Sabrina

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Julia Ormond faced one of the great challenges of her career when she tried to re-create Audrey Hepburn's title role in the 1995 remake of 1954's Sabrina. Happily, Ormond performed admirably, and while she may not have the same gamine charm of Hepburn, she makes the role her own. In fact, her transformation from mousy girl to sophisticated young woman is actually more dramatic in this updated version. The basic plot is the same--chauffeur's daughter falls in love with the son of the rich household, only to be wooed away by the older brother for business purposes--but it has been entertainingly modernized: The head of the Larrabee household is the strong matriarch (Nancy Marchand); Sabrina goes to Paris to work with a photographer instead of going to cooking school (although that means the wonderful "new egg" scene of the original had to be ditched); David's (Greg Kinnear) character has been toned down and made more sympathetic; and Humphrey Bogart's revolutionary plastic has become the flattest TV screen ever made. Lauren Holly does a fine job playing Elizabeth Tyson, David's fiancée. If you watch this for its own worth--instead of comparing it to the original--this will prove to be a terrific lighthearted romantic comedy. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews:

Hate me, but this is better than the Hepburn version.......2007-08-22

Most crtics would disagree with me, but I liked this movie far better than the Bogart/Hepburn version. I love Harrison Ford--he's very sexy and I never thought Bogie was even attractive, much less sexy and I'm 58 years old. Julia Ormond is also far prettier than Audrey Hepburn. I liked Hepburn, she was just way too fragile looking. It was always hard for me to see her as an adult. In this remake, Linus'(Harrison Ford) transformation from total workaholic to a man who understood the need to LIVE was gradual and believable. I saw little, if any, difference in the character as played by Bogart. And Julia Ormond's Sabrina went convincingly from awkward teen with a major crush on the younger brother (SPOILER ALERT) to sophisticated adult who discovers real love with the older brother, Linus. I absolutely loved the ending. Highly recommended.

Disappointed.......2007-08-11

The DVD is faulty! It's not able to load or play - an error happens when loading it! I'd like to return it please.

The 1st movie's a classic, but the second speaks to me more.......2007-07-29

Now I admit, I am very biased with this movie because my mother named me after the 1st film, so for me to be a fan of this movie is something of a no-brainer. I own both versions, and I really think each movie should be judged by its own merits. However, if I have to choose which I favor, it would have to be the 1995 re-make because I feel that it speaks more to my generation that the earlier version.

Of course, Humphrey Bogart is the strong, silent type, and Audrey Hepburn is the epitome of elegance, and they played their roles in a way that was accurate and appropriate for 1954, but let's face it, Audrey's sort of elegance for many today is somewhat unattainable. I liked the way Julia Ormond interpreted Sabrina because while she is played as savvy, she is still somewhat vulnerable, and not afraid to be so. I also liked the way she brings out the vulnerability and tenderness in Linus "the world's only living heart donor" as played by Harrison Ford.

A few other reasons why I appreciate the remake?

The various characters were better developed in the 2d movie. In the original it was as though they were blending in with the furniture. Linus's admin just cracked me up with her dry humor. The mother was pretty funny at points, too. I also liked the fact that Elizabeth Tyson is played up more intelligently in the re-make than in the original...and that despite the temptation in the end, David honors his commitment to Elizabeth in the end. About the only "airhead" was the Angie Dickenson character, but even that role was humorous. I cracked up watching her be all flirty with Linus at the dinner.

Recently, I had a chance to read the entire script from the original 1953 Samuel Taylor play entitled Sabrina Fair: A Woman Of The World. I discovered that the 1995 movie is actually closer to the script of the play than the 1954 movie. In the original movie, there's no mention of the fact that Fairchild, the chauffer having become a millionaire over the years by listening into Larabee Sr.'s transactions, but the play and the remake do mention it. I feel that part is essential to the story as part of the issue in both movies was class distinction...albeit moreso in the former than in the latter.

My only complaint? I used to have this movie in VHS, and that version included a video of Sting singing the song "Moonlight." I was disappointed that the DVD did not include this beautiful song.

Sabrina - Harrison Ford.......2007-06-27

A solidly enjoyable mushy romance. Nice update in that the Sabrina charactor was a much more substantial human being.

Good...........2007-06-16

...but not as good as the original. I think everyone did a great job in it and you will enjoy it.

Average customer rating:

Poor recording
That Touch of Mink
Movie of Doris is always pleasant.
classic comedy
That Touch of Mink

That Touch of Mink
Starring: Cary Grant , Doris Day , Gig Young , Audrey Meadows , and Alan Hewitt
Director: Delbert Mann
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
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ASIN: B000056BOR
Release Date: 2001-01-23

Description

A wholesome young woman gets swept into the world of the rich and famous when a romantic business tycoon falls in love with her simple country ways.

Customer Reviews:

Poor recording .......2007-07-30

I bought the Artisan version. Half way through it started blurring, skipping, and stopped. Multiple attempts to get it to run failed.

That Touch of Mink.......2007-07-27

Doris Day movies are excellent. They may be old but this will never by out of date. Worth every penny you spend for them. They will always make you feel good.

Movie of Doris is always pleasant........2007-07-03

Movie of Doris is always pleasant.Besides, she is cute.
Doris is charming, and she always pleases everybody by the performance that, besides, playfulness is plentiful in a movie.
Cary Grant gives a good performance.

classic comedy.......2007-05-12

I loved this movie and all the actors in it. It's very cute and funny and I would recommend it to others.

