Best DVDs of February 2009: "Let The Right One In"

by Craig Downing on January 29, 2009

What it is: Let The Right One In is not just a vampire movie. This mood-setting movie is about friendship, youth and relationships. And, yes, friendship, youth and relationships do get a little complicated when you are a 300 year old vampire in a 12 year old's body. Based on the best-selling Swedish book, Låt Den Rätte Komma In (Let Me In) by John Ajvide Lindqvist, this movie slowly infects you with a mood and tone that makes it nearly impossible to simply catalog the movie as a vampire movie. The film has been knocking audiences dead after winning many awards on the film fest circuit including Best Narrative Feature (Tribeca Film Festival). Overall, the film masterfully balances the dynamics of the darker side of vampires within a modern and realistic setting.

Why It is Significant: The movie is significant for its ability to hold you in a mood for the entire length of the movie. Let The Right One In exemplifies how a movie doesn’t have to be loud with rusty and bloody lawn mower blades to haunt your thoughts days after you leave the dark theater. In addition, there are minor plots within the story, each adding their own unbearable tension to the overall draw of the movie. Think you are beyond liking vampire movies? Me too. But, this movie had me wishing I could move to Sweden in order to befriend a strong vampire as my own personal wingman. And, hey, watch the movie now so when the American remake (directed by Matt Reeves) comes out in 2010 you can brag that you already saw the original Swedish version. -Craig



Amazon.com Review
The enduring popularity of the vampire myth rests, in part, on sexual magnetism. In Let the Right One In, Tomas Alfredson's carefully controlled, yet sympathetic take on John Ajvide Lindqvist's Swedish bestseller-turned-screenplay, the protagonists are pre-teens, unlike the fully-formed night crawlers of HBO’s True Blood or Catherine Hardwicke’s Twilight (both also based on popular novels). Instead, 12-year-old Oskar (future heartbreaker Kåre Hedebrant) and Eli (Lina Leandersson) enter into a deadly form of puppy love. The product of divorce, Oskar lives with his harried mother, while his new neighbor resides with a mystery man named Håkan (Per Ragnar), who takes care of her unique dietary needs. From the wintery moment in 1982 that the lonely, towheaded boy spots the strange, dark-haired girl skulking around their outer-Stockholm tenement, he senses a kindred spirit. They bond, innocently enough, over a Rubik's Cube, but little does Oskar realize that Eli has been 12 for a very long time. Meanwhile, at school, bullies torment the pale and morbid student mercilessly. Through his friendship with Eli, Oskar doesn't just learn how to defend himself, but to become a sort of predator himself, begging the question as to whether Eli really exists or whether she represents a manifestation of his pent-up anger and resentment. Naturally, the international success of Lindqvist's fifth feature, like Norway's chilling Insomnia before it, has inspired an American remake, which is sure to boast superior special effects, but can't possibly capture the delicate balance he strikes here between the tender and the terrible. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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Indie & International Sale Highlights - Editors' Picks



With nearly 900 titles in this sale, it can be difficult to narrow down the must-haves from the not-right-nows. That's why we've combed the list backwards and forwards for you and pulled out the top 10 best Indie/Art House selections and the top 10 Foreign Language/International titles. All these great DVDs are available now - on sale through February 9, 2009.

1. There Will Be Blood (2008)
Daniel Day-Lewis

In Stock
Paramount
April 8, 2008

DVD

Unmistakably a shot at greatness, Paul Thomas Anderson's ... Read more

2. The Fog of War - Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2004)
Robert McNamara

In Stock
Sony Pictures
May 11, 2004

DVD

The Fog of War, the movie that finally won Errol Morris the best documentary Oscar, is a spellbinder. Morris interviews Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, and finds a uniquely unsettling viewpoint on much of 20th-century American history. Employing a ton of archival material, ... Read more


3. The Visitor (2007)
Richard Jenkins

In Stock
ANCHOR BAY
October 7, 2008

DVD

A deeply moving drama built around longtime character actor Richard Jenkins, ... Read more


4. Brokeback Mountain (Widescreen Edition) (2005)
Jake Gyllenhaal

In Stock
Universal
April 4, 2006

DVD

A sad, melancholy ache pervades Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee's haunting, moving film that, like his other movies, explores societal constraints and the passions that lurk underneath. This time, however, instead of taking on ancient China, 19th-century England, or '70s suburbia, Lee uses the tableau of the American West in ... Read more


5. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
Al Gore

In Stock
Paramount
November 21, 2006

DVD

With the fate of our planet arguably hanging in the balance, ... Read more


6. Lost in Translation (2003)
Bill Murray

In Stock
Universal Studios
February 3, 2004

DVD

Like a good dream, Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation envelops you with an aura of fantastic light, moody sound, head-turning love, and a feeling of déjà vu, even though you've probably never been to this neon-fused version of Tokyo. Certainly Bob Harris has not. The 50-ish actor has signed ... Read more


7. The Believer (2001)
Henry Bean

In Stock
Palm Pictures / Umvd
October 19, 2004

DVD

There is considerable power and daring in Henry Bean's intense drama about a young Jewish Nazi in New York. Danny Balint is an intellectual trying to succeed as a thug; he beats up the studious yeshiva students he sees on the New York subway because he wan... Read more


8. Welcome to the Dollhouse (1996)
Heather Matarazzo

In Stock
Sony Pictures
August 3, 1999

DVD

What is junior high school but a strange, disorienting pastiche of black comedy, tragedy, soap opera, and (most of all) horror movie? Well, that pretty much describes Todd Solondz's astonishingly honest and clear-sighted film, ... Read more


9. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (Widescreen Edition) (2004)
Jim Carrey

In Stock
Universal Studios
September 28, 2004

DVD

Screenwriters rarely develop a distinctive voice that can be recognized from movie to movie, but the ornate imagination of Charlie Kaufman (... Read more


10. Thank You for Smoking (Widescreen Edition) (2006)
Joan Lunden

In Stock
20th Century Fox
October 3, 2006

DVD

As the saying goes, Aaron Eckhart was born to play Nick Naylor, the 30-something "voice of Big Tobacco" in this brazen satire of corporate profits and what lobbyists will do to protect them. Right from the opening, Eckhart is in spin mode, turning the tabl... Read more

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DVD Releases January 27 2009

FireproofFireproof
Directed by Alex Kendrick
Average customer review:

Lt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. Inside burning buildings, it's his natural instinct. In the cooling embers of his marriage, it's another story. After a decade of marriage, Caleb and Catherine Holt have drifted so far apart that they are ready to move on without each other. Yet as they prepare to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's dad asks his son to try an experiment: The Love Dare. While hoping The Love Dare has nothing to do with his parents' newfound faith, Caleb commits to the challenge. But can he attempt to love his wife while avoiding God's love for him? Will he be able to demonstrate love over and over again to a person that's no longer receptive to his love? Or is this just another marriage destined to go up in smoke?

Customer Reviews

Best movie, maybe ever5
This movie can change you. How many movies can you say that about? If you are married, this is a must. The recommitment to God and my wife this movie brought about are amazing. I am hoping to send it to friends and relatives, if they have not bought it themselves.
This movie will make you laugh and cry. Truly amazing that this movie was not number one at the box office for weeks, but then again, in our culture I guess it is not that surprising.


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The Bourne Trilogy (The Bourne Identity | The Bourne Supremacy | The Bourne Ultimatum) [Blu-ray]The Bourne Trilogy (The Bourne Identity | The Bourne Supremacy | The Bourne Ultimatum) [Blu-ray]
From Universal Studios
Average customer review:

The Bourne Identity
Freely adapted from Robert Ludlum's 1980 bestseller, The Bourne Identity starts fast and never slows down. The twisting plot revs up in Zurich, where amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), with no memory of his name, profession, or recent activities, recruits a penniless German traveler (Run Lola Run's Franka Potente) to assist in solving the puzzle of his missing identity. While his CIA superior (Chris Cooper) dispatches assassins to kill Bourne and thus cover up his failed mission, Bourne exercises his lethal training to leave a trail of bodies from Switzerland to Paris. Director Doug Liman (Go) infuses Ludlum's intricate plotting with a maverick's eye for character detail, matching breathtaking action with the humorous, thrill-seeking chemistry of Damon and Potente. Previously made as a 1988 TV movie starring Richard Chamberlain, The Bourne Identity benefits from the sharp talent of rising stars, offering intelligent, crowd-pleasing excitement from start to finish. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

The most highly anticipated trilogy on Blu-ray of our time!4
This is the best action trilogy our our time and I can't wait for it to be released. Of course I have all three on DVD already but I can just imagine how much better it will be on blu-ray. This the ultimate collection for Bourne fans and action movie goers alike! However, I hate the fact that this is the widescreen version. Personally, I'd wait for a full screen version to be released.


