Octopussy Movie Streaming

February 9th, 2010 by kyle9776099
Octopussy Movie Streaming. Octopussy Movie Streaming.

Movie Title: Octopussy
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Octopussy is available for streaming or downloading.

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Octopussy has had many criticisms leveled at it since it slipped into cinema’s in 1983. One complaint is that there are simply too many villains – is the crazed Gen. Orlov the main villain or the suave Kamal Khan? Another objection postulates that its choice of India as a location sends Bond into a pure fantasy land with a depiction of tribal princes, mysterious islands populated entirely of impossibly beautiful women and bungling local thugs. Still more point to its inappropriate rather juvenile schoolboy humor, from Bond’s Tarzan yell to our heroes ogling over a young woman secretary’s bust as a reason why the movie fails.

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These objections are perfectly legitimate, but one has to feel that the movies detractors were missing the point. Bond is a fantasy figure who in the past has battled armies inside bases hidden inside hollowed out volcano’s (in 1967’s YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE) and shot into space to save the world from poisoned orchids globes (in 1979’s MOONRAKER). Bond belongs in the fantasy realm and the over-the-top formula is perfectly suited and indeed complimented by the India depicted here.

In addition the villains are similarly over-the-top and the movie audience is treated to two wonderful performances. Who can forget the fantastic performance of Steven Berkoff as Orlov in the Kremlin meeting room – “Never, the West is decadent” Orlov states as he struts around one of Peter Lamont’s amazing sets.

The humor is also perfectly suited to the Roger Moore portrayal of Bond and in fact the adventures had become so fantastical at this point that it was necessary for Moore to not take events too seriously. The only truly embarrassing scene is the one in Q’s workshop where Bond focuses a camera in on a woman’s bust. But other scenes referred to pop culture of the 1900s, such as Bond doing his Barbara Wodehouse impersonation telling a tiger to “sit-t-t” and swinging through the vines like Johnny Weismuller in an old Tarzan picture. Neither is particularly intrusive and both elicited belly laughs from the audience I saw the movie with. Similarly the complaint that Bond ends up in a clown suit at the end should be taken in context, he is undercover at a circus, a clown outfit is in fact the perfect disguise.

The movie starts with one of the most famous action sequences of the 1980s. Captured trying to destroy a spy plane in Latin America 007 escapes by using the worlds smallest jet even flying it through a hanger as the doors close. In fact the jet, called an Acrostar, actually exists and had been originally planned for use in 1979’s MOONRAKER, it deserves its place in the Bond movie’s pantheon of gadgets alongside the mini helicopter Little Nellie from 1967. Rolling up to a gas station at the end of the sequence Bond delivers my favorite line in the movie, smiling to the undoubtedly amazed attendant and asking him to Fill her up please.”

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Of course this scene has nothing to do with the movie as a whole but it’s a nice little mini-adventure to start things off with and set the tone for the rest of the movie. Following the erotic main titles, in which designer Maurice Binder makes full use of lasers and gorgeous women, we are plunged headlong into the main plot with two assassins chasing a British agent in full clown make-up (shades of what is to come later) as he attempts to get a fake Faberge egg to the British embassy.

Understandably a little miffed at the death of their agent and curious as to the reason why he was carrying a fake egg the British send Bond to observe the auction of the real egg at Sotheby’s. Here is one of my favorite scenes, there are no explosions, no meglomaniacal speeches from super villains and no incredible sets but merely Bond testing the determination of Khan in a standoff which reaches its final conclusion thousands of miles away over a game of backgammon. Here we see shades of Goldfinger cheating at golf in the 1964 movie except this time its loaded dice on the backgammon table.

Special mention must go to the very alluring Maud Adams who holds the distinction of being the only actress to play two leading roles in the EON Bond series (Ursula Andress played two, the first in DR. NO and the second in the non-Eon 1967 spoof CASINO ROYALE). Adams is a stunning Scandinavian beauty and plays the title role with a sense of both amusement and conviction. In fact in what is an interesting tip of the hat to the short story from which the movie gets its title, the plot of Bond tracking down a traitor serves as the backstory to Adam’s characters father.

The plot for what its worth involves jewelry smuggling and nuclear brinkmanship, but that’s really not what is important here, that merely serves as a canvas on which to stage fun set pieces and a generous selection of stunt action sequences.

What we have here is a fun action adventure movie, just don’t go in expecting anything serious. If you approach this movie with the right frame of mind you might find this entry in the James Bond canon to be one of the series most entertaining – for entertainment’s sake.

The DVD also features a scene specific commentary from Director John Glen. It can be a little dry at times and it might be better waiting for the upcoming remastered DVD releases that will feature a commentary by Bond actor himself Roger Moore.

“Octopussy” was the thirteenth “official” James Bond film, and Roger Moore’s sixth. While Roger is looking a bit ragged, this movie is plotted well and has some of the classiest Bond movie characters. “Octopussy” was released twenty years after the release of Dr. No, well into establishing the James Bond series as the longest running movie series in history. 1983 was also the only year in which two “serious” James Bond movies were released, with “Never Say Never Again,” starring Sean Connery, released shortly after this film. Two Bond films were also released in 1967; “You Only Live Twice” and the comedy “Casino Royale,” with an all-star cast that included Peter Sellers, David Niven and numerous Bond movie actors, including Ursula Andress and Caroline Munro.

When agent 009 turns up stabbed with a valuable jeweled egg, James Bond is on the case. His investigation leads him to India, where he learns that Kamal Khan is involved in a number of activities, some of them apparently involving Octopussy, a female smuggler who makes her home on an island where there are only women.

Louis Jourdan plays Kamal Khan. Jourdan brings significant class and style to the character, and may be Bond’s classiest villain ever. Jourdan’s Khan is also utterly ruthless, and comes close to killing Bond several times.

Beautiful Maud Adams plays Octopussy, which was her father’s nickname for her. Maud and her girls are smugglers, but you will note that their guns contain darts that put their targets to sleep rather than kill. Maud Adams remains unique as the only actor to be in a lead role in two Bond movies, the first being “The Man with the Golden Gun” in 1974. In many ways the character of Octopussy is similar to the character of Kristatos in “For Your Eyes Only.”