That Touch of Mink.......2007-03-18

Great movie!! Any Cary Grant/Doris Day fan would love to have to watch over and over.

Average customer rating:

Romantic
Sabrina
Paris when it rains...
Sabrina
TIMELESS

Sabrina
Starring: Marjorie Bennett , Humphrey Bogart , Francis X. Bushman , Ellen Corby , and Marcel Dalio
Director: Billy Wilder
Manufacturer: Paramount
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ASIN: B00003CXCG
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Product Description

Sabrina is charming, humorous and aglow with some of Hollywood's greatest stars. Humphrey Bogart, William Holden and Audrey Hepburn star in a Cinderella stroy directed by renowned filmmaker Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot). Bogie and Holden are the mega-rich Larrabee brothers of Long Island. Bogie's all work, Holden's all playboy. But when Sabrina, daughter of the family's chauffer, returns from Paris all grown up and glamourous, the stage is set for some family fireworks as the brothers fall under the spell of Hepburn's delightful charms.

Amazon.com essential video

Audrey Hepburn is the delightful young Sabrina, the daughter of a chauffeur who is hopelessly in love with David Larrabee (William Holden), the playboy younger son in the rich Long Island household her father works for. In order to help her forget her woes, Sabrina is shipped off to cooking school in Paris. While there, she befriends a baron who provides a bit of culture--and the encouragement to snip off her childlike ponytail. Upon her return to New York, Sabrina is transformed into a sophisticated woman, and David is entranced by her. However, his older brother Linus (Humphrey Bogart) has arranged David's marriage to Elizabeth Tyson in order to seal a business merger and thus must steer David away from Sabrina. To do this, Linus takes on the task of wooing her for himself. Full of great dialogue ("A woman happy in love, she burns the soufflé; a woman unhappy in love, she forgets to turn on the oven") and wonderful performances, this film is a romantic masterpiece. Also enjoyable is the 1995 remake, starring Julia Ormond and Harrison Ford. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews:

Romantic.......2007-08-12

I love this movie, it is cute, romantic, and wonderful. If you want to watch a great old fashion movie, this is the one to see. :)

Sabrina.......2007-06-26

Perfectly suited to high-brow romantic comedies, Hepburn blossoms before our eyes as the world's most cultivated chauffeur's daughter in Billy Wilder's delightful "Sabrina." The young star smoothly makes the transition from a skinny awkward girl who fantasizes about life among the privileged classes to the stunning and sophisticated object of desire for both handsome Holden and the more mature Bogart, who, like most any other man, just can't help himself. "Sabrina" is infectious, effervescent comedy, done the Wilder way.

Paris when it rains..........2007-06-21

I want to go to Paris with Linus. No seriouly this was a really sweet movie that I have seen at least fifteen times or more and never get bored. Love William Holden and Audrey Hepburn together. Read somewhere that Billy Wilder was wanting Cary Grant for the role of Linus, would of been interesting. Love Bogie too...I thought this was way better than the remake with Harrison Ford but I guess that is if you like old movies compared to the newer one I much rather see a classic..If you haven't seen this you really need to check this one out you won't be disappointed.

Sabrina.......2007-06-09

The clarity of image and sharpness of the black and white production take this beautiful classic to the excellent level it so deserves.

TIMELESS.......2007-06-02

I have enjoyed this film since I first saw it on network tv over 40 years ago. Over the ensuing years I've read and heard about the on-set tension between Bogie and Audrey but I've never seen anything suggesting it in the film. All of the cast are excellent, the set design and script and direction as well. As for Bogie being mis-cast as a Wall Street tycoon, a type he supposedly despised, being the pro that he was you'd never know it. I think the casting was inspired. If Cary Grant had played the part, the ending would have been far less inspired - more predictable. His looks and charm were that irresistable to women of all ages - ending up with Grace Kelly and Sophia Loren in contemporary films. Bogie's tough, hardened exterior serves the character well - you can easily believe he hasn't been involved with anyone in years. There's a funny uncertainty about the standing on the ledge story he tells her. Is it merely pretense to gain her sympathy for him as an older lonely guy, or is it in large part the truth? I don't think we'd believe any of it from Grant. Grant usually ran away from women in his films or at least discouraged them as best he could as in Charade. I'll never forget the ending where Holden forces him to confront his love for Audrey while her ship is sailing outside the board-room window and his commandeering a tug to make their rendezvous afterall. It shows that having great wealth and power can insure that love makes the world go around.

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Born Yesterday
Another classic to love
What Learning Will Do to You
Great Performance
A Revival of Sorts.

Born Yesterday
Starring: Judy Holliday , Broderick Crawford , William Holden , Howard St. John , and Frank Otto
Director: George Cukor
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B00003L9CI
Release Date: 2000-02-15

Amazon.com

Judy Holliday's Oscar-winning performance is just one of the reasons to watch this terrific 1950 comedy, which is equally acclaimed for its deliciously witty screenplay (based on Garson Kanin's long-running Broadway hit) and George Cukor's silky-smooth direction. Holliday plays Billie Dawn, the floozie fiancée of a junk-dealer millionaire (Broderick Crawford), who is trying to make a good impression among the Washington, D.C., politicos he's hoping to influence. To ensure that Billie gets properly "culturefied," the corrupt Crawford hires a D.C. journalist (William Holden) to give the seemingly dim-witted blonde a crash course in politics, history, literature, and--you guessed it--true love. Billie's not nearly as dumb as she seems, of course, and before long she's graduated from pawn to sassy queen on her husband's political chessboard.

