i splashed out the cash for a Blu-Ray machine. That was the easy part.

Looking at the newly released Blu-Ray titles, and the significant price difference between a regular DVD and the movie on Blu-Ray, i began to look through titles i already owned on DVD and what i thought would deserve an upgrade in picture quality and sound. Without much hesitation, Point Break sprung to mind.

I'm not going to review the actual movie. That's already been covered many times over. But assuming you've already seen the movie, this is more about what to expect from the HD version, as opposed to the regular DVD copy.

Well, the film looks FANTASTIC. You have to bear in mind that the film came out in 1991. Granted, that's not that long ago. But in terms of how technology has evolved over the past 20 years, it's a long time. For the surfing scenes, the waves are so much clearer, and the sound really does make you believe you're in the surf too. For the skydiving scenes, the aerial footage is amazingly sharp. When i first saw the movie in theatres, i was blown away by the water and air shots. Buying it on VHS, then DVD, and now Blu-Ray, i can honestly say the movie just keeps on getting more and more enjoyable. I've been a fan of Mark Isham (music composer for this film, and many others) and his score is brought vividly to life on this HD format.

Extras wise, it's the same as the DVD re-release a few years back (Adrenaline edition). A few deleted scenes, 4 new featurettes featuring interviews with the late Swayze and 2 of the surfing gang, plus John C McGinley and an entertaining Gary Busey).

I highly recommend you upgrading to Blu-Ray. You'll be glad you did.

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Review

A gang of Southern California surfers tear up the waves, while enjoying the sun, sand and the sea. But in their spare time they also double up as Bank robbers and commit their crimes masked as American presidents. The gang led by Bodhi (Patrick Swayze)have been making some serious hits.

Finally the law in the form of FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) and his partner, Pappas (Gary Busey)suspect the sand lovers and decide to infiltrate them by going undercover.

Throw in skydiving, some pretty boy male bonding action and a little bit of love into this cocktail, this turns out to be a pretty decent film. The acting is saved with good pacing and a commendable script; which is not as predictable as 1 might think.

It's worth a watch, definetly!!!

The Dvd

The film itself will be presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, along with both English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 4.0 Dolby Surround tracks.

Extras will include deleted scenes (Holistic Fitness With Agent Pappas, Agent Johnny Utah Thinks He Can Surf, Tyler Saves Johny From The Waves, Penetration Of The Social Infrastructure, Tyler & Johnny Spend Time Alone In The Water, A Basic Hit & Run, Tyler Accuses Johnny Of Using Her, and Johnny & Bodhi Talk About Robbing Banks), an It's Make or Break featurette, a Ride the Wave featurette, an Adrenaline Junkies featurette, an On Location: Malibu featurette, a still gallery, and three theatrical trailers

++ Though the inital dvd loses the DTS track.. the DTS track was horrendous in the 1st place...So for me personally, i'd rather not have it....

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I'm reviewing the Blu-Ray, not the movie.

It's a decent transfer. Looks about as good as you would expect from an early 90s film. Maybe a little better. Sounds good too. Recommended if you like this movie.

One thing to note is that this is 2.35:1 widescreen, which is what was shown in theaters. However, since it was shot on non-anamorphic Super 35, it's vertically cropped from the 4:3 TV/VHS version, so although you are seeing what you would have seen in theaters (and I'm guessing what was on the DVD release), and you are seeing a little bit more on the sides, you might notice that the frame is cropped from your VHS copy. But that's not a big deal, and is typical for films shot on Super 35.

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I'm a Point Break fan. It's one of the best "bad" movies out there, so I was pumped when it finally came out on DVD. Unfortunately, it is a total ..... Everyone loves to watch their favorite movies in letterbox, because it gives you the opportunity to view the full movie as opposed to the scan made to fit the VHS format. In the case of Point Break however the letterbox format was achieved by cropping the top and bottom off of the vhs scan. So, not only do you not get the full feature film, you don't even get the VHS view of the film. It's claustrophobic. There are scenes in this DVD that don't even makes sense, parts of people's faces are cut off. DO NOT BUY THIS [junk]!!! The picture is sharp, but it's like watching the movie through a keyhole!!!

Discount Mysterious Girlfriend X: Complete Collection (2012)

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Unfortunately, as too often happens, the people who write the product summary have either never watched the show in question, or are misguided enough to believe that sensationalism is the path to sales success. What I mean to say is the "Editorial Review" (which is rather a "official" product summary) is almost entirely misleading as to what this show is about.

Here's what Mysterious Girlfriend X is really about:

This is a low-key romantic comedy about a couple of high schoolers discovering love for the first time with each other. Although there are some unique circumstances as to how this comes about, the core of the story is not really about those oddities, but rather about how this couple grows together emotionally over time.

Mikoto Urabe is the titular "Mysterious Girlfriend" -and an intriguing mystery she definitely is. In the strictest sense she represents what is sometimes referred to as the "Magical Girlfriend" type of character... however this is played very low-key for most of the series, with the emphasis instead placed on how she handles developing her love interest (given her unusual attributes), rather than any stories focused on her "powers" per se.

Akira Tsubaki is the often bewildered protagonist -equally accepting and intrigued by Urabe. Probably the most important thing I can say about him is: he is normal, in the sense that he is neither an over-the-top pervert, nor does he recoil in fear whenever a female pays attention to him (unlike alot of anime male leads). His reactions are pretty understandable, and generally he is a pretty mellow guy.

There is drool exchanged, and alot of it -but this is reasonable when you consider how much drool is exchanged in your average french kiss (not to mention other bodily fluids in intercourse). Some people seem to haven a strong aversion to this, but that really comes down to some unrealistic ideas as to what is "hygienic" in human sexuality (which is not a terribly hygienic act). Mysterious Girlfriend X handles these realities with a very matter-of-fact honesty that is quite refreshing.