As the movie unfolds we learn that General Orlov (played chillingly by Steven Berkoff) has been plotting with Kamal Khan to use the military superiority of the Soviet Union to show the world that the Soviet Union remains a potent world power. Kamal Khan’s interest is money, however, and he cares little for Orlov’s activities other than how he can benefit from them.

Two principal characters support Kamal and Bond. Kabir Bedi plays Gobinda, a tall, quiet, intelligent henchman. Gobinda seems to be the one to spot when the good guys are about to make a move. Gobinda is also quite obedient, to his ultimate chagrin. Vijay Amritraj plays Vijay, a suave Indian who likes to play tennis, is well-spoken and educated. Octopussy also has her sidekick in the character of Magda, played by Kristina Wayborn. Magda is beautiful, athletic, highly intelligent, and much like Octopussy.

The movie is focused in India until the principal characters travel to East Germany and Berlin where General Orlov’s activities climax. Here Bond faces twin knife throwers, a host of East German soldiers, a lady who refuses to give up her pay phone, West German police, U.S. MPs, a bevy of clowns, and a nuclear bomb. The movie then returns to India where Q gets to take direct part in the action in a change of traditions, where Q has traditionally beem away from the action.

The title song for this movie is sang by Rita Coolidge. “All Time High” is a pretty song, and continues the tradition of having current music artists sing the title song. The special edition includes a music video of this song, along with a short on Peter Lamont and a making of documentary. Of the extras the documentary and the voice commentary are the best features. Here are a couple of interesting facts from the extras. The plane that flew through the hangar at the beginning was mounted on a post that was attached to the chassis of a car. If you slow the picture down as the plane flies through the hangar you can easily see the post and catch a couple of glimpses of the car chassis. Later in the movie when Bond is fighting on the circus train, the scenes with Bond suspended just above the moving rails was done with a painted moving below a pair of railroad cars suspended in the air, and a single moving train wheel. I found it hard to tell that the railroad ties were not real even though I knew how the special effect was created. I thought the extras were worth watching.

“Octopussy” has a lot going for it. The plot is now slightly dated, but worthy of Bond. There are interesting special effects, including a fight on a plane and an attack with a high tech hot air balloon. There is also a cool “crocodile” and a saw-blade yo-yo that shows how much of a cutup a bad guy can be. The title song is excellent. Roger looks very comfortable in this role, and Maud and he have substantial screen chemistry. I could readily have watched Roger and Maud in another movie together, even another Bond movie. While this Bond movie may be less than the best, it is still a very good Bond movie and enjoyable to watch time and again. You need this one in your Bond movie collection.

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The Thomas Crown Affair – New Transfer Streaming

February 8th, 2010 by kyle9776099
The Thomas Crown Affair - New Transfer Streaming. The Thomas Crown Affair – New Transfer Streaming.

Movie Title: The Thomas Crown Affair – New Transfer
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The Thomas Crown Affair – New Transfer is available for streaming or downloading.

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For some reason there remains a problem with the video quality of Thomas Crown Affair. What we are suppose to be seeing is a new transfer, ( I guess admitting that the prior version needed improvement) which in fact it did. This new transfer isn’t quite what I was expecting, in fact it’s uneven or should I say unbalanced which gives a uncomfortable viewing experience. Anyone who purchases this DVD version expecting the ultimate quality version is in for a big let-down. This DVD is offered with the wide screen/ full screen format. MGM appears to be looking in the rear view mirror. With Plasma/LCD quality, why is MGM wasting time with marginal quality standards. This Batch will end up in the bargin bin. Save your money and wait till next time.

Even in 1968, audiences knew The Thomas Crown Affair was a film of style over substance. It had an interesting premise dreamt up by a Boston Lawyer who had never written a screenplay before-and there wasn’t a lot of story or character development. It’s the films’ style and gimmicks which endeared it to audiences. And the coolest of the cool stars,Steve (I move like a panther) McQueen, on the planet teamed up with the fascinating mix of earthy sultriness and ice princess that is Faye Dunaway at her peak.

So does this film hold up? Is it worth watching? The first half hour of the film – - the robbery is still an exciting, stylish, entertaining sequence that few films will top in terms of hipness. It’s here the multiple screen gimmick works best. It’s here that Hal Ashby’s editing and Walter Hill’s second unit work is most impressive. It’s the best part of the film and it works beautifully. (Yes that’s future directors Hal Ashby and Walter Hill I just mentioned).

Affair is directed by Norman Jewison (a former editor/turned director who had just directed In the Heat of the Night, and The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming). United Artists didn’t put much pressure or time constraints on Jewison, and Jewison took this very weak screenplay with an interesting premise and worked with writer Alan R. Trustman to create a sandbox for him and legendary cinematographer Haskell Wexler to play in. They were young, they were anxious to break rules and try new things and they happened to wind up at Montreal Expo 67 and in the audience of a ground-breaking multi-screen extravaganza called Habitat. Habitat was created by film/maker and graphic designer Pablo Ferro. Jewison, Wexler and Ashby had found the gimmick they were looking for. It wasn’t really until the film was in post production that they began putting together the multi-screen effects, and none of the film was story-boarded . A lot of improvisation was used for the film.

The premise of the story (for the few who don’t know) concerns a very wealthy corporate millionaire, Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen) who is so used to winning at every game he plays, he challenges himself by quietly setting up and master-minding a huge bank robbery. It’s one of the things that amuses him, one of the few thrills he has in life, his way to rebel and protest against his own corporate greed.

The police are baffled, Paul Burke as top cop Eddie Malone is willing to work with a very unique insurance investigator to break the case. The investigator turns out to be Vicki Anderson (played by Faye Dunaway). She earns ten percent of the money she recovers and she’s willing to do just about anything and break all the rules to earn her money- which frustrates the by the book Eddie Malone.

Now there’s never much time taken with conventional things like dialogue. Most of the characters speak in short phrases and sentences. The music is loud, intrusive, and obvious. It’s used throughout the film to drive the pacing of the scene or over-emphasize minor moments. Today it plays a bit more campy than it used to, but it’s a lot of fun.

Vicki Anderson quickly decides that Thomas Crown must be the master-mind behind the bank robbery. She doesn’t really have any evidence, or really much of a reason to come to this conclusion, but she does. The film expects you to accept this. So the rest of the film is a cat and mouse game. Vicki and Thomas are attractive jet-setting type people and they are attracted to each other, flirt, make love, drink port, play chess (in an extremely low key erotic fashion), buy fresh produce, go for dune buggy rides, and sit in sauna’s together.