Watching Born Yesterday is a crash course in itself--an object lesson in how low American screen comedy has fallen from these delirious heights. The movie's funny even when there's a pause in the golden dialogue, such as when Holliday tests Crawford's patience in a sublimely comedic round of gin rummy. There's not a single scene in which Holliday (reprising her Broadway role) isn't simply perfect, the cogs turning smoothly behind her dim expressions and coarsely high-pitched squeal. Suave as ever, Holden is her match made in heaven, and Crawford is a brute who's too stupid to be genuinely malevolent. Put 'em all together and you've got a timeless classic, so flawless that a 1993 remake was instantly doomed to pale comparisons. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Born Yesterday.......2007-06-25

New York-born comedienne Holliday had her first real film break the prior year as the wronged wife in the Tracy-Hepburn comedy "Adam's Rib" (1949), and her solid supporting turn helped her clinch the role of Billie, a role she'd done on Broadway. With its witty screenplay and "Pygmalion"-like story, the result was pure gold, netting Holliday the Best Actress Oscar for 1950, and jump-starting her film career in earnest. Broderick is wonderfully crude as her pre-occupied husband, and Holden performs the unheralded job of straight man with finesse. And Judy is fantastic. Smoothly paced comedy from master George Cukor.

Another classic to love.......2007-04-02

I remember seeing this film when I was 12 or so with my Mom. It left an impression and I knew I would have to add this to my classic movie collection. How I enjoyed watching Judy Holliday's performance, she was unique with a wonderful sense of comedic timing. Anyone who collects classic comedies should add this to the list.

What Learning Will Do to You.......2007-04-02

Born Yesterday begins with a narcissistic junk dealer Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford) who is planning a major merger with his company to make loads of money. He uses his dizzy girlfriend Billie (Judy Holliday) as a middleman, though he really controls everything she "owns." She is just content to accept his lavish gifts and be pretty. That is until Paul(William Holden) comes along. He is hired by Harry to educate Billie; she embarasses him in front of sophisticated company. In the process, she learns just how corrupt her fiancee is and why her father has disowned her. She also develops eyes for her teacher.

Holliday won the Oscar for her performance in this film against such professionals as Bette Davis and Gloria Swanson. Indeed, her performance is wonderful. One can watch her character transform before one's eyes from a gold digging chorus girl to an intelligent woman. Her relationship with Holden is believable and powerful. In fact, all of the roles are well developed. The dialogue is conversational but intelligent, making this a very worthwhile film.

Great Performance.......2006-12-04

I'm not a big Judy Holliday fan. She seems to have played the ditzy but smart squeaky-voice role over and over. This said, Born Yesterday is easily her best movie. The script is smart and sweet and she and William Holden have a natural, believable screen chemistry. The performances are excellent as is the Pygmalion like transformation of Holliday's character from mouse to lionness. A great comedy of manners and morality.

A Revival of Sorts........2006-09-11

This original Oscar-winning movie starring Judy Holliday was clever, witty and wise. It was shown on TCM with Nick Clooney guiding us with his winning ways into the mood of the Forties. He couldn't have seen the original at the theaters, either, as he and I are the same age, so I know I didn't see it when I was only ten. I thought the moll was ditzy and pretty dumb with a silly-sounding voice. In Pulaski, Nate Street from Hickman County, a radio personality who liked to be thought of as a drama critic as he always attended dress rehearsal of the college plays, voiced his like for this crazy dame. So, I thought that if he thought she was so good, as she was in "Bells Are Ringing," maybe he was right again.

Today, I saw a revival of "Born Yesterday" with my favorite local actor as the genius, Paul Verrall. He was splendid as I expected, though he did not have the Washington, D.C. accent. The whole performance was professionally done at the Clarence Brown Theater here. Previously, I was lucky to have stumbled into a performance in which Terry Weber was a one-man play about Abraham Lincoln/John Wilkes Booth and have never enjoyed a performance of any play more. He has an unusual talent to be serious, musical, and sometimes funny.

The play centers around political corruption in which Billie becomes unknowingly involved. That is, until Paul tutors her on proper ways of thinking and talking so as to 'fit in.' Judy played to the camera and acted as a silly, dumb blonde. Today, the actress was unusually clever in adopting Judy's unique way of speaking but showing how easy it is to change practically overnight into an educated woman who can fall in love and not just be used by a rich man. She was smart enough to take her furs when she left him. Broaderick Crawford, known for "Highway Patrol" on television, could not have been as brutal as Neil Friedman from Chicago as Harry Brock. He didn't even use his Chicago accent. That was good acting to say the least. Terry was the star of this revival of sorts, a revolution against violence and money laundering of any kind.

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superficial sizzle
I love Gregory Nava....this film left a lot to be desired......
Why did I waste my time watching this movie?
Very funny, yet sad at the same time.
Great! But no documentary film here!

Why Do Fools Fall in Love
Starring: Halle Berry , Vivica A. Fox , Lela Rochon , Larenz Tate , and Paul Mazursky
Director: Gregory Nava
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0790739313
Release Date: 1999-01-19

Description

Music-based romantic drama about the late singer/songwriter Frankie Lymon, who was responsible for many hit records but whose self-destructive life ended early, with many relationships left unresolved. three women, each claiming to be his wife, each with

Customer Reviews:

superficial sizzle.......2007-06-18

Musical bio-pics about this period seldom interest me. However, components of this movie are very appealing. Little Richard is fun, Alexis Cruz does very well, and the four leads are good.

