To Catch a Thief (Special Collector's Edition)

Amazon.com

One of the creamiest of all of Alfred Hitchcock's films, To Catch a Thief is something like pure pleasure. Begin ticking off the ingredients of this 1955 movie and you'll get the picture: Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, the French Riviera, champagne, fireworks, cat burglary. Mmm, it already feels good. Grant plays a retired thief who becomes a suspect when valuable things begin disappearing along the Cote d'Azur. The diamonds hanging from the well-sculpted neck of Grace Kelly would appear to be the newest target, but it's just possible that actual romance might also be wafting through the Mediterranean air. The lightness of the story keeps To Catch a Thief from being one of the masterpieces of Hitchcock's great run in the 1950s, but it is very difficult to cavil about the sunny locations, Grant's elegant aplomb, and Kelly's shrewd withholding of her sexual interest beneath the ice-queen exterior. John Michael Hayes provided the amusing script (which stretches double entendres to their limit, especially in a romantic discussion of fried chicken), Edith Head the splendid costumes. If the movie has any weight at all, it's in proving that at this point in his career Hitchcock was consumed with charting the tricky terrain of male-female courtship; if issues of trust are treated here with a light touch, they nevertheless matter as much as the mechanical working-out of Mr. H's suspense stories. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Grace Kelly seals the show in this star vehicle for an Aging Cary Grant.......2007-08-01

Grace Kelly's beauty is mesmerizing and her energy leaps off the screen. The movie is saved by her performance and the cineamatography. Apparently conceived as a starring vehicle for Cary Grant the May-September romance just flat does not work. Not Hitchcock's best work.

To Catch a Thief Did Not Catch My Fancy.......2007-07-22

I am a lifelong fan of suspense movies, especially those of Alfred Hitchcock. While Hitchcock is the absolute master of suspense, I did not find this film as entertaining as the other reviewers.

I give this film a very average 3-stars.

Sure, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are lovely to look at, especially Grace Kelly(!), but for me the plot is somewhat confusing, especially initially, and the suspense is not as gripping as other (and better) Hitchcock films. For instance, I found "North By Northwest" a far superior work than this one.

There are some scenes that will remain in my memory forever, such as the road chase early on in the movie where Grace Kelly speeds along the French Riveria's winding roads at speeds that make your palms sweat. Only Hitchcock can film such a scene. Then there is the night scene with Grant and Kelly in the hotel room with the fireworks exploding in the background sky, while the sexual sparks are exploding just as loudly between Grant and Kelly. A classic Hitchcock scene. Today's director would have them both in bed wrestling naked in the throes of sexual love. I like Hitch's approach better. He tells you more with symbolic imagery than the visual act can ever portray.

I know everyone else calls this film a classic, and I suppose in many ways it is, but my take on it is that it is an average Hitchcock film. I will probably get reamed by other reviewers for my contrary opinion, but that is their right to say so, just as it is my right to say that this film is not one of Hitchcock's best.

Jim "Konedog" Koenig

Smart and classy .......2007-07-06

Hitchcock and Cary Grant bring their customary magic to this stylish and frothy thriller-cum-romance. While this film may certainly be more to the taste of the female half of the population than the male, Grant's debonair ease and the suspense involved in cat-and-mouse game between police, suspect, and real thief is enough to keep anyone interested, and the snappy dialogue between the main leads anchors this well-made film. There's neither deep passionate romance nor spine-tingling suspense, making the film lack that quality of being truly great, but it succeeds very well at what it attempts - to be a light and very fun theft/romance film with a touch of Hitchcockian darkness.

Very good transfer.......2007-07-05

I just watched it over the weekend and I felt like I've never seen it before (actually have seen it about ten times).

EXCELLENT DVD!!.......2007-06-28

EXCELLENT MOVIE WHERE PRINCESS GRACE KELLY SHOWED HER PROFESSIONALISM AS AN ACTRESS!! GRACE KELLY IS ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S FAVORITE ACTRESS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE! RATED BY: BRILI

Average customer rating:

Grace Kelly seals the show in this star vehicle for an Aging Cary Grant
To Catch a Thief Did Not Catch My Fancy
Smart and classy
Very good transfer
EXCELLENT DVD!!

To Catch a Thief
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JJX8
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Grace Kelly seals the show in this star vehicle for an Aging Cary Grant.......2007-08-01

To Catch a Thief Did Not Catch My Fancy.......2007-07-22

Smart and classy .......2007-07-06

Very good transfer.......2007-07-05

I just watched it over the weekend and I felt like I've never seen it before (actually have seen it about ten times).

EXCELLENT DVD!!.......2007-06-28

EXCELLENT MOVIE WHERE PRINCESS GRACE KELLY SHOWED HER PROFESSIONALISM AS AN ACTRESS!! GRACE KELLY IS ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S FAVORITE ACTRESS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE! RATED BY: BRILI

Average customer rating:

Rowan Atkinson is more than Mr. Bean....
My all-time favorite comedy
2nd James Bond 007
Johnny English
Great comedy wrapped in a slick spy package

Johnny English (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Rowan Atkinson , Simon Bernstein , Tim Berrington , Rowland Davies , and Oliver Ford Davies
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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ASIN: B00005JM20
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Amazon.com

Mr. Bean meets Mr. Bond in Johnny English, a spy spoof that skewers the genre with Rowan Atkinson's trademark brand of veddy-British slapstick. It's a bit half-baked as a wannabe franchise, but Atkinson's creation of a new screen persona is just promising enough to warrant a sequel, despite critics' complaints that Austin Powers had already exhausted the spy-spoof's potential. Poppycock! Atkinson's gift for physical and, in this case, even verbal humor will surely please his devoted fans, even when a rather tepidly comedic screenplay prevents the British funnyman from reaching new heights of absurdity. As bumbling superspy Johnny English, who gains top-level MI-7 clearance after inadvertently causing a colleague's demise, Atkinson breathes life into gags that are too familiar to earn such an amusing revival. With John Malkovich as a smarmy Frenchman determined to overthrow the British monarchy, and Natalie Imbruglia as Johnny's comely comrade-in-arms, this slight but enjoyable comedy gives Atkinson plenty of opportunity to mug it up as only he can. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Rowan Atkinson is more than Mr. Bean...........2007-09-07

One of the things that makes Rowan Atkinson a comic genius is that he's a master at both spoken and physical comedy. While fans of Mr. Bean will see Atkinson's physical comedy, fans of the Black Adder series know his comic timing is truly a thing of beauty.