They both know however that they are adversaries.

McQueen’s acting is also very stylized. He pauses before making facial gestures. He laughs somewhat forced, and his every movement feels calculated. It works.

Although the film becomes less logical as it progresses, its inventive style held my attention throughout. And perhaps because of how dated it’s hip chicness is, it’s even more fun now,then when it was first released.

The re-make is actually a better film than this one. The screenplay is much better constructed, and the film is structured better as a conventional narrative. But the first 30 minutes of this film is not easily topped, and Steve McQueen was a one of a kind screen presence.

If your in the mood for a style over substance film from the late 60’s complete with the title Academy Award Winning song Windmills of your Mind, you won’t be disappointed.

Three and Half …. make it Four…

Chris Jarmick…
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Stream America’s National Parks and Forests Movie Online

February 8th, 2010 by kyle9776099
Stream America's National Parks and Forests Movie Online. Stream America’s National Parks and Forests Movie Online.

Movie Title: America’s National Parks and Forests
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America’s National Parks and Forests is available for streaming or downloading.

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If you look at the “review “below, it might surprise you that according to his logic he must work for a competitor because on the same day he attacked this park DVD, he promoted a park DVD by “Finley Holiday” (according to his logic a positive review and certainly a positive review combined with attacks on competitors must mean you work for that company). Unbelievable! And the company he is promoting has 151 DVDs mainly on the national parks, but they only had a handful of positive comments. I’ll repeat again – they have 151 different DVDs and they could only get a handful of positive reviews. And what is even more amazing, is that most of these positive reviews were written the same day by the same guy – and they were almost identical (search Amazon DVDs using the name “Finley Holiday” and then see the Jan 3, 2006 reviews on Bryce Canyon, Carlsbad Cavern, Grand Teton, Death Valley, Arches, etc).

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Regard America’s National Parks and Forests DVD just read All Movie Guide comments: “This hour-long video offers viewers a tour of some of America’s oldest and most renowned natural and man-made wonders, including the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Bruce Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, Crater Lake, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and other National Parks. Extensive wildlife and recreational footage is included as well, making this an appropriate primer for families wishing to survey the country’s natural attractions before traveling to them.” And All Movie Guide is an independent reviewer. “Anyway, I just thought I’d set the record straight for future unsuspecting buyers who really want to learn and discover our national parks.”

This DVD is outstanding for two reasons: (1) the unbelievable quality of the videos and (2) the amazing diversity of the sites it covers including Acadia, Big Bend, The Grand Canyon, Mt. Rainier, Yellowstone, Yosemite etc. Plus it has a bonus of some of the best parks in the world including Banff, The Great Barrier Reef and even the secret of Machu Picchu. What a travel guide! What a deal!

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Victor/Victoria Streaming

February 7th, 2010 by kyle9776099
Victor/Victoria Streaming. Victor/Victoria Streaming.

Movie Title: Victor/Victoria
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Victor/Victoria is available for streaming or downloading.

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This is most definitely musical gender-bending at it’s best!

Not many musical/comedies are produced nowadays, let alone good ones like Rocky Horror Picture Show & Little Shop Of Horrors to name a few that come to my mind.

This 80’s musical/comedy is set in 1934 GAY and I DO MEAN GAY Paree! This film is quite unparalled in the fact that Victor/Victoria was a movie BEFORE it made it to The Great White Way. Julie Andrews played Victor/Victoria in both movie and on stage.

Great songs in – Julie’s “Le Jazz Hot” & Lesley Warren’s bimboesque “Kings Can-Can”. The sexual chemistry is A+++ between Andrews & a sexually confused James Garner who plays “King Marchand” a Chicago club owner, who is so TOTALLY out of his element in Paris, let alone being sexually frustrated and confused over his crush on the beautiful, stylish and gay, Victor.

Great cast, great songs and a greater storyline with lots of slapstick comedy make Victor/Victoria a classic of it’s time!

Happy Watching!

In the age of “Moulin Rouge” audiences would do far better by rediscovering this musical comedy gem, starring the incomparable Julie Andrews, Robert Preston, Leslie Ann Warren and James Garner. Rarely has Hollywood captured the essence of great music with outstanding performances as it has in “Victor/Victoria.” There are literally a dozen or so scenes that will leave you hysterical, as in gasping-for-breath hysterical, something many films aspire to, but few ever deliver on. But more than funny, this is a poignant, character driven film where every principal is allowed to shine.

Andrews permanently sheds her “Sound of Music” virginal skin in the title role, embodying the man-pretenting-to-be-a-woman-pretending-to-be-a-man part in a way noone has ever done before or since. Of course, the audience is in on the joke, but it never becomes tired or anything less than fresh. Robert Preston is the antithesis of his former “Music Man” personna, a gay-Paree emcee who discover’s Victor’s startling 8-octave vocal range and turns him/her into the rage of Paris. These two performances, along with Leslie Ann Warren’s unforgettable floosy – all three Oscar-nominated – are drop dead fabulous. These are actors at the very height of their form….funny, passionate, real and endearing. The musical highlights are truly phenomenal, certainly better than other “best loved” musicals like “Singing In the Rain” or “An American In Paris.” Andrews scores on “Le Jazz Hot” and shows an indelible comic flair few people knew she was capable of in the legendary cafeteria sequence, which literally had the audience I viewed this with ROLLING in the aisles. It’s a movie where even the insects – cockroaches in this case – are memorable. But more so, its also a lesson in what Hollywood USED to do so well in its tradition of movie musicals….and what its forgotten to do over the past two decades since Victor/Victoria was released. In a nutshell, Hollywood forgot that the power of song and music is their ability to HUMANIZE a character and progress the plot, but also lend depth and color to the principals. For me, “Victor/Victoria” IS Hollywood’s last great musical, and certainly one of the most visually stunning, fully realized films of our time. This ranks far and away as Blake Edward’s crowning masterpiece – high above SOB or the Pink Panther flicks. And the supporting performances are some of the best ever caqptured. Just try and forget Warren’s cooing to James Garner (”pooookie….I’m horny) or Alex Karras’ gay gangster falling in love with Preston. From roaches to royalty, “Victor/Victoria” is quite simply one of the best films of the 80’s or any other decade.