Of particular personal interest is some of the film direction. One shot in particular kept me watcing the rest of the picture: an apparently single shot that starts outside a theater, follows excited teens inside, and swirls around the stage for TWO musical numbers. With all the CGI tricks available these days, this is probably not just one take. (At the very least, a sudden interest in the ceiling of the theater may serve as the backs of actors did in Hitchcock's ROPE as a way to hide the splicing of at least two extended shots.) But the effect on the viewer is breathtaking, as a feat of high energy the mounts uninterrupted by the sort of tiresome strobe editing that defuses participation in most 21st century movie musicals.

The film's problem lies in the script. Lots of bio detail is crammed into the story, but as often as not the scenes are tabloid shallow and fraught with scenery chewing that even actors of this quality cannot salvage. These melodrama-scorched patches reduce potentially genuine moments in Frankie's life to ... well ... simplistic song lyrics.

I love Gregory Nava....this film left a lot to be desired.............2007-06-15

One of my favorite contemporary directors, today, is the great filmmaker, Gregory Nava. Nava is known best for the powerful EL NORTE, MI FAMILIA (MY FAMILY) and SELENA. He has great ability to combine warm humor with high drama, and [oftentimes] succeeds in shaping very compelling characters in the great stories he tells. Unfortunately, I don't feel that this really took place in WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE.

Frankie Lymon (Larenz Tate) was a legend, during his heyday. At thirteen years old, he was the lead singer of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. He also co-wrote the hit "Why Do Fools Fall In Love." This catapulted him into stardom, during the height of the do-wop era, in the United States. Not only was a trailblazer, due to his young age, but The Teenagers were a multiracial group, at a time where that was pretty progressive (the mid-1950s). Two of his band members were Puerto Rican, and Lymon and the other Teenagers were African-American. Success seemed synonymous with the name Frankie Lymon, but, as they say, "everyone will get their fifteen minutes of fame." Frankie's success took a u-turn, once his voice changed, and he began his descent into heroin addiction. In between his highs (and catastrophic lows--including the turbulent break-up between Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers), that left time and room for him in his schedule to get married to three women--at the same time! Of course, it wasn't nearly as straightforward as that. Botched court papers, troubles with addiction and unfinalized divorces led to this predicament. In the 1980s, the three women met face to face, and went on to take each other on in court, to determine who was to inherit Lymon's $4 million fortune. This co-stars Halle Berry, Lela Rochon and Vivica A. Fox, as the wives in question.

I found myself shaking my head in disappointment, thinking, "Ay, Gregory Nava, what were you thinking?" Okay, for starters, "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" is a great song. I won't argue with that. However, the song is almost constantly playing as the background soundtrack for this dramedy. I'm not exaggerating. It's great the first few times, but once you've heard it about ten times, you begin to wonder who was editing the film (or if editing even occurred). The other songs from the era are really great, classic tunes. They are undeniably catchy, but there are times where they feel more than a little manipulative. It's almost as though the director was relying on the music as a crutch for the film, so we'd forget the [slightly] melodramatic camera angles, uproarious emotional outbursts and shots of Lymon coming down or riding the high of his heroin use. Larenz Tate lipsynchs as well he can, and I do feel that he did a believeable job, playing Lymon here. However, Halle Berry (as Zola Taylor, female singer for The Platters), Vivica A. Fox (as Elizabeth Waters, a perpetual shoplifter) and Lela Rochon (as Elmira Eagle) felt more like caricatures to me than anything else. We have our diva, bad girl and church-going good girl. Three very different women for the three very different faces of the manipulative lothario, Frankie Lymon. And, he managed to fool all of them, equally. I realize that it's hard to portray the events of this story without it coming off as much more than an exploitative tabloid, due to the subject matter. Lymon tragically died of a heroin overdose at age twenty-five, just when he was contemplating getting his singing career together, after a long draught. It was very sad and unfortunate, and he was undeniably talented. What's more, the effect of his narcissism and addiction problems left tracks marks on many of his relationships. This wasn't a tribute, but more of an excuse to air the dirty laundry of someone too sick (and dead too many years), and it shows.

Why did I waste my time watching this movie?.......2007-05-29

I couldn't bring myself to like Why Do Fools Fall in love. But I could bring myself to loathe it with tremendous contempt. A shallow biopic with no style or substance, it barely skims the surface of the Frankie Lymon's life story or gives us any idea of what a rocky road the musician had in his short lifetime. Only a fool could love this mess of a movie.

Why Do Fools Fall in love supposedly details the civil trial three of Mr. Lymons wives have over the royalties for his fortune. That's right wives. It seems the late Frankie Lymon married three different women in between touring and drugging and years later everyone has to go to court to sort it out. As the court case goes on we are dragged through three shallow stories told from the perspectives of the wives: A petty thief and round the way girl, Zola, A singer from the group the platters, and a Georgia schoolteacher.

Each tries to convince us they are the real Mrs. Lymon and why they should get the$4 million in back royalties. Each gives a woe-is-me tale of how they were conned by Frankie Lymon who is what-a musician! In between marriages he earns their trust, hustles them for drug money, rips them off and leaves them with nothing. (Poor ladies, no one ever told them Musicians are ALWAYS womanizing drug abusing cads!) Now they're looking for payback from the record company. I won't give away who is the real Mrs. Lymon is this movie is JUST TOO AWFUL TO SPOIL.

