Battle of the River Plate (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Battle of the River Plate (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars Diplomatic maneuvering and naval gunpowder make a fine Powell and Pressburger movie, March 2, 2008 If you'd like to see how talk and diplomatic maneuvering in the hands of two masterful filmmakers can turn what could have been a routine action movie into something special, try Powell and Pressburger's The Battle of the River Plate. It's late 1939 and WWII has started. The German pocket battleship Graf Spee is wreaking havoc with British shipping. Three British cruisers led by Commodore Henry Harwood (Anthony Quayle) are in pursuit. Harwood makes an educated guess that Captain Hans Langsdorff (Peter Finch) will head toward South America for one last series of kills before returning home. He's right, and the first part of the movie is a brutal sea battle between the Graf Spee, which has 11-inch guns and hits harder, farther and faster than anything the British have, and HMS Exeter, HMNZS Achilles and HMS Ajax. They are determined to kill the Graf Spee, even though they only have 6-inch and 8-inch guns. The result? Exeter is badly damaged and must try to make it to the Falklands. Achilles and Ajax are damaged, too, but so is the Graf Spee. Langsdorff disengages and heads for neutral Montevideo, trailed by Achilles and Ajax.

And now we get to the heart of the movie. Under the laws of the sea, Langsdorff has two days to make the Graf Spee seaworthy before he must return to sea. He is low on ammunition. If he leaves the harbor with guns blazing he just might be able to take out Ajax and Achilles. After first working to insure Langsdorff is given no more time to affect repairs, the British realize that there is a chance that at least one British ship, a heavy cruiser, could arrive in time for battle. That would change the odds dramatically against Langsdorff. So now the British cleverly set false rumors that British warships are just beyond the horizon and ready for battle. They've placed Langsdorff in a crucial dilemma. If, he thinks, he leaves harbor now he faces a strengthened British force and will probably loose. If he waits for further repairs the situation won't improve. He could make a dash for Buenos Aires, not far away. Although Argentina is neutral it is friendly to Germany. But the channel is narrow and shallow. If the Graf Spee goes aground it will be a sitting target for the reinforced British. Langsdorff has no stomach for the fiery and pointless death of his sailors. All this is played out in meetings, telephone conversations and messages, all swirling around the diplomats of three countries, Britain, Germany and Uruguay. Langsdorff has little time to decide. Thanks to the British setting up false rumors, his choices all seem poor. But perhaps, in Langsdorff's mind, an immediate attempt at escape might be the least unattractive. He realizes there is a further choice, which is unexpected.

Powell and Pressburger have given us a clever film without clichés. No tearful wives, no anxious or two-timing sweethearts, no sailors used as lower-class comedy relief, no noble sacrifices to save others and no slimy Nazis. Powell uses the device of captured British captains held on the Graf Spee as a way to give us matter-of-fact interplay between the British and the Germans. One captured captain is used as a means for Langsdorff to explain to him (and Powell and Pressburger to explain to us) what the Graf Spee does, how strong it is, how it is supplied and the kind of man Langsdorff is. Powell and Pressburger use the discussions between Harwood and his fighting captains to help us understand Harwood's strategy and the battle tactics he's employing. The battle itself, filmed in the Mediterranean using ships from the navies of Britain and other countries, including a heavy cruiser from the U.S. to stand in for the Graf Spee, is dramatically and efficiently filmed. Almost no models were used except at the explosive conclusion.

But it is the "inaction" half of this action movie which is so cleverly worked out. Powell and Pressburger manage to keep us highly involved with the diplomatic to-and-froing. The fact that the people of Montevideo were fascinated with this giant German pocket battleship in their harbor is played to the hilt. The fate of the Graf Spee at the conclusion of the movie is watched from the harbor walls by thousands, all the while an American broadcaster is giving to radio listeners a description of what is occurring. It's quite an effective scene...and it actually happened.

The Battle of the River Plate, if made by anyone other than Powell and Pressburger, might well be seen as a quirky classic of its genre. But the great films of these two were in the past. They would make one more movie the next year, a film Powell called nothing more than a programmer, and they would then go, still friends, their separate ways. The partnership that gave us The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, A Matter of Life and Death, The Red Shoes, I Know Where I'm Going, A Canterbury Tale and Black Narcissus was over. We're left with these great and wonderful films. If The Battle of the River Plate is not one of them, it still is an effective, professional and clever movie, and so typical of the way these two men avoided conventionality.

The Region 2 DVD has received digital restoration and looks first rate. The Technicolor glows. The sea battle could be a lesson in how a director can keep the audience emotionally excited and involved, yet still insure that they understand what they're seeing. Incidently, at the time these comments were posted, AmazonUK was selling this DVD at a terrific bargain price

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Classic British WW2 Movie, November 9, 2004 This is a fine film based on real events. Late in 1939, a few months after Britain's entry into the war, three small Royal Navy cruisers go after the Graf Spee, a powerful German pocket battleship, in the South Atlantic. The British vessels although savaged by the heavier weight of fire of the Graf Spee ultimately succeed due mainly to good tactics and persistence. The acting is excellent as are the characterizations. British and German naval officers are depicted in a human and balanced way, not always the case with mid-1950s war movies. Chivalry was not dead during this battle and the film makers respectfully acknowledge that.

Some of the battle scenes employing ship models may seem a bit shaky to those viewers accustomed to computer enhanced images. Also, as another reviewer has noted, the use of a U.S. cruiser, replete with national markings, as a stand in for the Graf Spee is a bit of stretch.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars A movie worth watching!, June 28, 2006 Definitely a good movie, Battle of the River Plate, brings to the screen the story of the German pocket battleship Graf Spee and its encounter with the HMS Exeter, the HMS Achilles, and the HMS Ajax, off the coast of Uruguay in South America.

The setting is 1939. German and British naval forces are fighting it out across the world, and for the British finding the Graf Spee could make all the difference between survival and capitulation.

All the actors carry out their performances very well.

The only major setback is that Battle of the River Plate is a 1957 film and compared to modern films, or even epics of the time such as Guns of Navarone and other war movies, falls short of being a masterpiece.

Nevertheless, the film combines drama, action, and adventure, making it highly enjoyable.

The setting, the music and the costumes are all wonderful, though the dialogues could have been better.

History, Intrigue, Duty, and Honor, are all about.