I am anxiously awaiting its release on DVD, and secretly hoping that the currently available Broadway show version silently goes away as it cannot hold a candle to the film. Rent it, buy it, LOVE IT.
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Stream Samurai Deeper Kyo: Complete Collection Movie Online

February 7th, 2010 by kyle9776099
Stream Samurai Deeper Kyo: Complete Collection Movie Online. Stream Samurai Deeper Kyo: Complete Collection Movie Online.

Movie Title: Samurai Deeper Kyo: Complete Collection
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Samurai Deeper Kyo: Complete Collection is available for streaming or downloading.

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This is a surprising twist on the Samurai legends of arising in the battles that marked the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate. In the carnage of the critical battle of Sekigahara a feared Samurai – Demon Eyes Kyo – comes face to face with another powerful swordsman – Kyoshiro Mibu. Just as Kyoshiro took the upper hand for the last time, they are struck by a meteor. All that is left is some dust and Kyo’s sword – Murimasa.

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The scene shifts to years later, and we find Kyoshiro in the part of a feeble minded itinerant apothecary, seeming the innocent victim of his own misadventures. Then the intervention of Yukimora Saneda triggers a terrifying change, and Demon Eyes Kyo’s spirit regains consciousness – in the body of Kyoshiro. Suddenly we are catapulted into a drama of clan warfare, demonic ninjas and balletic (and ballistic) swordsmanship.

What makes this story even more unusual is that it quickly becomes apparent that appearances and reality shift without warning. At first Kyo seems evil, but then we get glimpses of something deeper. Is this the influence of the unconscious Kyoshiro? Or is the relationship between the two of them something else entirely.

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In fact, motivations are a constant theme in the interplay of characters in this brilliant bit of Japanese alternate history as Kyo goes on a quest for his original body, which has been magically preserved. Gradually a group of followers gather around Kyo, but they are not all there for altruistic reasons. And support sometimes comes from those who appear to be enemies. Inevitably, this one man’s quest for revenge turns out to have world-shaking repercussions

I found the dubbing persistently irritating, not just because of mistranslation and some dubious acting. Reaching for authenticity, the dubbers chose to use various American and foreign accents to simulate the regional Japanese accents of the original. It doesn’t come over all that well (especially the character who sounds like Dracula). I wound up listening to the Japanese with subtitles; this is actually a stronger experience.

Everything else is superb. Art, animation, choreography of the fight scenes, and character strength are levels above the current standard for samurai fight anime. While not the least bit like Rerouni Kenshin, this series is the first real competitor for the top spot in the genre. And unlike the picaresque Kenshin, Kyo is the very height of attitude. Add in a tremendous, dramatic finish and you have every ingredient for a top anime series.

Overall this is a good series. It follows its storyline through from first episode to last without any irrelevant filler episodes along the way.

I disagree with those who say that it is similar to Rurouni Kenshin – it really is not, apart from the obvious connection that both series deal with samurai. The way topics are treated, the direction of the storyline, the nature of the characters, and even the historical setting are all quite different. I do however believe and agree that those who enjoyed Kenshin will also most likely enjoy Kyo.

The quality of the drawings are nice though not earth shattering for the most part. It is the animation that is something of a let down in most situations however – many still shots, and the combat scenes in particular were… less than spectacular. Sure, even Kenshin had its moments of animation stinginess, but they were not so numerous, and furthermore in key moments the team there would really rise above and beyond the average level of animation for a television series.

So, you will not really be watching Samurai Deeper Kyo if you are expecting a visual tour de force, what you will be watching for is the storyline and development of the characters. The story is fairly creative, and does hold surprises along the way. There are some interesting characters here who will hold your interest, and pique your curiosity.

One thing in the progression that was left somewhat undeveloped were the more, traditionally anime, humourous sections – they appear in the first few episodes and then rarely thereafter. This does not detract from the enjoyment, but it certainly does smack of an idea that was abandoned during production. Perhaps it was for the best, but it could be debated. Also, the music in the series is largely a let down, and does not do much to help it along. Fortunately it is fairly unobtrusive!

Ultimately this was an enjoyable series – it never has any pretentions to be anything else – that largely succeeds in completing its story and should please fantasy enthusiasts.
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Watch Dracula Online

February 7th, 2010 by kyle9776099
Watch Dracula Online. Watch Dracula Online.

Movie Title: Dracula
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Dracula is available for streaming or downloading.

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Soooo fellow geek classic monster collectors, tell me, does this sound familiar? You are perusing various sites and store DVD racks and you stumble across these 75th Anniversary editions of DRACULA and FRANKENSTEIN and your geek heart starts palpitating at the thought of digitally restored version of these films and you get all excited and you start deciding which comic books you’ll give up this month to buy these instead…….but then you remember you’ve bought the last TWO previously released DVD versions of these films and now you wonder if these are worth it? OK….well…maybe this is kind of an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. I bowed to temptation because, well….Universal has me with their monster releases from way back….period.

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Soooo…..as it is obligatory when one has bought three releases of the same d@mn film, I sat down with them all and ran them through to decide which was the best of them. It is without question IMO, that the DRACULA 75th DVD is the best transfer when compared to the 90’s (poster art), and the first LEGACY (green box art) releases. Picture-wise, the amount of speckles, noise and whatnot has been reduce quite a bit. This is most apparent in the darker scenes. So on a good note, seeing less snowy junk pop up is nice. Some of the scenes also look less jittery. For example, in the previous releases, the scene when Frye first comes into Drac’s home and Lugosi is descending the staircase behind him, the film image is really jumpy…like watching a bad bootleg. In this 75th release it looks stable and doesn’t have that funky aliasing look. The overall picture quality just feels cleaner in this release. But there is still a good amount of junk throughout the film that this cannot possibly be considered the definitive restoration. Only some making the leap from VHS to DVD will get their socks knocked of with this release. If you bought the other two, then you might be happy, but probably underwhelmed despite the good points. Like the FRANKENSTEIN release, this still feels like a money making thing than an anniversary homage to this film especially after the promise of something new from a third dip. Some people may say that we can’t expect much because the film is so old. But sorry, after THREE RELEASES, and most especially since this one is clearly the supposed icing-on-the-cake release so far, well, I think Universal could have done even better than this, MUCH BETTER. Technology as it stands nowadays is very forgiving when cleaning up old films…..but companies need to be willing to put the money into using said technololgy. I would think that even if the buying public of an older film such as this is limited and Universal wasn’t going to pour a ton of cash into it, well, being the third time releasing the same d@mn movie, would it be outrageous to assume they’d have enough saved in the piggy bank to do a definitve restoration instead of this continued fleecing, but hey, guess that’s business. I think if they DID do much better and THEY knew it, we would have gotten NEW SPECIAL FEATURES and none of the stuff that was already on the other two releases save for the one Lugos bit that is new here.