Johnny English is one of the very few pieces that shows Atkinson giving equal time to both. The scene at the funeral can go down as a comedy classic. This film is hilarious.

My all-time favorite comedy.......2007-06-08

Johnny English is my favorite comedy of all time! I've seen it at least 20 times over he past 3 years and am still not tired of it, on the contrary, I find it extremely delightful every time! If you like Rowan Atkinson, make sure you don't miss this comedy! The role of a clumsy secret agent suits him to a T and this is British humor at its best! I've watched a lot of British comedies and this, along with the Blackadder series 1, 2, and 3, are my absolute favorites! Of course much of it is based on cliches, but Atkinson's way of dealing with these cliches is most unexpected and therefore very refreshing.

2nd James Bond 007.......2007-03-22

If you ever fall in love with Mr. Bean, the UK comedy television series, you should fall in love with Johnny English as well. It is one of an outstanding comedy films that combines the clumsiness, laughing out loud moments, and romantic scenes of Rowan Atkinson who is a director himself. It can be described as the combination of Mr. Bean and James Bond 007.

The film has some similarities in both Mr. Bean and James Bond 007. There are many moments in Johnny English that remind the viewers of Mr. Bean. One of them is when Atkinson is in the shower with a duck toy that babies usually play with when they take a shower. This film is different from Mr. Bean due to the fact that the viewers will not be able to hear audiences laughing when Atkinson does something stupid that we usually hear from watching Mr. Bean. It is a film not one of the series that ends in half an hour. The film itself takes about one hour and twenty-eight minutes. In Mr. Bean, the viewers can easily notice that Atkinson plays in the role of a mute person, but not in Johnny English. He speaks with his British Accent in Johnny English. It is also different from James Bonds 007 on account of the film being taken only in United Kingdom instead of all over the world.

Johnny English.......2007-02-12

When I was in the mood for a spy spoof to watch with a certain James Bond film, I decided to give the Austin Powers films a miss, and sample Johnny English (other hopefuls would be Spy Hard, but my recollection of that film is that I wanted to walk out of the theatre--and then there's Spies Like Us, but, uh, no, not right now).

Johnny English stars George Lazenby--oh no wait, that's Rowan Atkinson--and an Australian with very little acting experience, George Lazenby--oh no wait that's Natalie Imruglia. It is Atkinson, as the title character, who helps make this a delightful surprise, along with some pretty funny sequences: for instance, Atkinson having trouble with his tie in a sushi bar, Atkinson involved in a car chase where the car he's in is hanging from the winch of a tow truck.

The knocks against this film, when they come, seem to be as follows: we've had too many spy spoofs, the plot involving John Malkovich as a Frenchman trying to become ruler of England is too ridiculous, and the film isn't that funny. To all this frippery I say: how many, exactly, is too many spy spoofs?, this is a comedy and the outrageous, shamefacedly contrived storyline is so brash and amorphous that it's a daring nonsensical joy, and finally, though not all the gags work perfectly, I found I was laughing most of the way through.

Uh, not to put too fine a point on it, but who is saying we have too many spy spoofs...fans of the TWENTY-ONE Bond films?

More thoughts on the gags: sure, Atkinson's intrusion on a funeral and its results goes on a bit long, and a buttocks-shot joke harks right back to Naked Gun 2(and a half), and the drawn-out results of our bumbling hero's parachute jump onto a skyscraper are only mildly amusing, but there are many more tidbits that I don't want to spoil. It's not true at all that this film is only funny the first time round; if You Only Watch Once, then you deny yourself repeated exposure to Malkovich's bad French accent, and the guy with the eyepatch, the banana-shaped scars, the bad teeth, and the frizzy orange hair.

I think that Johnny English is pretty consistent in doling out the laughs, and that makes it a success as far as I'm concerned. We probably won't see a sequel, so those who feel we have too many spy spoofs shall have their petty little victory, I suppose.

Great comedy wrapped in a slick spy package.......2007-02-03

I've always enjoyed the world of suave spies and all of their gadgets. Giving Rowan Atkinson access to this world sets the stage for many laughs. I was struck by how creatively he can get himself into a variety of messes. The best mess of the movie is when is Aston Martin is towed and he highjacks the truck. His physical "Mr. Bean" humor tied to his "spy-ish" good looks makes his character one of the best that I've seen in a long time. Three cheers for a great, clean comedy.