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Vicky Cristina BarcelonaVicky Cristina Barcelona
Directed by Woody Allen
Average customer review:

Oscar winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men), Oscar nominee Penelope Cruz (Volver) and Golden Globe nominee Scarlett Johansson (The Nanny Diaries) light up the stunning city of Barcelona in this sexy romantic comedy. Vicky and Cristina are two young Americans spending a summer in Spain, who meet a charming Casanova and his beautiful but volatile ex-wife. When they all become romantically entangled, the smoldering sparks begin to fly in hilarious fashion. Critics rave, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is one of Woody Allen s finest films, with bravura performances from its incredible cast (Jeffrey Lyons, Reel Talk/NBC).

Customer Reviews

THIS BREEZY, BROODING OUTING TO CATALONIA..5
What a staggering experience, this film. Like several of Woody's recent scripts it has its own ebb and flow, but his varied musings over the years come together into this sunny little tale that carries you naturally through a mishmash of quietly whimsical characters.

And some characters they are! Javier continues to astonish with his versatility. After the eerie gravitas of "No Country for Old Men", he is sensational here in his buffoonery as an uber-suave artist, just as devoted to an epicurean life as he is cynically convinced of its worthlessness, his deadpan yet extravagant screen presence making him a perfect foil for his perpetual Flirt mode. Johannson is what only she can be, bemused and befuddled, although expect some distance from her usual sultry exuberance as her coolness seems oddly stunted.

Rebecca Hall as Vicky, to me, seemed a bit grating in her attempt to fit the glove of a Woody Allen film too snugly, scattered speech patterns and all, but fortunately that seemed to go with the righteous ennui of her character. Penelope Cruz is fiery! I am sure her histrionics in the film will make critics buckle and heave, although I'd venture to suggest that shrieking tour-de-force parts are relatively easier to enact; embodying the ordinary on camera is what presents a challenge. But she is painfully convincing nonetheless.

It's the natural groove of these protagonists that makes the film what it is. If I were to nitpick, a couple of aesthetic choices puzzled me. For instance, an omnipresent voice-over starts off giving the impression of being glib and satirical, but quickly becomes run-on, and then abruptly disappears for almost the rest of the film. And then there's the overuse of certain musical motifs that gets a bit repetitive.

But the setting is gorgeous and makes up in spades. Spain gets its own visual paean, and what a lyric it is! No cultural stone is left unturned: photography, drawing, music, poetry, food, architecture, fashion. It's a fine ensemble.

While it's not your garden variety "Juno" brand of comedy, there is wit in the evocative undertones. The film oozes something visceral. A comedy for grown-ups perhaps. Whatever your views about menage-a-trois (or polyamory, or whatever they are calling it these days), the denouement is so natural and so untouched by pat pretenses that it is, well, sublime.

I was amazed at how this film came and went so effortlessly, and still managed to turn something in me upside down. If you have an evening to spare it should make for a fabulous time for the tasteful. Highly recommended.


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Faith-Based Three-Pack (Facing the Giants/ Fireproof / Flywheel) (Amazon.com Exclusive)Faith-Based Three-Pack (Facing the Giants/ Fireproof / Flywheel) (Amazon.com Exclusive)
Directed by Alex Kendrick
Average customer review:

Flywheel is the first film from the creators of Facing the Giants and Fireproof. Used car salesman Jay Austin (writer/director Alex Kendrick) swindles his customers and teaches his assistant salesmen to do the same--but despite the profits, something gnaws at him. When he realizes that his own son doesn't respect him, Austin has a conversion and accepts God into his life. This would be the end of most spiritual stories, but Flywheel finds a warm comedy in the obstacles on the path of righteousness; Austin discovers that being right with God means grappling every day with what it means to be honest. Though the filmmaking is raw (the editing is often clumsy and the cinematography is flat), the story is well-paced, has a gently ironic sense of humor, and Kendrick's central performance is compelling. Kendrick is just as persuasive as a man struggling to emerge from a joyless life as he is when he's rediscovered his faith but finds it constantly tested. Though Flywheel is forthright about its Christian inspiration, the story is about actually living a moral life, not about abstract spiritual truths. The result is a movie that looks towards heaven, but has its feet on the earth. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

Fantastic!5
These are absolutely amazing movies. Our family of seven is enjoying "Flywheel" and "Facing the Giants" multiple times. My husband and I saw "Fireproof" in the theater and were deeply touched. We are SO grateful this church and community has had the conviction, courage, and inspiration to produce messages that are so timely for our world. A lot of lives will be touched through these films when viewers open their hearts to the truths presented. We're giving copies to friends and family.