Sound-wise, I have to agree with other reviews that I have read that mention that the 90’s release had better sound. It did seem a bit crisper. But like the FRANKENSTEIN releases, picking the better sound with DRACULA is like picking the lesser o two evils…….do you want Niagra Falls somewhere in the background or do you want gentle rapids? To me, all of the background hissing and popping and rustling sounds funky on all of the releases, but they eventually just become part of the film. I don’t really have much of a preference as none have ever been so clean that I could make myself care THAT much.

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VALUE: Hmmmmmm……..if you have the money, this is the best DRACULA to get in terms of picture and such. But one has to ask themselves how much they care about this film to fork over the cash for just one film. If you are only marginally interested in this DRACULA, but still want a copy, I’d go for the LEGACY set as that comes with other films and is the better value overall. This release is truly for the purists and gluttons for finacial punishment such as myself. Even though I have now three copies of this film, I have still only managed to watch it less than ten times since the first 90’s release since, even though a classic, I find DRACULA mostly a boring affair when watched repeatedly so I hafta take it in like wine….slow…and over time. So my point is, one has to ask themselves, how much do you care to drop the cash for yet another copy of this if you already have it?

PACKAGING: For the most part, identical to the green LEGACY sets. That is, the faux hardback book case that opens up to reveal two DVD’s. Only here, there is NO open window slipcover to protect the case. This seems kinda cheap since the case is a cool, leather-ish ‘grained’ cover printed in matte sepia, which is nice. But it will succumb to scuffs and such much faster than the better protected LEGACY set.

OVERALL: Like the FRANKENSTEIN 75th….this is cool if you got the money to upgrade. But for what it’s touted as, this still is gets 50/50 from me. Just keep in mind that the ‘definitve’ HD/BLUE RAY versions will come at some point ……..or at least the first versions of -those- definitve versions…so we ain’t outta the woods yet.

This DVD is the “Jewel in the Crown” of the classic Universal horror films released in that format. It includes a quality print of the Bella Lugosi DRACULA, with options to play the film with Philip Glass’ recent soundtrack; the so-called “Spanish” DRACULA starring Carlos Villarias; and a fascinating documentary hosted by Carla Laemmle, who has a bit role in the Lugosi DRACULA and who was niece to Universal studio head Carl Laemmle. There is also an audio track by David J. Skal, production notes, and the like.

The Lugosi DRACULA is somewhat problematic. DRACULA had been previously (and illegally) filmed as the silent NOSFERATU, and a later stage adaptation proved a staple of the British theatre. When the stage play at last arrived in New York, the title role fell to Bela Lugosi. Although Universal optioned the material, studio head Carl Laemmle was not enthusiastic about it; although European films were comfortable with the supernatural, American films were not, and Laemmle did not believe the public would accept such an irrational story. Nor was Laemmle interested in Lugosi; if DRACULA was to be filmed, it would be filmed with Lon Chaney.

When Chaney died the screen role went to Lugosi by default, but there were further issues. Originally planned as a big-budget production, the deeping Great Depression made the film’s box office possibilities seem even slighter than before and its budget was cut to the bone. And Todd Browning, who had been such a successful director of the macabre in the silent era, proved clumsy with sound. The resulting film was more than a little clunky–but it had two things going for it: a superior first thirty minutes and Lugosi. Although Lugosi’s performance may seem excessively mannered by today’s standards, audiences of the 1930s found it terrifying–and even today, when the character of Dracula comes to mind, we are more likely to think of Lugosi than other actor that later played the role.

For a brief time after the advent of sound, several studios made foreign language versions of their productions. The “Spanish” DRACULA was one such film, and when the English language company wrapped for the day the Spanish speaking cast arrived and filmed through the night using the same sets. This gave the Spanish company the benefit of hindsight: they were perfectly aware of what the English language company was doing, and they deliberately set out to best it. The result is a somewhat longer, more cohesive film with some of the most arresting visuals and camera work of the early sound era. But unfortunately, star Carlos Villarias was no Bella Lugosi: although much of his performance was more subtle than Lugosi’s, it was also less intimidating, and where today Lugosi seems mannered, Villarias seems unfortunately comic. In a perfect world, we would be able to insert the Lugosi performance into the “Spanish” Dracula. As it is, we are left with two deeply flawed but nonetheless fascinating films.

In their own ways, both films proved incredibly influential, and it is difficult to imagine the evolution of the classic-style horror film without reference to both the Lugosi and the “Spanish” DRACULA. The Lugosi film is not perfectly restored, but the print is very, very good, easily the best I have seen. The “Spanish” DRACULA has more problematic elements, partly due the fact that the film borrowed some scenic footage from the Lugosi version and snips of footage from earlier films (there even appears to be a brief clip of the ballet from the silent PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in the film); the film is sometimes dark, sometimes very spotted, but short of a cgi restoration this is probably as good as it gets.

The Philip Glass soundtrack, which is optional, tends to divide viewers. The Lugosi DRACULA had virtually nothing in the way of soundtrack; the “Spanish” DRACULA used music to a greater degree, but even so that degree is comparative. The Glass score is often quite interesting, but it is also as often intrusive as it is effective. Some feel it adds quite a bit to the film; others find it distracts. Whatever one’s reaction to the film, either English or Spanish language, or with or without the Glass score, this is a remarkable DVD package, and fans of classic horror will find it an almost inexhaustible pleasure. I cannot recommend it too strongly.

Gary Taylor (gft)
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Streaming Meet the Feebles Online

February 7th, 2010 by kyle9776099
Streaming Meet the Feebles Online. Streaming Meet the Feebles Online.

Movie Title: Meet the Feebles
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Meet the Feebles is available for streaming or downloading.