Overall, the series is heartwarming and humorous, and I think by the end of the series you will find yourself rooting for the couple to continue growing together long into their mysterious future.

Addendum: After I purchased the Blu-ray I was able to watch the entire series dubbed as well. I think it was a pretty good dub overall, and it could absolutely be enjoyable for someone who hates subtitles -but I still prefer the original Japanese cast, and would recommend watching the subtitled version.

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The initial impression I had from this anime is that this would be a really queer series to watch. I decided to give it a try since crunchyroll had it available for subscription and I actually enjoyed watching the story and seeing the characters progress through their problems.

Story:

The premise is that a new transfer student names Urabe comes into the class of the main character Akira and she ends up creeping everyone out by out bursting into laughter. One day Akria comes back into the class late and wakes up Urabe and tells her to go home and she ends up leaving a drool puddle on her desk. For some unknown reason Akira decides to lick that drool.

Throughout the series Urabe's drool has some mysterious effect on Akira. This is really out there with the drool thing, but the story does suck you in and makes you want to know what events take place each episode. I never found it to be predictable at all with a really unique character like Urabe. The series definitely has more a mature theme, but I never found it to be creepy, it's just how the characters are.

Animation:

The animation is pretty cool in this series. It has the high-definition quality of 1080p, but the character design have that classic 1990/2000's look to them a bit and it ends up blending together wonderfully. The locations they visit and the school setting all look amazing in HD and you never get bored watching the events taking place. The main characters themselves have their own unique look to them and you can tell who's who even if they are in the school outfits, or city clothes.

Soundtrack:

Some of the themes are really, really cool. The main one I love is the dream theme; which is the song that plays when Akira has a dream, or any dream like sequence that plays out during the anime. It was really nothing I have heard before and was stuck in my head for a while. The other themes are mainly a mix of the opening and ending themes.

Speaking of the opening and ending songs, the voice actress for Urabe actually sings both of them. I only found this out by looking at IMDB and I thought this was pretty cool that she can both act and sing really well. The opening theme reminds me a bit of Chobits though, since you can hear a bit of theme at the start of it. The closing theme is interesting to listen to as well.

Verdict:

I really enjoyed watching this anime and it's nothing like I have seen before. The memorable soundtrack, characters and story make this a series I really recommend to anyone who enjoys anime; especially those who like stories about relationships. Granted I know the droll thing can make some people not want to watch this anime at all, but is it really that odd compared to series that have aliens with superpowers that shoot beams, or giant robots fighting intergalactic wars? If you can get past the droll theme, you're in for one of the most unusual and great series out there.

Positive:

* Really cool story that sucks you in

* Never found it to be predictable

* Great mix of classic character design with High Definition Resolution

* Characters are identifiable with unique design

* Dream theme is amazing and extremely memorable

Negative:

* Drool thing might turn away some people

* Also has some mature themes in the episodes

Best Deals for Mysterious Girlfriend X: Complete Collection (2012)

There are techniques used by storytellers and others to grab the audience and to hold their attention;this crazy series grabs a "handful" and doesn't let go,even when it becomes clear the two are heading down the path to probable romance. The initial tasting of her drool may feel like a slap across the eyes to even the most hardy of otako's and cause the weak to run screaming from the room but if you take it as a French kiss... without the tongue...and the kiss...,well,it still is a bit off the wall.The tasting of drool,so goes the storyline,tells the taster the true feelings of the the drool doner that they are unable to express in words,but only if there is a "connection" to the other person.

What you will get is a great,well-drawn,dare I say,intelligent series about a male teenager that falls for a very strange teen-aged girl that,among other weirdness,carries a pair of scissors in her panties, even in her bikini while she sunbathes at the beach.For whatever reason,she pulls the scissors out and uses them to astonishing effect on whatever object that she targets.

Probably one of the best offerings from the anime "gods" this season and is on my "must buy" list. Easily PG-13 but probably aimed for the 16-17 age group. I got my copy quickly and it is a first-rate product. The "fan-serv" in this edition remains the same few times she pulls her scissors out and the "nudity" is,even without details,(ie,no nipples)the nude bodies are further shaded or blurred. As the story is the purpose of this series and not fan-service,it is most highly recommended.

Honest reviews on Mysterious Girlfriend X: Complete Collection (2012)

First, listen to the other reviewers and NOT the blurb on the back of the package. Though I like spit puns as much as the next person, that is a very inaccurate description of the tone of this show. It's actually a pretty serious and often sweet show, not just a gross-out comedy. Nothing really gets explained about Urabe's "powers" (no answers in the manga yet either) but it preserves her mystery. Anyway, when I first watched the show, I might has well have had some of Urabe's addicting drool: I marathoned all thirteen episodes in one day!

It is rated M, and rightly so, but it's pretty tame compared to most M-rated things I've seen. There is no sex, no violence to speak of, some nudity shielded by strategically placed shadows (edit: a bit more than I remembered, you can actually see some... topmost female body parts in the second episode, though they are shown in the shadowed side of a sunset), a few suggestive surreal dream sequences, and no bad language that I recall (at least in the subtitled version). The topics of sex and arousal are touched on, mainly to illustrate some of the embarrassing/confusing feelings, and honest wonderings about sex that most teenagers have. But one thing I really love about the show is that the main couple is taking their relationship very slow. I read an essay online calling it "the first pro-abstinence anime", and that sounds about right to me. I would say this show is appropriate for more conservative teens ages 16 and up.

Finally unless you really like the manga, I would not recommend buying this show without watching at least several episodes first. (At the present time, it's streaming legally for free on Crunchyroll.) I absolutely love it, but I realize that there are a lot of people who won't. There's a slowly building romance with no "payoff" in the traditional sense, so that may disappoint some viewers. And then there's the drool. And a lot of it. That kind of stuff doesn't bother me, but I have always kind of been labeled the weird one in my family... and at my school... and at my church... and, well... Try the show: you just might like it.