Battle of the River Plate is a movie worth watching, especially for those with a soft spot for History!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
Share your thoughts with other customers:   (function(w,d,e,o){var i='DAcrt';if(w.uDA=w.ues&&w.uet&&w.uex){ues('wb',i,1);uet('bb',i)}var L=function(){o=w.DA;if(!o){o=w.DA=[];e=d.createElement('script');e.src='http://z-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/browser-scripts/DA-us/DA-us-1891248285.js._V136218373_.js';d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(e)}o.push({c:2535,a:'site=amazon.us;pt=Detail;slot=customer-reviews-top;pid=B004176JJY;prid=1RMH3KWCKKRPMVDX6P9Y;arid=568477d58b394595a77b4d1dc31d3c69;ef=0.00',f:'/aan/2009-09-09/ad/feedback.us/default?pt=RemoteContent&slot=main&pt2=us-external',n:1,r:1,p:'opt:0|cornerstone:a1=&a2=0101b776e58e5b76259e99e19cdcf5ee80a117d1b402582ac0e6598aad22f3ea6f3b',t:'//d3l3lkinz3f56t.cloudfront.net/pixeling-0.6.html',u:'amzn.us.dp.dvd/action_adventure;sz=300x250;u=568477d58b394595a77b4d1dc31d3c69;s=i0;s=i1;s=i2;s=i3;s=i4;s=i5;s=i6;s=i8;s=i9;s=1009;s=32;s=m1;s=m4;s=a731;s=u3;s=u4;s=u1;s=u2;z=183;z=182;z=193;z=202;s=1286;tile=1;ord=1RMH3KWCKKRPMVDX6P9Y'})};if(d.readyState=='complete')L();else w.addEventListener('load',L,!1)})(window,document) Most Recent Customer Reviews

View the original article here

Add to Cart More Info

Emmanuelle Collection [Import, All Regions] (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Emmanuelle Collection [Import, All Regions] (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars The original Emmanuelle, and the best, August 24, 2004 This boxed set presents the three original Emmanuelle movies, the ones starring Sylvia Kristel. There were lots of imitators, most ranging from bad to worse and beyond. At the time of the first Emmanuelle, though none of that had yet happened - please hold that happy thought. Perhaps these three aren't high art, but they're generally good entertainment for adults. They are also so different from each other that they deserve to be reviewed individually, not as a lump.

* Emmanuelle: Back in the 70s, this was a groundbreaking movie. It was openly erotic, and openly meant for the general public. I'll leave the social commentary to others. For me, it's just a beautiful movie. It's set in beautiful tropical locations. It stars beautiful actresses, back before implants were part of the uniform. Most of all, it shows beautiful (if artificial) exchanges of physical affection between Emmanuelle and just about everyone, man and woman.

Still, there were a few things about this movie that I didn't care for. It usually depicts Emmanuelle as a passive figure, to be led and acted upon. I prefer the stronger character in the sequel. Later parts of the movie depict coercion, something I really don't care for. The haughty poseur at the end was annoying, but distantly true to the book. Still, book fans shouldn't get their hopes up. This movie is its own creature, and pleasant enough if taken on its own terms.

* Emmanuelle 2: The best of the bunch, I think. This is a warmly sensuous film. This might even be the one to use for introducing a shy viewer to movies about physical happiness. Emmanuelle is fully her own woman - every scene lies well within her consent and enjoyment. A new character, Anna Maria, is a sweet, innocent young thing. Emmanuelle, of course, broaches that innocence in an elegantly filmed sequence of encounters. A few scenes, like the infamous "Jade Club", come across as crude, but only when meant to. Still, they don't seem threatening. That's another aspect of this film that I like better than the first.

It's too much to say that this movie has a plot, but it does have a story line of sorts. The movie is really just about happy eroticism, though, the kind that relies more on your imagination than on actual imagery. It's sort of like a musical where I come out humming the tunes even if I can't remember the words. Couples might like this movie, even bashful couples, and might like playing along with the actors on screen.

* Goodbye Emmanuelle: This is the third and last of Kristel's Emmanuelle movies, but don't hold her responsible. The backer had run into censorship problems with the second movie, and wanted to make sure that didn't happen again. The result is a disappointing attempt at being serious. It completely lacks the warm mood and physicality of the two earlier efforts. Even the background music has a very different style, one that I found far less successful in framing the visuals and dialog.

It tries to show Emmanuelle and husband Jean growing into a more stable, monogamous relationship. Instead, it just descends into petty jealousies and possessiveness. Jean, especially, pulls tricks that would have seemed silly even in high school. Perhaps the movie meant to show swelling affection and bruised feelings. Instead, it just showed swollen egos and bruised pride.

//wiredweird

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars An evolution in character, June 8, 2004 Although I've had the first two Emmanuelle films on VHS for several years, I didn't see Goodbye Emmanuelle until just recently, after watching the complete Emmanuelle Collection sequentially. What struck me about the series is the evolution of, or changes in, Emmanuelle's character.

Emmanuelle: Here, she is something of an ingenue. The scene where she puts on boyish expressions corresponding to different ways of wearing a baseball hat expresses the charm of her (relative) innocence. This is my second favorite in the series.

Emmanuelle l'Anti-Vierge: [How the "Anti-Virgin" subtitle was translated into "Joys of a Woman" is beyond me!] This is my favorite of the three films. Very, very erotic! A good story well directed. Great music. Great script. Wonderfully acted. It's a miracle this film is able to get in so much erotica and yet make it all seem so natural and plausible. I love Sylvia Kristel in this film. It's the only one in which she has long hair. And her character is absolutely seductive in every way. Also, she is given quite a few comic-ironic zingers which I anticipate and relish with every viewing. When a woman with whom her husband has made love in the sea (Emmanuelle complains that for her, it's just the bathtub or swimming pool!) comments on the performance of some Asian fan dancers, qualifying the dance as "erotique," Emmanuelle responds sarcastically, "Aquatique." But she'll get a chance to mate like (cold) fish in her next film, Goodbye Emmanuelle. In this film, Emmanuelle is very wise to the world, and her cynical maturity makes her a very interesting character to watch.

