What the Bleep Do We Know!?

Amazon.com

The unlikeliest cult hit of 2004 was What the (Bleep) Do We Know?, a lecture on mysticism and science mixed into a sort-of narrative. Marlee Matlin stars in the dramatic thread, about a sourpuss photographer who begins to question her perceptions. Interviews with quantum physics experts and New Age authors are cut into this story, offering a vaguely convincing (and certainly mind-provoking) theory about... well, actually, it sounds a lot like the Power of Positive Thinking, when you get down to it. Talking heads (not identified until film's end) include JZ Knight, who appears in the movie channeling Ramtha, the ancient sage she claims communicates through her (other speakers are also associated with Knight's organization). What she says actually makes pretty good common sense--Ramtha's wiggier notions are not included--and would be easy to accept were it not being credited to a 35,000-year-old mystic from Atlantis. --Robert Horton

Description

WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW?! is a new type of film. It is part documentary, part story, and part elaborate and inspiring visual effects and animations. The protagonist, Amanda, played by Marlee Matlin, finds herself in a fantastic Alice in Wonderland experience when her daily, uninspired life literally begins to unravel, revealing the uncertain world of the quantum field hidden behind what we consider to be our normal, waking reality. She is literally plunged into a swirl of chaotic occurrences, while the characters she encounters on this odyssey reveal the deeper, hidden knowledge she doesn?t even realize she has asked for. Like every hero, Amanda is thrown into crisis, questioning the fundamental premises of her life ? that the reality she has believed in about how men are, how relationships with others should be, and how her emotions are affecting her work isn?t reality at all!

Customer Reviews:

Great and lame.......2007-09-11

This documentary is enlightening at one level and disturbing at another. To be specific, I loved the light they shed on the difference between Newtonian physics and quantum mechanics. Furthermore, the idea that our bodies emit energy when we simply think and that we can influence our health among other things was fascinating. I take it as a challenge and a personal quest that started when I read the book The Biology of Belief. This quest is driven by the fact that my child has autism and that I want to foster a healthy subconscious in him to give him the power to choose his destiny someday. It also gives me perspective for some of the energy based treatments I am seeking such as CranioSacral therapy and why they improve behavior.

The part of the movie I hated was the spiritual propaganda in support of the Ramtha school. Nights/Ramtha contradicted her/himself. On the one hand by claiming that we are all divine, and on the other by stating that little carbon units could not sin against Almighty God. I don't think that is necessary or desirable that I stop believing in the creator of the universe to benefit from learning about energy and quantum mechanics. If anything, the possibility that our minds are so powerful just makes me feel more amazed at God's creation. It makes me feel that his creation is so perfect beyond our understanding.

The movie put down the idea of believing in a creator. It was especially offensive against the Christian God mocking the truth that your sins can be forgiven. And can anyone tell me if having the [...] girl flirt with the priest behind the scene where the obese man engages in eating is a subliminal message?

I would recommend this film to people that have a strong spiritual foundation; however if you are in an exploratory phase, please consider that the path of this movie is not the path of truth.

In the movie they talked about Emoto's water experiments focusing on how thought and intention can influence water crystals. This is a profound idea that gave me a new appreciation for Holy water and for the Eucharistic bread and wine.

I'll tell you what the bleep we know........2007-09-09

We know better than to fall for thinly veiled astrology, that's what the bleep we know. When I hear that a film is about quantum mechanics, then find out later that it stars Ramtha the magic faith healer (who by the way failed to heal her late husband's HIV infection), I get very disappointed. It gets one star only because no stars is not an option.

what the bleep down the rabbit hole.......2007-09-03

The blurb that I read before buying this indicated that it was about Quantum physics and mechanics, but it ended up being about personal interpretations of spirituality. I was very disappointed in this DVD.

Fantastic and interesting.......2007-09-03

This is a magic film about life. I have already seen it twice, and shown it to friends. You can't go on living "the old way" after this.

Spiritual Thirst Somewhat Satiated.......2007-09-01

When I first saw "What the Bleep Do We Know!?," the predecessor to this much longer three-disc version, in December of 2004, I hadn't been exposed to much Spiritual Cinema. Most of my spiritual journey had been through reading books and life experiences. They were also a great way to learn, but it took much longer!! "What the Bleep Do We Know!?" paved the way for me to enjoy other films in the Spiritual Cinema Genre like "Indigo" (2005),"The Secret" (Original Edition 2006), etc. However, I was still craving more of both scientific (specifically quantum mechanics) and spiritual (specifically formerly esoteric) information. So, I was elated when "What the Bleep!?-Down the Rabbit Hole" came out. It has nearly six hours of additional interviews and a cool "cutting-edge quantum viewing mode" where you can actually influence what you see next without touching the remote:) It really is all in your mind!!! These are a couple of the features that set it apart from the first movie. It's been something substantial, ironically in an immaterial way, to keep my spritual thirst somewhat satiated for quite a bit(e)now...lol...

^V^
G.L. Giles, Author of V3: The Vampire Vignettes ReVamped

Average customer rating:

Missing the Entire Point
the impossible accomplished...
Three things about "Fear and Loathing"
satisfied customer
What Is Happening Here?

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Starring: Johnny Depp , Benicio Del Toro , Tobey Maguire , Ellen Barkin , and Gary Busey
Director: Terry Gilliam
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783229526
Release Date: 1998-11-17

Amazon.com

The original cowriter and director of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was Alex Cox, whose earlier film Sid and Nancy suggests that Cox could have been a perfect match in filming Hunter S. Thompson's psychotropic masterpiece of "gonzo" journalism. Unfortunately Cox departed due to the usual "creative differences," and this ill-fated adaptation was thrust upon Terry Gilliam, whose formidable gifts as a visionary filmmaker were squandered on the seemingly unfilmable elements of Thompson's ether-fogged narrative. The result is a one-joke movie without the joke--an endless series of repetitive scenes involving rampant substance abuse and the hallucinogenic fallout of a road trip that's run crazily out of control. Johnny Depp plays Thompson's alter ego, "gonzo" journalist Raoul Duke, and Benicio Del Toro is his sidekick and so-called lawyer Dr. Gonzo. During the course of a trip to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, they ingest a veritable chemistry set of drugs, and Gilliam does his best to show us the hallucinatory state of their zonked-out minds. This allows for some dazzling imagery and the rampant humor of stumbling buffoons, and the mumbling performances of Depp and Del Toro wholeheartedly embrace the tripped-out, paranoid lunacy of Thompson's celebrated book. But over two hours of this insanity tends to grate on the nerves--like being the only sober guest at a party full of drunken idiots. So while Gilliam's film may achieve some modest cult status over the years, it's only because Fear and Loathing is best enjoyed by those who are just as stoned as the characters in the movie. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Missing the Entire Point.......2007-09-16

Nothing against Las Vegas. I've never been their actually. But, given the rampant and uncontrolled unreality of the place, does a drug-addled tour through the place make it any more "unreal" or is it perhaps an interesting view of the entire bizarre scene?