Update: Got the blu-rays, and just wanted to say that the picture and sound quality is fantastic. Had to watch the dub for comparison reasons and I LOVED it. Since I don't speak Japanese, I missed a lot of the nuances in the tones of voice the characters were (probably) using. I can actually discern them in the English dub, so I enjoy the show even more now than I did before. I thought the VA they picked for Urabe was perfect. Almost no special features, if you care about that. I found this to be a good release, and I'm sure going to get my money's worth out of it.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Mysterious Girlfriend X: Complete Collection (2012)

I guess that to say Mysterious Girlfriend X is different would actually be an extreme understatement. To say that it's a love it or hate it anime, that's probably more accurate. The plot follows the romance between Mikoto Urabe, an unusual girl who within one episode bursts into a fit of maniacal laughter seemingly for no reason (she also she wields scissors as a weapon with some skill) and Akira Tsubaki, the guy who's addicted to her drool. Yes, you read that last part right. Some will immediately be turned off by the fact that this series is about a guy whose connection to his girlfriend is through her drool. The drool is very much a part of this series and yes, for many people this will be too much.

For those okay with this though, you're in for a treat. The animation on this series is STUNNING. Beautiful, gorgeous, a thesaurus will run out of words and not heap enough praise on the artistic merits of this series. In the opening episode there is a dream sequence involving a dance, and I knew from that moment I would have to watch the series to the end simply because of the visuals. The blu only makes it better. There are seriously some scenes that it feels like you could pause at any moment and hang the image on a wall.

Now that I've talked about the artistic merits, let me say, the story is amusing. There are several laugh out loud moments. The plot has some interesting turns and the series has better than average voice acting. Part of the fun of this series is listening to Urabe, who does not even sound like your usual anime character... she sounds like a real person in terms of her voice, which only adds to the strangeness of her character. For those who care there is an English dub included, which is surprising given Sentai's usual releases (I cannot judge the dub though as I'm a subtitle only person).

Some will probably complain that there is a lot in this series that goes unexplained. Some of the explanations for the weirder aspects seem illogical, and keep the viewer expecting for a different answer that will never arrive. While this may be annoying, I must point out that the title is "Mysterious" Girlfriend X. The title lets you in a little on this before you even watch the show, so you can't say they didn't warn you.

I'm honestly a little surprised this series got a release in the US let alone a blu-ray release. The plot is a little out there and no doubt a little gross to some. Yet, the novelty of this one is part of the charm. Hopefully Sentai will give more unique anime a chance here in the US. I highly suggest that if you're an anime fan you give it a shot. This one's worth it.

Review of The Ultimate 3-D Horror Collection (Includes H3D Viewing System)

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THE ULTIMATE 3-D HORROR COLLECTION

Aspect ratio: 1.33:1

Soundtrack: Mono

CAMP BLOOD (USA 1999): Whilst hiking in woodland near the deserted Camp Blackwood site of an unsolved murder ten years earlier four young city-dwellers are targeted by a masked psychopath who kills their guide (Courtney Harris) and stalks them through the woods with murderous intent...

HUNTING SEASON (USA 2000): A woman (Cindy Pena) arms herself with an arsenal of lethal weapons and heads into the woods to take revenge against four masked hunters who beat her boyfriend (Michael Walker) to a bloody pulp and subjected her to a brutal sexual assault.

THE ZOMBIE CHRONICLES (USA 2001): Whilst searching for an isolated town with a history of strange occurrences, a young reporter (Emmy Smith) picks up a grizzled hitchhiker (Joseph Haggerty) who tells her two stories involving flesh-eating zombies which are reputed to haunt the area.

Billed as 'campy, horror-filled fun', the three movies which make up Slingshot Entertainment's 'Ultimate 3-D Horror Collection' were filmed on camcorder utilizing the Nu-View field sequential 3-D format, with no attempt to disguise their microscopic budgets or their origins as bona fide video productions. In a word, they're dreadful. In interviews, Brad Sykes director of CAMP BLOOD and THE ZOMBIE CHRONICLES cites the early works of George A. Romero and Sam Raimi as key influences on his career, but while those filmmakers used their lack of adequate funding to challenge the mainstream with cutting-edge works which substituted imagination and energy for glossy aesthetics, Sykes and his cohorts have used video technology merely to imitate their cinematic counterparts, resulting in (literal) home movies with delusions of grandeur...

CAMP BLOOD has the strongest narrative, but Sykes' script adheres closely to an established blueprint (with obvious nods to the likes of FRIDAY THE 13th, THE BURNING and THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, which the director readily acknowledges) without adding anything even remotely new or interesting to the formula. THE ZOMBIE CHRONICLES is a complete waste of time, hobbled from the outset by Haggerty's painfully amateurish performance in a key role, and the two stories which make up the bulk of the running time are utterly routine, made worse by indifferent performances and lackluster direction. HUNTING SEASON directed by Jeff Leroy (editor on all three productions) is marginally superior, featuring a spirited performance by Amazonian beauty Pena as the vengeful, leather-clad harpy seeking revenge on four irredeemable slimeballs, leading to a genuine twist in the tale. However, while Leroy's direction is lively and competent (including a fair number of off-the-screen 3-D effects), the rock-bottom production values and unflattering camcorder photography conspire against any and all good intentions. These aren't 'fun' movies in the sense that Ed Wood's movies are 'fun' (he, at least, believed in what he was doing and was sincere in his efforts, despite a lack of talent); they are, in fact, aggravating, boring and almost completely devoid of any redeeming virtue, and most viewers will feel justifiably angry and cheated by such unimaginative, badly-conceived junk.