Why Do Fools Fall in Love? The real question I had to ask after watching this movie is: Why did I waste my time watching this ridiculous movie? Bird this isn't. Ray this will NEVER be. Heck this isn't near the quality of the Temptations Mini-series or even The Five Heartbeats. This movie is an insult to Frankie Lymon and his fans. This movie is an insult to anyone's intelligence. The only message of this movie is: Sistas should never trust a junkie. Especially if he's a one-hit wonder who isn't smart enough to manage his own finances.

Why Do Fools Fall in Love falls apart due to its poor production values, inept direction and terrible script. The director has no idea how to shoot this film. He uses many of the wrong shots to shoot his story. For the concert scenes The Camera is on stage with the performers and that takes away from the emotional impact of the story. This is to cover Larenz Tates body doubles dance moves, but the camera needs to be in the audience watching along with the crowd so we can experience what they experience. He takes no time to create tension in his shots, and uses wide shots during scenes when close ups would have built up the story.

The poorly written screenplay doesn't dig deep enough into Lymon's story or the characters personalities. I barely got to know Frankie Lymon or his impact on the music scene in the 50's and 60s. I never learned why he got close to these women or if he ever cared for any of them. I didn't even learn why he became a drug addict or why he got involved with all these women. Was it the fame? Was it the drugs? Was it because he was just a creep? Hard to tell because this movie it tries to cram all these stories into a 90 minute time frame and hope for the best.

Production values are ridiculous. Why do Fools Fall in love doesn't feel like a feature film, it feels like a made for-TV movie or a made-for-video piece. We don't get a sense of the time of the 50's 60's or the 80's when the court case is takes place. Everyone wears clothing of the time, but we never get a sense of these eras in history from the sets. It's clear the producers took no time to research the history of the time period or the story of this man's life.

Larenz Tate struggles in the role of Frankie Lymon. His performance borders on Hairspray campy. Viveca A.Fox is great as Lymon's first wife. She channels the chicken head within. Halle Berry Struggles in the role of Zola. I couldn't believe she was a singer. In some scenes she's on and others she's off. I can't blame her this time; the erratic script here doesn't give her much to work with. Lela Rochon also struggles as Lymon's third wife; but that's due to the script, which gives her oh about two minutes to tell her character's story. Miguel A. Nunez Jr. Is NOT little Richard. All I have to say. Little Richard is Little Richard though.

Don't be a fool. Avoid this movie. If you want a great biopic about Motown musicians get Ray, The Temptations Mini-Series, or Clint Eastwood's Bird. Or if you want a fictional story about Motown music get The Five Heartbeats.

Very funny, yet sad at the same time........2006-08-31

It was fun to see him happy when he was on his rise, but so sad to see him fall. A great acting job by Larenze Tate. Vivica is beautiful.

Great! But no documentary film here!.......2006-07-18

I loved this movie BUT...know that Frankie got famous at 13! 13 Folks! And died at 26! Soooo...as far as being factual...I don't know. Was he being molested (spell check) by today's standards? Poor guy! I love this music though and basically, who's the victim here, the Gold-diggers or minor, drug-addicted, where are his parents, "Frankie"? Hmmm....enjoy it for what it is...fact plus Hollywood.

Average customer rating:

A Silly Tale Used Countless Times Before, but HERE'S Sandra Bullock!
Sandra before she was famous
Extremely Funny
Worth a look
Moving on to greener pastures.

Love Potion #9
Starring: Tate Donovan , Sandra Bullock , Mary Mara , Dale Midkiff , and Hillary Bailey Smith
Director: Dale Launer
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005B209
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Amazon.com

The premise of Love Potion #9--that a magic potion makes the user irresistible to the opposite sex--could be the setup for the crassest sex farce imaginable. Instead, this film is a surprisingly subtle romantic comedy. Nebbishy scientist Paul (Tate Donovan) goes to a Gypsy fortuneteller (Anne Bancroft), who tells him she sees no women in his entire life. To make up for this depressing news, she gives him a few drops of a love potion--number 8. Paul, a biochemist, scoffs; but when his pet cat accidentally gets a taste and attracts every female cat in the neighborhood, he enlists fellow dweeby scientist Diane (Sandra Bullock) to analyze it. After experimenting on monkeys, they decide to test it on themselves; soon Diane is being pursued by handsome Italians in the street and comes close to marrying the Prince of England, while Paul gets a little revenge on a woman who previously rejected him, then embarks on his own love spree. Shortly they discover that they really want each other; but before they can get married, an old boyfriend of Diane returns with his own dose of love potion number 8. Paul's only hope is to get something even more powerful. Love Potion #9 is genuinely clever and sweet, and both Donovan and Bullock work well with the low-key but effective humor of the movie's well-written script. It's a tribute to her talent and her girl-next-door looks that Bullock, unlike most pretty stars dressing down, is effective as both a lovelorn loser and the confident glamour-girl she becomes. Altogether, a charming and enjoyable film. --Bret Fetzer

Description

In this charming romantic comedy, a brilliant but lonely biochemist (Tate Donovan) gets a mysterious potion from a gypsy who guarantees it will turn his life around. After showing it to his co-worker (Sandra Bullock), a shy animal psychobiologist, they achieve amazing amorous results in a chimpanzee experiment. Now the only way to see if it works on humans is to test it on themselves.