Average customer rating:

Wow, a lesbian story with a great plot!
Fingersmith review
Fingersmith
wonderful!!
Fingersmith

Fingersmith
Starring: Stephanie Middleton , David Troughton , Imelda Staunton , Karen Seacombe , and Tallulah Pitt-Brown
Director: Aisling Walsh
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
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ASIN: B000A4T804
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Amazon.com

From Sarah Waters, author of Tipping the Velvet, comes this twisting and twisted Victorian-era thriller with an L-word charge. Sally Hawkins stars as Sue, an orphan who grows up among the reprobates of Lant Street to become an accomplished "fingersmith" (thief). Elaine Cassidy costars as Maud Lilly, an heiress who, as a young girl, was plucked from the madhouse and raised by her stern, bibliophile uncle (Charles Dance). He makes her wear gloves at all times so as not to smudge the precious tomes he makes her read every night. Enter Richard Rivers (Rupert Evans, the otherwise sterling cast's weakest link), an artist hired to give her painting lessons. But he has designs on Maude's fortune, and recruits Sue for an elaborate con. That's when the gloves really come off. Originally broadcast on the BBC, this riveting three-part tale of illicit passion and betaryal is by turns harrowing and quite erotic (the tasteful sex scenes manage to generate heat without baring a lot of skin). The literate script reveals its feminist leanings ("You are a man and might do everything," Maude tells Richard during their first meeting. "I am a woman and might do nothing."). The superb cast includes Academy Award-nominee Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) as Mrs. Sucksby, a Fagin-esque character who mentored Sue, and has a few surprises for Maud, as well. --Donald Liebenson

Description

Based on the acclaimed novel by Sarah Waters, author of Tipping the Velvet.

The lives of two young women collide in an engrossing Victorian thriller that alternates between the twisting back alleyways of Dickensian London and the cloistered gloom of a Gothic mansion.

Raised in a den of petty thieves or "fingersmiths," plucky orphan Sue Trinder (Sally Hawkins) agrees to help a conman known as Gentleman (Rupert Evans) defraud and betray wealthy heiress Maud Lilly (Elaine Cassidy). But Sue's plans are turned upside down when she falls in love with Maud. Then the women are separated—each to her own hellish prison—just as they realize the strength of their passion for each other . . .

Fingersmith was originally broadcast on the BBC and features Oscar®-nominee and BAFTA-winner Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) and BAFTA-nominee Charles Dance (The Jewel in the Crown).

Customer Reviews:

Wow, a lesbian story with a great plot! .......2007-08-31

Fingersmith is definitely worth adding to your collection. I bought this movie on a whim based on a hot clip on you tube and was not disappointed. The only thing that keeps me from giving a 5 star rating, is the length (3hr); however, the twists will not disappoint.

Fingersmith review.......2007-08-10

Fingersmith is an adaptation of a novel by Sarah Waters, of the same name. The show revolves round the lives of two women who was thrown together by fate and grew to love each other.

The characters are beautifully portrayed by leads Elaine Cassidy and Sally Hawkins. Perhaps best classified as a Victorian romance mystery, the show has kept faithfully to Water's plot and fans of the writer will not be dissatisfied.

Fingersmith.......2007-07-05

It was pretty good. I would rate it as 3 stars. It's not a favorite, but I'm glad I watched it. Now that I have seen it, I wouldn't recommend it for a video library or anything.

wonderful!!.......2007-06-21

This was a beautiful film, the characters were very well-rounded, I was convinced that the two women really loved each other and the story took an unexpected twist which I really enjoyed.

Fingersmith.......2007-05-31

I bought this film after buying another on the 'people who bought that sometimes buy this' kind of link. My original purchase was of a DVD called 'Tipping the Velvet' which was based on a book by Sarah Waters. I had seen the original of this when it was screened as a TV mini-series and very much enjoyed it.
Now to the Fingersmith DVD. This film claims to be based on the same book and the synpsis is similar. Other than this there is no similarity in the two films.
Fingersmith has a completely different plot and though it is a good film I cannot see how the makers can claim a link to the original book.
There are some outstanding performances in this film especially by Imelda Staunton.
A good film and worth the time watching it.

Average customer rating:

I was rooting for Robert Patrick
MAKES THE RAMBO SEQUELS SEEM LIKE CITIZEN KANE!
Another one-man army
Cena=Damon
If Nothing Else At Least Cena Could be the next Bourne

The Marine (Unrated Edition)
Starring: John Cena , Robert Patrick , Kelly Carlson , Anthony Ray Parker , and Abigail Bianca
Director: John Bonito (II)
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: B000KX0HIW
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Amazon.com

The feature film debut of wrestling superstar John Cena, The Marine offers an agreeable smorgasbord of slam-bang action for viewers willing to swallow whole their disbelief for the sake of enjoying the plot. Cena, who is one of the most animated performers in the wrestling arena, is saddled with a taciturn role as a former Marine with an authority problem who tangles with dangerous jewel thieves (led by Robert Patrick) after they take his wife (Kelly Carlson of Nip/Tuck) hostage. Cena handles the physical duties of his role with ease, and former commercial director John Bonito offers him a frantic array of situations in which to display his prowess. On the whole, however, the picture is very light in the logic department, and filled with cardboard characters that quickly wear out their welcome (save Patrick, who tosses villainous one-liners with scene-stealing brio). Extras include a making-of featurette, which includes talking-head interviews with the cast, crew, and WWE head/producer Vince McMahon, as well as a barrage of shorter featurettes on Cena's rise to fame and the film's premiere at Camp Pendleton. --Paul Gaita

Description

WWE champion John Cena dominates the big screen as Marine John Triton. Wherever there's danger, Triton is usually smack dab in the middle of it... and he doesn't play by rules! After he's unwillingly discharged from Iraq, Triton's beautiful wife Kate ("Nip And Tuck's" Kelly Carlson) is kidnapped by merciless jewel thieves led by a vicious killer (Robert Patrick)! Now, Triton must fight to save her, utilizing his most powerful weapon ? himself!