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Cheers - The Final SeasonCheers - The Final Season
From Paramount
Average customer review:

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #119 in DVD
  • Released on: 2009-01-27
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
  • Formats: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
  • Original language: English
  • Number of discs: 4
  • Running time: 648 minutes

Customer Reviews

Cheers Final Season5
Let me start with one small but touching piece of information that one of my sons passed along to me.

The picture of Geronimo that Sam adjusts at the very end of the final episode is a picture that was actually hanging in Nicholas Colosanto's (who played Coach) house. It was moved to the set as a reminder of and tribute to him and Sam's straightening it at the end is one final, touching reference to Coach and Colosanto himself.

As to the final season, my recollection is that it was a strong season despite the series' age -- far from the best season, but certainly worth the money for any fan of the show. The series finale is one of the better ones -- in my view, second among comedies only to Newhart's "bad dream" finale -- that rings true and is, mostly, funny and in the end just serious and touching enough to satisfy.


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Hulk Vs. (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Widescreen)Hulk Vs. (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Widescreen)
Directed by Frank Paur
Average customer review:

Marvel Animated Features premieres two all new action-packed films together on one release - Hulk vs. Wolverine and Hulk vs.Thor. Hulk vs Wolverine: Alberta, Canada. The Incredible Hulk has been tearing a line across the Canadian countryside, leaving a swath of destruction in his wake. He has to be stopped, and there's only one man up to the job. He's the best there is at what he does, but what he does isn't very nice. He's Wolverine, an elite agent of Canada's top secret Department H, and he's been put on Hulk's trail with a single objective: stop the green goliath...at all costs. Hulk and Wolverine are about to enter the fiercest battle of their lives. Hulk vs. Thor: Asgard, realm of the gods. For ages, Loki the trickster has sought a way to bring defeat to his accursed stepbrother, Thor. But for all the battles Thor has fought, in all the nine realms, only one creature has ever been able to match his strength - a mortal beast of Midgard known as The Incredible Hulk. Now, with Odin, the almighty king of the gods, deep in a regenerative sleep, and the forces protecting Asgard at their weakest, Loki is finally ready to spring his trap. In an epic battle that will pit gods against monsters, that will test a hero's limits more than ever before, only The Mighty Thor can hope to prevail

Customer Reviews

Hulk vs? More like Hulk WINS.5
I was skeptical when I heard that Marvel was releasing another animated feature, but seeing as it involved the Hulk going up against two of my favorite Marvel characters, I gave it the benefit of the doubt.

And it didn't disappoint.

I just finished Hulk vs Wolverine this morning and can't express how much I enjoyed it. With an epic fight scene between Logan and Banner, followed up with a cameo appearance by Deadpool,what's not to like? I was hooked during the first few moments and couldn't look away for the next 27 minutes.

I'm currently in the process of watching Hulk vs Thor, ten minutes in to be precise. I'm a big fan of Thor and his legendary exploits, so I'm certain that I won't be let down.

I highly recommend this DVD for any Marvel fan looking for a fun viewing experience.


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Warner Bros. Romance Classics Collection (Palm Springs Weekend / Parrish / Rome Adventure / Susan Slade)Warner Bros. Romance Classics Collection (Palm Springs Weekend / Parrish / Rome Adventure / Susan Slade)
Directed by Delmer Daves, Norman Taurog
Average customer review:

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #186 in DVD
  • Released on: 2009-01-27
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
  • Formats: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, Original recording remastered, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Original language: English
  • Subtitled in: English, French
  • Number of discs: 4

Customer Reviews

Hold The Phone1

I was so excited to hear that finally these are being release in a box set. I immediately clicked to order these. But wait, I always check other sites for additional information. To my disgust, I find that these are being released in the pan & scan versions? Tell, me it ain't so. Maybe they don't know. Amazon does not have an aspect ratio listed. These were all in Cinemascope,if I remember correctly. All I can do is wait until I get an answer before ordering.

Troy's Birthday is January 27.5
How great that WB is releasing these movies on his birthday. They are 4 of his 5 best movies. It's been a long time coming. Good old fashioned romance, glamorous settings and luscious cinematography.