Customer Reviews:

A Silly Tale Used Countless Times Before, but HERE'S Sandra Bullock!.......2006-10-22

The title of this flimsy little outing of a film from 1992 - LOVE POTION #9 - should give you an idea of where you're headed if you rent this movie: hackneyed story about two science geeks (Sandra Bullock and Tate Donovan) whose experimentation with a 'love potion' obtained from a gypsy (Anne Bancroft playing Anne Bancroft) has kick back effects which all end up in a love story of sorts.

The reason for watching this little effort is to see one of Sandra Bullock's early forays into comedy (she actually started making things like this in 1987 but this film drew enough attention to get her into 'Speed' two years later, that famous launching pad for Bullock and Keanu Reeves). Aside from Bullock and Bancroft the remainder of the cast is forgettable as is the story...but it is a lot better than many of the similar flicks on the shelves right now. Grady Harp, October 06

Sandra before she was famous.......2006-06-28

Tate Donovan and Sandra Bullock do a good job. They have good chemistry. Fans of Sandra Bullock will probably want to see this early example of her work.....this is before Speed, or Hope Floats or the Net or anything. Others who are crazy about romantic comedies are likely to want to watch because it is a silly, funny comedy.

Extremely Funny.......2005-08-07

Very fun and funny; look out for the monkey scene at the beginning and the wedding scene at the end - I almost hyperventilated!

Worth a look.......2005-07-28

Although I'm far from being a fan of Sandra Bullock, I have to admit she played a pretty good role in this movie. But, I have to give the majority of the credit to Tate Donovan. His role as the heartbroken guy that would do anything to get the girl back, really was fantastic. I thought the scene where he was in the bar before he took the love potion in which he tried to pick up this gorgeous woman, who turned him down cold was sad, but then he got his redemption when after he took the potion, in which he used it on the same girl, and then after she failed to answer his one question correctly, he said "bye now", and rejected her, was classic. Not one of the best movies I've ever seen, but defintely one that was good enough to add to my collection. Check it out, you won't be dissapointed! B. Sweitzer

Moving on to greener pastures........2004-05-05

Sandra Bullock has certainly moved on to better things. She is the only bright spark in this mishmash of a movie.

A story about a chemist (Tate Donovan) who goes to a gypsy with a group of friends (how many guys do that for a night out!?) and she gives him a potion which will make him irrisitable to women. He then gives some to his work mate (Bullock) who suddenly turns into a beauty after looking a complete dog (shades of Miss Congeniality).

This is when the movie dies on its feet. It seems to be badly edited with bits missing, Donovan is a bad actor, I'm not surprised he didn't get to become a huge star, unlike Bullock who holds the whole mess together (just). Dale Midkiff has a supporting role as Bullock's sometime boyfriend and does a good job. Ann Bancroft is the gypsy and overplays the role.

Description

Stevenson Lowe has just moved into a fabulous brownstone with his girlfriend, Julia, who wants to get married. But all thoughts of proposing are quickly scared out of him by a couple of grouchy ghosts who have the marrige from hell. They are Max and Lily Gale, the original residents of his newly purchased brownstone who have no intention of leaving to make room for this new couple. When Julia decides she's waited long enough for a proposal, she leaves Stevenson and his crazy ghost stories behind. Will his afterlife houseguests be able to reunite our young lovers?

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining.......2007-01-12

This film was funny and very different. Wonderful to see Maggie Smith and Michael Cain together with James Spader equally matching them in the acting department. A plesant enough way to spend a spare hour or so.

Curtain Call.......2007-01-12

A Fun and Funny love story. Caine & Smith are fabulous as always. Recalls the Topper movie and TV series. It's great seeing James Spader in a comedic role again.

Average customer rating:

hopeful story, lackluster and tired telling of it
Cute and Funny
Very Enjoyable..
A Fun, Fluffy Indulgence

30 Days Until I'm Famous
Starring: Sean Patrick Flanery , Camille Guaty , Alanna Ubach , Udo Kier , and Mindy Sterling
Director: Gabriela Tagliavini
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007WFXLW
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Description

A Latina working in Los Angeles as a messenger is randomly discovered and fashioned into a pop music star

Customer Reviews:

hopeful story, lackluster and tired telling of it.......2007-09-10

This is good for young teens. Even though everyone acts well, and it's full of people we like the intricacies of the story lack surprise as was the deft hand that could weave this more artfully. It was predictable and plodding.

Cute and Funny.......2006-08-29

This movie is so much better than you would think you'd get from vh1.It's cute and funny with some pretty good music.Sean Patrick Flanery makes every minute worth watching.Although I have to admit I've had a thing for him for quite some time.I think that anyone who likes light romantic comedies won't be disappointed.

Very Enjoyable.........2006-08-24

I'll have to agree with Sarah. I too have a thing for Sean Patrick Flanery and he is part of the reason I have even watched this more than once. I enjoy Cole and Maggie's onscreen chemistry. I especially love Mindy Sterling's character as the 'cultural identity faciliator'...she's a hoot. It's a nice 'escape' movie and yes, very much like a romance novel on film. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

A Fun, Fluffy Indulgence.......2005-06-20

I'll admit that I have a thing for Sean Patrick Flannery, but he is only one reason I love this movie. This is like a paperback romance bundled up into a lowbudget TV movie. LOVED IT!