He could have made the story about a couple of martians who went there for their vacation, but it wouldn't have been nearly as funny. Besides, the martians wouldn't have blended in nearly as well at the police convention and would not have been able to contribute their twisted view of the spectacle...

the impossible accomplished..........2007-09-07

I think the best way to describe this film as ON THE ROAD meets THE NAKED LUNCH on 'shrooms... Road trip films, of course are a dime a dozen... this one, however, in my book holds its ground -- but its not for everybody.

I feel what's great about it is that it seems to accomplish the near impossible:
In the past films have been made about people messed up on drugs...
In all honesty, watching people tripping on acid is only amusing for so long... virtually anytime you see someone on acid do in a film eventually comes across as an exploitational cliche you've seen millions of times before... the big come down's and bad trips... the flashbacks, a good vomit... then Jack Webb comes out and lectures you on the dangers of reefer and dope...
Or how about when film let the viewer experience the trip by doing funny things with the color and sound of the film, or even suddenly having a reverse negative shot with a guy in a monster mask, and zooming to the horrified druggie screaming, "My face! My face! Some one's eaten my face!" - - that too is only interesting for so long...

But this film does something very different... It is a COHERENT road trip story as told through the eyes of a guy who's - - well very messed up on acid.... We take the trip with him literally - - and yes, the psychedelic imagery is there, but along with it are the people and places and the narrative... Amidst all the weirdness, the film is a delight to follow... and classic Gilliam (sick, bizarre and funny.) And yes, as the acid kicks in and out, things get strange... however, the narrative observations make the special effects more than special effects and guide you through the journey...

Ultimately, let's face it, Vegas may very well be a good symbol of all that is loathsome, cheap and sleazy in America - - and it is a place where often the real does meet the surreal in bad taste, but via the film and novel, the surrealism of "American Kiche", and the mundane and ridiculous are taken to an extreme that is well worth the watch...

In conclusion: A film NOT for everybody, but if you're like me, an amateur social anthropologist with a love from "schlockus americanus" as well as the 60's and 70's, and both fascination with and disdain for American popular culture, this is a film that is visually as well as intellectually entertaining... dare I even say funny. - - If however, you don't share this bizarre little fetish of mine and can't appreciate the film's cynical tongue in cheek humor... then I'll be honest: you won't like it very much.

P.S. If you like this film, I strongly suggest getting your hands on Zappa's 200 MOTELS if it ever gets reissued again. I also dare say if you liked it, you'd probably dig the FIRESIGN THEATRE as well...

Three things about "Fear and Loathing".......2007-08-02

There's only three things I can say about this movie:
1. It is the dark side of Cheech and Chong.
2. It is Fellini on LSD.
3. It is Gillian's best movie since "Brazil".

satisfied customer.......2007-07-27

my item arrived in brand new condition and i was very happy with my purchase.
great movie, funny as hell

What Is Happening Here?.......2007-07-26

Does anyone understand this? I watched with my cat and my cat fell asleep. I think the movie is a tricky joke by the bald man with the half-hair on his face sides (is he the teenager police from Telemundo Jump Show?) No movie would have a toaster in the bath. Why does the half-hair face man talk out of the side of his mouth? Why do they like riding horses that are not real? This movie has silly hair and sneaky talkings; I would say not to watch with any animals, especially sleepy cat.

Average customer rating:

Great movie
I feel the need... for speed!
BAD MOVE
Steven Burke - Grow up!
Looking forward to this HDDVD

Top Gun [HD DVD]
Starring: Tom Cruise
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000RZIGZ4
Release Date: 2007-10-02

Amazon.com Essential

Jingoism, beefcake, military hardware, and a Giorgio Moroder rock score reign supreme over taste and logic in this Tony Scott film about a maverick trainee pilot (Tom Cruise) who can't follow the rules at a Navy aviation training facility. The dogfight sequences between American and Soviet jets at the end are absolutely mechanical, though audiences loved it at the time. The love story between Cruise's character and that of Kelly McGillis is like flipping through pages of advertising in a glossy magazine. This designer action movie from 1986 would be all the more appalling were it not for the canny casting of good actors in dumb parts. Standouts include Anthony Edwards--who makes a nice impression as Cruise's average-Joe pal--and the relatively unknown Meg Ryan in a small but memorable appearance. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

Top Gun takes a look at the danger and excitement that awaits every pilot at the Navy's prestigious fighter weapons school. Tom Cruise is superb as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a daring young flyer who's out to become the best of the best. And Kelly McGillis sizzles as the civilian instructor who teaches Maverick a few things you can't learn in a classroom.

Customer Reviews:

Great movie.......2007-09-09

A great movie being made available in it's finest presentation.

I am a high def enthusiast and love watching everything I can in HD. I chose the HD DVD format for it's price, picture, interactivity, and the fact that players can be upgraded via the ethernet port.

All these Blu Ray babies crying, really need to get a life. Paramount, Dreamworks seen the light and seen that there are 3 to 1 HD DVD players over Blu Ray players in American households. Consumers are going to buy what is affordable and movie studios are going to go where they can make the most profit. Also, it is more profitable to make an HD DVD disc over a Blu Ray disc, as HD DVD uses similar technolgy shared with DVD.

It's been noted that the BD Java code needed to write Blu Ray disc is alot more complicated than the Microsoft HDi code used to writing HD DVD. In turn it makes HD DVD have much more features and come out with less bugs than Blu Ray. This makes HD DVD more profitable for the simple reason that studios don't have to pay programers to learn a new code for making movies.

Plus do you really think that Sony didn't grease Disney's pocket to go exclusive with Blu Ray?

Bottom line is technology is made for consumers and Sony has always tried to make it proprietary for them. Examples, mini disc, umd, memory stick, betamax, atrac3 (music format) and blu ray. Look at all the failed formats Sony has tried to push onto consumers that have all failed. Did you really think it would be different with Blu Ray?

I feel the need... for speed!.......2007-09-05

I am so looking forward to this video... even re-bought aviator sunglasses and was quoting top gun quite a bit recently. I really need to be in a top gun support group... if you are on myspace search for the top gun support group and u'd know what i mean.