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It would take someone as talented as Peter Jackson to make “Meet the Feebles” — a gross, sick, absurd and twistily logical dark (very dark) comedy. If “Frighteners” was Jackson’s version of “Ghostbusters,” then this is his even weirder version of the “Muppet Show.” (Not one for kids, either)

The not-so-good “Feebles” variety show has just scored a network special, with buxom singer Heidi the Hippo as the central attraction. Behind the scenes, it’s another story: Heidi’s lover Bletch the Walrus is cheating on her with a slinky Siamese, Wynard the Vietnam-scarred frog hasn’t been able to get more heroin and is having problems with his knife-throwing act (you can imagine what happens), a rat is making pornos in the basement, a blue elephant is embroiled in a paternity suit with a chicken (guess what the kid looks like), Harry the rabbit has come down with a venereal disease, and new porcupine Robert has fallen in love with a beautiful chorus girl.

To make things worse, Bletch is involved in a scheme with underworld drug kingpins, one of whom is a whale of a problem (seriously — he’s a whale). Heidi is pigging out on chocolate and starting to come unglued mentally out of fear that her lover doesn’t care about her anymore. And when the curtain goes up, will the Feebles be able to get their acts together? (I’ll give you a hint: The answer has two letters)

Peter Jackson once said that he had a “moronic” sense of humor, and it shows here in all its grimy glory. What if the Muppet Show were plagued with every kind of seediness? Sex, drugs, puppet porn and some really disgusting vomiting (and cast members occasionally eating one another), and a machine-gun massacre are spattered over this story — and while you may not want to, you’ll love it. Jackson’s love of splatter-gore shows in a row of birds crushed by a barrel and plenty of flying body parts near the finale. It’s so incredibly in “bad taste” that I simply couldn’t stop laughing. (Warning to those with weak stomachs: This movie is not for you) He even touches on some interesting questions like: What kind of offspring would two puppets of different species have?

Several of the characters are reminiscent of Muppets — a blowsy diva who storms off when she’s unhappy, there’s a frog, a chicken who’s had an affair with a long-nosed blue guy, a nasty little rat… any of it sound familiar? Jackson takes the concept and runs with it. And there are a bunch spawned especially for this movie, like the glittering fish that Bletch eats, or a malevolent little fly-on-the-wall who takes pleasure in spreading bad news.

Most of the characters are either pitiful (Heidi) or revolting (the lecherous, manipulative Bletch). They make porn, they dish dirt, they snort drugs, they bounce into each other’s dressing rooms. (There’s even a pervert anteater and a fox who does a very dignified — yet obscene — musical number!) And Jackson knows to balance out all the wretched characters with likable ones too: Arfur the doe-eyed worm and Lucille (poodle) and Robert (porcupine) as the adoring lovers.

The downside? The DVD is fuzzy and overly dark in places, like a videotape that has aged badly. This is a particular problem in scenes that take place in semi-darkness, which many backstage ones do. The extras are… more or less nonexistant. Hopefully this film will be rereleased in a format more worthy of it.

You might be able to watch Kermit and Miss Piggy and the rest of the Muppets after you’ve seen “Meet the Feebles.” But I promise you that you will never, ever watch them the same way again. “Meet the Feebles” is sick, silly, and utterly twisted — not a masterpiece, but brilliantly, weirdly, insanely funny.

Directed by Peter Jackson who has newfound fame thanks to his work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy, this movie (his second, after Bad Taste) has to be seen to be believed.

Jackson takes the basic concept of the Muppet show (combining puppets and humans in animal costumes to tell the story about the action backstage at a popular variety show) but carries the concept to a sick extreme, creating a hybrid offspring of the Muppets and such schlock entertainment-industry classics as The Valley of the Dolls. For example, look at the absurdity of the relationship between Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog. In the Feebles, animal characters eat other animal characters or have hybrid offspring. Characters have drug addictions, extramarital affairs, degenerative diseases, star in S&M porn movies on the side, etc. There is an amazing Deer Hunter inspired Nam flashback, a hillarious war between drug dealers and some entertainment bigwigs on a pier (which includes a whale, giant crabs and a giant spider), bodily fluids fly all over the place, a massacre ensues near the end, and it is all topped of by a “where are they now” type of ending as in Animal House or American Graffitti. Oh, yes, there are also musical numbers (I won’t spoil the title of the best one).

Not as gory as Jackson’s Dead Alive, but MUCH sicker.
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Streaming American Gangster Online

February 6th, 2010 by kyle9776099
Streaming American Gangster Online. Streaming American Gangster Online.

Movie Title: American Gangster
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American Gangster is available for streaming or downloading.

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This viewer rented the DVD form of AMERICAN GANGSTER, having passed it by in the theatrical run, thinking that it was yet another ‘crime and corruption in New York’ genre film. It was surprising to discover that this very long film (just under three hours in the Unrated version) is completely riveting and in a way far different than the usual gangster film: this story, based on real people as outlined in an article by Mark Jacobson (transformed for the screen by Steven Zaillian), and while it has its share of grisly killings, it seems more concerned with the issues of integrity in the face of police corruption as embodied in the character of Richie Roberts, the etiology of the heroin use escalation following the Vietnam War, and the presence of a ‘Black Mafia’ lead by one Frank Lucas. It is delivered with compelling gusto and intelligence by director Ridley Scott and has some of the best acting of the year. In other words, this is not a film to be lightly dismissed as a Hollywood retread, but instead it is a tense drama with many very fine points.

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Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) follows the footsteps of his idol Bumpy (Clarence Williams III) who ‘ran’ the Harlem streets, and when Bumpy dies, Lucas inherits his mantle. Lucas is wise, cunning, a gentleman, a powerhouse of ideas, and quickly finds a way to bring the best uncut heroin from the Far East to the streets of New York at a price that undercuts the other mobsters’ product. To establish his control he enlists his family, including his brother Huey (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and rapidly becomes the kingpin of the streets.

Simultaneously within the NYPD we meet Detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) whose personal life is a mess but who, with his partner Lou (Ted Levine) discovers corruption in the NYPD and more particularly the Drug Enforcement sector of the police: Detective Trupo (Josh Brolin) works with the existing drug lords, grabs their drugs and money and then recycles both to his benefit. During a particular drug bust, Richie and Lou discover a stash of nearly a million dollars and turn the money into the police – a deed that makes the duo seem foolish and lose the respect of their fellow cops but establishes Roberts as a man who is committed to being a good detective.

