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Stream Away We Go Movie Online. Movie Title: Away We Go Average customer review: Away We Go is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Away We Go

Like all road pictures, AWAY WE GO is about a couple in their early thirties trying to seek themselves (and what kind of home and family they want to form for themselves) through a round of visits in the sixth month of the pregnancy. I’ve never been a big fan of Dave Eggers, but the script that he wrote with Vendela Vida is a shimmering one. The structure of the film is simple: Burt (THE OFFICE’s Jim Krasinski) and Verona (SNL’s Maya Rudolph) have moved to a petite, frosty house entirely so that they can live advance Burt’s parents. But after learning that they will be piquant to Antwerp a month before their baby is due, they realize that they don’t need to live any longer in a town where they have no friends and, now, no relatives. They idea a long budge that will perceive them visiting friends and relatives in a number of locations, including Scottsdale, Tucson, Montreal, and Miami. They behold people whose lives they would like to emulate and those they would not.

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And along the plot hilarity ensues. The scenes between Burt and Verona are frequently hysterical, though when they are meeting their friends or relatives they tend to become “straight men” and the humor shifts over to the others. Although several people are absolutely outstanding, two actors deserve special mention. First, Allison Janney is absolutely hysterical as Verona’s obsolete boss in Chicago (more about Chicago in a second) . She is, putting it simply, a nightmare of a mother. But in the most hysterical of ways. (Now on Chicago. Verona mentions working in Chicago and she is shown to be a medical illustrator. This is not unconnected with Chicago; in fact, there is a affirm correlation between medical illustration and Chicago, since the most critical medical illustration program is at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical School. Odds are that if someone has studied medical illustration, they did it there.) The second actor who stands out is Maggie Gyllenhaal, who plays a college professor and former friend of Burt who and the embracer of more fringe and nutzoid ideas than one can imagine. Her ideas, and those of her husband, are so absurd that given gentle, placid Burt can remove no more.

But the major kudos have to go to Krasinski and Rudolph, who manage to produce two characters we near to like a gigantic deal and who we very great hope will reach to understand precisely what they and where they want to have it. This is an especially delectable film given the overwhelming amount of special effects fare at this time of the year. This is an incandescent film that also manages to be very, very amusing. It is currently in somewhat miniature release, but when you find a chance to peer it, do so.

At the butt-end of last year Sam Mendes directed a film called Revolutionary Road. This was a masterpiece, truly deserving of that title. It’s his best film hands down! His previous films American Beauty and Road To Perdition weren’t too shabby either. They all have a sense of darkness and foreboading. The sunless foreboading element is missing from his unique film Away We Go, and that is not a unpleasant thing.

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The basic set-up is simple and understandable in that movie universe sort of arrangement, but two winning performances from leads Mya Rudolph and Chris Krisinski really serve this thing over some of the comedy set-up trappings. Rudolph is an actress that I’ve known from SNL and that’s it, I’ve not seen here in anything else. Surprisingly, she ends up playing straight-man to Krisinski. And you she gives a very touching and fair performance, and I peep a astronomical career outside anything resembling comedy in her future. Krisinski is an actor I’ve never seen in anything. I’ve been informed that he is one of the stars of the American version of The Office, and he, like Rudolph, is someone I want to observe more of. He plays affable in this film like a pro. He’s an optimist and a realist all in one heartwarming stroke. He’s the goofier of the couple but it comes off more like it’s share of his character and his personality and less like comedy schtick. Together I would peer any film premise about this pairing.

This is a accurate couple, not a made up movie couple. This is my current piece of this film. The status is cute and similar to that of the immense film Flirting With Pains, but the unmarried leads earn this film above average. They don’t have amusing, pointless and melodramatic arguments to up the conflict factor most these type of films contrive for the sheer ‘entertainment’ value. Sorry, folks, this is about precise people not the cyphers that develop up the world of most sitcoms and Rom-Coms.

The first and one of the best examples I can conjur up in regard to this point is an early scene of the couple driving to Krisinski’s parents’ house(played hysterically but briefly by Jeff Daneiels and Catherine O’Hara) . Krisinski, who sells insurance by phone, gets a call from a client and puts on an faulty ‘offcial business’ express that irritates Rudolph. She pulls over the car and gently steps out. He catches up to her and they flirt. There’s no funny argument of the two complaining about themselves. They know each other so well and truly esteem each other to the point that they know each others’ faults, quirks and everything in between. This is what it is like to truly know, understand and savor each other. Itsy-bitsy touches like this really do this film rise abvove the rest.

This is a road movie so we meet various other side characters that succor emphasise and illustrate versions of family life and new couplings. We bag some substantial cameo by Maggie Gyllenhal as a very liber4al new-agey type who supplies some o the film’s funniest situational comedy. Most of the humor comes from an unprejudiced dwelling and not joke set-ups. Not all of the humor, but most. The constant change in locale is a comedy procedure in itself but we forgive it because the characters are so engrossing and proper.