Love Don't Cost a Thing (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Great Purchase
Needs to be continued!
this move is so amazin'
A Nice Surprise
this movie rocks!

Love Don't Cost a Thing (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Nick Cannon , Jordan Burg , Jackie Benoit , George Cedar , and Gay Thomas Wilson
Director: Troy Beyer
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001FR3HM
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Description

Romantic Teen Comedy. In this modern update of the classic 1987 teen comedy Can't Buy Me Love, our hero is high-school senior Alvin Johnson (Nick Cannon), a brilliant, likable outcast who has come to regret the years of intellectual endeavors that prevented him and his un-hip friends from socializing, getting girlfriends and hanging out with the super-cool "Elite" kids. When queen of the Elites, Paris Morgan (Christina Milian) wrecks her mother's car, Alvin steps in and mortgages his future to help her out. The catch: In exchange for $1500 in car parts and Alvin's automotive expertise, Paris agrees to "fake a front" with him to convince the school that they're dating. The question is: can Alvin rein in his newfound ego before he loses his true friends, his chance for a scholarship and a shot at a real relationship with Paris?

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes
Alternate endings:Paris takes center stage in a surprise alternate ending
Documentary:Marvelous making-of documentary
Music Video:2 Music Videos: "Shorty (Put it on the Floor)" by platinum selling rap stars Busta Rhymes, Chingy, Fat Joe and film star Nick Cannon "Luv Me Baby" by Murphy Lee
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Great Purchase.......2007-03-08

I got a good deal and a fast delivery. I would buy from person again.

Needs to be continued!.......2006-12-22

Great plot, pretty good cinemotgraphy, and no matter what age you are, you'll be rolling on the floor laughing. This film will probably be a hit with those under 21, but as I said before the anyone will enjoy the humor.

this move is so amazin'.......2006-08-29

god, this movie rocks! almost the whole movie makes me laugh and christina milian is smokin' hott throughout the entire movie. she was so hot during the beach scene i thought i was gonna lose it! the part where he sprays the binaca in his eyes was halarious! go see or buy this movie cause i love it and the ending has some hott lip action. i just wish i was the guy [alvin] so i could make out with her and hang with her for 2 weeks. too bad i don't have $1500 bucks! anyway, i LOVE this movie and it's cute, insparational, and halariously funny.

A Nice Surprise.......2006-08-28

I was set against watching this movie for it looked generic and stupid, but it was a lazy day Saturday and it was on TV so I gave it a shot and much to my enjoyment it wasn't half bad. I've always felt Nick Cannon was funny, but it was Christina Milian who really impressed me. She's a very talented young girl, with her acting as well as her singing, and she brings the best of both here in this film. I will say though that I am not a fan of Steve Harvey and I don't really think he'll ever do something I enjoy...his character to me was nothing special and would have preferred he be played by anyone else, but alas, he didn't take away anything from the film so he was tolerable.

The film itself is a remake of the '87 comedy `Can't Buy Me Love', which I've never seen but probably will rent just for kicks. It's a story about Alvin (Cannon) who's the super smart nerd in school who wishes that just once he could experience popularity. When Paris (Milian), one of the most popular girls in school, damages her mother's car and needs help in a hurry Alvin is there is offer his assistance in exchange for a chance to be cool. Paris agrees to fake a two-week relationship with Alvin in order to get him in with her crowd and then they'll split up publicly and continue with their newfound lives.

Over the course of the film the predictable plot thickens, for we all know that Alvin and Paris will fall in love and end up together, but how this happens of course will have it's twists and turns and they will try and make us believe they won't get together but we all know how it will end. That said, it's still a fun ride, with great chemistry between the two leads, Cannon showing great comedic range and Milian giving us warmth in what could have been a very generic role. Bottom line is, while it's nothing new, it's still a fun way to spend an afternoon.

this movie rocks!.......2006-08-27

yhis movie is the best in the world! i have been watching it non-stop for 5 days in a row and i'm not bored o f it yet! i love christina milian and nick cannon is halarious. when he says "morning, dime pices!" i laughed so hard! and when he said he was "going to the beach to check out some breezies and kick it with his crew" was really funny too i love this movie and anyone who says `ootherwise needs to be taken out and shot!

'It' Plus Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl

Average customer rating:

Oh, wow, did Clara Bow ever have "IT" !!!
About the dvd
Great Silent Film Classic
Love It!
Excellent Silent Film

'It' Plus Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl
Starring: Clara Bow , Antonio Moreno , William Austin , Priscilla Bonner , and Jacqueline Gadsden
Director: Josef von Sternberg , and Clarence G. Badger
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000056N7W
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Amazon.com

It is famous for turning cutie-pie Clara Bow into, as critic David Thomson described her, "the first mass-market sex symbol." Somewhat overshadowed by this phenomenon is the fact that It is also a terrifically entertaining picture, an effortless cruise through the manners and morals of the flapper era. Bow plays a shopgirl who sets her saucer eyes on her boss (Antonio Moreno); it isn't terribly hard to land him, since she possesses dazzle, charm, spunk... in a word, "It." And if we're still not sure what "It" is, there's a moment of high camp hilarity when matronly author Elinor Glyn, who penned the original definition of "It," strides through the movie and delivers herself of its meaning. Actually, Bow's delightful performance does more to define "It" than anything else, and her unabashed sexiness (which didn't play well after sound came in) clearly sets the future course for Marilyn Monroe and Madonna. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Oh, wow, did Clara Bow ever have "IT" !!!.......2007-04-20

Clara Bow stars in this absolutely wonderful silent motion picture about a salesgirl in a department store who falls in love with the boss. Clara Bow plays Betty Lou Spence to perfection with her wide eyed beautiful stare and her overall charm and natural appeal. Antonio Moreno plays Cyrus Waltham, Jr., the boss, with his very convincing acting abilities even though in a silent movie he didn't have too many lines!