BAD MOVE.......2007-09-05

Bad move by Paramount to drop Blu-ray for HD-DVD. I hope they wise up and get back to Blu-ray quicker than 18 months and drop the desperate bribing HD-DVD format. Idiots!

Steven Burke - Grow up!.......2007-08-25

To the person who uses a review feature to complain about Paramount dropping Blu-Ray -- GROW UP! Go complain to Fox, Disney and Sony for not supporting HD DVD, or stop being a complete hypocrite! Sony is the one that brought on this fiasco of a format war, trying to strong-arm the consumer into their overpriced technology. Go cry somewhere else.

Better yet, go play with your PS3. Oh, I forget, Sony forgot to develop any decent games for it.

Looking forward to this HDDVD.......2007-08-21

Top Gun is a great movie and will be fantastic on HDDVD. Thanks Paramount for supporting the best format for High Definition!

Airplane! (Don't Call Me Shirley! Edition)

Average customer rating:

Just Plain Funny!
Never get tired of this movie
still zany after all these years
Airplane -still crazy after all these years
funny

Airplane! (Don't Call Me Shirley! Edition)
Starring: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , Frank Ashmore , Jonathan Banks , Craig Berenson , and Barbara Billingsley
Director: Zucker, David , and Zucker, Jerry
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000B5XOWA
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Amazon.com essential video

The quintessential movie spoof that spawned an entire genre of parody films, the original Airplane! still holds up as one of the brightest comedic gems of the '80s, not to mention of cinema itself (it ranked in the top 5 of Entertainment Weekly's list of the 100 funniest movies ever made). The humor may be low and obvious at times, but the jokes keep coming at a rapid-fire clip and its targets--primarily the lesser lights of '70s cinema, from disco films to star-studded disaster epics--are more than worthy for send-up. If you've seen even one of the overblown Airport movies then you know the plot: the crew of a filled-to-capacity jetliner is wiped out and it's up to a plucky stewardess and a shell-shocked fighter pilot to land the plane. Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty are the heroes who have a history that includes a meet-cute à la Saturday Night Fever, a surf scene right out of From Here to Eternity, a Peace Corps trip to Africa to teach the natives the benefits of Tupperware and basketball, a war-ravaged recovery room with a G.I. who thinks he's Ethel Merman (a hilarious cameo)--and those are just the flashbacks! The jokes gleefully skirt the boundaries of bad taste (pilot Peter Graves to a juvenile cockpit visitor: "Joey, have you ever seen a grown man naked?"), with the high (low?) point being Hagerty's intimate involvement with the blow-up automatic pilot doll, but they'll have you rolling on the floor. The film launched the careers of collaborators Jim Abrahams (Big Business), David Zucker (Ruthless People), and Jerry Zucker (Ghost), as well as revitalized such B-movie actors as Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Robert Stack, and Leslie Nielsen, who built a second career on films like this. A vital part of any video collection. --Mark Englehart

Product Description

The persons and events in this film are fictitious - fortunately! A masterpiece of off-the-wall comedy, Airplane! features Robert Hays as an ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning; Julie Hagerty as his girlfriend/stewardess/co-pilot; and a cast of all-stars including Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar... and more. Their hilarious high jinks spoof airplane disaster flicks, religious zealots, television commercials, romantic love... the list whirls by in rapid succession. And the story races from one moment of zany fun to the next.

Customer Reviews:

Just Plain Funny! .......2007-09-03

This movie is just so funny! It makes up for so many bad comedies made now. This movie was made on a small budget using some unknowns and veteran television stars. It was a stroke of genius and became a second wind for Leslie Nielson who would go on to The Naked Gun series. This movie is just a gem and is highly recommended.

Never get tired of this movie.......2007-09-01

Don't call me Shirley. I actually got to use that phrase one day. I was so happy. I have watched this so many times and it never gets old. The very first time I watched it I lost it when the reporters went flying into the booths and they fell over. It never gets old.

still zany after all these years.......2007-08-23

Airplane! deserves its place in motion picture history as of the funniest spoofs on film of seemingly just about everything and everyone under the sun--including disaster movies! The plot moves along at a good pace and the acting really holds your attention. The one liners and ridiculously silly scenarios are bound to make just about anyone laugh.

The action begins at an airport where people are boarding a plane to Chicago. Elaine (Julie Hagerty), a stewardess on the airplane, is leaving her lover Ted Striker (Robert Hays), a shell shocked pilot with tremendous issues about his mistakes during "the war." Ted races to the airport to catch up with Elaine and even winds up buying a ticket (which is literally giving off smoke, because Ted asks for what was then the "smoking section") to get on the flight with Elaine.

The plane fills with passengers--and some have problems designed to create hilarious scenarios throughout the film. There is a young girl who needs a heart transplant, two religious zealots, a young boy who almost gets propositioned (!!!) by the Captain Oveur (Peter Graves), the nuns on board, and many more.

The cameos are worth the price of admission alone. Look for Kareem Abdul-Jabaar to play himself masquerading as copilot Murdock; and Ethel Merman plays shell shocked Lieutenant Hurwitz in her final screen role. Barbara Billingsley (the mother from Leave It To Beaver) plays "Jive Lady," a white older woman who understands black street language; and Jimmie Walker plays the man who wipes the windshields of the airplane before they take off. Two of the writers of the script who also directed the film, Jerry and David Zucker, play ground crewmen at the airport when the plane is getting ready to take off as well. Great!

Initially the flight goes well although Ted and Elaine can't quite see eye to eye about staying together--the flashbacks to the times they spent together as lovers include great spoofs of classic scenes in From Here To Eternity and Saturday Night Fever. However, when people onboard get sick because of poisoned fish, trouble quickly ensues. The flight crew becomes far too ill to fly the plane; and then Ted is called upon to rise to the occasion and guide the plane to a safe landing. Soon Ted and Elaine are the only ones able to stay in the cockpit as they try desperately to land the plane in Chicago.

The DVD sports the "long haul" version which integrates cast interviews, deleted scenes and more into the film. You even get a trivia track as well as the standard commentary track by producer Jon Davison and writer/directors Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and David Zucker. One reviewer writes that they were surprised and somewhat frustrated that quite a few of the "long haul extras" cannot be viewed separately from the movie. I can't blame them; but at least the producers of the DVD tried to be creative with a new way of presenting extras. This is only a minor disappointment for me.