Customer Reviews:

I was rooting for Robert Patrick.......2007-08-31

Patrick was the only real enjoyable part of this whole movie, and he kept it entertaining, which is the only reason I could think of anyone (who's not a kid or a Cena fan)wanting to see this movie. The movie pretty much portrays Cena in the action film genre as the WWE portrays him as a WWE superstar, invincible, unbeatable, and never get's injured. The way bullets and explosions always seem to miss him make it seem like John Woo films (such as Hard Boiled)are realistic enough to be documentaries. The 2 scenes I can easily point out as examples include when Cena is driving a car at the car the villians are driving, and 2 or 3 villians are unloading magazine after magazine rounds at the 'front' of the car, shattering the window, destroying the hood, and yet not one even scratches Cena who doesn't even try to dodge most of them (there's one part where he tries to put up a bullet proof vest, but that only lasts for a couple seconds, and you mine as well forget it ever happened when compared to the rest of the scene). Then the part at the end fight (with Patrick) where Cena takes a sledgehammer to the gut at a full force impact, then continues the fight 15 seconds later like nothing happened.

The movie is good as a one time popcorn flick with a few buddies, but even then it would still not be enjoyable since, like in 9 out of 10 Cena matches in the WWE, Cena wins, and the opponent(s) people are really cheering for and who are overall better than Cena (in this case, Patrick has better charisma and acting skills) lose.

See it if you want, but I would put it on the 'pass' list. There are worse movies than this.

MAKES THE RAMBO SEQUELS SEEM LIKE CITIZEN KANE!.......2007-08-28

I have to say this movie is beyond ridiculous! When watching an action movie like this, one should have an open mind and realize that this is a fatasy world, but....... "The Marine" is summed up in one sentence in the film. As one character says to Robert Patrick's character(who starred in T2 Terminator 2)and says this guy is like the Terminator!.......That was the funniest line in the movie, but this guy isn't the Terminator and he escapes too many sure deaths for me to take this movie any more serious than an old Looney Tune cartoon! The acting is terrible and the characters are not intersting.....in short...this movie SUX!

Another one-man army.......2007-08-26

At the outset, it is prudent to state the obvious: action movies are prone to having sequences that are not believable. No matter how good (or bad) the action flick, this remains true. However, some action movies push the envelope so far beyond the realm of believability that the movies become more like cartoons rather than films to be taken seriously.

Such is the case with this present movie. There are huge explosions in which people walk away unscathed. A police car gets shot to pieces by about a thousand bullets, then flies off a cliff, yet our hero waltzes away as insouciantly as though he's returning from Walmart with a bag of groceries.

The casting of the story is decent. Robert Patrick is nice & sinister and as such plays a good bad guy, and there is a cute reference to Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (Extreme DVD). John Cena is certainly buffed up enough to be a credible action hero, but the problem is he has no acting prowess whatsoever. He makes fellow wrestler-turned-actor The Rock look like Charleton Heston.

By far & away the best performance belongs to Kelly Carlson. It is clear that she has bona-fide acting talents, most of which are wasted in this farce of an action movie. I do hope to see more of her in the future - much more!

Beyond the believability aspect of the film, the pacing is pretty lousy. The opening scene shows the hero doing heroic things on a mission against terrorists in Iraq. I think the movie would have been much better had they stretched out this scene another 20 minutes, as it was actually interesting. Instead, they stretch out the last 1/2 of the film, and things move along at a snail's pace.

Also, it appears that the filmmakers were a bit torn on which direction they wanted the movie to go, ratings wise. It had a few golden opportunities for un-contrived gratuitous nudity. Unfortunately, they held back, ostensibly just for the PG-13 rating. Had they made an "R" version of the movie, it would have been a lot better. I would have loved to see Ms. Carlson topless!

All-in-all, this movie is for action movie junkies only. And, even they will wince at just how un-believable some of the sequences are. For myself, I hope that John Cena goes to acting school before making another film. Hey, it DID work wonders for Arnie!

Cena=Damon.......2007-08-14

John Cena is Matt Damon. Maybe they are twins hahaha. This movie can't compare to the Bourne films. It should be revelaed that Jason Bourne's real name is John Cena lol.

If Nothing Else At Least Cena Could be the next Bourne.......2007-08-10

In the Marine, John Cena plays a discharged marine who tracks down the jewel thieves that kidnapped his wife. It draws inevitable comparisons to Commando, Die Hard and countless other action flics - and it doesn't shy away from that. The movie doesn't take itself too seriously and throws in knowing references to other 'blow-em up' films [including a Terminator line for the sake of lead baddie Robert Patrick]. There's nothing new or really eye popping to see here. It is a formula driven testerone fest that does all the usual things that movies like this are supposed to do and it is all pulled off fairly well. Don't go into it expecting Bourne-like intrigue; however, don't be surprised if you find yourself thinking how much John Cena looks like Bourne actor Matt Damon from the neck up. If there were a Bourne spoof Cena would be a no-brainer to play the title character.

Average customer rating:

Luv Butler
It lacks bite.....
I liked the origin of Dracula idea, but the plane....
Sexy Vampires
Great spin on Dracula

Dracula 2000
Starring: Omar Epps , Colleen Fitzpatrick , Locklyn Munro , Christopher Plummer , and Jeri Ryan
Director: Patrick Lussier
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00003CXSD
Release Date: 2001-07-03