And yet, this release amounts to a dual-edged sword: The movies are packaged here with a video transmitter and wired glasses almost twice as expensive if purchased separately which allows viewers to experience 3-D movies in the field sequential format, and Slingshot has sensibly included both 3-D AND 2-D versions of the films on each disc. Whereas anaglyphic presentations (using red-blue glasses) tend to distort colors and obscure dimensional effects, the field sequential process (polarized glasses) offers a near-perfect reproduction of 3-D images, preserving all the color and resolution inherent in the material. Some flicker is evident during brightly-lit sequences, but this is reduced markedly when viewed in a darkened room (ideally, the lights should be turned off altogether). However, while all of the titles under discussion generate an extraordinary illusion of depth (particularly HUNTING SEASON, which features a number of eye-popping landscape shots), the visuals are often afflicted by crosstalk (that is, left-eye images retain residual imagery from right-eye images and vice versa, leading to ghosting and eye-strain), and the image flattens out whenever the filmmakers resort to slow motion or speeded-up action. Often, background details are reduced to an indistinct blur which defy all attempts to resolve them into a dimensional image, and foreground details (grass, hanging branches, etc.) are often similarly unfocussed. However, these problems are not insurmountable, and the field sequential format is tailor-made for the reproduction on DVD of any 3-D movie photographed with truly professional polarizing equipment (HOUSE OF WAX, FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN, etc.).

Sadly, while 'The Ultimate 3-D Horror Collection' keeps the field sequential process in the public eye and paves the way for GENUINE 3-D movies on DVD (with 'flat' and 3-D versions on the same disc), the technology is tainted by association with this kind of direct-to-video garbage, thereby hindering its acceptance within the mainstream.

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Think of the price as paying for the system and glasses which work quite well and the DVDs as free bonuses, and you'll be OK. The flicks are all camcorder stuff with some interest but overall, don't expect too much. Use the glasses and seek out other, real 3-D movies from other sources.

Best Deals for The Ultimate 3-D Horror Collection (Includes H3D Viewing System)

I must admit that I am an older viewer and remember when 3-D movies were the craze. I saw "Creature From The Black Lagoon" as well as "Friday the 13th part 3 in 3-D". The films in this box set are nothing more than a showcase for the 3-D viewing system. This is not a bad thing a the 3-D is generally of good quality. The instruction manual pertaining to the 3-D set up is good and no one should have a problem. My only complaint is that it still is not a true 3-D system as the scenes are often clouded by improper camera angles or lighting. One will often experience double vision or massive "flickering" due to the 3-D effect. As the technology is not in place, this is a forgivable aspect as the effects that do come off are astounding. The three films presented are a much different matter. They are of the horrendously low budget variety and without merit, their only purpose is to illuminate three dimensional effects. I would recommend that only those intersted in 3-D bother with this collection.

Honest reviews on The Ultimate 3-D Horror Collection (Includes H3D Viewing System)

I recently bought this Ultimate 3D horror collection. I already have the Ultimate 3D Imax collection which is excellent. However the Horror collection was a complete disappointment. I think they must have had a budget of about [$] (and that is for all three films). The acting is apalling and the entire films looks as though they was filmed with a couple of cheap camcorders with the Nu-View system attached. The 3D effects are iffy at best. If you're choosing between this and the IMAX 3D package then DEFINITELY go with IMAX. I just wish, being a big fan of 3D films, that the big hollywood studios would take note that there is a lot of demand for 3D DVDs, and re-release all their big production 3D movies of past years in field sequential format on DVD. Maybe someday!

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Okay, so the included movies couldn't be more terrible even if they had help (which it's clear they didn't).

BUT:

the 3-D itself was wonderful. The system is fabulous, and it's so easy to set it up, a trained monkey (without the training, mind you) could do it in 2-3 minutes at the most.

Images leap off the screen at you, I found myself ducking more than once to avoid being struck by different items. I tested it out on the Haunted Castle movie, and though the movie was terribly cheesy, the graphics and the 3-D imaging was incredible. We love it. Next step is to get the wireless glasses, so we aren't tripping over each other trying to get away from the images on the screen.

A WORD OF CAUTION:

I don't know really if it was just the television I initially hooked the system up to (I have a 37" Sharp Aquos in my living room), but the system didn't work there. I hooked it up to the standard 27" Magnavox I have in my bedroom, and it works great. It could have just been me, and the way I connected it originally, but I did follow the very simple installation instructions... Just thought I'd point that out for anyone else looking that has a LCD/HDTV...

Discount American Pie Presents - The Naked Mile (Unrated Fullscreen

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I liked this movie, and I immediately watched some of the tracks (scenes) several times...such as the Naked Mile race and the underwear party. There was more nudity than I expected throughout the movie, and that alone made the dvd worth watching. And I plan on watching the dvd a couple more times. The comedy of the movie was OK (not top-notch...but OK), and some of the subplots were OK...such as the romance between the young Stifler and his girlfriend. And the young Stifler's girlfriend was cute and innocent...which was a nice contrast with other girls that were wilder. College girl nudity in this dvd includes: girl's locker room, stripping naked before the Naked Mile race and standing around waiting for the race to start, running naked and bouncing along for the Naked Mile race, and sex in several frat rooms. I can't remember the last time that I saw this many naked bouncing breasts...bouncing...bouncing (most were natural). But even after all the nudity, the girls at the underwear party were sexy too. There is some full frontal nudity for females during the movie, but not male full frontal.

I own some movies of the actual annual Naked Mile races in Michigan, but those movies were filmed with poor lighting and the picture is "grainy"...lacking in picture sharpness....because the Naked Mile race takes place at night (its dark...there's not enough light). But for this American Pie movie, they used proper lighting and equipment to show their version of the Naked Mile race with sharp picture detail...very watchable.

Overall, this American Pie movie was better than I expected. If you like college comedies with T&A, I expect that you will like it.