The film is not without its flaws. The premise is a bit sure and basically negligiable. The final emotional conclusions are determined long before they approach, but they are executed and performed so flawlessly it’s easy to forgive this flaw.

I’m gay to glimpse Mendes broaden inot this territory. It’s not as murky, and it’s not about unhappy people, but rather exact people. They are self-proclaimed “F@#$CK ups”. It’s a sage of slow bloomers. They’re fair making it and fitting the pieces together a small slower then the rest of us. No gargantuan career destinations, no great dreams, they’re unprejudiced living their lives and loving each other honestly. It’s quite attractive. Starting their unexpected family is as natural to them as never becoming a wedded couple. This is life, but rather contrived in a more interesting movie draw.

Shaft / Shaft’s Big Score / Shaft in Africa Movie Streaming. Movie Title: Shaft / Shaft’s Big Score / Shaft in Africa Average customer review: Shaft / Shaft’s Big Score / Shaft in Africa is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Shaft / Shaft’s Big Score / Shaft in Africa

Just a note to buyers:

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All three SHAFT films presented as this triple feature are NOT the widescreen versions. Case cover lists them as “Full Frame.”

Shaft-Very good movie. Lots of action and a good plot.

Shaft’s Big Score-Fair movie, but no where as good as Shaft.

Shaft in Africa-As good as Shaft. Good story line with plenty of action.

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Too bad the set did not include Diamond Shaft to complete the series.

Watch Kathy Smith - Functionally Fit - Peak Fat Burning Movie Online. Movie Title: Kathy Smith - Functionally Fit - Peak Fat Burning Average customer review: Kathy Smith - Functionally Fit - Peak Fat Burning is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Kathy Smith - Functionally Fit - Peak Fat Burning

I bought this video after reading positive reviews of it here, and I have to say that the video’s praise is well-deserved. The hi-intensity intervals really do get your heart pumping as Kathy encourages you to get breathless. With 2 minute intervals, you are getting as much calorie-burning power you can out of the workout. I think the best thing about the workout is that the moves are very simple and easy to follow, unlike most other aerobic workout videos I’ve seen. I am pretty uncoordinated, yet even on my first try with the video I was able to keep up. Also, Kathy and her crew are not overly perky and annoying in their enthusiasm for fitness. I’d recommend this tape to anyone looking to burn fat and get their body moving!

Workout Description: 25 minutes of anaerobic / aerobic intervals w/ light toning (using body weight only) with 7 minutes warm-up & stretch, 3 minute cool-down, and 5 minute stretch for a total of 40 minutes

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Workout Level: high beginner to mid-/high-intermediate; can be modified to be low, mid-, or high impact; relatively uncomplicated choreography

Instructor: Kathy Smith (Has taught fitness for about 20 years and starred in 25+ exercise videos; received IDEA’s Lifetime Achievement award for 2003). Kathy’s cueing is good. She’s very enthusiastic, which sometimes causes her to trip up her cues. She works both sides evenly and means for you to mirror her moves.

Class: 3 women and 1 man; 2 show low impact modifications and 2 show high impact modifications while Kathy demonstrates the mid-level impact moves

Music / Set: The beat-driven instrumental music speeds up during interval segments and slows down during toning; it’s not very exciting. The bright interior set is meant to look like a living room facing onto the backyard. There is a clock counting down how much time is left in the interval at the 1 minute and 30 second marks.

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Equipment Needed: sneakers

Caveats: Although 2 exercisers are on carpet, be careful with your foot placement during the slight pivots and shuffles.

Additional Comments: This workout doesn’t require too much space. (You need to be able to take one big step front and back and two fairly big steps to each side.) It is a great workout to grow with, as you can increase the intensity when you need more; you can also decrease the intensity when you need a lighter workout. Although this workout is primarily aerobic, less advanced exercisers may want to avoid doing strength training for your lower body the day after doing this workout if that toning involves a lot of squats and lunges. (Do not follow Kathy’s recommendation of alternating this with her Functionally Fit Lower Body Firming, as your muscles will not have enough time to recover.)

This workout is labeled “functional fitness,” which indicates that the moves are meant to mimic those used in everyday activities or in popular sports (like tennis or basketball). As a result, the routines are not dancy, and the only complicated part is the fact that you have 2-4 moves strung together. This is also an interval workout, which is an effective way of increasing your cardiovascular endurance since you push yourself for the 2 minute interval and allow yourself 3 minutes to recover while still staying active.

This workout focuses predominantly on the lower body, although there is some movement of the torso in the latter part. I sometimes use this alone, although I usually combine it with one arms segment from Tamilee Webb’s I Want Those . . . series, some push-ups, and some ab work for a total body workout in just over an hour.

The DVD allows you to choose your chapter, which I use to skip the introduction. There are no extras.

Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa Streaming. Movie Title: Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa Average customer review: Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa

The Madagascar 2 movie is a great flick, full of fun and witty lines. If you liked the first movie, this is more of the same, if not better and probably worthy of five stars. The second DVD featuring two Nick Penguin shorts for a total of about 25 minutes of video, isn’t worth the additional cost, in my opinion. The first Madagascar release had a Penguin animation short included as an extra on the movie disc, whereas the new one has two shorts and charges the buyer for the priviledge. And frankly, I thought that the two penguin cartoons, while a bit amusing, were a bit of a disappointment. If one is a REAL fan of the Nick Penguins, then you’ll need to get this DVD set. Otherwise, I would recommend just getting the main feature and save yourself the $7.

Dreamworks’ animated films have not been able to hold a candle to caliber of Disney/Pixar films, but let’s face it: who can? That said, Madagascar 2 is learning from Pixar at the very least. Animated films work when they are able to successfully blend humor, heart, and a good story to keep the audience sustained for at least 90 minutes.

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Madagascar 2 starts in the right direction by presenting a very nice opening featuring a brief origin of Alex and how he got to New York. It’s probably less than 5 minutes, but already set the tone for the heart of the picture, which focuses chiefly on Alex fitting in with his fellow lions. The other chief characters are also stumbling as they interact with their own in Africa.

Also back is the humor. I sometimes feel like the movies would be funnier if the penguins had more screen time, but they are still funny in whatever scenes they’re in. The granny who beat up Alex in the first film is also back for some humor. The humor is better and more consistent than the first.

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The only flaw in the film is that it is fairly predictable. The chracters are a little bit better here than in the first and it has a good heart, but sometimes they don’t spend as long on the emotional aspect as they could. It’s still good entertainment and I like to see Dreamworks progress with their films.

The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause Streaming. Movie Title: The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause Average customer review: The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause

When the movie started, I was wondering if I was watching a re-do of that train wreck that Tim Allen did called ‘The Shaggy Dog’.

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The movie is bit different in starting and takes a while to catch your interest. That’s why my review says to ‘Give it a chance’. I will say that anybody who has not seen the first two should steer clear of this movie. You won’t enjoy it. If you have seen the other two, it is worth seeing.

I am an avid fan of Tim Allen and collector of Christmas DVDs. This will definitely be added to my collection as I am always looking for good Christmas movies for the entire family. The humor in this movie definitely not as present as the previous two. I was disappointed that the reindeers were not featured more as in the second one. Martin Short as Jack Frost was something that I was not too sure of, but he manages to pull it off.

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There is more focus on Lucy (Neil and Laura’s daughter) as well as the magical characters (Mother Nature, Easter Bunny, etc.). If you enjoy movies involving the paradox of time travel, there is a small bit of it but that part feels a bit rushed.

With other Christmas movies such as The Nativity Story coming out later this Christmas season, I think that they timed the release of this movie okay. If those others deliver as the trailers have shown, I think Santa Clause 3 would lose out to them.

Enjoy it and Merry Christmas!

The first “Santa Clause” was a clever movie, and is a Christmas classic. The second movie was enjoyable, but as usual did not come anywhere near the original, but it was a valiant effort, and an enjoyable Christmas film. So, if it goes that the quality goes down with each film, does that make “The Escape Clause” a horrible film?

The plot is simple enough, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is starting to get a little fed up of being Santa Clause because of the added stress of his wife and her family (They do not know Scott is Santa Clause). He learns that there is another “clause” that he did not know about; he can go back in time to the day that he became Santa Clause, and stop himself from putting on the suite, and of course not become Santa Clause. Of course there is a villain “Jack Frost” played by Martin Short who is has his own ideas of what Christmas should be, and tries to use this “clause” to his advantage.

The movie overall was enjoyable, and had a very festive atmosphere. If you are expecting a great movie, go somewhere else. “Santa Clause 3″ is purely about fun, but of course it has a message in too for good measure. The good thing about this movie is that we get to see more of the North Pole, and see what it may have been like if Scott wasn’t Santa Clause. The bad thing is is that David Krumholtz was too old to play the elf part of Bernard and so is not in this film.

Other than that if you enjoy Christmas films, and silly movies that are geared more towards children, you’ll love “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”.

God Bless ~Amy

The Sky Crawlers Movie Streaming. Movie Title: The Sky Crawlers Average customer review: The Sky Crawlers is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download The Sky Crawlers

I went and saw The Sky Crawlers at Toronto’s 08 Film Festival, and wasn’t surprised when most of the audience seemed to walk away feeling a bit unaffected by the movie. The film’s director Mamoru Oshii has a cinematic style that is nothing if not an acquired taste — one that domestic theaters are reticent to acquire.

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Any person who has addicted themselves to the traditional Aristotelian story structure will find themselves feeling lost and aimless by the middle of Act 2 in Sky Crawlers and most of Oshii’s films. If there even is an Act 2 in the first place. The big bang opening action sequence between the fighter pilots in Sky Crawlers is about as formulaic as Oshii is willing to get with any of his movies. After that, he transitions from speed-of-light action to speed-of-life storytelling where his characters and their dialoug all have the same pacing and meandering of real life. That means, if you’re used to Hollywood’s colorful characters bloated with one-liners and a plot that runs straight for the end-zone, than you’ll probably find Oshii’s films to be slow. Maybe even boring.