Overall, Airplane! shows great forethought; and it amazes me that it was filmed in only about five weeks! The laughs never stop and the countless one liners pop out at you and make you laugh like you haven't laughed in years. Airplane also gently pokes fun at racial and social stereotypes; and the way the film goes about this makes it all the funnier. I highly recommend this film for people who love comedy film and for people who enjoy spoofs of major motion pictures.

Enjoy!

Airplane -still crazy after all these years.......2007-08-08

If you are feeling the burdens of life, if the boss, the blues, and the bills gotcha down - escape for awhile, kick back, and allow your sense of the ridiculous to come out. Put in this copy of Airplane in your DVD player and allow the kid in you to laugh at the absurdly ridiculous. You'll feel better after you did. No, this isn't art, it isn't fine cinema, but it doesn't pretend to be. It is what it is-adolescent humor and escapist entertainment. Sure, it was made awhile ago, and some of the cultural icon jokes may whiz past some younger viewers, but it still has enough comedy to catch all ages. No pompous stiff-shirted film maven would like this, but who cares? Laugh it up!

funny.......2007-08-02

this is really funny movie you will ever watch. I couldnt stop laugh. You have to watch the whole movie to understand and laugh.

Average customer rating:

This is a Thriller?
Hitchcock's Masterpiece
THIS is a masterpiece? (Beware spoilers)
Twists and Turns Galore!
Vertigo

Vertigo (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Isabel Analla , Raymond Bailey , Barbara Bel Geddes , Paul Bryar , and Ellen Corby
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783226055
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com essential video

Although it wasn't a box-office success when originally released in 1958, Vertigo has since taken its deserved place as Alfred Hitchcock's greatest, most spellbinding, most deeply personal achievement. In fact, it consistently ranks among the top 10 movies ever made in the once-a-decade Sight & Sound international critics poll, placing at number 4 in the most recent survey. (Universal Pictures' spectacularly gorgeous 1996 restoration and rerelease of this 1958 Paramount production was a tremendous success with the public, too.) James Stewart plays a retired police detective who is hired by an old friend to follow his wife (a superb Kim Novak, in what becomes a double role), whom he suspects of being possessed by the spirit of a dead madwoman. The detective and the disturbed woman fall ("fall" is indeed the operative word) in love and...well, to give away any more of the story would be criminal. Shot around San Francisco (the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of the Legion of Honor are significant locations) and elsewhere in Northern California (the redwoods, Mission San Juan Batista) in rapturous Technicolor, Vertigo is as lovely as it is haunting. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

This is a Thriller?.......2007-09-06

Scottie (James Stewart) is a police officer forced to retire due to injuries and his dizzying fear of heights. His old friend Gavin (Tom Helmore) needs his services, however. Gavin's wife Madeleine (Kim Novak) appears to be going crazy. She wanders around town but has no recollection of the events. What really worries Gavin is that Madeleine is at the same age her great-grandmother committed suicide by jumping to her death.

Scottie eventually agrees to the job, but doesn't put much stalk in the theory that Madeleine is possessed. At least at first he doesn't. Is she really possessed? Can Scottie save her life?

And does the audience care? I've only seen a couple Hitchcock flicks, and I was less then impressed with them. I decided it was time to change that, and started here. It did nothing to change my mind.

The story starts out okay, just moves very slowly. I was drawn into the early story wondering what was really happening to Madeleine. That is, when the plot moved forward. I mean, we get shot after shot of Scottie following Madeleine around San Francisco. We get it already!

But then the second half comes and things go down hill. It's obvious to us early on what is happening, so we get bored waiting for the characters to catch up. Meanwhile, the acting gets so bad that it's actually laughable. And the climax? There isn't one. The story ends with a whimper.

I'm beginning to see why I haven't seen that many Hitchcock films before. If this is an example of what I have to look forward to, I won't be watching many more.

Hitchcock's Masterpiece.......2007-08-26

Alfred Hitchcock created one of the greatest films in 1958. Vertigo is a film that not many people will get upon first viewing. In actuality, it took me a second look just to understand what I just saw.

The film is filled to the brim with story. One of the most complex and yet simple stories of all time. This is a film that you need your undivided attention to realize just how powerful it is, without any outside interference.

It's a movie that even the smallest hint of plot would give it away. The only thing and best thing to describe it is, a former police officer suffering from Vertigo is paid to watch a rich man's wife.

Another thing about Vertigo that makes me love this movie is its absolutely gorgeous look. One of the most beautifully shot movies of all time.

It's one of my all time favorite movies, and one of the best EVER, in the history of cinema.

Highly recommended.

The DVD features, as already discussed her on Amazon, feature a commentary track with the producers and restoration team, and a documentary on the making of Vertigo.

THIS is a masterpiece? (Beware spoilers).......2007-08-17

Vertigo is considered one of the greatest films ever made and celebrated as Hitchcock's masterpiece. Perhaps it is. But I found myself bored as I watched it even though I had to admire the artistic intent. There are so many holes in the film it could qualify as cheesy. However, try telling that to those who love it. I think they love it as much for its flaws as for its perfections.

Perfections: the feel of the San Francisco Bay area, the sense of historical California, the great beauty of the ocean framed by Monterey cypresses, the redwoods, the Golden Gate Bridge as seen from below and off to the side, the Bautista Mission, the fifties interior decor, Madeleine's costumes, the angle of Scottie's fedora, the acting by the three stars, James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Barbara Bel Geddes. The musical score by Bernard Herrmann is also celebrated, but I found it a bit overbearing at times, and of course Hitchcock loved using music to direct our sensitivities, and one can tire of that.

Flaws:

Scottie hanging from the drainpipe railing, watching the cop trying to save him fly over to land several stories down, dead. What is not explained is how the cop was expected to pull him up with nothing to hold onto or how Scottie managed to survive. Apparently he fell but only broke his back because in the next scene he is in surgical corset unable to scratch certain itches.

The ersatz psychology. It was the fifties and psychoanalytic psychology was all the rage. One of the bestsellers of the day was The Fifty-Minute Hour: A Collection of True Psychoanalytic Tales by Robert Lindner in which a shrink relates tales told by his patients. Hitchcock loved this sort of thing (cf., Spellbound (1945) with Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman). Audiences also loved it. But the psychology is strictly bananas.

Driving on the wrong side of the road (about which Hitchcock is reported to have said when it was pointed out to him, "You drive your way. I'll drive mine.")