Goodbye Emmanuelle: Having just watched it for the first time, I must say that it is my least favorite. Jean (played again by Umberto Orsini)is not as charming as he was in the second film, and Emmanuelle is either troubled, sad, rebellious, or angry. Her emotional range is broader, and she shows her acting skills very well, but her character is just not very likeable here. The film has few sex scenes compared to the previous ones. And while more total frontal nudity (including brief flashes of male frontal nudity) is on display when the plot comes around to the sex, there is just nothing erotic happening anywhere in this film. The film should have been called Emmanuelle l'Anti-Erotique. The cold matter-of-factness of the nudity along with Emmanuelle's negative moodiness just saps any fun from this last official outing. What saves the film, and prevents me from lowering the overall grade of the collection, is the solid acting (but, alas, no memorable lines), true character development (even if it's not in the direction I would have preferred), and some great Seychelles locations. Goodbye Emmanuelle does offer a (sad, but perhaps inevitble) resolution to the "free couple" philosophy that Jean espoused from day one.

Sylvia Kristel signed for three films. Forget about her brief apearance in Emmanuelle 4, or whatever the actual French title is. I saw it once, and hated it. And forget about her bookend appearances in later Emannuelle offerings. The Emmanuelle Collection is a true trilogy. And what makes it a trilogy is the evolution of Emmanuelle's character. Had this series been made in Hollywood, Emmanuelle would have no doubt reconciled with Jean, and they would have become strictly monogamous, living happily ever after. The French, instead, opt for a moral lesson. Be careful what philosophy you preach. It may just bite you in the derriere.

I'm not aware of any other soft core erotic trilogy where a central character actually evolves. I believe this is what sets these films apart from what I imagine to be the rest.

Finally, I've read a few reviews elsewhere on the internet emphasizing that the Emmanuelle movies are somewhat erotically tame by today's standards. I can't really say. But the lasting popularity of this trilogy seems to attest to my supposition that some of us prefer it a bit tame. Eroticism is not so much about sexual explicitness. It's more about the characters involved, what you sense they are feeling (physically and emotionally), and what you don't see but must instead imagine. Some of us don't want material that is too explicit and exploitative. Based on my somewhat limited familiarity with erotic films (I do have, for example, L'Histoire d'O and Red Shoe Diaries), Emmanuelle l'Anti-Vierge is erotica cooked up just right. The perfect blend. And since I care about the title character, this is, for my money, the best erotic film series.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

65 of 70 people found the following review helpful 1.0 out of 5 stars Emmanuelle Collection is totally cut!, September 19, 2006 I recently bought the "Emmanuelle Collection" for nearly $100 and what a disappointment! According to the totally false advertising in the "Editorial reviews" these movies are presented complete and uncut. This is so not true. All three movies are cut, but Emmanuelle 2, the Joys of a Woman, generally regarded as the best of the series, is literally butchered! Everything from the keyhole anime sequence to the incredibly beautiful bathouse sequence is cut to shreds. In particular, the bathhouse scene, a masterpiece of gentle sensuality, is completely obliterated in this butcher's cut. Generally speaking, most of the eroticism in all three famous erotic films (and I love these films, and saw them uncut in the theater, and own Emmanuelle 2 uncut on laser disc) has been destroyed by someone who cut the films (and someone who particularly hates sensual scenes of women together). These films are valueless, as their essential appeal as erotic viewing is gone. This is a total ripoff and the claim of being uncut is a total lie, as I can prove to anyone who wants to fire up my laser player, or who has any kind of memory of how beautiful these films used to be before someone took big scissors to them. Don't buy!! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
Share your thoughts with other customers:   (function(w,d,e,o){var i='DAcrt';if(w.uDA=w.ues&&w.uet&&w.uex){ues('wb',i,1);uet('bb',i)}var L=function(){o=w.DA;if(!o){o=w.DA=[];e=d.createElement('script');e.src='http://z-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/browser-scripts/DA-us/DA-us-1891248285.js._V136218373_.js';d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(e)}o.push({c:2535,a:'site=amazon.us;pt=Detail;slot=customer-reviews-top;pid=B000IY07G0;prid=11SKTSQQV0TK0W3QSA60;arid=fb0b803d2ef0447a8aafb3d8197f2574;ef=0.00',f:'/aan/2009-09-09/ad/feedback.us/default?pt=RemoteContent&slot=main&pt2=us-external',n:1,r:1,p:'opt:0|cornerstone:a1=&a2=0101f6e63aa62436a857974bb109dbb7c99126461caa9cac2567cac2d6b0876dfba8',t:'//d3l3lkinz3f56t.cloudfront.net/pixeling-0.6.html',u:'amzn.us.dp.dvd/drama;sz=300x250;u=fb0b803d2ef0447a8aafb3d8197f2574;s=i0;s=i1;s=i2;s=i3;s=i4;s=i5;s=i7;s=i8;s=i9;s=1009;s=32;s=m1;s=m4;s=a731;s=u3;s=u4;s=u1;s=u2;z=193;z=182;s=1286;tile=1;ord=11SKTSQQV0TK0W3QSA60'})};if(d.readyState=='complete')L();else w.addEventListener('load',L,!1)})(window,document) Most Recent Customer Reviews

View the original article here

Add to Cart More Info

Andromeda - Season 5 Collection (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Andromeda - Season 5 Collection (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful 1.0 out of 5 stars Way Past the Event Horizon, May 11, 2007 This review is from: Andromeda - Season 5 Collection (DVD) Talent really fell into the black hole with this one. Andromeda was never an intellectual show, but it was entertaining and humorous, which made it enjoyable nonetheless. I personally didn't care for the ending of season 4; Dylan Hunt's rise to near-godhood was so self-indulgent.

Season 5 was just horrible. The writing and directing were mindless. The same pointless, poorly-choreographed fighting that plagued Hercules was too abundant throughout the season. Every episode seemed to have a drunk picking a fight with one of the crew for no reason, just so Dylan or Becka or whoever could prove their fortitude. It was painful to watch the story go absolutely nowhere every episode - in the same terrible sets. The plots were just so circuitous with no payoff.