It also means that you’re probably not his audience.

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Oshii’s primary audience seems to be himself, as most of his characters seem to be alter-egos helping him resolve his own philosophical conflicts and questions about society. His secondary audience is anybody trying to do the same for themselves. I don’t mind watching Oshii talk to himself in his movies since the dialog is so intelligent and unpretentious. For the most part the characters say what they mean, and mean what they say. They can’t afford to do otherwise, because we are finding them at dark, introspective moments in their lives which is usually when a person is pruned of all pretense. This is precisely why I find Oshii’s cinematic language so refreshing. Despite his graphically lush visuals, his movies manage to have a closer kinship to literature than cinema. Listening may be more important than looking in his films. For example, the characters in Sky Crawlers speak Japanese on the ground, but switch to English when at war. This effect seems to be commentary on how American occupation has shifted the habits of Japan’s youth, which according to Oshii, has become more violent.

There are times when I fount myself worried about the fate of this film. Oshii offered a very sincere “message to the youth” before the release of this film, indicating that he does want young people to appreciate the movie. And yet the sobering nature of the film may struggle in penetrating the narcissistic shell of the people he hoped to reach. Oshii’s work is smart and the crowd that he hopes to touch is usually smart-a**. Two different things.

If nothing else, this movie will find a home with an intelligent crowd that is already familiar with his approach to film. I’m glad that this movie was picked up for DVD release by Sony. Oshii’s discipline and intelligence is a prize import for American film viewers.

From the award-winning director of the critically acclaimed anime film “Ghost in the Shell”, Momuru Oshii, comes another award-winning tale of heroes that have eternal youth, waging a battle they can barely understand. Based on the novel by Mori Hiroshi and adapted for the screen by Chihiro Ito, Oshii’s newest film captures powerful thought-provoking commentary about the evils of war and the price of peace, in a world where corporations wage war and young warriors can be legally murdered. “Sky Crawlers” is a dramatic film that has gorgeous animation and displays fantastic dogfights; and along all this massive commercial appeal and science fiction undertone, the film maintains a soul.

There is a war between Lautern and Rostock corporations, and the very real wars are staged within a “theater area”. “Kildrens” are fighter pilots bio-engineered to stay young and never to reach adulthood–they are trained to wage furious dogfights above the clouds. A young pilot, Yuichi Kannami only has his childhood memory made up of intense dogfights, and the teenage pilot struggles with the fragmented feelings of a lost past. When his beautiful commanding officer Suito Kusanagi (voiced by Rinko Kikuchi) refuses to disclose information on the fate of the pilot that Yuichi is replacing, added to the fact that the new plane he is now using is in such pristine condition, Yuichi’s curiosity threatens to take hold of him.

Momuru Oshii once again succeeds in bringing his audience to a world where wars are waged without the innocent casualties, but it still results in the loss of innocence and the price of peace may still be too high a price to pay. Oshii brings powerful commentary about the necessities of war, that misery may be necessary to sustain peace so that society can have the illusion of order. The way the film is structured is excellent as Oshii slowly but methodically brings us to understand this surreal world. It is curious that the time and place is almost unspecified, but I think it would be safe to assume that this is a futuristic world, a near dystopian post apocalyptic future because of the advances in bio-engineering. However, it is also quite curious that this world would use “propeller-driven” aircraft with designs that looked very advance; it is an odd mixing of future and past tech, this was intentionally meant to emulate this world’s past history of bloody wars and that nuclear weapons should be kept out of the picture.

This world uses young warriors to fight their wars, and these pilots are ones with no family and little memories of their past. The film revolves around the relationship between Kusanagi and Kannami, the mysteries of their past life that carries a lot of effective dramatic elements that is the film’s main showstopper. Questions such as; when can human experiences prove more than enough? Just how much can one strong individual bear before they can begin to break down? Oshii brings a very dark vision as to how this world can use these human beings to almost fight forever, whose existence can only be ended when they are killed. Oshii brings a true emotional experience, as the viewer is slowly brought to the lives of Kusanagi and Kannami. The direction is powerful and enthralling enough to keep the viewer absorbed in its human drama. I cannot reveal anymore without spoiling the film, but I can tell you this much, the twist and turns in the film’s structure are touching, surprisingly outstanding in the manner that it plays the plot’s key elements.