The plot. Oh, the plot. Never but never has there been a more elaborate and unlikely murder-your-rich-wife scheme. Judy Barton is hired, persuaded or, gee, maybe hypnotized into playing Gavin Elster's wife who is to commit suicide by jumping off the bell tower at the mission. First Gavin (Tom Helmore) has to establish that she's crazy and suicidal. This is done by having her drive dreamily around the Frisco Bay area looking for the haunts of her great grandmother who committed suicide. The key is to get Scottie to believe it so he can testify that she was suicidal. For this to work, (1) Madeleine has to fool a police detective--one might say mesmerize him, which she does, (2) Get him to the bell tower at the right time where he is afraid to go to the top--that works, but you have to buy the psychology, (3) Time it so that Madeleine appears to jump off, but in reality you throw the dead body of your wife off after having broken her neck (body kept warm perhaps in your car with the heater on?), (4) Hide with Madeleine at the top of the tower until the coast is clear (whenever that might be).

Although Kim Novak's performance is interesting it is unlikely that she could fool ex-detective Scottie into believing she was somebody else. When she reappears as Judy Barton in the brown hair and the different makeup, it really makes the audience do a double take before realizing that she and Madeleine are the same. But Scottie's take seems to be that she (and some other women at first glance) look like Madeleine--after all, he just got out of the nut house. It is only when he sees the necklace that he comes to his senses.

Another thing afficionados love about this movie is the way Hitchcock was able to subtly strip his stars of their glamour and make them look more or less human. James Stewart never played a part anything like this before. All the funny faces he has to make, perplexed while driving, terrified on the way up the bell tower, insane and terrified in the dream sequence, etc. It is said that Hitchcock blamed the lack of popular success of this movie (when it was belatedly released, not now) on Stewart looking too old, and therefore Hitchcock never worked with him again. But I think Stewart, after seeing the way he looked in this movie--so unheroic, so lost as a real human being--decided he was never going to let Hitchcock do THAT to him again, and that's probably why they never worked together again.

Kim Novak's curvy body and flopping you-know-whats are revealed in outfits that Grace Kelly would never wear. And poor Barbara Bel Geddes with those most unattractive glasses! How she pines for Scottie. One of the best scenes occurs when she shows Scottie her self portrait as the mysterious Carlotta with the glasses on (!) followed by her "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" self-flagellation after Scottie, who was offended at the grotesque sight, walks out.

But why is Scottie always hanging out at her place? And how they talk the plot in the beginning so that we might know that they were once a couple! But Hitchcock never worried about anything but the effect his movie might have on the audience. Improbilities, clumsy plot devices, etc., were secondary. And you know what, he was right, as P.T. Barnum was right. Hitchcock never overestimated the sophistication of his audience and that was one of his strengths. The audience just wants to be entertained, to be diverted, to live the fantasy for a while.

Somebody said that the real entertainment in watching this movie is in watching it again after you know the story. I think they're right. It's definitely a film buff's movie.

Twists and Turns Galore!.......2007-08-16

A great suspense movie--the story, screenplay, acting, musical score, and directing. Clever craftsmanship throughout. Believable characters--Stewart and Novak are superb--and a socko climax and resolution that will arrest your attention as never before. The opening scene is a slam-dunk nail biter--a hook that yanks you right into the story! The less said here about the plot, the better will be your surprises. See it, enjoy it, and see it again and again.

Vertigo.......2007-06-27

Hitchcock's psychological tingler was not a huge success on release, but understandably has achieved cult status over time. Ambitious, dense and more than slightly twisted, "Vertigo" is both an elaborate puzzler and a meditation on man's basest fears and desires. Though perhaps a trifle old for the part, Stewart brings a barely suppressed desperation to Scotty that resonates, while Novak is ideal in a dual identity role, playing Madonna-like Madeleine, and the garish, earthy Judy, whom Scottie meets later in the saga. Glorious San Francisco locales, and a peerless Bernard Herrmann score complete this winning package from the master of suspense.

Average customer rating:

'57 Chevy's make a tasty breakfast treat
Visually appealling and a sweet story about the clarity of childhood thinking compared to adult prejudice and stupidity.
The Iron Giant (Special Edition)
If your boys like robots, they'll love it.
Awesome film!!

The Iron Giant (Special Edition)
Starring: Jennifer Aniston , Harry Connick Jr. , Vin Diesel , James Gammon , and Cloris Leachman
Director: Brad Bird
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00009M9BK
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Amazon.com essential video

This gentle reworking of Ted Hughes's 1968 novella was the unseen gem of 1999. Hogarth, a young boy who lives in the Maine woods during the cold war, befriends a giant robot. As with E.T., the iron giant is a misunderstood outsider who becomes a child's best friend, and Hogarth does his best to hide the massive figure from his mom (voiced by Jennifer Aniston) and the local scrap-yard beatnik (Harry Connick Jr.). Soon the suspicions of neighbors and a government agent (Christopher McDonald) spell trouble.

With no songs, no sidekicks, and no cheap ending, The Iron Giant is a refreshing change-- like an off-Broadway production compared to the glitz of Disney's annual animated extravaganzas. Director Brad Bird may have Family Dog and The Simpsons to his credit, but this film doesn't have that brand of scatological humor. As with the best family entertainments, there are gags that adults will howl at while the kids are watching something else (see Bird's interpretation of cold war propaganda). And the star is one cool piece of animated magic. Voiced by Vin Diesel (Saving Private Ryan's hulking Private Caparzo) and filled with more gadgets than a Swiss army knife, the giant is a grand thing to behold. And like another famous cinema tin man, our hero--and the movie--has heart. Superb entertainment for ages 5 and up. --Doug Thomas

Description

A young boy rescues a huge robot which has rocketed to earth from space - and tries to protect the genial giant from a nosey government agent and the military. A captivating animated feature that's part metal, part magic and all heart.

Customer Reviews:

'57 Chevy's make a tasty breakfast treat.......2007-09-02

Take the ideas of knowing right from wrong and having a choice, then stylishly wrap them both around the most unlikely personification of innocence, and what will you have? The main character of this highly enjoyable tale, the Iron Giant, of course. Superbly played by Vin Diesel, this fantastic alien life form -the odd looking giant to our human eyes, has mysteriously found himself in a strange land. With a touch of amnesia.

But fear not, he turns out to be one big and very likeable dufus. Never mind his appetite for power transmission towers, '57 Chevy's and other assorted ferrous foodstuff, the big guy's got mettle. As he finds a friend in the smart, imaginative kid Hogarth, the possibilities for change are presented.

This potential, the one within, and the way it all plays out, is where I found the appeal of this movie. It has heart, good natured humor, and the voices really match the characters. The pacing and supporting cast are all spot on as well. The expressive animation, and the level of detail in the mechanical design made me an instant fan. Yes, I mean the way they animated this robot is just cool.