Amazon.com

As a director, Wes Craven has been able to infuse his horror movies with humor and some smart, often genuinely creepy, thrills, even on his lowest-budgeted films. As a producer of horror movies, well, his record has been spotty at best. Craven tapped his longtime editor Patrick Lussier to direct Dracula 2000, and the movie ends up with all the good and bad of "a Wes Craven production." A modern-day update of the Dracula legend, the script has some genuinely good ideas. Christopher Plummer (The Insider) takes a relatively juicy role as Van Helsing, owner of an antiques shop specializing in ancient weapons. He takes exception to how his namesake was portrayed in Bram Stoker's classic novel, which he's more than happy to tell his assistant (Jonny Lee Miller, "Sick Boy" from Trainspotting) without telling him the whole story. When Omar Epps leads a band of high-tech criminals to break into Van Helsing's high security vault (thinking that with so much security there's got to be something extremely valuable in there), what they end up stealing is the body of Dracula, who of course awakens from his slumber. When the story shifts to New Orleans, where Van Helsing's estranged daughter is working for the local Virgin Megastore (here metaphor is replaced by product placement), Dracula is drawn to her. The undead start to multiply, and the vampire hunt resumes. Another excellent idea deals with a new origin to Dracula, flashing back to biblical times to explain his aversion to silver and crosses. But there is a downside. Under the inept direction of Lussier the movie is never scary, inspiring instead an occasional feeling of pity for the actors. Overall, this a vampire movie for the mind, not the heart. --Andy Spletzer

Description

The master of modern horror, Wes Craven, presents a riveting adaptation of the chilling classic featuring Jennifer Esposito (SUMMER OF SAM), Omar Epps (IN TOO DEEP), Jonny Lee Miller (TRAINSPOTTING), Vitamin C (GET OVER IT), and Jeri Ryan (STAR TREK: VOYAGER). When a team of techno-savvy thieves breaks into a high-security vault, they don't discover priceless artwork ... they find a crypt that hasn't been opened for 100 years! Suddenly, the ancient terror of Dracula is unleashed in the chaotic 21st century. Free to follow his pursuits of seduction and power, Dracula's first destination is America and the exotic city of New Orleans, a place where he feels right at home. Not far behind, however, is a young vampire hunter (Miller) from London, determined to save a young woman (Justine Waddell) with whom Dracula shares his dark legacy!

Customer Reviews:

Luv Butler.......2007-08-13

Butler at his Sexiest best. I hit rewind so many times I almost had to buy a new remote!! A great new twist on an old favorite. I loved it.

It lacks bite............2007-07-14

Sorry for the bite part, but it's true, This film is predictable, gory, and has no point to it at all. When it comes to Dracula, American film makers don't get it.

I liked the origin of Dracula idea, but the plane...........2007-07-09

The origin of Dracula the vampire is given a very original take in this movie and is done very well. In fact, the origin of the vampire actually makes sense in this movie. Gerard Butler turns in a terrific performance as Dracula. I can actually see what the ladies see in him. Christopher Plummer starts out with the plum role then gets killed. I didn't like that. This is Dracula. Van Helsing doesn't get killed. He can get bit, beat up, burned or whatever, but killing off Van Helsing is a no-no. Justine Waddell is Van Helsing's daughter, Mary. She gives a good performance in a role that is mostly standing around looking bewildered, but she seems like a trooper. There is a lot of fighting and action in this film. There's enough blood I think to satisfy most people. Dracula is sexy enough for the ladies and the female vampires are plenty sexy enough for the guys. Vampire kisses were never more fun to watch. If there was one thing I would have changed in this film, it would have been the scene in the airplane. First, it was waaay too long if downright unnecesssary. Second, what was that guy thinking? You open up an ancient coffin to find live leeches. Do you know what a clue is? Anyway, I thought this was a pretty good movie with an original idea that was carried off well. Definately worth watching. Oh, one more thing. I don't know what happened, but they finished the movie by shamelessly leaving it open for a sequel with Mary Van Helsing

Sexy Vampires.......2007-07-08

This film sounds like just another b movie but it actually surprised me. This is not your typical Dracula film and I loved the twist at the end. Gerard Butler is sexy as hell and I never understood why his name is not mentioned on the cover of the DVD! I mean, he IS Dracula after all. check it out if you like vampire movies.

Great spin on Dracula.......2007-06-04

I have always have a love for Dracula and Dracula movies and I must say that this one had a great spin on the fabled Dracula. Gerard Butler as Dracula was amazing. He mesmerized with his eyes just as you would imagine Dracula doing. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and seeing Gerard Butler, the rising star, in one of his earlier performances. Gerard Butler fans will love it.

Average customer rating:

Played
Starring: Patrick Bergin , Gabriel Byrne , Roy Dotrice , Val Kilmer , and Bruno Kirby
Director: Sean Stanek
Manufacturer: Lionsgate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000Q7ZLQA
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Description

After taking the fall for a heist gone wrong, thief-for-hire Ray Burns is back on the streets. Looking to settle the score, he must get back in the game one last time to take down his enemies. In this gritty look at London's criminal underground, Ray learns the hard way not to get PLAYED.

Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

A classic movie for just about any viewer
the best of the best
English dub not appropriate for younger children
JonesK43
One of my favorite films by Hayao Miyazaki

Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro (Special Edition)
Starring: Yasuo Yamada , Bob Bergen , Eiko Masuyama , Kiyoshi Kobayashi , and Makio Inoue
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Manufacturer: Manga Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000FGG5NK
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Amazon.com

Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro) achieved his first international hit with this delightful 1979 adventure yarn. Quick-paced, high-spirited, and loaded with wit, Cagliostro is a dandy throwback to the caper pictures of the '60s. International man of mystery Lupin III stumbles back into the picturesque European duchy of Cagliostro with his faithful and gruff sidekick, Jigen. They will encounter, in no particular order, a runaway bride, a magical ring, an evil count with a dastardly plan, an inspector bent on catching Lupin, perilous rooftop chases, hooded guards with superhuman powers, a well-used dungeon, a counterfeiting scheme, and an ancient mystery promising grand treasure. Lupin deploys an array of Bond-type gadgets, razor-sharp wit, and a surprise up both his sleeves. Despite the hail of bullets, this caper is great fun, never taking itself seriously. Miyazaki's career illustrates how limiting the term anime can be for these films; there are hardly more than 10 live-action films of this genre as entertaining. Far less mean than Hollywood fare, it nevertheless is for ages 9 and up with language and gunplay. The Lupin character has been featured in other anime films, but never as successfully or with as much fun as in Miyazaki's film. The new English-language dubbing is excellent to boot. --Doug Thomas