The characters in “Sky Crawlers” feel very real, and you can easily make an attachment to them. The most interesting character of all would have to be Suito Kusanagi (curiously carries a strong resemblance to the major in Ghost in the Shell), and most of the film’s burden falls on her. Mitsuya (voiced by Chiaki Kuriyama) didn’t show up until the film’s third act, but the significance of her character is beautifully played by Oshii. The animation is a blend of 3-D graphics and it seems to me that the only 2-D animation rendered may be the characters. Some may feel the simplicity on the characters’ rendition may be a little out of place but I rather liked the fact that the animation helmed by Nishikubo Toshihiko was kept grounded and a little restrained. I would not like an overload of special effects to overshadow exactly what the film is trying to say. Yes, the film is an emotionally driven melodrama, with nicely placed sequences of dogfights ONLY to keep it interesting; but the aerial battles aren’t the film’s main draw. Those looking for fast-paced action are better off looking elsewhere.

The film isn’t perfect though, as it doesn’t really draw upon the stakes as to why this war is being fought. The corporations lacked (ahem) development, and the life outside the lives of our squadron are only hinted at and never truly fleshed out. Besides some minor plot limitations imposed by itself, the film does remain strong in its brilliant simplicity. I liked the mysterious “Teacher” in a plane with a “black jaguar” in its nose, I was reminded of the “Red Baron” in World War One–a supposedly ace pilot that any encounter with him may mean certain death. It added a certain different air of mystery, although some parts felt a little forced; but it doesn`t really hurt the movie. This is also NOT your children’s anime film, as besides its darkly thought-provoking premise, there are hinted at sex and mild nudity. This film is rightfully rated PG-13.

“Sky Crawlers” may have a somewhat bizarre title, but believe me when I say that this anime film is very much worth a spin. Much like Oshii’s “Ghost in the Shell”, the film manages to find a soul, with a well-structured story that hits all the right spots. Remarkably simple, and astonishingly thought-provoking, the film manages to instill our emotions. During these times, it makes us wonder what exactly are the young men and women are sacrificing to safeguard peace and order. Just how exactly can war affect an individual? Would each kill affect their soul? When is enough is enough?

Highly Recommended! [4 ½ Stars]

Streaming Divorce American Style Online. Movie Title: Divorce American Style Average customer review: Divorce American Style is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Divorce American Style

Thank goodness Dick Van Dyke’s brilliant Never A Dull Moment recently got the classy widescreen treatment it so richly deserved, but Divorce American Style? Nope! They threw it into the crummy standard screen bin, like it was a piece of trash!

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I mean it only starred Van Dyke and Debbie Reynolds, was directed by Bud Yorkin, with Conrad Hall as the Director of Photography. So I guess the studio (Columbia/Tristar) just didn’t think these people were GOOD enough to deserve a widescreen release!

I will gladly buy this DVD, because the theatrical version was GREAT, but only IF it ever comes out in its original widescreen aspect ratio. Continue to boycott all standard screen butcher jobs, everyone!

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yet again…a studio “dumbs down” a release by not giving us the full image. Teach them a lesson by boycotting these “butchered” releases…Conrad Hall (the cinematographer) deserves better.

Stream Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Online. Movie Title: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Average customer review: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

I have often thought upon viewing the prequel trilogy, the intervening years between the original and the new. To be sure, most of the criticisms of the new trilogy are adult in nature. We speak ill of wooden dialogue and acting, convoluted storylines, and themes that aren’t true to the nature of the purity of science fiction. I was only five when Episode IV was release, so my only criticism of that particular film came in the form of whining to my folks that I couldn’t see it again and again and again.

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My point is this: George Lucas has his flaws, most of which are related to him being out of the director’s chair for more than 20 years before embarking on his new trilogy toy, but I think, more importantly, that we as a filmgoing populace have changed as well. The fact that Lucas has been able to bridge that gap successfully (while telling the story backwards, to boot!) demonstrates the man’s immense talents. Perfect? Far from it, but damned entertaining, nonetheless.

Which brings me to the crown jewel of the prequel trilogy. “Revenge of the Sith” is the second best film of all six, ranking only behind “The Empire Strikes Back” in terms of depth an substance. The acting is better and the writing, if not terrific, is helped by a game cast and a pace that doesn’t allow you to catch your breath. Hayden Christiansan, for the most part, owns this role, displaying an adult gravity he was unable to display in the dramatically clunky “Attack of the Clones” The rage, frustration, and fear contrasted with Anakin’s heroism and confidence in the face of battle made for a complex character who you found yourself rooting for despite the story’s preordained outcome.

The special effects, as usual, are outstanding, but for the most part serve the film this time. There are points during the first two prequel films that you feel Lucas and Co. are simply showing off some of their shiny new toys, but in this film there is a more concrete sense of purpose.

Dramatically the film belongs to Ian McDiarmid. His performance creates the right balance of charm and villiany and by doing so makes Anakin’s turn all the more believable even though the turn itself feels a tad sudden. In fact, I dare say that I enjoyed McDiarmid more when he was under the guise of Palpatine than when he fully reveals himself as Sidious. The scene during the opera is one of the great dramatic highpoints of any of the six movies.

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As for the flaws: sure, there were a few. I would like to have seen a more galvanizing series of events leading to Anakin’s turn, perhaps some more perceived betrayals at the hands of the Jedi Council? I would like to have seen a more fleshed out performance by Natalie Portman, who seems to be more of an afterthought than a character in the third film. (On a side note, Portman is a terrific actress, but was, in this humble reviewer’s opinion, the most ill-served of the entire cast by the clunky dialogue that pervades all three films.)