Betty wants to date Cyrus Waltham, Jr. badly--she even daydreams of asking Santa Claus to give him to her for Christmas! Although the other salesgirls laugh it off, Betty means business. They don't realize that Betty has plenty of "It." "It" generally refers to Betty's self-confidence coupled with her good looks and natural appeal. Betty displays a good ability to plan things out when she accepts a date with Cyrus' buddy Monty--on the condition that they dine at The Ritz because that's where Cyrus is having his own dinner that evening. In addition, the scene in The Ritz dining room gives us a wonderful cameo appearance by "Madame" Elinor Glynn, who tells Cyrus--and the audience--what "It" is. SMILES

Of course, Cyrus finally gets a good look at Betty and almost immediately he begins to lose interest in his current lady friend as he gains interest for Betty. They do go out and have a marvelous time together.

But a complication involving a baby with an absentee father arises. When Betty rushes to the aid of her friend so that the social workers don't take the baby from the apartment Betty shares with her roommate, the newspaper sends a reporter and races to print that Betty is the mother.

Well, IS Betty is the mother? Cyrus can't stand even the mere thought of this and cuts off Betty without even giving her a chance to explain. How can Betty work things out so that Cyrus regains his interest and love for her? Can Betty beat out Cyrus' current girlfriend to win Cyrus' heart? No spoilers here, folks; you'll have to watch the movie to find out!

I agree with the reviewer who writes that the quality of the film print is exceptionally good for its age. The clarity of each image is excellent. The sound of the musical accompaniment is good, too, even if the score was not the original.

The DVD has few extras besides the documentary with director Clarence Badger on the making of It. Unfortunately, I must take off a star because it did not work in my computer DVD-ROM drive! (Thank goodness this was a rental.)

Overall, fans of classic silent movies should watch this film. The DVD extra probably just malfunctioned on my rental DVD and I encourage you to buy this DVD anyway if this type of film appeals to you.

Clara Bow paved the way for other glamorous female screen legends including Lana Turner and Marilyn Monroe. The movie score remains quite strong even if it isn't the original score and the picture quality shines. And, by the way, Clara Bow as Betty Lou Spence shines, too! She had IT!

About the dvd.......2006-07-24

I think others have pointed out this but I'm gonna stress it.
There are 2 dvd editions of this movie.
The Kino one has great extras (a docu on Clara Bow's life) but a bad image transfer.
And the Image one has no extras but a much sharper and better looking image transfer.
So you choose.

Great Silent Film Classic.......2006-02-24

It's an interesting story regarding the reason that I bought this film. One day, out of the clear blue, my 90 year old grandmother mentioned this film. I wasn't familiar with the film, nor have I ever been a silent film aficionado. I did some research and learned that Clara Bow was quite the idol in her time. And, this film was one of her best.

After viewing "It", I was unexpectantly pleased. I was impressed with both the plot and acting of this old silent classic. The film kept me interested throughout. In this film, Clara Bow is truely "It". She's cute and flirty in 1920's style. I highly recommend this DVD to silent film lovers and modern movie lovers alike. If nothing else, the film provides a great history lesson for classic cinematography. Most of all, watching the film made my grandmother feel like a teenager again. Enjoy...

Love It!.......2006-01-08

I had this on my wish list for Christmas and got it! How fun! Of course I love the movie, but I was really surprised to how great that documentary was! I learned so much about Clara Bow and now I look forward to finding more of her movies. The documentary is like a movie itself!

Excellent Silent Film.......2005-10-25

With each viewing of another Silent Film that "arrives" to my collection, my hunger and yearning for more and more Silents, increases considerably.

The edition of "IT" I got is the IMAGE-MILESTONE one and I must say it's GREAT!!

The films tells the story of a salesgirl's infatuation with the son of the owner of a Department Store in which she works.

Clara Bow's is just short of magnificent in a role that really defines her screen personae; that of the mischievous, sexy, bold, magnetic, electrifying, ultramodern and yet sweet girl/flapper.

She was 21 or 22 years old when she made this film and she looks so fresh and contemporary than other Silent Stars of that Era; and if you compare her looks and ways, even her acting, to that of the other women in the cast (Priscilla Bonner, Jacqueline Gadsden, Julia Swayne Gordon), you'll see what I mean.

Antonio Moreno is good as her Love interest, although he looks much older than her (he was 41 when the film was made) but then, considering this was 1927, he does not look as old as 41 year-old men of that time used to. Also, Moreno works well with Bow and their love scenes together are believable.

William Austin is great as Moreno's sidekick, funny and ever-partying.

Elinor Glyn, the authoress of the book upon which the film was based, makes a cameo in a Restaurant scene, making a grand entrance.

A young Gary Cooper has a small role as a journalist.

The quality of the transfer is really very good. IMAGE did an excellent job and the score by Carl Davis is one of the best I've listened to.

A MUST!

DVD:

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