Astronomical bodies being represented by avatars? Becka the matriarch of the Nietzschean race via a time-traveling Drago? A black hole in love with Dylan? Too many lame ideas and twists being pulled out of too many you-know-whats. Everybody knew the show was coming to an end and stopped trying.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful 2.0 out of 5 stars A fairly bland ending to an overall disappointing series, June 18, 2009 This review is from: Andromeda - Season 5 Collection (DVD) While I was not a fan of the first four seasons of ANDROMEDA, my reaction to Season Five was quite mixed. One of my main complaints about Seasons One through Four was that except for Trance, there was little or no character development, and that the overall narrative tended to be more episodic than serial. Season Five both featured more character development and had far more of a serial composition, but disappointingly the series didn't get much better. In fact, in many ways it was less enjoyable than previous seasons. Why? Partly because the changes to the show in Season Five were simply undesirable. After the apparent rescue of their corner of the galaxy by Trance's destroying the mother shihp, the crew of Andromeda found themselves in a dingy, harsh, and unpleasant solar system. To make matters worse, most of the crew members were angry with Dylan Hunt and Trance for getting them in this fix. Nevermind that their anger was not believable (destruction of the mother ship?). It was all just unpleasant and, to quote Iggy Pop, no fun.

Another problem was the pregnancy of Lexa Doig. Since she played three characters on the show, her inability to play much of a role changed the chemistry on the show. The timing of her pregnancy was such that it relegated her to her "A.I." character for nearly the whole season. She then came back to the show probably a bit too soon after giving birth. Her place was somewhat filled by the inclusion of former Penthouse model Brandy Ledford (though to be fair, she is a much better actress than you would expect given that pedigree) as a new android, Doyle. And watching the interplay between Doyle and Romy when Lexa Doig made a late season reappearance makes you wish that they could have been together longer than they were. Their android competition was a lot of fun.

But in the end, the season was simply insufficiently entertaining. About the only thing that made it watching was the ongoing saga involving Trance. She was far and away the most interesting character on the show and the only one who was developed nicely over the course of the five years of the show. But nothing could overcome the countless problems in the series. In the 21st century I wonder how many people really want a male lead character over whom women instantly swoon. I have no patience for a show that has two people look at each other and almost immediately start making out. In what way is that appealing? The plots of the individual episodes remain for the most part on the pretty simplistic level of the first four seasons.

Still, even though ANDROMEDA is not a very good show and despite its being flawed on a host of levels, I was weirdly sad to see it come to an end. One of the strengths of TV is that you get to know a group of characters. You end up spending many hours with them and you get pleasure out of spending time with them (I suspect that this is one of the things that lies behind the success of such otherwise incredibly bland shows making up the CSI and LAW AND ORDER franchises). So, even though I have very little to say about ANDROMEDA in any of its five seasons, I was sad to have to say goodbye to Trance and Dylan and Andromeda (in all her forms) and Beka and even Harper. Go figure.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful 3.0 out of 5 stars Better than generally thought., November 24, 2006 This review is from: Andromeda - Season 5 Collection (DVD) Like many, I initially did not care much for Season 5. However, I would give it 3.5 stars now. While there are some plot holes and inconsistancies with the past, it is actually very clever. Perhaps too clever in that you only pick it up fully seeing it over again. I just finished watching the Season 5 DVD's and throughly enjoyed them. The entire season builds toward the ending, which while not excellent is still satisfying. Actually, my only complaint about the ending is that there was not a little more post victory stuff. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
Share your thoughts with other customers:   (function(w,d,e,o){var i='DAcrt';if(w.uDA=w.ues&&w.uet&&w.uex){ues('wb',i,1);uet('bb',i)}var L=function(){o=w.DA;if(!o){o=w.DA=[];e=d.createElement('script');e.src='http://z-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/browser-scripts/DA-us/DA-us-1891248285.js._V136218373_.js';d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(e)}o.push({c:2535,a:'site=amazon.us;pt=Detail;slot=customer-reviews-top;pid=B000HCO8I6;prid=0YYRGVDG4NH2V8HKN25Y;arid=a99e7ae0b7454bafa4f34a12e8de69d8;ef=0.00',f:'/aan/2009-09-09/ad/feedback.us/default?pt=RemoteContent&slot=main&pt2=us-external',n:1,r:1,p:'opt:0|cornerstone:a1=&a2=0101b29bf4f7785a2797d5683f8d699944e48b2758f02df7af795ab577735a9a7eb1',t:'//d3l3lkinz3f56t.cloudfront.net/pixeling-0.6.html',u:'amzn.us.dp.dvd/boxed_sets;sz=300x250;u=a99e7ae0b7454bafa4f34a12e8de69d8;s=i0;s=i1;s=i2;s=i3;s=i4;s=i5;s=i6;s=i7;s=i9;s=1009;s=32;s=m1;s=m4;s=u3;s=u4;s=u1;s=u2;z=188;z=209;z=193;z=206;z=183;z=182;s=1286;tile=1;ord=0YYRGVDG4NH2V8HKN25Y'})};if(d.readyState=='complete')L();else w.addEventListener('load',L,!1)})(window,document) Most Recent Customer Reviews

View the original article here

Add to Cart More Info

Aquamarine (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Aquamarine (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 52 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars Good for girls, March 7, 2006 My 11 year old daughter and 3 of her friends thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It's just about right for their age group -- boy crushes, magical mermaids, wishes, giggles and mean girls.

It's an updated teen version of Little Mermaid -- Aquamarine is looking for True Love to prove to her dad that it exists so that she doesn't have to marry some seadude that she's not in love with.

At the end of the story -- the true love that she finds is the love that the two girlfriends show to her.

My girls all gave it a thumbs up and you'll find yourself humming the song as you leave this light hearted romp.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Pre-Teen/Early Teen Flick, July 11, 2006 This review is from: Aquamarine (DVD) Demographically speaking, "Aquamarine" has a clearly defined target audience. Young girls from the ages five through fifteen will think that this is the greatest movie ever. For the rest of us, meaning anyone over the age of fifteen, this is still a pretty cute film with likeable characters and decent acting.

The story goes like this: Two young friends are about to be worlds apart when one of them's mother gets a grant to work in Australia. They pray to the weather gods in typical silly sleepover fashion in hopes to remain together. Luckily, a mermaid washes up in the local public pool and agrees to grant them their wish if they can help her prove that love exists by getting the local lifeguard dreamboat to fall in love with her.