Description

When master thief Lupin III, a.k.a. "The Wolf" inadvertently steals a fortune in counterfeit bills from a casino, he is quick to realize the high-quality printing plates that made them are worth even more. Tracing the source of the money to the small European country of Cagliostro, Lupin and his team of colorful outlaws cross swords with the local count over his forthcoming marriage to the last princess of the Cagliostro family. It's fast-paced adventure as Lupin must battle fearsome ninjas, rescue a damsel in distress and uncover the key to the lost Cagliostro fortune. The first feature film written and directed by Academy Award™ winning anime pioneer and visionary Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Laputa: Castle in the Sky), the film was allegedly inspired by Prince Rainier of Monaco's wedding to American movie star Grace Kelly as well as Maurice Leblanc's 1924 novel Countess Cagliostro. In fact "Lupin III" creator Monkey Punch, originally conceived of the character as the grandson of M. Leblanc's Arsene Lupin: Gentleman Thief - a rogue Sherlock Holmes famous for swindling goods from the World's rich. "The Wolf's" adventures have since became some of Japan's most popular stories and were made into three television series, five movies and numerous made-for-TV movies. The animated movie The Castle of Cagliostro, was the second film featuring the Lupin character. In addition, a Sony Playstation game of "Cagliostro" was released in January 1997 and film footage from The Castle of Cagliostro was used in an early 80's laserdisc-based arcade game called "Cliffhanger." Many features of Miyazaki's other works can be seen in this film, including the Mediterranean Riviera setting seen in Porco Rosso, the strong environmentally-conscious female protagonist familiar from both Nausicaa and Princess Mononoke, the mossy ruins from Laputa and the final location of the Cagliostro treasure which draws heavily from scenes within his 1971 take on Treasure Island.

Customer Reviews:

A classic movie for just about any viewer.......2007-09-02

A very strong story coupled with a classic cast of memorable characters makes this a must own for any anime fan and a great watch for anyone else. Directed by the award winning Hayao Miyazaki, the plotline is filled with action, suspense, romance and comedy, all strung together magnificently such that the story never drags. The characters look somewhat dated due to their iconic design but overall the visuals still look magnificent. The soundtrack is magnificent and complements the story well. Watch this movie and you won't be disappointed.

the best of the best.......2007-07-05

The Castle of Cagliostro is the first full length movie featuring Lupin III. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, who became later on an international superstar (with movies like Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, My Friend Totoro).
The Castle of Cagliostro is in the words of Spielberg one of the best action movies of all time. It's catchy, it's intriguing and and it's visually perfect.
In the 1970s Hayao Miyazaki directed the first series of TV episodes of Luoin III and also directed a series called 'Conan -the future boy'--based on Alexander Key's novel "the incredible tide'. Those who have seen Hayao Miyazaki' Conan will not fail to recognize that the characters in the Castle of Cagliostro are visually very similar to those in the Conan series.
With the exception of spirited away, Castle of Cagliostro is probably Hayao Miyazaki's best movie. As in all the most recent movies by Hayao Miyazaki, the movie makes full use of the four elements; water,air, fire and earth. Unlike the most recent movies by Miyazaki, Castle of Cagliostro is not pervaded by the magical realism that characterizes spirited away, porco rosso and so on. there is very little magic in the castle of cagliostro. but the movie is permeated by the kindness which pervades all Miyazaki's movies (and which is th reason why some hard core Lupin III fans were not so happy with this movie).
but again, the Castel of Cagliostro is a great movie. it's ingenious, it is innovative, it is full of action and it's a lot of fun. one of the best cartoon-movies ever made

English dub not appropriate for younger children.......2007-05-28

We are big Miyazki fans. Lupin III was one of the only ones we don't have. However, the dub was done more for teenage anime fans, than for family watching. In the first 4 minutes you have "son of a bi***", "bast***", "he**", and "sh**". We stopped there - I can only assume this carries on throughout the film.

We watch Miyazaki films precisely to avoid this type of gratuitous language. Usually the PG/PG-13 ratings have to do with the violence intrinsic to the moral conflict of the film - which is something you can discuss with children. This language was a pointless addition.

JonesK43.......2007-05-13

This is a spectacular mix of comedy and James Bond. Beautifully animated and a wonderful collection for anyone familiar with Studio Ghibli or Spirited Away.

One of my favorite films by Hayao Miyazaki.......2007-04-27

"The Castle of Cagliostro" is one of my favorite films by Hayao Miyazaki, but this U.S. version made such an unforgivable change on the opening title sequence! The original Japanese version features beautiful scenes of Lupin and Jigen traveling though Europe. But the U.S version changed these fully animated scenes into a bunch of still images so that it could lay English titles over them! This is such an unfortunate rendition of the masterpiece, and for that, I give it 4 stars. Otherwise the movie easily deserves 5 stars, and this special edition has superb picture quality as well.

Average customer rating:

Thief lord 4 eva!
Why Watch a Movie About a Rich Kid Thief?
The theif Lord
Bright Eyes and Happy Smiles
Loved it !!!