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From these two separate studies the film weaves the development of each character and the interaction between Roberts and Lucas we know will take place. The end result may be known to those who followed the story as it developed in the 1970s, but for those for whom this true story is new information, the resolution of the film is fast-paced, thrilling, illuminating, and just plain fine cinema. Both Washington and Crowe are in peak form, as are those in the many small roles (Ruby Dee, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Lymari Nadal, Carla Gugino, Cuba Gooding etc). This is more of a drama than an action film and while many may feel the final moments of the movie are weak, they do reveal the true ending of the story and say a lot about the narrow line between crime and criminal investigation. This is one of Ridley Scott’s most successful films and one that will be around for many years as a model for the medium. Grady Harp, February 08

American Gangster 2-Disc Unrated Extended Edition

In American Gangster Ridley Scott has created the perfect storm of an American movie masterpiece. An amazing group of actors, headlined by Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe, produces a very convincing period piece of 1970s New Jersey and New York and the crime culture that existed there. It’s hard to feel anything but shame watchig this movie. This movie is both believable and tragic, and it startles me that neither Crowe nor Washington received nominations for two incredible performances.

The Story and the Script

The story is supposed to be based on the real life exploits of Frank Lucas. Movies like this usually exaggerate. The fact that this movie is so believable makes it all the more tragic. There are no black and white characters and we are left to choose between murdering drug pushers and crooked cops.

The writing and the story structure are both excellent. The plot is developed slowly and masterfully. While there is less shooting and action than one would expect from such a tale, the movie is filled with drama and suspense.

Cinematography

They have managed to create a period piece here that is beautiful, gritty, real and romanticized. The framing of the actors and the skylines are beautiful. Much of the scenery and shots are darkly lit. This is most often used in the scenes with the police in their shadowy research rooms, clearly to juxtapose them against the Lucas empire, almost always shown in the light.

The first disk in the unrated edition is in a beautiful widescreen. Don’t know why they list this as full-screen, perhaps because there is a full screen version available on the other side. The

Acting and Direction

I don’t know whether it’s award winning acting or directing that makes the end result so good, but I would be willing to guess that it’s both. Denzel is steady and appears to be taking on a similar persona in his recent films. Crowe is more fantastic than even his normal performance, portraying the troubled police investigator caught between a crime ridden New York / New Jersey and the even more criminal Special Investigative Unit.

All the acting is great, and this movie could easily have won for best ensemble cast. Josh Brolin is solid in a limited though well executed part. The directing is textbook mastery.

Bottom line, this movie should have gotten nominated for best actor, best supporting actor, best direction and best picture. It probably should have one a few of those categories. Michael Clayton, Eastern Promises? Give me a break.

The nominations for art direction and for Ruby Dee as best supporting actress in a very limited role were not enough compared to the strength of this movie.

Features and Extras

The unrated extended edition has an entire disk of special features. The making-of extra is not just a featurette, it’s a feature-length documentary. You get an in-depth look into every aspect of the film’s creation.

There are also three in depth “case-files” on film research, script adaptation and police techniques.

The deleted scenes include an alternate opening sequence. Finally, the theatrical trailer includes writer and director feature commentary. A very nice set of extras indeed.

Conclusion

This is absolutely a masterful , one of the best this year. This DVD needs to be added to your collection.

Enjoy!

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Watch 300 Movie Online

February 6th, 2010 by kyle9776099
Watch 300 Movie Online. Watch 300 Movie Online.

Movie Title: 300
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300 is available for streaming or downloading.

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A more intense shot of testosterone you will not find in any film. Equal parts bravado, guts and glory, “300″ is simply the most exciting film to come out this year – or in several. Criticized for its violence and gore, fans of Miller’s graphic novels will find that violence and gore to be as beautifully depicted on the screen as in the print version. A highly hyped CGI affair the cast could easily have been overcome by the sheer impressiveness of the physical production. To his credit director Zack Snyder is blessed with and uses a cast every bit equal to the challenge of competing with Miller’s dark fantastic take of the Spartan’s greatest story.

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Gerard Butler (Phantom of the Opera, Dear Frankie, etc.) adds yet another impressive and wildly different character to his arsenal of screen roles. As Leonidas, King of Sparta, Butler is, from his pigtail to his muscled, sandled feet, every inch a king; a true leader of men. His passion and intensity is matched by a splendid performance by Lena Headey as his wife, Queen Gorgo. Though a dutiful wife and a woman in an age when being such was near equal to slave status, she is, in her way, as bold and fearless as her husband/King. Dominic West is properly evil and oily as the traitor Theron and he’s as nasty and duplicitous a villain as one can hope for. Rodrigo Santoro as a larger-than-life Xerxes is both comical and fearfully creepy equal parts drag queen and wanna be god. Behind all the glitzy piercings and bling, he is little more than self-inflated egotistical child.

While there is blood and gore aplenty, the film also happens to be emotionally satisfying and I found myself with tears welling up in my eyes more than a few times, as well as wanting to raise my fist in the air along with the jacked-up Spartans! While a macho stoicism pervades their attitudes, there are, to be sure, signs of a greater humanity beneath those ripped abs of Sparta’s army – and plenty of heart.

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Parallels and allegories are already being drawn between today’s warring world climate, super power dominations and the world of ancient Greece and the Middle East. While this provides an interesting commentary, I heartily recommend leaving that baggage at home and appreciating “300″ on its own and embracing its escapism.

Larry Fong’s cinematography ensures that “300″ is eye-poppingly glorious from start to finish – a magnificent feast for the eyes while Tyler Bates’s score is guaranteed to keep your adrenaline pumping as it matches – frame-for-frame the visual intensity presented on the screen. While critics are divided on this one, audiences are flocking to it and cheering. For good reason, too: “300″ is magnificent old-fashioned story telling wed to the very best 21st century filmmaking has to offer. See it!