I'm happy to have this, it's a top notch production. Included: 8 additional scense, bits for the Duck and Cover Sequence & The Voice of the Giant; two trailers, a motion gallery (with music, stills, color sequences combined), as well as a Behind the Armor feature, which gives more detail on the film making.

Visually appealling and a sweet story about the clarity of childhood thinking compared to adult prejudice and stupidity........2007-08-27

I first saw this movie in the theatre in Japan (animation capital of the world that it is), and watched it several times since then on DVD. I love the feel and style of this movie, but what I mostly love is the comparative reactions to the Iron Giant by Hogarth versus his progressively adult and responsible counterparts.

Hogarth isn't the least bit scared of the giant--he thinks it's really cool--and after some initial fear, so does his super cool adult, artist friend Dean. But Hogarth knows the adults would freak out if they knew, and so tries to hide and protect his robot friend from the adults.

Enter an overeager and overzealous government representative who is most fond of telling people he's important because he's from the government. His chief concern in life is finding any incursion of the 'commies' on US soil, and when he suspects a robot from space may be on the loose, he jumps to the conclusion that it must be Russian. If he can only confirm this, he can really live his ultimate fantasy--calling in the Army to blast the thing out of existence.

Hogarth teaches the robot human values from a child's perspective, and ends up saving everyone from what might have been the end of humanity--but without really knowing it. Hogarth just wants his friend, the robot, to live, be happy, and not be harmed or cause harm to anyone.

Hogarth has natural morals. He knows what's good and bad without considering good and evil. Even if the robot had a 'Made in Russia' label on it, Hogarth would have helped, befriended, and did his best to teach it right and wrong all the same. His character is a nice refresher for us jaded adults and our thousands of issues.

All of the above aside, it's a very entertaining movie which couldn't be safer for your children to watch, and adults will be thrown back into how they thought as children.

The Iron Giant (Special Edition).......2007-08-23

This video was surprisingly well done. It's a great story and the animation was wonderful. For a children's story, I thought it was a mistake to use the words "hell" and "damn" in it--so be advised.

If your boys like robots, they'll love it........2007-08-15

My preschoolers love robots, so we got this dvd for them. They love it because of the robot. There is some mild violence--the army comes in with guns and tanks-- and portions where the little boy disobeys his mommy, so be forewarned. I had to talk about those portions with my sons and remind them that those things were no-nos. If you don't like your boys being exposed to any sort of gun visuals, maybe you won't like this.

Awesome film!!.......2007-08-14

My kids and I LOVE this film. It is so under appreciated! IT is a MUST see for the whole family!

Average customer rating:

Now this is how older films on HD-DVD should look...
Fantastic film
Very good quality
Debauchery in high def
Buyer Beware

Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas (HD DVD)
Starring: Johnny Depp Benicio Del Torro , and Eric Stoltz
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000GFLEJA
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Customer Reviews:

Now this is how older films on HD-DVD should look..........2007-06-26

...older, meaning more than 4-5 years old (or earlier generation dvd's). I read the great reviews of the transfer and have seen my share of disappointing high-def discs already. So I was skeptical when I bought it. This is one of the best (funniest) movies ever.

Well, I first watched the opening scene and some parts of my Criterion version (which had been a better standard transfer) on my 56 HD-RPTV. It used to look great on my 32" tube TV. It looked terrible on the bigger screen of course, making me scared of another cruddy HD transfer like my Sleepy Hollow or the Game (worst ever so far).

After the first few seconds of the opening scene, let alone the rest of the movie, I loved this transfer (HD-DVD). Now this is how "somewhat older" films should look like on HD-DVD! Absolutely amazing colors, contrast and sharpness. The vegas lights look fantastic as do the rest of the colors in this "trip". No annoying digital noise, a few specs of dust on the film which I never mind, and the dust/smoke is rendered beautifully. The DD+ soundtrack is great and it has a DD True soundtrack even though most of us at this point can't take full advantage of it. What a fantastic job this is- I'm loving it.

Fantastic film.......2007-04-27

I only own a hand full of HD DVD's. But this one is by far the best looking of the lot. Great picture. Very clear. Amazing colours. Fantasic film.

Very good quality.......2007-03-22

We all know about fear and loathing's story line (which is superb and incredibly funny), however my review is of the quality of the content (compared to the standard DVD which I also own).

Nothing is simple in the world of technology - and simply buying an HD-DVD does not mean that the sound & picture is going to be the best money can buy, I purchased full metal jacket on HD-DVD and was dissapointed by the quality of it. Fear & Loathign is quite the opposite....

I was blown away by the picture and sound quality - compared to other HD-DVD's I own this one is by far the best, the picture is so clear you can see the pores on johhny depps face.

I would seriously reccomend this product over the standard DVD.

Debauchery in high def.......2007-03-21

One of the themes of this film is the sad end of the summer of love culture of the 1960's. Dr. Gonzo's polydrug-induced debauchery, symbolic of this, is fully detailed in this good transfer, to the point that viewers may have to look away from time to time. Del Torro deserved some kind of award for what he went through.

Buyer Beware.......2007-03-10

Don't worry about the content if you know the movie is a hilarious drug-induced adventure in insanity, and Las Vegas. Instead, don't buy the HD DVD version unless you have an HD DVD player. This product does not play on a regular DVD player. I had to return my first order and reorder the DVD version. This movie is difficult to find in the movie store, at least in my neck of the woods; so ordering it from Amazon was a logical decision. Fortunately, the customer service reps handled the issue, refunding all of my money. Don't make the same mistake I did -it takes a long time to go through the return/refund process.

Average customer rating:

Great movie.
Yet Another Great Film from Albert Brooks
A movie I watch every time it's on TV
DEFENDING ALBERT BROOKS
A Pleasant Comedy

Defending Your Life
Starring: Albert Brooks , Meryl Streep , Rip Torn , Roger Behr , and Beth Black
Director: Albert Brooks
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000056WRG
Release Date: 2001-04-03

Amazon.com

Albert Brooks proves there's laughs after death with this almost heavenly comedy--almost heaven as in Judgment City, where recently perished Daniel Miller (Brooks) learns whether he is worthy of advancing to a higher plane of existence or will be sent back to earth for another incarnation.

His fate will be determined in a very special trial, during which scenes from his life are replayed on a giant screen. "Isn't it realistic?" a judge asks. "It makes some people nauseous." While the steely prosecutor (Lee Grant) will try to prove that Daniel failed in life to face his fears and insecurities, his glad-handing, reassuring defender (Rip Torn) will argue on behalf of this hapless "little brain" (a Judgment City term for residents of earth).