The Thief Lord
Starring: Aaron Johnson (III) , Jasper Harris , Rollo Weeks , Alice Connor , and George MacKay
Director: Richard Claus
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000CNE07Y
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Amazon.com

The Thief Lord is a blend of Dickensian adventure and Harry Potter magic, an exciting adaptation of a popular novel by Cornelia Funke. A pair of orphaned and separated brothers, Prosper (Aaron Johnson) and Bo (Jasper Harris), escape their dreary homes in England and flee to Venice, Italy. On their first, frightening night there, they find sanctuary with the Thief Lord (Rollo Weeks), a masked, 16-year-old boy who gives them, along with a gaggle of other orphans, shelter in a shuttered movie theater. Living on the spoils of the Thief Lord's nightly raids of the rich, the kids become a happy, self-sufficient family that only has to stay out of the clutches of police and a nosy private detective (Jim Carter). But things change when a strange, elderly pair ask the kids to steal a strange object--a hunk of wood carved into the shape of a wing--for a lot of cash. What follows is completely unexpected, wildly imaginative, mysterious, and a lot of fun. The story has a way of sticking with one long after the film is over. With a cameo by Vanessa Redgrave, and loads of gorgeous exteriors of sunny Venice. Directed by Richard Claus, producer of The Little Vampire. --Tom Keogh

Description

Mystical, magical and completely enchanting, this epic tale in the tradition of the Harry Potter series brings the beloved characters of prize-winning novelist Cornelia Funke to dazzling life. After their mother dies, two boys flee their mean aunt and head for Venice, Italy, where they meet Scipio, the mysterious "Thief Lord." Along with a small band of abandoned kids who call an old movie theater home, the boys join Scipio's world of robbing the rich to support themselves. Soon, they win the heart of the detective hired to track them, and begin an adventure that leads them to an old merry-go-round believed to have special powers. Featuring Vanessa Redgrave and a captivating supporting cast, The Thief Lord will steal your heart from beginning to end.

Customer Reviews:

Thief lord 4 eva!.......2007-03-15

The thief lord is a realy good adventure/family movie. i read the book and since then i'd been begging my mum to get the Thief Lord on DVD. then when i saw it in the library i thought. well now this is cool i can take it out whenever i want. so i took it out todays ago and since then ive watched it twice. I really enjoyed it and i have to say that Aaron Johnson and Rollo Weeks are well hot and i'd really like to meet them and ask them some questions about the movie. the way Prosper and Bo seemed to hav a connection that was really special and the way scipio was actually a very rich boy but hung out with the orphans and thieves. I really enjoyed it and if i could actually just meet Aaron Johnson or Rollo Weeks i'd be really excited. im just about 12 and i wont be able to write here much longer so kids listen here. the theif lords a good 'un and u better watch it!

Why Watch a Movie About a Rich Kid Thief?.......2007-02-26

Why this movie is an award winner I don't know, and can't imagine. Its production quality is first rate, but the values in it are horrible from a traditional values point of view. The Thief Lord is a son of a wealthy family that steals. In a way, he is a fifteen year old Robin Hood. It isn't made clear what he does with the money, except that he seems to support a bunch or orphans and runaway kids. There is a bit of fantasy in the story as a magical merry-go-around turns kids into adults and adults into kids. If parents show this movie to their kids, there is much to discuss. I sometimes say that nobody is completely useless; they can always be used as a bad example. I'd say the same about this movie - it isn't completely useless, parents can point out all these kids are doing wrong or immorally. However, there are so many great movies with good traditional values that it seems pointless to waste time on one such as this. There are even a few swear words in the movie.

The theif Lord.......2007-01-24

The novel The Thief Lord was my favorite book. The setting of this book is Venice, Italy. The main characters are Scipio, Prosper, Bo, and Hornet. Prosper and Bo ran away from their home to Italy. In Italy they meet new friends. To find out more you will have to read the book.
Peter.S,Grade 5, ,Harrisville, RI

Bright Eyes and Happy Smiles.......2007-01-16

I have not seen The Thief Lord, it was bought as a Christmas present for my five year old Graanddaughter. She had specifically requested it. Judging from her happy excitement when she opened the package, believe it was success.

Loved it !!!.......2007-01-13

A great movie - arrived in a timely manner, no imperfections, we loved it!!!

Average customer rating:

Man's search for dignity...
Essential cinema: De Sica's 'Ladri di biciclette.'
White hot moral thriller
Cinema will never forget such movie like this.
Self-Interest in The Bicycle Thief

The Bicycle Thief
Starring: Lamberto Maggiorani , Enzo Staiola , Lianella Carell , Gino Saltamerenda , and Vittorio Antonucci
Director: Vittorio De Sica
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
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ASIN: 6305081034
Release Date: 1998-11-24

Amazon.com essential video

Vittorio De Sica's remarkable 1947 drama of desperation and survival in Italy's devastating post-war depression earned a special Oscar for its affecting power. Shot in the streets and alleys of Rome, De Sica uses the real-life environment of contemporary life to frame his moving drama of a desperate father whose new job delivering cinema posters is threatened when a street thief steals his bicycle. Too poor to buy another, he and his son take to the streets in an impossible search for his bike. Cast with nonactors and filled with the real street life of Rome, this landmark film helped define the Italian neorealist approach with its mix of real life details, poetic imagery, and warm sentimentality. De Sica uses the wandering pair to witness the lives of everyday folks, but ultimately he paints a quiet, poignant portrait of father and son, played by nonprofessionals Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola, whose understated performances carry the heart of the film. De Sica and scenarist Cesare Zavattini also collaborated on Shoeshine, Miracle in Milan, and Umberto D, all classics in the neorealist vein, but none of which approach the simple poetry and quiet power achieved in The Bicycle Thief. --Sean Axmaker

Description

A beautiful, simple story of a man in post-war Rome who needs his bicycle in order to work at his job. No sooner does he retrieve it from pawn, then it is stolen. The heartwrenching search teaches the man and his son much about the meaning of life and just how far we will go when pushed to the edge. Winner of a special Academy Award.