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American Pie: Naked Mile is surprisingly a more entertainng made for video movie than the Band Camp one. It's more funny than the last one as well. Erik Stiffler "yes yet another Stiffler but this one is a cousin" who's the only virgin of the family. His g/f wants to wait to have sex and he was with her for 2 years so it's holding him back from having sex. She gives him a guilt free pass to have sex for a weekend when he goes on a trip to check out a college with friends.

The result is a surprisingly good time and it's of course raunchy since it's an American Pie movie. I do admit that some of it's perverted jokes go on a little too long though. Still it's smarter and more watchable than the last made for video movie. Plus Steve Talley is better as one of Stiffler's brothers than the one from the Band Camp movie. I mean the one from Band Camp tried way too hard to be Sean William Scott. Talley just gives his own performance and is one of the funnier people in the movie. It's funny how he has a little feud "no pun intended" going on with midgets.

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Released straight to DVD, The Naked Mile is the 5th movie in the american pie series. The last two, Band Camp and this one, concentrate on the Family of Stiffler. This one has a cousing of The original Stiffler, Erik, who visits another cousin at Michigan for their annual Naked Mile party. The original stiffler family is gone. Erik is a different Stiffler, he has a concience and a brain other than the one down below. But, the movie line is the same, High School Kids wanting to have sex. And hopefully they don't create any more stifflers, it getting old. But, the movie has its funny parts, but its no classic like the first three. How much teenage Angst can you squeeze out of a series, this one is testing the limit. Also, this unrated version pushes the nudity up to an all new level for the series. So, an entertaining rental, but not a must have.

Honest reviews on American Pie Presents - The Naked Mile (Unrated Fullscreen

Ok class, time for a review --

The first American Pie movie? outrageously funny. Rude, crude, surprising, shocking and absolutely hilarious.

The second American Pie movie? uh, take the rude and crude and basically toss it out and leave behind a movie that was ok, but not nearly as good as the predecessor.

Third movie? (American Pie Wedding) was too much love story and not so much humor. Ok, but again, didn't hold a candle to the original.

Fourth movie? (Band Camp) went in the wrong direction completely. Drop it from the collection please.

Fifth movie -American Pie Presents The Naked Mile. Now THAT IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! Back to the rude, crude, immoral, outrageous and laugh out long and loud funny movie formula that made the first movie so entertaining. Too much Stiffler? Not at all.

Plenty of hot babes showing plenty of skin. A humorous 'little' war between fraternities both big and uh, small. And a story of a guy trying to be true to his girl while facing enough temptation to distract all but the most dedicated.

Most definitely not academy award or golden globe material (Heh, he said globe ;-) ) but funny none the less. Go into it with the right attitude and laugh your rear off. Look for high brow material elsewhere if you must.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for American Pie Presents - The Naked Mile (Unrated Fullscreen

The unrated full-screen edition of this movie occasionally wants to be the R-rated version; in addition, it doesn't offer all the bonus features it promises.

At 0:09:42 a young woman emerges from the "shower room" wearing underwear. In the unrated widescreen version, she emerges wearing nothing.

At 1:11:23 several female runners wearing caps and goggles appear topless. The widescreen version shows them fully nude.

At 1:41:32, after the closing credits, the following message appears: "This Motion Picture Has Been Rated R." A similar notice appears before the movie begins.

Missing from the bonus features on this disc are "The Yoga Guide to Getting Girls" and "The Bare Essentials," even though the back cover of the DVD case lists these as included segments. (The widescreen version does contain them.)

Your best bet, therefore, is to get the unrated widescreen version. Sadly, Universal Studios doesn't include both full-screen and widescreen editions on one disc as some other studios do. In a case like this one, simply turning the disc over would have solved the problem. You'd get a letterboxed picture indeed, but at least an accurate, unbutchered one.

Cheap Mouse Hunt (1997)

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I think one of the most annoying things about movie critics is that they're supposed to know their stuff, but in the end they come across as just being college guys looking for something dirty to watch! Isn't it funny how they can't help but get down on a hilarious, old fashioned comedy like this and yet show them something like American Pie and it's great intellectual humor! A modern classic! Sickening! This movie was totally hilarious with hardly any sexual humor at all! Allright, just a hint here and there that wasn't necessary. Beyond that this movie was such a perfect comedy for everyone! I absolutely loved this movie! They used every cartoon trick in the book to try and stop that mouse! And wasn't Christopher Walken just incredible?!!! The casting in this was soooo great! It makes me so sad when movies like this come out and hardly get noticed by the public for whatever reason! Probably the lack of sex humor is evident and the previews and it keeps the movie goers away. Anyway I loved it! Do yourself a favor and pick it up! I've got it on VHS but hope to get the DVD eventually!

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It's very rare that I laugh out loud at anything, but every time I watch this movie, I do just that. It's tear-running-down-my cheeks-from-laughing funny.

What a delight to watch this movie and forget about all the daily cares and problems.

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Mix in the elements of an early Coen brothers film with some Disney magic, a mouse that could star on digital cable's "Bridezilla", some Laurel and Hardy slapstick with generous portions of "Home Alone" and "The Money Pit" and you've got "Mouse Hunt", an offbeat comedy that is great for everyone.

Comic actors Nathan Lane and Lee Evans star as the Smuntz brothers, a pair of schlemiels that inherit a rickety factory and even more rickety house. Through a freak, they learn the house is potentially worth big bucks and the brothers do their best to turn it into their personal cash cow amidst failures in their professional and personal lives.

The fly in the ointment is a mouse that lives in the house and won't be discarded. This little critter is surely the star of this show and the one you root for over and over again during this happy time DVD. The little guy seems to have a brain bigger than Chicago the way he outwits everyone in the movie time after time.