The one part to which I didn’t object that seemed to be the bane of many Star Wars fans is the scene involving the birth of Vader. I liked the allusions to “Frankenstein” for that is what Vader’s story eventually becomes in the following trilogy: a search for his humanity, much like Mary Shelley’s creation.

I also didn’t have a problem with Vader’s reaction to the fact he’d caused Padme’s death. You have to remember that, despite the fact that he now has James Earl Jones’ booming voice, he’s still Anakin and still very young. It does sound odd, I admit, but it’s still completely in character. You also have to remember that Darth Vader will have a good 20 to 25 years to complete his transformation into the cold, remorseless killing machine we come to know and love in Episode IV.

In all, “Revenge of the Sith” does a terrific job of tying things together in a manner that harkens back to when I was a child watching Star Wars for the first time. It’s impossible, as an adult, to completely dismiss some of the flaws in the later films, but Episode III definitely comes close. It is a magnificent piece of escapist filmaking that has heart, soul, and character and I would highly recommend it to anyone, Star Wars fan or no, looking for a fun time at the movies.

I never really understood what was so great about the Star Wars movies when I was growing up. I was born after the originals were released, so I was never a part of that “culture” that Star Wars is. I saw them when I was around 13 or 14 and fell asleep before the end of all three. I never had the desire to really see them again until Phantom Menace came out. I didn’t see it in theaters, but I watched it, liked it, and waited for the next one to come out. I liked Episode II a lot better (I have to admit that half of that appreciation is because I love Haydn), but I still didn’t really “get” Star Wars. Well, I saw the triler for the third film, and I thought it looked really good. I also thought it was going to be sad, but I didn’t realize that I was going to cry all the way home from the movie theater! After the experience of seeing Episode III, I now finally understand what Star Wars is all about, and I love it! This movie perfectly ties the two trilogies together. It is so emotionally powerful. I know a lot of people say that George Lucas can’t write diologue and can’t direct anything but action scenes, but I completely disagree. Though some lines are a bit corny, each scene is treated with a tremendous amount of care and sets up your emotions so that you react to certain sad cercumstances (I’m sure you know what I’m refering to)in a very personal way. I have watched all three of the first series since seeing Episode III, and I appreciate them so much, because now I understand!

Watch South Park - The Complete Second Season Online. Movie Title: South Park - The Complete Second Season Average customer review: South Park - The Complete Second Season is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download South Park - The Complete Second Season

First of all i’m from the u.k so i got the south park season’s 1-4 box sets a long time ago. but then when i found out that better sets were going to be relest in the u.s i decided to stop collecting the one from the u.k and start collecting them from the u.s (yes i do have a multiregion DVD player) Here are the episode’s that will be in this set. i will also give my rating on each episode

201. Not without my anus 10/10
202. Cartman’s mom is still a dirty slut 10/10
203. chicken lover 10/10
204. ike’s wee wee 8/10
205. conjoiend fetus lady 10/10
206. the mexican staring frog of sourthern sri lunka 10/10
207. city on the edge forever (a.k.a flashbacks) 10/10
208. summer sucks 10/10
209. Chef’s salty chocolate balls 9/10
210. chickenpox 10/10
211. rodger ebert should lay off the fatty foods 10/10
212. clubhouses 10/10
213. cow day’s 9/10
214. chef aid 9/10
215. spooky fish 10/10
216. merry christmas charlie manson 8/10
217. gnomes 9/10
218. prehistoric ice man 10/10

The special fetures will inclued

Full Frame, English Dolby Digital 2.0, English, French, and Spanish subtitles Documentary, Music Video, TV Spot, and A Making Of feature

Sadley there will be no audio commentary from matt and trey. But please dont blame them blame waner bros if they just kept the season one commetary on the dvd they wouldent be in this mess

The second season opens with Matt and Trey explaining why they ran “Terrance and Phillip in Not without my Anus” on April Fools day rather then the conclusion to the episode about who is Cartman’s father.

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The second disk seemed to have some editing problems. The sound for Matt and Trey’s opening was low and yet the shows had a normal sound level. Be careful or you will get blasted.

Overall I liked all episodes.

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Terrance and Phillip in not without my Anus: Scot the Canadian Prosecutor tries to frame Terrance for murder in order to eliminate the duo. He fails and later gets a call from Saddam who offers to help get rid of them. Terrance and Phillip will head to Iraq to rescue Terrance’s illegitimate daughter (Celine Dion is the mother) and Saddam will move to Canada. Saddam quickly takes over Canada and its up to Terrance and Phillip to save Canada.