As Woody Allen did for the future in Sleeper, so does Brooks create an original vision of the afterlife. In Judgment City, white-robed residents can eat as much as they want without guilt or fear of gaining weight. They can also visit the Past Lives Pavilion, where they are greeted by a hologram of--who else--Shirley MacLaine.

Daniel finds himself touched by an angel. Meryl Streep gives an enchanting performance as Julia, whose exemplary life is in stark contrast to his. During her trial, the court watches in rapture as she saves not only children, but a cat from a burning building.

Daniel and Julia are a match made in Judgment City, but first Daniel must summon up the courage to express his true feelings for her, or she will surely advance without him.

Defending Your Life is Brooks's most ambitious film and, with Mother, his most accessible. --Donald Liebenson

Description

Immediately following his death by bus, Daniel finds himself in the afterlife facing his past. If you can't make a case for having lived a full and fearles

superb music score won an Academy Award.s life, you must go back to Earth and try again. But Daniel doesn't want to go back after he meets Julia in this heavenly fable written and directed by Albert Brooks.

Customer Reviews:

Great movie........2007-09-16

This is a great movie. Not only is it funny, satirical, and romantic, but it also really made me think about my life, and how I can defend it! This movie is appropriate for audiences of all ages; I watched it with my boyfriend, my parents, and my younger brothers.

Yet Another Great Film from Albert Brooks.......2007-08-22

Albert Brooks may be compared to Woody Allen as film director/writer. But, I find that his style to be a little different. He is the smart talking guy who tries to show his strength with sarcasm and big talk. Yeah, we have heard this guy before. It's probably us in many situations but Brooks plays this exactly on the dot. Meryl Streep just sticks around for the ride since this is Brooks' act. Well, Streep is wonderful and makes acting seem effortless. The idea of Judgement City is just pure genius when you consider that everyone expects to go to heaven for just being a good samaritan. Brooks places this assumption upside with court like drama.

With this DVD, it's disappointing to just have the trailer. In this comedy, I expected outtakes and deleted scenes. Considering that this film was a sleeper, I guess it's not a surprise that Warner Brothers decided not to invest more into this film. Well, I am glad that other films like The Accidental Tourist gets the royal treatment from Warner Brothers.

A movie I watch every time it's on TV.......2007-07-17

I rarely watch movies I own on DVD, but if they come on TV, I'll watch it. This is one of those movies that every time it's on TV, I'll watch it.

I love the whole concept of the movie of moving on to a judgement period after you die, to decide to move on. Very original twist on the afterlife. Brooks is great as the somewhat hapless man who must defend his life's record. The real beauty of this movie is his time spent exploring Judgement City and his encounters with Meryl Streep. Brooks writing is very witty. I love the Hall of Previous lives where one can see what they were in previous lives. One of the best quotes is when Julia (Streep) asks Brooks what he was as they are each watching their own lives. Brooks previous life happens to be a native running from a lion. His answer is "Lunch."

The movie is full of wonderful dialogue, and clever little twists. There is a reason I watch it every time it's on. It's just fun and heartwarming.

DEFENDING ALBERT BROOKS.......2007-07-01

This is Mr. Brooks at his side-splittingest and most sardonic as he prepares to enter the afterlife and must defend the decisions he made in life. This film is clever on all levels. Casting Meryl Streep as someone who has nothing to defend was a stroke of genius. Watch for Shirley MacLaine in a howlingly funny cameo. I have watched this again and again to make up for all the people who didn't see it in the theaters. I have given it as a gift many, many times to people who have never heard of it. I hate to use the term "feel-good" as it is overworked with regard to film, but when this one ends, I'm happy that I watched it.

A Pleasant Comedy.......2007-06-27

I agree with most of what good things everyone says about this movie - I saw it in the theatre when it came out and bought it on DVD, although I'm a tad disappointed there aren't any extras on the DVD. Albert Brooks has always made me laugh but it's nice to see Meryl Streep possibly enjoying a film role for once - it seems like a good pairing of two cerebral actors - you may laff when you hear Brooks' name and the word cerebral in the same sentence but his movies have always made me think he has a good insight into the human psyche. The middle of the film where Lee Grant shows his various mistakes is hilarious and make you think that Brooks' character is just outside of being passed on to Heaven, until the last part of the movie - Rip Torn is his usual funny self, and his ambiguity and vagueness comes off as funny.

50 First Dates (Widescreen Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

I have watched multiple times
OUTRAGEOUS!
She only sings on days after she's been with you....
A comedy that delivers the funny with some unexpected warmth and charm...
Falling in love for the first time, everyday, for the rest of your life and maybe even crying...

50 First Dates (Widescreen Special Edition)
Starring: Adam Sandler , Drew Barrymore , Rob Schneider , Sean Astin , and Lusia Strus
Director: Peter Segal
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001Z3TXE
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Amazon.com

With generous amounts of good luck and good timing, 50 First Dates set an all-time box-office record for the opening weekend of a romantic comedy; whether it deserved such a bonanza is another issue altogether. It's a sweet-natured vehicle for sweet-natured stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, and their track record with The Wedding Singer no doubt factors in its lowbrow appeal. But while the well-matched lovebirds wrestle with a gimmicky plot (she has no short-term memory, so he has to treat every encounter as their first), director Peter Segal (who directed Sandler in Anger Management) ignores the intriguing potential of their predicament (think Memento meets Groundhog Day) and peppers the proceedings with the kind of juvenile humor that Sandler fans have come to expect. The movie sneaks in a few heartfelt moments amidst its inviting Hawaiian locations, and that trained walrus is charmingly impressive, but you can't quite shake the feeling that too many good opportunities were squandered in favor of easy laughs. Like Barrymore's character, you might find yourself forgetting this movie shortly after you've seen it. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

I have watched multiple times.......2007-08-28

I guess I am in love with Drew Barrymore. She's in a lot of great romantic comedies. Aside from Drew, this movie shows what a guy will go thorugh for the love of his life. They meet, the fall for each other. He finds out she can't remember longer than 24hours and yet he pursues her. Will they come together or won't they? You have to watch it to find out!