Kids will enjoy this with you although they won't enjoy the echt-Coen brothers production values. The factory scenes seem stolen from "Hudsucker Proxy" and many of the characterizations are cacricatures you may have seen in "Miller's Crossing". A lot of people will simply call this "Home Alone" with the rodent substituted for the kid and the dopey brothers for the crooks.

Still this is an enjoyable and amiable two hour venture into laughs and wonder that you won't often see on DVD. The script is clever and the action plenty in this little flick. Take it home tonight and look forward to an evening of fun for the whole family.

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I could watch this movie over and over. The first time I saw it I nearly fell out of my chair laughing.

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What was surprising was that a single mouse could be so funny.When I saw this picture for the first time, I laughed so hard I could hardly catch my breath, and I couldn't wait to add it to my collection.If one is into comedies,this one is definitely a must. Nathan Lane and Lee Evans are a blast together.

Best Guitar World: How to Play Acoustic Rock Guitar (2009) Deals

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David Bruce is completely wrong in his review of this DVD. There is a booklet that comes with the DVD. It's on the DVD in PDF format so you can print it out. There are even notations on the video that tell you what page of that video to refer to for each lesson. On top of that, this is the finest video of its type ever made, in my opinion, and I have a couple dozen of them. I think David might have got his DVDs mixed up because he's not describing this one.

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I too strongly disagree with the negative review! Mine came with an awesome PDF download that has every tab and scale on the DVD; very easy to follow. Great strumming techniques, great finger picking, great Blues instruction, great basic Folk progressions, great basic soloing.

In one day I was doing cool solo's to a basic G C G D Folk progression! Also playing basic Blues in one day! I'd never played that stuff before!

At last everything I need to learn!!! I highly recommend this DVD to anybody wanting to learn the essential basics of Acoustic Guitar.

The lessons go by too fast??? It's a DVD!! You can rewind!!!

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The author showed impressive guitar licks that he plays so fast that I can't see where his fingers are positionioned.

Honest reviews on Guitar World: How to Play Acoustic Rock Guitar (2009)

The product is ok but its just a little too advanced. At least for me it was. Keep it for later on when I hopefully will get better.

Reviews of Ocean Wonderland (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray) (2003)

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As a long time scuba diver, I have been on over 200 dives in about a dozen countries, I usually avoid filming because it "just doesn't look like when you are really there." This film sure does.

If you want a fabulous tour of the top underwater sights available to the recreational diver with terrific commentary and very amusing sound effects (extra kudos to the foley artist for creating sounds that you don't really hear under water). It was beautiful, thrilling and showed some of the awe and majesty of the oceanic realm.

If you just got a 3-D TV and want to take it out for a spin, you can't do better than this movie.

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This movie is a bit of your typical IMAX "under the sea" fair. There are lots of corals, sting rays and some sharks. But specifically for 3D this movie works great for some scenes, but not all scenes. The problem is that IMAX films are designed for huge screens and not TVs. However, if you are dying to show off a 3D movie that isn't animated, you can't go wrong with this one. There are a few scenes that are amazing. This includes a "ballet" by yellow snapper that really grabs you in the 3d realm. Other scenes with dolphins and sharks really help see the depth and power of 3D.

The movie is fairly short. Only 41 minutes. Good for kids and really anyone looking for a 3D movie. Nothing ground breaking as far as photography or new scientific information.

Also, there was some question about the narrator. It is narrated by the Sea Turtle.

Best Deals for Ocean Wonderland (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray) (2003)

This IMAX documentary of the water world focus on coral reefs and its habitats. It's hosted by a sea turtle, and guides through the reef. It clarifies the definition of a coral reef, and shows plenty. A word of warning, some may find looking at the reefs *itchy*. My wife keep saying she felt like scratching her hair, and one of my kid say his body itches while looking at some of the reef patterns!

Unlike other underwater/animal documentary, this one doesn't show the hostile / predatory acts until seeing sharks in action toward the end.

The 2D movie doesn't seem as sharp, but 3D is top-notch. It's better than all other underwater 3D documentaries that I own (including IMAX Deep Sea 3D). There are good balance of in-screen and out-of-screen (OOS) objects. Many of the OOS are showing the "table" reef platforms. A few OOS involving dolphins looking into the screen directly at you with it's nose sticking out!

Honest reviews on Ocean Wonderland (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray) (2003)

I feel compel to write this review as this video is highly over rated and over priced. The 3D effects is about average, the narration is just about ok though slightly on the kiddy side and the colors are a total turn-off. Based on previous good reviews I has expected something like "IMAX: Under the Sea" but what a disappointment. You get the blueish-grayish tone most of the time with the only exception of a few night shots. I want to see an explosion of coral reef colors and be stunned visually (as claimed on the cover). Instead its no better and at times even worse than the normal underwater scenes we see in normal tv broadcasts. I certainly regretted buying this and you won't see me giving this a second viewing. Its now chucked in the "to be avoided' corner of my hall cabinet. Unless they drop the price drastically, do yourself a favor and give this a miss.

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I have at least 7 of the 3d documentaries. and this one rates just as good as any. in my opinion, it is probably somewhere in the upper middle. I know that this was presented in imax theaters, but i'm not sure it was an actual imax film. I know under the sea, deep sea, and hubble are definitely imax films. You can just tell the difference in 3d quality, and the actual amount of real 3d shots. That's just if you're gonna get picky.

If you're wondering which movie/documentary to get, i'd say either Hubble or Deep Sea. If you're gonna pay the 26 or 27 $ for this one, just go all out and get the actual imax ones. Although i really liked tahiti and wild ocean.

The only 3d documentary i don't want is the grand canyon. i saw the first 5 minutes and it is really preachy, with Robert Redford almost getting mad at you for stuff we kinda have no control over.

Ocean Wonderland has a little bit of conservation preaching, but nothing that makes me not want to watch it again. I liked it a lot and would recommend it. I just recommend the actual imax films a little more.