Carman’s Mom is still a dirty slut: Matt and Trey open this episode. They are helping the elderly in a rest home. Mephesto is shot before he can reveal the father of Cartman. They rush him to the Hospital and people freak out about the killer. America’s most wanted appears and offers to help. The boys and Chef are snowbound in the hospital and offer to help out. The people at the America’s Most Wanted Studios are snowbound as well and have to take extreme measures to stay alive! In the end we learn the identity of Cartman’s father.

Chickenlover: Matt and Trey open this one as well. We get a Cops type episode involving Barbrady. Somebody is having sex with chickens and we soon learn Barbrady can’t read. He has to leave the force and South Park falls into anarchy. The mayor even comments that he actually kept the peace in town. The boys offer to help out and Cartman takes over patrolling the streets teaching people to “respect my auhoratay!”

Ike’s Wee Wee: Matt and Trey open this one as well. Mr. Mackey gives a substance abuse talk to class. He uses Marijuana as an example and it disappears. He gets fired for being an idiot. Soon his world falls apart and starts drinking and taking drugs. Kyle invites the boys over to Ike’s brisk. To his horror he quickly learns what that means and decides he has to save Ike’s “fireman” After saving him, Kyle learns a secret about Ike.

Conjoined fetus lady: Matt and Trey open this one as well. The boys have PE with Chef. The game of the day? Dodge ball. The boys explain it to Pip and he turns out to be a natural. During the game Kyle gets hurt and has to see the nurse. The rumor is the fact that kids never return. Kyle learns she has a disease called “conjoined twin dyslexia” which means she has a dead fetus attached to her head. The town decides to have an awareness week for her. While this goes on the boys go on to be national champions of dodge ball and head off by bus to China for the world games.

The Mexican staring frog of southern Sri Lanka: Matt and Trey open this one as well. The boys have to write a paper about Viet Nam. They go talk to Jimbo and Ned who tell them tails of Merry-go-rounds, log rides and single handedly destroying the Viet Cong Army. Mr. Garrison sends the class to detention as a result. The boys then decide to make Ned and Jimbo look like idiots by sending them footage of the Mexican staring frog. A side story involves the falling ratings of Jesus and Pals. Jimbo and Ned’s hunting show is killing the show.

City on the edge of forever: Matt and Trey open with a cooking show involving bacon. This was a funny episode involving flashbacks with twists. It starts when the bus gets into an accident. Mrs. Crabtree goes to get help and leaves the children on the bus which is hanging on the edge of a cliff. I liked the Star Trek reference. Mrs. Crabtree finds love and her dream; stand up comedy. While the kids are missing, the parents hold “we are the world” type concert to try and get the kids to come back from having run away.

Summer Sucks: Matt and Trey open again. School closes for the summer and Mr. Hat goes missing. Mr. Garrison flips out. The 4th of July celebration gets a setback as fireworks are outlawed. Ned and Jimbo head to Mexico to get fireworks but are caught since Jimbo can’t lie. To save the 4th, the mayor decides to celebrate by lighting the biggest snake ever made. Cartman takes swimming lessons and learns about the 1st graders do in the pool!

Chef’s Salty Chocolate Balls: Matt and Trey open again and this time the sound is ok. Robert Redford decides to move the Sundance Film Festival to South Park! Chef sets up a booth to sell fudge cookies! “Life getting you down?, fudge it” The resulting health food eating crowds put a great strain on the sewer system which makes everybody’s favorite talking poo sick. Kyle tries to appeal to the crowds to save his friends life.

Chickenpox: Matt and Trey open again and sound is ok. Shelly catches Chickenpox and the parents decide to intientially get their children infected since you have a harder time if you catch Chickenpox when you are older. The boys take revenge by having a streetwalker named “Old Freda” help them give their parents Herpes. Kenny’s dad and Kyle’s dad were once friends when they were kids. Kyle’s mom gets them take an ill-fated fishing trip.

Roger Ebert should lay off fatty foods: Matt and Trey open again. Sound is ok. In a tribute to the old Star Trek episode “Dagger of the mind,” the boys go to the planetarium for a field trip and get programmed to love the planetarium. Cartman enters and wins a contest to be the Cheesy Poof jingle singer.

Clubhouses: Matt and Trey open again. Sound is ok. Bebe starts making her move on Kyle. Stan and Kyle have a race to build a clubhouse so they can play truth or dare. Stan first has to build it and then he has to figure out how to play truth or dare. During this time, Stan’s parents split. Stan’s mom hooks up with Roy and Stan’s dad gets an earring and a fast car. Maybe the magic of clubhouses will come through. There is a funny bit involving the old Cosby show.

Cow Days: A couple wins a game show. Their prize? A trip to South Park for the celebration of Cow Days. The boys try and win a game by throwing a ball through Jennifer Love-Hewlett’s mouth. The game is rigged so the boys need more money. They get Cartman to ride a bull. In the middle of training, he gets hurt and thinks he is a Vietnamese prostitute. During this time the cows discover a monument of a cow that kind of looks like Buda with a clock in his stomach. They decide to form a cult. In the end, the boys declare shenanigans on the carnival people.