Sounds sort of silly, right? Well, it is, but not so silly that this flick is unwatchable. The three lead actresses, Emma Roberts, JoJo, and Sara Paxton, are all very likeable. Roberts and JoJo convincingly play best friends who are afraid of losing each other. JoJo can be accused of over-acting at times, but both she and Roberts do very well in the acting department. Arielle Kebbel plays the local mean/popular/spoiled girl that frequents films like this. Jake McDorman plays heartthrob Ray, the apple of the mermaid's eye. The real standout here, however, is Sara Paxton as the title character. She's a lovely young lady who can pull off goofiness with pure Cameron Diaz flair. Her character goes from snappy princess to giddy teenager with the flip of a switch.

The story moves at a decent pace, and the special effects are actually pretty good too. There are a couple of "girly" montages that include a trip to the mall and studying teen magazines that did sort of grate my elder nerves, but I survived through them and the film was worth it in the end. This whole film plays out with a sugary sweet charm that's expected of films of this nature.

Overall, I'd have to say that this flick is a safe bet for anyone who's hosting a sleepover party for their young daughter and her friends. Another decent flick for this demographic is the conveniently titled "Sleepover," which also features Sara Paxton, who plays the mean/popular/spoiled girl opposite "Spy Kids" alum, Alexa Vega.

Highly recommended to anyone who falls in or has family members in the five to fifteen demographic, or anyone who enjoys sweet and silly teen romances.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant, amusing, uplifting., March 12, 2006 Aquamarine is a feel-good movie aimed at young teenage girls, but from a different demographic I still found it amusing, pleasant, and original enough to keep my interest. There's lots of young people, the beach, fireworks, the hit song "Island In The Sun," and a mermaid. If you're sick of winter in the midwest, it's a pleasant escape.

It's about two girlfriends, one of which is about to move away, who discover a mermaid washed into a swimming pool by the previous nights severe winds. The mermaid will grant them a wish if they help her find love - within a few days. Her father is forcing her to marry someone she doesn't love, because the Mermen (?) don't believe in love. She has just a few days to prove it exists, and she picks out the local life guard whom the two young protagonists also admire.

There's a bit of romance, a bit of humor, even a bit of suspense as the boy's previous girlfriend jealously interferes, and a few poignant moments as well. The romance is appropriate for kids; it's not one of the funniest movies out, but amusing enough for the whole family.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
Share your thoughts with other customers:   (function(w,d,e,o){var i='DAcrt';if(w.uDA=w.ues&&w.uet&&w.uex){ues('wb',i,1);uet('bb',i)}var L=function(){o=w.DA;if(!o){o=w.DA=[];e=d.createElement('script');e.src='http://z-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/browser-scripts/DA-us/DA-us-1891248285.js._V136218373_.js';d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(e)}o.push({c:2535,a:'site=amazon.us;pt=Detail;slot=customer-reviews-top;pid=B000FCW15A;prid=1JTZPWAGQ2YG0BB8THYX;arid=260c81942272419ab29a8d011b3ac092;ef=0.00',f:'/aan/2009-09-09/ad/feedback.us/default?pt=RemoteContent&slot=main&pt2=us-external',n:1,r:1,p:'opt:0|cornerstone:a1=&a2=0101cbdd4bac6d0e9fbb8f72d2c6aabee4e018251628882ce720a6a706093b229aa0',t:'//d3l3lkinz3f56t.cloudfront.net/pixeling-0.6.html',u:'amzn.us.dp.dvd/kids_family;sz=300x250;u=260c81942272419ab29a8d011b3ac092;s=i0;s=i1;s=i3;s=i4;s=i5;s=i6;s=i7;s=i8;s=i9;s=1009;s=32;s=m1;s=m4;s=a477;s=a732;s=u3;s=u4;s=u1;s=u2;z=201;z=190;z=182;z=206;s=1286;tile=1;ord=1JTZPWAGQ2YG0BB8THYX'})};if(d.readyState=='complete')L();else w.addEventListener('load',L,!1)})(window,document) Most Recent Customer Reviews

View the original article here

Add to Cart More Info

Smokey and the Bandit: The 7-Movie Outlaw Collection (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Smokey and the Bandit: The 7-Movie Outlaw Collection (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 56 people found the following review helpful 2.0 out of 5 stars Smokey Rides Again, July 29, 2010 This review is from: Smokey and the Bandit: The 7-Movie Outlaw Collection (DVD) Someone asked what movies are included in this pack and I have uncovered the information that the following movies are included in this pack:

Smokey and the Bandit (1977), MPAA Rating: PG
Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), MPAA Rating: PG
Smokey and the Bandit 3 (1983), MPAA Rating: PG

Bandit: Bandit Goes Country (1994)
Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (1994)
Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit (1994)
Bandit: Bandit Bandit (1994)

The bandit movies are horrible B-grade movies that really should not see the light of day. But these movies are included in this collection.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful 4.0 out of 5 stars Bandit's Back!, September 8, 2010 This review is from: Smokey and the Bandit: The 7-Movie Outlaw Collection (DVD) I happen to like the newer Bandit movies. No, they aren't the same as Burt Reynolds, but that's okay, too. They aren't trying to duplicate them, its just a good ole boy, gettin' into trouble, and tryin' to get out of it. They aren't re-makes to the older versions, just similar in theory.

I don't believe I've seen them all, - I remember only three of them, but they were enjoyable. Brian Bloom looked good in a cowboy hat & tight jeans, i think. It wasn't a Trans-Am, but I did have a love of the Dodge Stealth afterward! And how can you resist those PIERCING blue eyes?