Cheap Tormented (2011)

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Japanese horror is a lot of fun, although it can be an acquired taste. Some folks find it too quirky, since the Japanese culture has different views on society and what scares them. Others find it too nonsensical. But for me, I love it. These films usually hit on something primal, a deeply ingrained nerve that gives everyone an uneasy feeling, regardless of race. TORMENTED is one of those films. Deeply rooted in psychological fears, this film will haunt you long after it is over.

Last summer, long before my blog crashed, I reviewed another one of Takashi Shimizu's films titled SHOCK LABYRINTH 3D. I had mixed feelings on that particular film because, although it was shot well and had a nice chill to it, the storyline was sketchy and didn't make sense in certain parts. This is important for TORMENTED because the film pulls from SHOCK LABYRINTH in a few different ways.

Let me explain: the characters in TORMENTED go to a movie theater and see SHOCK LABYRINTH in 3D...which is where the rabbit comes from. It literally flies out of the picture and into their world. Sound crazy? Trust me...it is...but it is really cool. This "tie-in" runs throughout the film as well, even taking the characters to the hospital in which the previous movie was set.

But TORMENTED is not a sequel, nor is it technically related to the other film. It just relies on SHOCK LABYRINTH a bit to give it some plot-plugs. I really like how Shimizu was able to pull this off; if it were done any other way, it would have been cheesy.

TORMENTED is shot very well with some eye-popping 3D effects. The acting is really good as well, with a well-rounded cast that gives great performances. There's even a bit of good looking gore (although it is very brief) for you gore-hounds out there.

This film is a wide-eyed win for me and I suggest checking it out. It has an awesome twist that I didn't see coming and some spellbinding 3D for total immersion. The film hit store shelves earlier this week, so give it a look.

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Being a film student and a big fan of Takashi Shimizu's work with my favorites being "Ju-on 2", "Marebito" and now "Tormented 3D" aka "Rabbit Horror 3D", I was very disappointed in his film "Shock Labyrinth 3D". I was concerned that he was going mainstream and lost his edge like the Pang Bros. and M. Night Shyamalan have. Being a graduate of Psychology and Social Sciences, I was enthralled by this film. The film is loaded with psychological aspects and is one big case study of a tortured protagonist. You would think that someone walking around in a rabbit suit would be a ridiculous and rubbish but this is not the case with this film. The film is very haunting and disturbing at times. There are also a couple of very scary scenes that will stay with you for a while. The blu-ray has a nice transfer and the audio is good and boasts a haunting score by musical genius Kenji Kawai (who has done soundtracks for films like: "Ghost in the Shell", "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence", "Death Note", "Death Note: The Last Name", "L: Change the World", "Ip Man", "Sadako 3D", "Gantz", "Gantz: Perfect Answer", "The Incite Mill", "Avalon", "Ringu 2", "The Princess Blade", "Dark Water", "Premonition", "Assault Girls", "Reincarnation", "The Sky Crawlers" and many more). I highly recommend "Tormented 3D". Mr. Shimizu, you have restored my faith.

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Shimizu dipped out of his realm of creepy and scary to focus more on a horror-esque fantasy adventure that is literally connected to his previous film Shock Labyrinth 3d. I personally enjoyed the film and if you are a long running Shimizu fan, there should be a great movie waiting here for you. I wasn't a HUGE fan of Shock Labyrinth, but I thought this was much better. Also the two leads, and the kid were all great. Chris Doyle (a once Wong Kar Wai regular) acts a cinematographer for this film, and it shows. Quite appealing to look at. If you are looking for a more Ju-On style film, look elsewhere. This is quite different from his previous works.

I'd give it a 3.5/5

Honest reviews on Tormented (2011)

My first exposure to the films of Takashi Shimizu was "Ju-on: The Grudge." I remember seeing it and literally gripping my armchair in horror while hoping the freaky dead lady crawling down the stairs wouldn't find a way out of my television to get me. I also remember thinking to myself, "Why can't Americans make horror flicks like this?"

When I received an e-mail that Shimizu was going to be in town promoting his new movie "Tormented 3D" for the Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF), you better believe I jumped at the opportunity to interview him and see it in a rare theatrical screening. I was blown away by the twisted tale that unraveled in front of me. I knew there was so much going on that I would need to see the movie again. Thanks to Well Go USA, I got the chance with its release on Blu-ray.

After seeing a 3D horror movie featuring a stuffed white rabbit, siblings Kiriko and Daigo begin seeing it in a life-sized form. The giant creature stalks them and seems to be trying to tell them something. What is the rabbit attempting to communicate to them and what sort of psychological doorways will it open?

Director Shimizu told me "Tormented 3D" was a companion piece to his film "The Shock Labyrinth 3D." I never realized how much it relied on "The Shock Labyrinth 3D" until I saw it again. It's basically the trigger for all the misery Daigo and Kiriko suffer through in this movie. It's the proverbial key that unlocks the dark recesses of their minds.

I know the idea of a giant white bunny rabbit running around grabbing people and stalking them might sound absurd. Trust me when I tell you, Shimizu takes the seemingly goofy concept and twists it around in your psyche to the extent that you'll never want to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt or read the story of Peter Cottontail ever again.

A lack of special features for the Blu-ray release of "Tormented 3D" is tragic. A 3D version of the movie and a trailer is all that's included. If you get the chance to see the movie in 3D, you should do so. Shimizu told the audience at the screening I attended he preferred everyone see it that way. I expected a "Making of" featurette since "The Shock Labyrinth 3D" Blu-ray had one. I was disappointed not to find one.

If you love Asian cinema, "Tormented 3D" is an essential addition to your collection. It's not likely you'll only watch the film once, as it takes several viewings to truly take everything in that it offers visually. This is so much more than a typical horror film and offers an emotional journey as well as a thrill ride.