Chef Aid: Chef learns that a record company stole a song called “stinky bridges” which he wrote 20 years ago. He asks for credit and gets sued by the record company. Kyle gets his dad to defend him and the record company gets Johnny Cochrane. Things go down hill when the Chewbacca defense is used. The boys decide to try and help him by setting up chef aid. While this goes on somebody is attacking Mr. Twig.

SpookyFish: This episode involves scary vision! The boys run into evil Cartman from another dimension. Stan’s Aunt Flow appears and gives Stan a fish that might be killing people. Stan’s mother thinks Stan is killing people and starts hiding bodies and locks Barbrady in the basement. The boys decide they have to get rid of the goldfish. Evil Stan and Kyle appear to claim their Cartman.

Merry Christmas Charlie Manson: The boys head off to see Cartman’s grandmother in Nebraska. As the sign says “You are now entering Nebraska; Sorry” They arrive and enter a room full of Cartman’s. During, their stay Cartman’s Uncle Howard escapes from Prison with his friend Charles Mansion.

Gnomes: The boys get an assignment from Mr. Garrison. He is accused of not teaching the kids anything as such they must write something. He sets up 2 groups and the boys get tweak. They meet tweaks family and learn that the Harbucks Corporation is going to put the family coffee shop out of business. After getting drinking coffee for the first time, tweak tells them a story about underpants gnomes that steal underpants. They wait up and find out that they wasted time instead of writing the paper. Tweaks father saves the day writing a paper about Corporations destroying small businesses. The paper ends up starting a cause against corporate take overs.

Prehistoric Ice man: The boys discover a man frozen in ice. Dr. Mephesto helps them and discovers he has been frozen since 1996. The boys fight over who owns Gorak. The government appears and wants the ice man as well. They race to get Gorak to Des Moines where everything is 3 years behind!

Special Features:

Chef “Chocolate Salty Balls” Music Video: Worth a watch!

“Goin’ Down to South Park” Documentary: A look into the internal workings of making South Park. I wished I had their office! Worth a watch as well!

Stream O Brother, Where Art Thou? Movie Online. Movie Title: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Average customer review: O Brother, Where Art Thou? is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download O Brother, Where Art Thou?

I watch a lot of movies and have seen all of the “classics” and O’ Brother Where Art Thou rates among the best of them - no kidding! Twenty years from now, they’ll be airing this film on AMC and TCM alongside the likes of North by Northwest, The Wild Bunch and How Green Was My Valley.

The story is completely engrossing and the cinematography is stunning. Realize that filming took place in June/July when the Southern countryside was a lush, verdant green. That bone dry, depression-era dust bowl aesthetic is a wonder of digital editing.

The Coen brothers have done two things that are all too rare in Hollywood these days. First, their screenplay is original (yes, it’s loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey but to evaluate the film solely on this narrative framework is to overlook the other aspects of the film). Second, they’ve produced a film that captivates not with multi-million dollar action sequences and the latest Moby track but with great dialogue and an authentic blues/bluegrass soundtrack (well worth buying) that is as much a character in the movie as the three principals - Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney), Delmar O’Donnell (Tim Blake Nelson) and Pete Hogwallop (John Turturro). The eclectic cast (that also includes Charles Durning, Holly Hunter, Stephen Root and John Goodman) turns in superbly acted performances across the board. Clooney, who all too often plays 2 dimensional characters, gives an award-worthy performance in what is unquestionably his best role to date. Those not familiar with Nelson or Turturro will be impressed by these wonderfully skilled actors.

I will say that a lot of people have told me that they didn’t care for this film, which I find incomprehensible. I’m not sure what more you could ask for in a movie.

The Coen brothers have a cult following, but until I saw this movie, I didn’t count myself among the masses that love the Coens. However, with this movie, this brother team has cemented their reputation as serious and skilled filmmakers with a lot to say and a stylish way of saying it.

This movie is a loose retelling of “The Odyssey” by Homer, set in the Depression-era Deep South. George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson make an unlikely team of escaped convicts who embark on a journey of the weird and wonderful. Watch for the appearance of many famous Odyssey allusions, such as the Sirens and the Cyclops (among others). The Coens’ quirky take on this classic tale is delightful and perfectly executed, and the script is beautifully and humorously written. The sets and filming are artistic and a bit mythical, and the casting choices are just great. The film is peopled with interesting characters, in classic Coen brothers fashion. Look for great supporting characters played by John Goodman, Holly Hunter, Charles Durning, and others.

And that’s not all! Interwoven in this film are great depression-era songs and some original songs, with excellent music direction by T-bone Burnett. Who says Moulin Rouge is the first movie in a long while to take the musical format? This movie is just as much a musical as Baz Luhrmann’s much-hyped movie.

I really believe that this movie reaches heights that previous Coen brothers movies (even Fargo) haven’t reached. In addition, I believe this movie was slighted by the Academy during Oscar time. This movie was one of the best films of the year, and excelled in every aspect a film can be awarded for.