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The Invaders - The Second SeasonThe Invaders - The Second Season
From Paramount
Average customer review:

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #145 in DVD
  • Released on: 2009-01-27
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Formats: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
  • Original language: English
  • Number of discs: 7
  • Running time: 1336 minutes

Customer Reviews

Classic, Short-Lived Sci-Fi Show Finally Makes To DVD5
The Invaders would definitely be at or near the top of the list of television shows that ended way before their time. That list has many science fiction series on it (the original Star Trek being one among many), but this series stands out because of its great production values (for the time), great performances, and the air of paranoia that shows like this must have to be believable.

Roy Thinnes played David Vincent, an otherwise ordinary fellow, an architect by profession, who happens to make the horrible discovery that we have been invaded by beings from another planet who have taken the appearance of being human, and whose intentions are to take over the planet. This sets in motion Vincent's initially lonely quest to root out and thwart the invaders' plans for world domination. In the second season, Vincent discovered that he was not alone, and that there was an underground network of human rebels that he joined in the fight against the aliens.

This was a wonderful show, and now it will be seen and loved by a much wider audience.


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DVD Releases January 20 2009

At the ColiseumAt the Coliseum
From Sony
Average customer review:

Four of the greatest voices in the world return in a beautiful performance in the breathtaking Roman Coliseum of Pula, Croatia. Additionally, catch Il Divo in conversation, discussing the rollercoaster ride of the past 5 years, their latest album The Promise, and the excitement of their upcoming world tour.
This DVD is NTSC Region 1 compatible.
Track List:
1. Amazing Grace (Live Video)
2. The Power Of Love (La Fuerza Mayor) (Live Video)
3. Hallelujah (Alelujah) (Live Video)
4. The Winner Takes It All (Va Todo Al Ganado) (Live Video)
5. Adagio (Live Video)
6. The Last Five Years
7. Touring
8. Recording 'The Promise'
9. The Songs
10. The Future For

Customer Reviews

The One and Only Swiss, Spanish, French, American Quartet4
Let's say up front that I'm a fan of Il Divo and their harmonies. Magic happens when their voices blend. Their version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah is uniquely beautiful. Opera fans will especially enjoy the Adagio. The interviews with Urs, Seb, Carlos and David are also very interesting.
I should add that I viewed a PAL version of this DVD so hopefully the Region 1 version is the same except for the coding.
Wouldn't it be nice if those Region codes disappeared someday?


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Center Stage: Turn It UpCenter Stage: Turn It Up
Directed by Steven Jacobson
Average customer review:

Return to the Center Stage phenomenon with new passions and partners in the amped-up, high-energy Center Stage: Turn It Up. All Kate Parker has ever wanted to do was perform with the American Ballet Academy. But when she doesn't get in, she learns that it takes more than just natural talent to succeed in the dance world. With a turn in a cutting-edge hip-hop club and the help of a handsome former hockey player-turned-dancer, she may yet manage to make her dreams come true. Peter Gallagher (TV's The O.C., Center Stage), Kenny Wormald (TV's Dancelife), Ethan Stiefel (Center Stage) and a cast of hot, up-and-coming stars rock to a new beat in this unmissable sensation!

Customer Reviews

Center Stage Turn It Up5
I was a huge fan of Kenny's when I watched the TV show on MTV "Dancelife". He is an excellent dancer and when I saw him on TV in a movie I had to stop and see what it was about. When I realized it was a sequel to the movie "Center Stage" I was excited, but not hopeful for a good movie, because I had seen his talent and had loved the previous movie. However, I was completely surprised by the quality of the pot and the great choreography and the dancers. I loved this movie for the excellent dancing, not to mention the acting was better then that of the first movie. I felt that Tommy's character was intriguing and talented, also believable in his struggle. I also liked the idea of a ballerina without rich parents, Kate, is inspiring and although you want to slap her into giving more of herself to her dream, she is totally relatable. Everyone has had self doubt and in that you relate to Kate in her goals and dreams. This movie is worth a watch if you enjoy movies about dance, there are some great ballet scenes as well as excellent hip hop routines. I am going to buy this movie as soon as it is available. Two Thumbs Up.


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President Barack Obama: The Man and His JourneyPresident Barack Obama: The Man and His Journey
Average customer review:

Share the incredible, inspirational story of President Barack Obama , the 44th President of the United States.  See how one man inspired us with the refrain Yes We Can! In this defining moment, America has proven once again that her story is constantly evolving towards greater freedom and justice for all. 

Free Digital Download of Exclusive Brian McKnight song.