Ah, to be male in Ancient Greece: “300″ is a testosterone-driven fantasy in which all men are fearless warriors, driven by the need for battle and bloodshed. War is depicted as gloriously as any geek loner-type could hope for, with every soldier being the epitome of strength, courage, and physical brute force. Emotional bonding, sensitivity, and compassion don’t even come into play; these men were trained to be ruthless killing machines, all in the name of preserving the glory of Sparta. This would no doubt be a ridiculous film if the story were presented in a straightforward, mainstream way. But straightforward and mainstream, “300″ is not; this is pure, hard-driving escapism, from the frenetic battle sequences to the elaborate special effects to the over the top performances. In this sense, it’s absolutely brilliant.

And it gets even better. Every shot, every setting, and every event is accentuated by a look so stylized that it’s practically a living duplicate of Frank Miller’s original graphic novel. This was achieved through computer-generated imagery, which was responsible for creating most of the film’s locations. Bluescreen technology–also utilized for another incredible Miller adaptation, 2005’s “Sin City”–made for a majority of the sets, leaving very little for the actors to actually work with. I can only imagine the effort that went into post-production, the endless hours of crafting landscapes, characters, and special effects all with the click of a mouse. The work paid off; the end product is an effectively heightened reinterpretation of reality, a kind of living illustration that transcends any sense of time or place. It’s the perfect look for war story of this caliber, something so grandiose and overplayed that you can’t get enough.

The plot is fairly simple: it’s a retelling of the 480 BC Battle of Thermopylae, in which the Spartans fought against the Persians. King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and his army of a mere 300 soldiers are ready to defend their land against the evil King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). This is despite the fact that 1) they don’t have the blessing of the gods to go to war, and 2) they will fight against an army of over one million. But this matters not; Spartan males are trained to be warriors at a very early age, essentially the day that they’re born (only the largest, strongest newborns are spared; the small, sickly ones are unceremoniously thrown off of a cliff). They are taught the fine art of combat. They are made to take all kinds of physical pain, including lashings. They are conditioned to never retreat, even when facing insurmountable odds. Leonidas successfully survived such rigorous training (his first major battle was against a monstrous wolf with glowing eyes), as did the rest of his men. Now, they are ready for battle.

And after taking position near a beachfront cliff, the Spartans engage in ferocious battle with the Persians. Never on film has war been so much fun to watch. This is probably because each sequence was beautifully photographed; even graphic shots of stabbings, amputations, and decapitations are so artfully constructed that it’s hard to accept them as deplorable. The bodies of Persian soldiers are used to construct a blockade of surprising strength. Blood spatters from gaping wounds in dark, unrealistic globules, effectively looking more like spots of ink. There’s a moment when arrows fly through the air in numbers so vast, they block the light of the sun. Nearly every shot is drawn out, often going in slow motion to show how carefully choreographed the gratuitous violence is.

The Spartans also fight against the Immortals, an army of ghastly yet fantastical creatures with an appetite for destruction. They were appropriately crafted as one-dimensional barbarians, made more effective because of their appearances; they wear long black robes, and their pale, monstrous faces are hidden behind Tragedy-style silver masks. Where they came from is anyone’s guess. I suppose it doesn’t really matter, especially since they pave the way for a number of other ghoulish creatures that would give the creations of Clive Barker a run for their money. They–and every aspect of the film, for that matter–make it obvious that the real emphasis is on style instead of story, which under different circumstances would make for a miserable experience. But in this case, it works quite well; while a definite story is being told, it would be of little significance were it not for the special effects.

This isn’t to say that the story of “300″ is bad. Quite the opposite: despite being simplistic, the story is quite strong, especially when a couple of subplots are factored in. Back in Sparta, Leonidas’ wife, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey), is up against a corrupt Senate, already bought out by the Persians in order to ensure Sparta’s stability. The arrogant and treacherous Theron (Dominic West) is clearly not ready to handle a woman of such strength, especially since she fully supports Leonidas and Sparta’s involvement in the war. Because she intends to plead to the Council for the deployment of more soldiers, Theron challenges her authority by exclaiming that her words will fall on deaf ears.

Another subplot involves Ephialtes (Andrew Tiernan), a hunchbacked, hideously deformed Spartan who begs to join with Leonidas and fight against the Persians. Leonidas appreciates his passion, but refuses to let him fight; he’s unable to lift his shield, and this would only create a weak spot in their defense system. Feeling rejected, Ephialtes personally appeals to Xerxes, who promises a wealth of power, money, and pleasure in exchange for loyalty. This scene takes place in Xerxes’ den, in which a throng of misshapen creatures engages in an orgy. Before “300,” I never would have believed that any film could include such a scene, or at least a scene that would work in any way, shape, or form. I was wrong; it was a fascinating scene, forcing the viewer to reassess what is beautiful and what is ugly.

The film is narrated by Dilios (David Wenham), a Spartan soldier with a hard-edged masculinity that shines through despite a deceptively soft voice. He recalls Leonidas, Sparta, and the Battle of Thermopylae with eloquence; when considering the heavy-handedness of war, this is no small task. Yet he always gives a perfect delivery, and that only strengthens the appeal of “300.” This is in a world all its own, a world dominated by battle cries, sword fights, and bare-chested men that are ripped like bodybuilders. It’s all thanks to Frank Miller, whose creative vision has allowed for a truly unique theatrical experience. If he creates another graphic novel, I can’t wait for it to be adapted for the big screen.
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THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD Streaming

February 6th, 2010 by kyle9776099
THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD Streaming. THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD Streaming.

Movie Title: THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD
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THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD is available for streaming or downloading.

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Which is more important, the journey or the destination? Romao is an illiterate and unemployed man with a wife and five kids, but he believes in destiny. “My true destiny is on the road,” he tells anyone who would stop him from taking his family of seven on a six-month, two thousand mile bicycle journey across the heart of Brazil to Rio de Janeiro. There, he believes, he will find work so that he can feed his family. People think he’s crazy, of course, including his family. They panhandle, do odd jobs, sing songs at restaurants, meet people both evil and good, and sleep in abandoned buildings and rusted out buses. But they love each other deeply and experience many life lessons, especially the adolescent Antonio who is turning into a young man. This film, “based upon a true story,” won at least five festival awards, all of them deserved in my opinion. In Portuguese with English subtitles.

If you are curious about Brasil as i am, you must listen to this movie. Road trip on bicycle from Paraiba state on nordeste Brasil until Rio de Janeiro. A family looking for a better life. Great views of the Brasil countryside, and costal areas. A simple but beautiful movie, no action but the same Brasil quality.
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