They also have great cameo appearances, too. Mel Tillis, Kathy Ireland, Henry Cho, & John Schneider. Give them a chance.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful 1.0 out of 5 stars smokey and bandit 7 movie pack, December 19, 2011 This review is from: Smokey and the Bandit: The 7-Movie Outlaw Collection (DVD) This pack should have never been offered because 6 of these movies were the very lowest quality movies ever made. The disc quality was fine but the movies were horrible. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
Share your thoughts with other customers:   (function(w,d,e,o){var i='DAcrt';if(w.uDA=w.ues&&w.uet&&w.uex){ues('wb',i,1);uet('bb',i)}var L=function(){o=w.DA;if(!o){o=w.DA=[];e=d.createElement('script');e.src='http://z-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/browser-scripts/DA-us/DA-us-1891248285.js._V136218373_.js';d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(e)}o.push({c:2535,a:'site=amazon.us;pt=Detail;slot=customer-reviews-top;pid=B003VRJ89S;prid=14FE35GKN8A4TW8YH773;arid=e3f7f190f8fe4bd2808eb1ce702b7934;ef=0.00',f:'/aan/2009-09-09/ad/feedback.us/default?pt=RemoteContent&slot=main&pt2=us-external',n:1,r:1,p:'opt:0|cornerstone:a1=&a2=0101c3c36efe95eaf004aed0e63639582fe7a9709a73ec9623aac1928fea30ee0d1d',t:'//d3l3lkinz3f56t.cloudfront.net/pixeling-0.6.html',u:'amzn.us.dp.dvd/action_adventure.comic;sz=300x250;u=e3f7f190f8fe4bd2808eb1ce702b7934;s=i0;s=i1;s=i2;s=i3;s=i4;s=i6;s=i7;s=i8;s=i9;s=1009;s=32;s=m1;s=m4;s=a732;s=u3;s=u4;s=u1;s=u2;z=1199;z=183;z=182;z=190;z=188;s=1286;tile=1;ord=14FE35GKN8A4TW8YH773'})};if(d.readyState=='complete')L();else w.addEventListener('load',L,!1)})(window,document) Most Recent Customer Reviews

View the original article here

Add to Cart More Info

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

98 of 99 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars The Next Generation Never Looked this Good!, January 31, 2012 This review is from: Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) Let me start by saying Star Trek: The Next Generation has never looked this good! Having seen TNG from the first airing, syndication, and on DVD, I'll say without reservation this is by far the best quality release.

As soon as I started watching Encounter at Farpoint, I couldn't help but stare at the detail. The extra detail is amazing, especially in the effects shots. It's hard to believe that so much was washed out in the lower resolution original. But the new transfer of the film really shines.

The uniforms pop, you can see the detail in the fabric. The Klingon costumes in Sins of the Father really show this. The space aliens in Farpoint look amazing. Until seeing this on Blu-Ray I knew they were both the same color - but they're not! The rebalanced color looks great. It's no longer washed out and it really brings out the details.

The only possible negative I would point out is that you can see some of the imperfections in the makeup. Worf's especially, including some stray hair in one scene. Everyone else has lost their smoothed out unblemished skin, now replaced with a more natural texture. At one point I swear you can see a red mark on Riker's forehead.

One of the most notable things that's fixed is the blue glow on the left side of the screen. They finally removed it!

None of the over smoothing from DNR that happened in the movie releases is present here. The picture quality is truly top notch. If they do the rest of the series this way, this will be by far the definitive version.

I'm also ecstatic that they didn't redo the visual effects in CGI. I still think actual filmed models look more realistic if done well. There's just something that CGI doesn't quite replicate. For the original series I was hoping they would reshoot the effects scenes with new models, but they took the CGI route and it stands out. Not here! Because they had the original film elements they were able to rescan and re-composite the effects shots and they look wonderful!

The only real hiccup is 13 seconds of missing footage from Sins of the Father. They were unable to locate the original film for a scene where Beverly and Riker talk on the bridge. They had to replaced it with up-converted standard definition video. They did a good job color balancing it and looks good with the rest of the video. Paramount gets credit for not only mention this on the box, but on the menu under the episode selection as well. It's great when a company is upfront about what you're getting. That said, even though I knew it was in the episode and was looking for it, I missed it on my first viewing. I had to look online to find where the scene occurred and watch it again it to notice the difference.

All in all this is a great taste of things to come. As they said the night TNG premiered:
"Tonight, the 24th century begins!" I can't wait for the rest of the seasons to be released on Blu-Ray! Excellent job!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

92 of 99 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars A word to the wise on ratios and HDTV's..., February 2, 2012 This review is from: Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) This is in reply to all the "It's not fair, it doesn't fill my TV... why do I have these black borders at the sides?" people:

The ratio on the Blu-ray discs is the same as it ever was for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Same as it was shot in, same as it was broadcast in, same as it was presented on VHS and the same as it was presented on DVD. Why on earth some people expect Blu-ray to magically alter this situation is beyond me, but you only have to note the two and one star reviews to see they are. The series was filmed in 4:3, a quarter of a century ago, long before anyone envisaged that we'd all have 16:9 widescreen TV's in our homes in the future. "But I could make my Star Trek TNG DVD's play in widescreen", I hear you cry. No, actually you couldn't. What you were doing was stretching or zooming the image to fill your widescreen TV. This is fake widescreen, and something purists never do, but was quite easy to achieve with a standard definition DVD, on a standard definition DVD player, over a standard definition connection. This is HD though, and stretching or faking widescreen is not really an option. "Why?", I hear you cry. Well, HDTV resolutions are either 720p or 1080i/p... 1280x720 or 1920x1080. These are 16:9 'widescreen' resolutions by default. This means that your Blu-ray player HAS to display everything as a 16:9 image. In the case of films and TV shows shot and framed for cinema or 16:9 broadcast, it will fill your widescreen TV. Sometimes with small black borders at the top and bottom if they have chosen to present the original cinematic ratio. Now, when they are presenting a 4:3 image on HD Blu-ray... this same rule applies. It HAS to be displayed as part of a 16:9 frame. Meaning the 4:3 picture displayed correctly in the middle of the screen, and two black bars, one either side of your TV's screen, which all forms the 16:9 frame. It is pretty much unavoidable.

"But wasn't there more screen information on the 35mm negatives", you may ask. Well Mike Okuda has said in some scenes there was. Not all, but *some*. However, in many of the scenes there was lights stands, bare studio, crew and other equipment in the wider frame. In other words, it was framed *purely* for 4:3 broadcast.

So zooming and pan scanning was the only other alternative. I have ONE DVD set that had this treatment out of the thousands I own. The TV series 'From Earth to the Moon'. This was shot and framed for 4:3 broadcast, and it was released in America in the correct ratio. However, when it released in the UK, for some bizarre reason, they decided to zoom the image out to 16:9. The result is not pretty... you think those black bars at the side of the screen are ugly? You have not seen ugly! From Earth to the Moon in Region 2 DVD is the most claustrophobic and fuzzy mess you will ever witness. There was also a huge public outcry when they recently did this same thing to The World at War documentary series, and people returned their box sets in droves. It literally means that in closely shot scenes, of which there many in Star Trek: TNG, that people's faces are cut off at the eyebrows, and legs are cut off at the knees. Further, it will no longer be true HD as you are zooming the image. Think passport photo blew up to A4 size. In other words, it is FAR too much of a sacrifice to even contemplate for something as cherished as Star Trek. Had they done this to Star Trek, there would have been an outrcry from fans, and they wouldn't be selling too many box sets. Of that I can assure you. Plus, the people charged to see that this franchise is represented the best way it can be, people like Mike and Densise Okuda, who oversaw this restoration, could never sanction such a travesty.