"Tormented 3D" is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.

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I have the film 'shock labrynth" on 3d blu ray and about half the scenes in the film have double images. the 3d is full of problems , As this is the related to that film: I was worried that it would also be full of issues. It's not, the 3d only rarely double images in this one. In fact the 3d is mostly outstanding and any movie shot in 3d , looks much better than those that are converted to 3d later. That was a relief, so you can buy this one and have lots of great 3d viewing here for he most part. In fact , this one does have bubbles and staircases etc that are very much startling to watch. And the ending was shocking and explosive in 3d. The film was also called 'rabbit horror' in Japan, because rabbits are everywhere in this one. And the story does make sense completely. At first a young boy is haunted by a giant rabbit suited ghost, who is his mothers, his sister also see's the ghost. Then the story expands and we find out who is really being haunted. It's a decent horror film that is more psychological than the directors past films like 'the grudge" and others. There is this guy who reviews 3d movies on how much things pop out at you. which is wrong of course as most 3d is about depth and not that , but he would find lots of those scenes in this one. This movie does have a plot , and it made much more sense to me than shock labyrinth" did , in fact in one scene they are watching that movie in this one!. And 875 of the 3d scenes look great. So it's worth it on that level too.

Cheap Paws and Tales - The Animated Series - Seeing the Unseen (2004)

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From "America's Pastor" Chuck Swindoll, and Insight for Living this is the first in a series of animated videos based on the Paws & Tales radio show. Our family loved "Seeing the Unseen."

The animation is gorgeous. I haven't seen anything of this quality in the Christian marketplace before. It's really that good. But what really impressed me is how the kids responded to the message. They stayed glued to the TV the whole time and then when it was done immediately wanted me to start it again.

The story follows Paw Paw Chuck and the kids of The Club (the same voices from the radio show, I think)and a new friend, Wally on a campout. After watching the group pray before setting out, the friend, Wally confides in C.J. that he doesn't believe in God because he doesn't believe in anything he can't see.

The group gently suggests that there are a lot of things that are real but we can't see them things like love and wind. The message that we know God is real because we can see what he does is very clear without ever being preachy. I also like that the lesson is weaved throughout not tacked on to the end almost as an afterthought like so many other videos I've seen.

One great thing I love about this video is that the pacing is a little slower and more thoughtful than other videos we have. Which is not to say that it's boring... far from it. There's humor, wit, adventure and a great song at the end to tie it all up. I just mean that compared to all of the zany/jumpy/crazy stuff that's out there, this was a refreshing change of pace. It had the classic pacing of a Little House on the Prairie episode.

You could tell that the creators wanted the audience to focus on the message and not get distracted by extraneous stuff. Well, in my opinion, they succeeded. This is an important lesson wrapped up in a great story delivered with humor, adventure and state of the art animation. It easily held the attention of a four, six, and twelve year old. And it's the kind of thing I want my kids learning. After watching it we had a great discussion about all of the things God created and how God puts his fingerprints on his creation.

If you're interested in building a solid foundation in your child, I highly recommend it.

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This is a kids' video that has no problem saying "Lord Jesus." Not only that, it has no problem allowing God's Spirit to work the message into its viewers that is to say, it's not some polemical children's piece meant to give "pat answers." They're cool with letting things get worked out in a heart over time.

Our neice, next day neighbour's boy and another friend's children were each given a copy from us back in November early Christmas presents. Apparently, and to the chagrin of their captive parents, each of the families watched it at least 3 consecutive times on their first viewing.

It might have something to do with the video being 3D-Animated. Rich, lush eye-candy for the post-MTV kids.

5 stars because there's nothing better out there for the Christian Kids' demographic.

Best Deals for Paws and Tales - The Animated Series - Seeing the Unseen (2004)

My daughter is barely 2 years old, but I'm on the move to collect Christian books and videos with substance according to the bible.

I just watched this 5 minutes ago. Highly Highly recommended. The 3D is superb and the story concise and clear.

The main point in the story----

If someone doesn't believe in God because He is unseen, how do you explain He exists?

This video will teach you and your children to reflect on God's unseen hand. We are in a world where tangible things is highly regarded. But it is humbling how His creation shows us that there are many things we cannot fathom.

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This was a great story for our Wed Kid's night at church and just the right length for the time alloted. The kids greatly enjoyed it. I will probably get the rest in the series.

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This DVD surprised me, it was very professional. It has good annimation and my son who is not even a year and a 1/2 loved it. He loves to watch DVDs so I figured this one has good christian moral content. He really likes the animals.

Discount Misadventures in 3D

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Being a sequel to "Encounter in the Third Dimension", I was curious to see what nWave was going to do story wise to continue the adventures of the Professor and Max, since they were stuck in the 2nd dimension at the end of the original film. Gladly, they chose to start this movie up directly after the events of the first and give a wonderful history on how the eye works and how it "sees" 3D, all in 40 plus minutes of excellent stereo depth examples to demonstrate the process. I love this movie as much or better than the first one. Kids will highly enjoy it as well. A perfect way to teach and entertain at the same time without them getting bored. As for us adults, you'll re-learn trivia that has either slipped into the cracks of your mind or understand something you didn't know before until now. Like the first film, the 3D effects in this one are amazing. Granted, you don't get another full roller coaster experience, but all the other dimensional situations and places are just as cool. Even better, there's going to be a third 3D film to make this series a trilogy and it will be about the 4th dimension. Sure wish it was available now. If you're an IMAX 3D DVD collector, get "Misadventures". You won't be disappointed.

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This is a sequel to "Encounter in the Third Dimension", thankfully without Elvira. It goes into more detail about 3D movies than its predecessor, but more is less here. The first movie had far more interesting 3D tidbits. This just seems a bit tired. 3D isn't bad though, and the field-sequential 3D enthusiasts out there should pick it up.