OUTRAGEOUS!.......2007-08-03

First, let me say that I am NOT a Adam Sandler fan, but in this movie he gives a GREAT performance as a player who finally falls in love and gives up his wiley ways to pursue one girl. This movie had me rolling in the floor the first time I saw it. Men and women alike will love this heartwarming, hilarious love story. Rob Schneider gives his best movie performance ever as Oola, Adam's best friend. And Sean Astin plays Drew's steroid-enhanced wanna-be weight lifter brother that is a COMPLETELY different switch from his dramatic role in The Lord of the Rings. Drew Barrymore gives an fantastic performance as a girl who has brain damage from a car accident and has lost all short term memory to the point that she can only remember her life up to the accident, and her memory after that is erased every night. This obviously causes Adam Sandler problems in his attempt to make her fall in love with him all over again every day. This is a wonderful movie you'll want to watch again and again. TOP RATE!

She only sings on days after she's been with you...........2007-07-06

I know I messed that line up somehow but the sentiment is the same. This romantic comedy is quirky, cute and absolutely sugar sweet. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have onscreen chemistry that rivals Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in this movie about a woman who is forced to live in the past because each day is like a repeat of the day before.

Injured in an auto accident years ago, Barrymore is now being cared for by her father and brother, who take precautions to make sure every day is exactly the same. Why? Because for Drew Barrymore is IS exactly the same. Every night she goes to sleep and every morning she wakes up with no memory of the day that has just passed. She thinks it is the morning of her car wreck. (Note: she has no memory of the wreck. She thinks it is apparently the time frame BEFORE the wreck... It is as if the trauma of the wreck is simply too much for her mind to grasp. )

When Adam Sandler steps into the picture, things begin to change. Subtle differences occur, much in the same way difference occur for Bill Murray, a la Groundhog's Day. Ultimately what transpires is a deepening of affection and a crossroads in life.

Adam Sandler must choose. Can he truly live with a woman who can't remember him? If she can't remember him, how can she truly love him? Some how it all works out and the conclusion is both funny and tear-jerking.

This is not a bad date movie if I do say so myself.

A comedy that delivers the funny with some unexpected warmth and charm..........2007-06-25

In the long line of men who act like children Adam Sandler is probably the most successful. Here, with `50 First Dates' he gives us a good reason as to why. Coupled with the talented Drew Barrymore he wonderfully crafts a funny yet sincere romantic comedy that whops a wallop of a tear jerking ending. The chemistry between the two stars is impeccable and believable despite the beauty factor of Barrymore and the goofy factor of Sandler. They work wonderfully together and Barrymore has proven to get the best out of Sandler for the second time. Arguably their first pairing in `The Wedding Singer' is a better movie, but that's arguable since this little gem is just as funny and just as sweet.

The story is one that could have gone either way in the genre department. Barrymore's character Lucy is a beautiful Hawaiian native who attracts the attention of playboy Henry Roth, a native who entertains tourist women with good times and one night stands and loves the bachelorhood he's built for himself. Lucy is different though, she's otherworldly to Roth in a way, so much different than the girls he's used to being with. Lucy's main difference though is not anything Henry would have expected. Lucy has no short term memory. In fact she lives everyday as if it were the same day, going to sleep and waking up on her fathers birthday, the day she suffered a horrendous accident that caused her to lose her ability to remember anything after that point. This same plotline could have made a brilliant drama, but I'm glad they went funny with this one.

After Roth finds out Lucy's problem he makes a special effort each day to make her fall in love with him again, not for the sheer satisfaction of the chase but because there's something about Lucy that he can't let go of. He loves this girl. At first her father and brother are indifferent to the idea, opposed even, but when they see the positive effect that Henry is having on Lucy they decide that maybe this isn't such a bad idea.

Adam Sandler, while still giving the audience the slapstick and comedy they are used to, delivers a more mature performance than most of his other comedic films. His relationship with Barrymore's character is much more sympathetic then in previous films and is one the audience can get behind and cheer for. Barrymore though upstages Sandler every step of the way delivering an on point comedic performance that will make any fan proud. She's beautiful, sweet, sincere and hilarious. The supporting actors all do a fine job, Rob Schneider delivering most of the big laughs as Ula the pot smoking father of a small tribe of children. Blake Clark and Sean Astin are good as Lucy's father and brother and Pomaika'i Brown is hilarious as `tattoo face', the chief at the local restaurant where Lucy and Henry meet.

There are some one-liners in this film that almost take away from the effortless hilarity of the balance of the film. Dan Aykroyd has resorted to painful roles and this is one of them, a role littered with dialog that's hard to listen to without cringing, and that Hawaiian native who gives the audience language lessons is more than annoying. Aside from this minor downfall the audience will have a great time watching Henry's pathetic attempts at swooning Lucy, Ula's hilarious attempts at helping him, not to mention his pathetic advice, but I'm sure nothing will give the audience more pleasure than trying to decide just what gender Henry's horny associate really is!

Falling in love for the first time, everyday, for the rest of your life and maybe even crying... .......2007-06-09

After "The Wedding Singer" the Sandler-Barrymore duo do it again with their wonderful on-screen chemistry and an adorable story. The movie also makes you think philosophically. Actually many people in life whose actions are still very mechanical and robot like, live a life as Drew does in this movie. However unlike Drew there are none to tell these people what's wrong with their lives. However it is also tragic to think that one day she has to wake up somewhere in her 60's and realise that her father died and then relive that everyday. The same feeling would multiply if more of her loved ones were to die before her. The other thing to imagine is that someone ought to ensure her daily treatment continued till she died.

Then there are those unforgettable numbers from the 80's, particularly "Lovesong" and "Friday I'am in love" by the amazing, The Cure, "Drive" by The Cars, "Hold me now" from the Thomson Twins, The Police's "Every breath You take" and Spandau Ballet's "True" which was also featured in "The Wedding Singer". Most of these numbers this time are played as cover songs by newer artistes making the soundtrack to this movie another big seller. "Could you be loved" the original by Bob Marley is retained though. And like "The Wedding Singer" there's that adorable song from Adam Sandler as well.

Hawaii is pictured so beautifully that the movie literally promotes tourism for this lovely island.

Several other characters also deserve praise. Henry's Hawaiian Friend, Lucy's brother (played by the guy who plays Frodo's friend in "Lord of the Ring",series), the Chef at the restaurant, the owner of the restaurant, the Drew's father and Henry's assistant at the zoo.

A movie that can make you laugh as much as it can bring a tear to your eyes, see it if you haven't seen it yet.

Average customer rating:

Great family movie - Beautifully shot!
One of the very best family films of the year, maybe the decade.
Secret of the Cave - fantastic buy

Secret of the Cave
Starring: Patrick Bergin , Sheila Flitton , Rhoda Griffis , Joseph Kelly , and Peadar Lamb
Director: Zach Gray
Manufacturer: First Look Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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