So I can only suggest you try get used to those black borders at the sides, as if you have a fondness for anything filmed for TV from this era or before, that is how your Blu-ray discs will come. It is the same for Star Trek: The Original Series on Blu-ray, seasons 1-3 of Farscape on Blu-ray... anything and everything that was shot for 4:3 broadcast. It is also true of many films, such as It's a Wonderful Life on Blu-ray, and very old films like The Wizard of Oz. All of these come with fixed black borders in HD. It isn't some sinister Big Brother forcing you to watch it a certain way, it is literally the only way they can present 4:3 without totally ruining the composition. The good news is that everyone goes through this stage when they first play 4:3 on their widescreen sets. At first you can't help but be conscious of the offending black bars. However, hand on heart, I never even see them now, and many people will tell you the same. Your brain just cancels them out. It just takes time, and a little appreciation for why this situation happens.

Back to the Star Trek The Next Generation: The Next Level on Blu-ray:

It is superb. There are details no one has ever seen before. This series may have been shot on 35mm film, but it was edited and stored on videotape. Even on DVD we were watching videotape resolution and quality. I believe one popular sci-fi magazine had nicknamed it "Blurry Trek" in a preview from before it was even broadcast. All that is in the past now, or at least it will be when we can buy all seven seasons on Blu-ray. Unlike with Star Trek: TOS Remastered, which I loved, they have not chosen to re-create the special effects scenes in CGI. Instead, they have re-composited the images from the original negatives (a far more lengthy and costly exercise than new CGI). So what we are seeing is the original effects and the original studio models in all their HD glory. Elsewhere, they have lovingly restored every last frame, freeing it of dust and debris. The grain structure is still in tact, meaning no sacrifice in fine detail from the use of DNR filtering. The result is beautiful. Colours and contrast are perfect... rich, deep blacks and vibrantly coloured Starfleet uniforms. One of the biggest let downs for me as regards the DVD sets was that they didn't try and restore the series a little back then. This meant washed out VHS quality colours. Not so here, I'm pleased to report.

The sound is impressive when listening to it in the context of the era it was made. It is not a modern summer blockbuster made with multichannel audio, it was only ever recorded in stereo. So they have fashioned a 7.1 surround sound mix from what they had. With this in mind, I am impressed with both levels and channel separation. Decent speakers will punch the air in all the right places, mark my words.

In summary, it is a huge success. Pre-orders for the complete season sets will be the easiest purchasing decisions I will ever make.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

58 of 66 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars amazing transformation, January 20, 2012 This review is from: Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) The original masters for this show, edited on videotape, were so bad, in my opinion, and the transformation into HD by painstakingly piecing together original film elements and when necessary, recreating the CGI, is being handled so well, that the end result to the eyes, is just stunning. For a fan of TNG, this is really a priceless addition to one's library. I'll be purchasing every season to encourage them to do the same thing with Deep Space Nine. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
Share your thoughts with other customers:   (function(w,d,e,o){var i='DAcrt';if(w.uDA=w.ues&&w.uet&&w.uex){ues('wb',i,1);uet('bb',i)}var L=function(){o=w.DA;if(!o){o=w.DA=[];e=d.createElement('script');e.src='http://z-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/browser-scripts/DA-us/DA-us-1891248285.js._V136218373_.js';d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(e)}o.push({c:2535,a:'site=amazon.us;pt=Detail;slot=customer-reviews-top;pid=B0064NLQYG;prid=0K0P2KGPA49D43Q6HC81;arid=b7b62aa17f284cb5986e9a27c09e52b9;ef=0.00',f:'/aan/2009-09-09/ad/feedback.us/default?pt=RemoteContent&slot=main&pt2=us-external',n:1,r:1,p:'opt:0|cornerstone:a1=&a2=01017c06a93d3e59b3adcfd56e1c9b5387e5d2d649d4788facb17060913ac5ab4bdd',t:'//d3l3lkinz3f56t.cloudfront.net/pixeling-0.6.html',u:'amzn.us.dp.dvd/television;sz=300x250;u=b7b62aa17f284cb5986e9a27c09e52b9;s=i0;s=i1;s=i2;s=i4;s=i5;s=i6;s=i7;s=i8;s=i9;s=1009;s=32;s=m1;s=m4;s=u3;s=u4;s=u1;s=u2;z=209;z=182;z=206;z=487;s=1286;tile=1;ord=0K0P2KGPA49D43Q6HC81'})};if(d.readyState=='complete')L();else w.addEventListener('load',L,!1)})(window,document) Most Recent Customer Reviews

View the original article here

Add to Cart More Info

Stick It (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Stick It (DVD) newly tagged "blu-ray"

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movies Don't Discriminate, March 17, 2007 I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews of this movie. I rented this last night to watch with my mom and we both really enjoyed it. Neither one of us are gymnasts (or under 13 for that matter) or even cared that much for bring it on, but Stick It was extremely likeable nonetheless.

Overall, my favorite thing about the movie is in the witty commentary and the humor that the movie sticks in very appropriately. I think Hayley was just hilarious, whether she was talking or thinking. She has a rather darkly sarcastic humor, but its very tasteful and witty. The not-so-smart Johann, complimenting the role of the bitchy teammate originally, gives a lot of comedic relief as well [Mina - "She got her GED when she was 15"

Johann - "What does drunk driving have to do with any of this?"]. Mina and Wei-Wei are somewhat minor characters but I can't help but find them a little bit entertaining even by their casual expressions, the actresses did an excellent job making them seem minor but still multi-dimensional enough to be amusing and loveable.