Limited Edition Collectible Presidential Card- Holographic foil stamp, numbered and registered.

Customer Reviews

Give opinions about the ITEM please5
Only two reviews so far on this item, and I note the second has nothing to do with the item itself but is rather someone's big chance to soapbox his negativity about our new President. Speaking as a consumer and someone interested in this item and perhaps buying it, can reviews please focus on the item itself and its quality/presentation, rather than personal opinions re. the subject? Thank you.


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Henry Poole Is Here [Blu-ray]Henry Poole Is Here [Blu-ray]
Directed by Mark Pellington
Average customer review:

Henry Poole Is Here is an odd if enjoyable dramedy about everyone's need for a miracle now and then--though one person's miracle can easily be another's nightmare. Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) is a misanthropic loner who attempts to buy a specific house at any price and is rebuffed. Instead, he buys another house in some need of repair but brushes off any discussion of improvement, mysteriously claiming he's not going to be living in it very long. Uncertain what that means, Henry's neighbors learn to give him some distance, until Esperanza (Adriana Barraza) decides she can see the face of Jesus Christ in a water stain on Henry's house. In short order, Esperanza has alerted her church and friends, and a disgruntled Henry's backyard is full of true believers. Directed by Mark Pellington (Arlington Road), Henry Poole Is Here occasionally finds itself awash in treacle and sincerity, especially where Henry's developing relationship with a single mom (Radha Mitchell) and her near-mute child are concerned. But the film never alienates viewers disinclined to believe in iconic apparitions, adding a neat twist toward the end that makes Henry's rage against Esperanza's faith work for and not against him. Making the whole enterprise worthwhile is Wilson's fine performance as a man who has given up on everything (for reasons that eventually become clear in the story) but, in fact, wants nothing more than to embrace life. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

QUIRKY GEM ABOUT BEING HERE NOW5
I loved this little film. Not sure where it was headed as the story unfolded. Thought it was going to be a downer but as the story got tighter, the theme enlarged to something wondrously life-affirming.

I saw it on Blu-ray and loved the look of it -- the suburban locations and the way natural(?) light seems to bathe or reflect or shimmer in many of the scenes. Very metaphorical -- perhaps by intent. And the music choices -- lots of music -- are as precise and fitting as the cinematography.

Strange that this terrific film is so unadvertised. I don't remember ever seeing a trailer, a poster or a notice in the paper (assuming it was ever even shown in theaters).

This overlooked gem is about Hope, Healing, Love, Community, Letting Go of Fear and Living in the Moment. (Yes, these words deserve caps.)


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El Norte - Criterion CollectionEl Norte - Criterion Collection
Directed by Gregory Nava

Brother and sister Enrique and Rosa flee persecution at home in Guatemala and journey north, through Mexico and on to the United States, with the dream of starting a new life. It s a story that happens every day, but until Gregory Nava's groundbreaking El Norte (The North), the personal travails of immigrants crossing the border to America had never been shown in the movies with such urgent humanism. A work of social realism imbued with dreamlike imagery, El Norte is a lovingly rendered, heartbreaking story of hope and survival, which critic Roger Ebert called a Grapes of Wrath for our time.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:
New, restored high-definition digital transfer supervised and approved by director Gregory Nava
New audio commentary featuring Nava
In the Service of the Shadows: The Making of El Norte: a new video program featuring interviews with Nava, producer and cowriter Anna Thomas, actors Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez and David Villalpando, and set designer David Wasco
Wall of Silence, a new short documentary by Nava and Barbara Martinez Jitner, concerning the building of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border
The Journal of Diego Rodriguez Silva, the 1972 award-winning student film by Nava
Gallery of Chipas location-scouting photographs
Theatrical trailer
New and improved English subtitle translation
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by novelist Héctor Tobar and Roger Ebert's 1983 review of the film

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #1155 in DVD
  • Brand: Image Entertainment
  • Released on: 2009-01-20
  • Rating: R (Restricted)
  • Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
  • Formats: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Original language: English, Spanish
  • Subtitled in: English
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Running time: 140 minutes

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Save Me - Theatrical CoverSave Me - Theatrical Cover
Directed by Robert Cary
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When Mark--a young gay man addicted to sex and drugs--hits bottom, his concerned brother checks him into a Christian retreat in the New Mexico desert. Run by a compassionate husband and wife team, Gayle and Ted have made it their life's mission to cure young men of their 'gay affliction' through spiritual guidance. At first, Mark resists, but soon takes the message to heart. As Mark's fellowship with his fellow Ex-Gays grow stronger, however, he finds himself powerfully drawn to Scott, another young man battling family demons of his own. As their friendship begins to develop into romance, Mark and Scott are forced to confront their true selves.