Customer Reviews:

Man's search for dignity..........2007-08-08

Vittorio De Sica's 1949 film is a definitely a cinema classic! It is a truly moving story about a man (Ricci) in hard time Italy trying to get a job to support his family. He lands a good paying job, but he must have a bicycle. Sometime before, Ricci pawned his bicycle to feed his family. His loyal wife pawns her sheets to obtain the money to get the bike back. He gets his bike and the job, but the first day on the job his bike is stolen. The rest of the movie takes us on a journey of how Ricci and young son, Bruno desparately try to find the stolen bike so Ricci could have the job to care for his family. We feel sorry for Ricci. His desparation to recover his bike leads him to steal another man's bicycle. He is caught and humiliated in front of his son, Bruno. My favorite scene is where he takes his son into a restaurant with the little money he has. They order a meager lunch. Sitting next to them was a wealthy family. The rich little boy was trying to show off with all the good food he had. Bruno took his mozzarella toast and made it look like it was the best meal ever---his smile back to the rich kid said it all! This is a definite buy! Only one minor fault, the subtitles, at times, went to fast and you were constantly having to choose between reading or watching.

Essential cinema: De Sica's 'Ladri di biciclette.' .......2007-07-21

Based on a novel by Luigi Bartolini, Vittorio De Sica's (1901-1974) Italian neorealist film, The Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di biciclette) (1948), tells the story of a father, Antonio Ricci (Lamberto Maggiorani), who searches the streets of Rome with his son, Bruno (Enzo Staiola ) for his stolen bicycle. So that Antonio could start his new job posting Rita Hayworth flyers, his wife Maria pawned their wedding sheets for money to get the bicycle from the pawnbroker. Desperate to support his family, Antonio eventually attempts to steal another bicycle, but is caught and humiliated in front of his son. Realizing he is not morally superior to the thief, Antonio faces a bleak future in Italy's depressed post-World War II economy.

The Bicycle Thieves is perhaps the best known film of the neorealist film movement, which sought to bring realism to cinema. Using documentary-style camera work and ordinary people with no training as actors (Lamberto Maggiorani was a factory worker), De Sica shot his film entirely on location in the streets and alleys of Rome. De Sica refused to cut two scenes from the film which were considered obscene at the time. In the first, Bruno attempts to relieve himself against a wall. In the second, Antonio finds the thief into the kitchen of a brothel. Hollywood nevertheless awarded the movie a special Oscar.

Rich in human insights, The Bicycle Thieves will steal your heart. It is among my all-time personal film favorites. The two-disc Criterion edition offers a first-rate, crisp digital transfer of the film with a clear soundtrack. The second disc includes three extras: Life as It Is: The Neorealist Movement in Italy, a 40-minute introduction to postwar Italian cinema; Working with De Sica, a 22-minute documentary featuring surviving cast members and crew; and a 55-minute documentary on the life of Zavattini.

G. Merritt

White hot moral thriller.......2007-06-19

I saw this movie as a child and somehow understood it to be a movie about a stolen bicycle.... Now that I have finally seen this fantastic new Criterion release, I can tell you that I was wrong. "The Bicycle Thieves" is a white hot moral thriller where a series of bad decisions compound on one another from bad to worse and not stopping for ninety straight minutes showing that no matter how deep you are in the hole, you can always get deeper. No matter how much you've lost, you can always loose something else, something much more valuable, something you do not appreciate until you have lost it. While worrying about the wrinkles in a poster, Antonio looses the bicycle which is required for his livelihood. In his desperate search to recover his stolen bicycle, he looses his decorum, his principles, and ultimately the respect of his son; he harms his marriage and his relationship to his son, perhaps irreparably; and he almost looses his son to a pedophile, to drowning, and then to speeding cars. To say any more would spoil the movie for you. Suffice to say that behind the "simple plot" perceived by children, this is one of the best movies ever made, a searing moral thriller, and Criterion has finally provided us a worthy transfer. Bravo Criterion! Bravo Vittorio De Sica!

Cinema will never forget such movie like this........2007-05-12

Simpley it is an advantage to every cinema lover to have this great film in his/her archive. One of the most remarkable movies of europian cinema, directed by Viterio Decica.

Self-Interest in The Bicycle Thief.......2007-05-06

This story begs the question: what would you do to support your family? It forces the audience consider poverty and unemployment, issues that we must confront even today. As we sympathize with Antonio, possibly attempting to justify his actions in our mind, we must then analyze the young thief who stole Antonio's bike, the cause of our frustrations from the beginning of the film, and give him the same sympathy. Perhaps he was only trying to feed his family as well. Nevertheless, that didn't give him the right to steal another's livelihood, to put Antonio's family at risk. In the same way, Antonio's desperation doesn't give him the right to potentially put another man's family at risk by stealing his bike. Owning a bike becomes the conduit through which selfish survival instincts allow man to exploit man. It also leads us to ask questions like: Does one society's need justify the misuse of another society? De Sica presents these questions to his audience by creating characters with which one can easily identify, and whose actions can be easily interpreted. It is through our reflections and interpretations that we can then know ourselves.
The most respectable aspect of De Sica's film mastery is the way in which he gives the characters of The Bicycle Thief dignity and personal values despite their disadvantaged situation. Antonio's friends who work all night collecting garbage, then help him search for his bike all day are the epitome of compassion and friendship. His wife, as well, in her giving efforts to secure a job for him, exemplifies great consideration. De Sica skillfully pushes the audience to consider the seed of arrogance within Antonio that drives his actions, while maintaining in him a man deserving of our understanding.

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