It was also a pleasant surprise that nearly all of the girls in this film are actually showed as being very strong and athletic. One reviewer said that the practice sessions were hard to watch, but I thought the opposite. If they skipped the practice sessions a huge part of the movie would have been taken away and detracted from its ultimate message. I enjoyed the practice sessions, it's not every day that you see teen girls embracing their strength and the girls were so much more attractive than the food deprived models that seem to run the media otherwise. I mentioned before, and I'll say it again that I do not do gymnastics and I don't think I ever will. However, I definitely found this movie inspiring, and I have a lot of respect for these athletes in the shape they must achieve to compete.

And as for what age group would enjoy this ... I definitely think it appeals to a wide spectrum. My mom and I were originally watching this but both my older brother and my younger brother were intrigued before the end and came to watch as well. I'm 16, my brothers are 13 and 18, and my mom is... well, yeah mommy age. But it doesn't take a certain gender or age to enjoy this movie.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars "Put down the phone!", May 2, 2006 Ok, so as some have already pointed out, this is not 'Bring it On', and I will admitt that walking into the film my wife and I were excited for the potential this film had to be the next 'Bring it On'...but seriously, who needs another 'Bring it On'? So, with that said, this movie is still in the same vein as it's predecesor, but has enough of a difference to stand out on it's own. The story here revolves around Haley Graham, played by newcomer Missy Peregrym, as she's forced to join VGA after one too many run-in's with the law. Haley has crumby parents who are now divorced and don't support her in anything she does, nor do they show any care or concern about her well being. Actually it's seems as if they just want her out of their hair. Haley's worst fear is returning to the world of gymnastic's for after she walked out of the World Championships leaving her team mates in the dust she's become regionally hated by her peers, and now she has to train with them. Worse yet is her new coach, Burt Vickerman (Bridges) who's harder on her than she'd like, but as she soon realizes, he's battling the same ground she is for he's in love with a sport that doesn't love him back. In the world of gymnastic's Vickerman is what you'd call 'washed up', and has-been if you will and so he must resort to lying to potential clients in order to get girls to train. The film itself may be a bit of a cliche but it has enough wit and humor to make the film worth your attention, and like 'Bring it On' I see this film making stars out of it's stars. Maybe 'Stick It' will do for Missy Peregrym what 'Bring it On' did for Kirsten Dunst...The film does try to convey a heartfelt morale of a message, and it works to a degree, but the best reason to see this film is for the quick wit and humor. 'Bring it On' it may not be but 'Stick It' still works like a charm. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful 3.0 out of 5 stars Stick It! No, You Stick It! Oh, It's Been Stuck!--A Routine Teen Crowd Pleaser Set In The World Of Competitive Gymnastics, March 7, 2007 As I sat down to watch "Stick It," I had a pretty good idea that we were going to cover some fairly conventional territory. And I was right, to a degree. Rebellious teen....check. Underdog sports story....check. Finding acceptance....check. When just about every film made about the world of sports falls into a familiar pattern, the genre itself has become something of a cliche'. That's not to say all sports films are bad, but few hold any real surprise. "Stick It," for all its limitations, does at least attempt something different. For in its climactic moments, the film is not only glorifying teamwork, friendship, and individual responsibility (as you would expect)--it is also serving as a critique of the oft maligned scoring system practiced in the field of gymnastics. Yes, this slight tale starts to take on elements of rebellion and unity as a "Norma Rae" for the teen set.

One of the primary issues with "Stick It," however, might be a misleading advertising campaign. Capitalizing on having the screenwriter of "Bring It On," "Stick It" (even the title begs a comparison) is setup as the same type of movie. And it's not. "Bring It On" is a robust comedy with elements of sporting, "Stick It" is a sporting coming-of-age story with elements of comedy. So many might be approaching this film with the wrong expectations. And those settling in for a night of laughs will surely be disappointed. But, I do believe this film does have an audience--obviously those with an interest in gymnastics, teens to young adults, and I'd guess primarily female.

The film stars Missy Peregrym as a troubled girl (and ex-athlete) who runs afoul of the law. Her father arranges for her to attend a controversial gymnastics academy run by a washed-up coach, Jeff Bridges. At first, an outcast--she soon learns many valuable lessons, as do we all. You can guess this by-the-numbers story without me discussing it any further. Let's just say, we end up at a championship competition and that's where the unexpected protest of the status quo is staged.

Look, I didn't love "Stick It"--but some might. The actors are generally appealing, but clearly this isn't ambitious or serious-minded filmmaking. The soundtrack is appropriate, the gymnastics can be impressive, and I did enjoy the camera work that turned many of the practice sessions into Busby Berkeley style extravaganzas. Certainly not for everyone, but if the idea of "Stick It" appeals to you--I'm guessing you'll probably like it. If it doesn't sound like you're kind of movie, there probably isn't enough that's unique or compelling within the film to change your mind. Recommended slightly for the right audience. KGHarris, 03/07.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
Share your thoughts with other customers:   (function(w,d,e,o){var i='DAcrt';if(w.uDA=w.ues&&w.uet&&w.uex){ues('wb',i,1);uet('bb',i)}var L=function(){o=w.DA;if(!o){o=w.DA=[];e=d.createElement('script');e.src='http://z-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/browser-scripts/DA-us/DA-us-1891248285.js._V136218373_.js';d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(e)}o.push({c:2534,a:'site=amazon.us;pt=Detail;slot=customer-reviews-top;pid=B002CLBJVE;prid=1QQ148685R57MD5YAMD6;arid=2e025db9f0124e47b1d8927885f413b5;ef=0.00',f:'/aan/2009-09-09/ad/feedback.us/default?pt=RemoteContent&slot=main&pt2=us-external',n:1,r:1,p:'opt:0|cornerstone:a1=&a2=0101a222fa82526fb7e2572b4706ad9148b1dc5086fbaf9a3cf3573c8e39ca5d1db5',t:'//d3l3lkinz3f56t.cloudfront.net/pixeling-0.6.html',u:'amzn.us.dp.dvd/comedy;sz=300x250;u=2e025db9f0124e47b1d8927885f413b5;s=i0;s=i1;s=i3;s=i4;s=i5;s=i6;s=i7;s=i8;s=i9;s=1009;s=32;s=m1;s=m4;s=a731;s=u3;s=u4;s=u1;s=u2;z=190;z=182;z=193;s=1285;tile=1;ord=1QQ148685R57MD5YAMD6'})};if(d.readyState=='complete')L();else w.addEventListener('load',L,!1)})(window,document) Most Recent Customer Reviews

View the original article here

Add to Cart More Info