Featuring powerful performances and even-handed direction, this acclaimed drama is a subtly nuanced and deeply sympathetic look at both sides of one of the most polarizing debates in America: the conflict and possible reconciliation between homosexuality and Christianity.

Customer Reviews

First-rank story-telling, acting and directing5
Easily one of the best gay-themed films of the last 5 years. The film does a remarkable job of telling the story of Christianity and homosexuality and the intricate, often destructive dance between the two, but does so with subtle and thoughtful care. Not a bad actor in the film, the film quality is exceptional, and the writing is both brilliant and well-interpreted. It has a clean, spare, lucid feel that helps it transcend the usual shouting and finger-pointing done around the topic of "ex-gays" and people that purport to help gays and lesbians become straight. This is worth seeing regardless of your belief or perspective on this topic.


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God on TrialGod on Trial
Directed by n/a
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Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #1891 in DVD
  • Released on: 2009-01-20
  • Rating: Unrated
  • Format: NTSC
  • Original language: English
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Running time: 86 minutes

Customer Reviews

Questioning God5
"God on Trial"

Questioning God

Amos Lassen

"God on Trial" is perhaps the most powerful film I have ever seen and I am still shaking as I write this review. One of the universal questions many of us have had is where was God during the Holocaust? That is usually followed by what kind of God could have allowed something like the Holocaust happen? The God that chose the Jews to be His people was now a God that many did not understand and this was the same God that led the children of Israel from slavery to freedom. Questions like these occur in every generation and most of us have no real answers. In this film, God is put on trial and it is all very convincing, emotional and powerful.
In the filthy barracks at Auschwitz, a group of Jews await their fate. They know that half of them will go to the gas chambers within a short period and most of them are paralyzed by fear, despair and hunger. Yet there is one angry inmate who rails against God and his anger provokes others to react and soon the men agree to put God on trial. They organize a tribunal of judges in the tradition of Judaism. As the drama progresses it confronts the major issue of human existence for most--the basis of faith and it does so in a carefully researched and articulate way. This question of faith is placed in a time and place that have become supreme examples of inhumanity. The barracks were oppressive and yet they are the perfect setting for the drama that tugs at our emotions and challenges our thinking.
I was not familiar with the actual event that this film is based upon but I am definitely going to find out more about it. When the imprisoned Jews decided to have a trial to decide if God was guilty for their living hell, tempers rise and reason takes a step aside but returns when the trial begins. The drama is totally convincing and is a powerful history lesson as the men begin to argue their cases for and against God. They use moments in Jewish history that are accurate and discuss Torah as they present their views. Many of the points they make are not only logical but perfect which shows how much deep thought and preparation went into this.
The cast is superior and includes some of the finest British actors today--Anthony Sher, Stellan Skarsgard, Stephen Dillane, Dominic Cooper, Rupert Graves and Jack Shepherd. However, I must single out Eddie Marsan who tells the heartbreaking story of his three sons being taken from him by Nazis and he was given the choice of saving only one of them. Anthony Sher as Akiba also gives an outstanding performance. He says nothing for the first hour of the film but what he says when he finally speaks is shocking and actually determines the outcome of God's trial. His speech is one I doubt I shall ever forget.
The emphasis of the film is on the arguments. It is almost impossible for a concentration camp inmate to affirm a belief in God yet many did--before, after and during the war. Many
explanations for God's actions are presented here and some have complained that the speeches are lofty and wordy. I firmly disagree. I found the arguments enlightening, interesting and thought-provoking.
The story is cleverly framed with a busload of tourists who go to Auschwitz and visit the actual place where the trial took place and the ending is an extremely moving scene. When we first see the men, they have already been divided into who will die that night and who will live another day. Suddenly a group of Poles arrives earlier than expected and when the two groups come together there is uneasiness among some of the men who feel that God has broken his covenant with the Jewish people.
Andy De Emmony has taken what could have been a maudlin subject and breathed life into it as he directed with style and grace.
The writer, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, wanted to write a drama about the Holocaust but was tired of the emotional films so he decided to write a debate drama. The question that he raises is "when did God turn against the Jews, or did he?" This is what the film concerns itself with during its entirety and if you think this may bore you for 90 minutes, think again. I sat on the edge of my chair, anticipating the next speech.
One critic called the film "12 Angry Men in Pajamas" and I thought he was being ludicrous but then I realized that he liked nothing about the film and probably thought that there never had really been a Holocaust. But then he surprised me by saying that this was an event not to be missed. From the moment the film opens we are wrenched back to the past. Interesting is the way the trial came about--the Polish rabbi, played by Stephen Dillane, states that there is an honorable Biblical tradition of theological disputation and from here the sides form. Both sides of the debate are presented with unexpected revelations. When the last speaker presents his case by giving an inventory of God's Biblical crimes (and I challenge you to find them and they are there), the verdict for God's guilt is handed down. Some of the prisoners said that man is not capable of seeing the entirety of the universe as God does and that it is not our place to question the ways of God. Others contended that God is fundamentally cruel but he has, on occasion, sided with the Jewish people. The Holocaust is evidence that God was no longer siding with the Jews while others felt that God was guilty of abandoning his people. A notable reference made by the French scientist in the group refers to the number of stars in the universe, each of which could have its own solar system. Do those in the barracks actually believe that with all that God has to do that he really pays attention to one tiny spot in space.
The role of free will is also debated. One says that if we know of right and wrong, how is it that we do not question God's role in the destruction of millions of people? If we believe to be holy is to emulate a God who annihilates us, who acts without justice, are we to understand that we are not responsible for choosing right instead of what we know to be wrong?
As the trial ensues we are constantly aware that any moment, the Nazi guards will come to take those that have been selected to die and this inevitability ends greatly to the drama Until the guards come there are various possible verdicts but in the end we are left with not only the questions we began with but several more.
Let me close by saying that I have found references to the trial in the literature of the Holocaust and although it cannot be proven that it ever happened the idea gives us a stunning, shattering and convincing film. Although the film is specifically about Jewish prisoners, it also has universal appeal in the fundamental questions of existence that everyone asks sometime in their life.
The paradox comes at the very end which is almost drama of the absurd--now that God has been found guilty, what have we to do? We must, of course, pray.

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Paranormal State: The Complete Season TwoParanormal State: The Complete Season Two
Directed by George Plamadon
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Delve deep into the strange and the mysterious with Paranormal Research Society founder Ryan Buell and his intrepid team of investigators as they attempt to unravel inexplicable paranormal phenomena around the country. Among the weird events the supernatural sleuths examine are sixth-sense experiences, ghost sightings, demonic disturbances, and brushes with the darkest areas of the unknown.

Founded by Buell in 2001, the PRS works on cases across the country and is one of the most recognized groups of its kind in the nation. Season Two of this two-disc set from A&E includes a Pennsylvania couple bedeviled by paranormal activity in their home, an aggressive poltergeist in Maryland, and a ghostly hag nicknamed the "Lady Vampire" by the Texas family she torments.

PRS uses Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) recordings, video documentation, old-fashioned research and the help of renowned psychics, demonologists, psychologists and counselors to explore these bizarre cases in the hopes of helping frightened people who have nowhere else to turn. PARANORMAL STATE: THE COMPLETE SEASON TWO contains all 12 eerie episodes on 2 DVDs.

Bonus Features: Behind the Scenes; Up Close and Personal with the Members of PRS; Additional Footage

DISC ONE:
7/28/08 Family Ties (#21)
7/28/08 Good vs. Evil (#23)
8/4/08 Shadows and Smoke (#22)
8/4/08 Haunted Ranch (#25)
8/11/08 Hell s Gate (#27)
8/18/08 The Ladder (#26)

DISC TWO:
8/25/08 The Messenger (#28)
9/1/08 Hide and Seek (#30)
9/8/08 The Glove (#31)
9/15/08 The Fire (#32)
9/29/08 First Contact (#33)
10/7/08 I Am Six (#29) (1hr ep)
Bonus TBD

Customer Reviews

Paranormal State---Great Show!5
I received Paranormal State Season 1 as a Christmas present and
when I started watching it, I couldn't stop!
If you are interested in the paranormal, this show is a must see!
I'm very impressed with PRS. I really appreciate the compassion and respect they have for the families. They help them understand what is happening.....and why. I pre-ordered Season 2 from Amazon,it arrived friday and I watched it over the weekend. The last episode, I AM SIX, TOTALLY FREAKED MY THE #@$@ OUT!!!
Also, I really hope Michelle Belanger will come back for a few more shows.
Great Program--Keep up the good work!


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