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Excellent!
on February 16, 2013 - 5:33 AM PST
of The Lorax (Blu-Ray) (2012)
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The animation is very good - textures are finely rendered, colors are bright and clean (appropriate of Seuss), and shapes are rounded...
The story has been adapted to the screen so well that it's hard to believe that it was once a book. Good Work!
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Inspiring
on December 21, 2012 - 5:38 AM PST
of El Sistema: Music to Change Life (2008)
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This is an uplifting film, beautifully made, and delightful to watch.
Image and sound quality are first-rate, and so is the content.
It should be required viewing for politicians and educators everywhere.
I hope to buy my own copy of this disk if it's available.
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Didn't expect to like it as much as I actually did.
on November 30, 2012 - 5:56 AM PST
of Clash of the Titans (1981)
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0 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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Follows Greek mythology as accurately as my limited knowledge permits me to check. The clothing, walls, and artifacts are a mix of ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Persian styles.
[Are Perseus and Persia related names?]
While the mortals and the monsters are convincing, I had the impression that the deities were phoning in their performances. They said the right words, but didn't seem convincing. I expected better from Sir Laurence Olivier.
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Excellent!
on November 26, 2012 - 6:07 AM PST
of Ratatouille (2007)
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The story is good; the CGI Animation is excellent; the voice acting is fine. The background sure looks a lot like Paris.
What's not to like? My wife and I have seen it three times; expect to see it again and again yet. Yes, we liked The Incredibles too.
Great work, Pixar!
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It's a documentary, not a biopic
on November 25, 2012 - 6:42 AM PST
of Jiro Dreams Of Sushi (2011)
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Still enjoyable, but don't expect any plot.
Do expect to be hungry when you finish viewing it.
Very good.
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Very Good, with Reservations
on November 24, 2012 - 6:22 AM PST
of Dumbo (Big Top Edition) (1941)
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Considering when and how it was made, the art and the animation are top-notch, almost rivaling the works of Miyazaki. Motions are smooth, curves don't wiggle, colors are vivid.
However, in the 1941 era there was a lot of 'innocent' raceisim and stereotyping. The faceless black happy roustabouts at the beginning I found particularly upsetting; the crows at the end were less offensive than I had feared.
The stork sequence bothered me a little too, but then this is Disney and they couldn't handle biology more realistically. Be prepared to clarify to your kids, if needed.
That said, the middle of the movie, particularly the pink elephant sequence (Dumbo's hiccups) is excellent, often reminiscent of Fantasia.
Recommended, with reservations.
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We will watch this again someday
on November 17, 2012 - 9:23 AM PST
of Over the Hedge (2006)
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It's over-the-top, and has many poignant moments and insightful remarks about the human condition.
The CGI animation is excellent (but in common with most CGI to date, it has trouble portraying human beings accurately).
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Visually interesting; defies common sense
on November 16, 2012 - 5:46 AM PST
of A Chinese Ghost Story (1997)
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Gorgeous CGI with colors over saturated. Everything looks like it was made of jell-o except the foreground characters, who look like cel animation.
The protagonist spends half his onscreen minutes in mortal terror, screaming in fright, in near-fatal situations, yet never even bruises or scratches. When he finally dies it is voluntary and not permanent... Some of this movies is reminiscent of Snow WHite, some is like NIght on Bald Mountain, but most of it is unique.
Like most anime, you can't tell who is the good guy and who is the bad guy - they all take both roles at different times.
Enjoy the film if you like this kind of thing. It's different and interesting, just not great.
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Not a comedy, but an overwrought farce...
on October 26, 2012 - 7:23 AM PDT
of Bringing Up Baby (1938)
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I like fantasy, so I'm familiar with suspension of disbelief.
That said, this entire film consists of a rapid-fire sequence of mishaps that strain credulity to the breaking point - and struck my wife and me as just plain stupid.
Couldn't watch it to the end.
Anyone understand schlemiel ar schlemazel?
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Great movie, but...
on October 17, 2012 - 5:46 AM PDT
of Henry V (1989)
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Lots of talented actors, lots of money spent, Shakespeare for source material, and a great film. What's not to like?
Subtitles in Spanish and French only! What about subtitles in English for the hearing-impaired? I couldn't understand what the actors were saying (I'm accent-impaired) and I'd have been better off with French subtitles - and I don't speak French.
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Okay...
on September 22, 2012 - 6:48 AM PDT
of Eureka: Season 1 (Disc 1 of 3) (2006)
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It starts out as yet another of those Science Fiction = Eerie and Eerie = Scary misfires, but that's not really what it's about. The Scary part is toned down (it's still there) and it becomes a complex story of human interactions...
There's a solve the mystery thread, there's a father vs. rebellious daughter thread, there's a secret organization within the secret organization thread, there's a dog who's too smart/lucky to be real, and of course the obligatory military-landing-in-force to save the country...
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on many levels, describes the human condition
on September 18, 2012 - 11:27 AM PDT
of We Bought a Zoo (2011)
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It seems to be the story of an adrenaline freak trying to settle down. At first, he digs a financial hole for himself...
It also is the story of a father trying to bond with his recalcitrant, rebellious son...
The daughter is adorable ( a scene stealer ) and very wise for one so young.
The dead wife makes several appearances as memory and reality overlap.
I don't understand why this movie has gotten such weak reviews. It's better than that.
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A better movie than its rating would indicate
on September 9, 2012 - 7:31 AM PDT
of Antz (1998)
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A cartoon that is Not for children - American audiences don't grok that, but foreign audiences do. A movie about bugs that says a lot about the human condition (more so than most live action films). Recommended!
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Tremendous collection of talented performers
on September 8, 2012 - 6:54 AM PDT
of Cinderella (1957)
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Rogers and Hammerstein - talented perfectionists. Many actors/singers with experience on the live stage - excellent choices. A live broadcast with a large cast (including children!), a large stage crew, many sets, a small stage, and only two rehearsals - and it went off flawlessly.
That said, the broadcast was in color but the DVD is in black-and-white, with visual noise and scratches, and out of focus too. If these defects annoy you, stay away.
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Very enjoyable
on September 1, 2012 - 6:20 AM PDT
of Call Me Madam (1953)
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Full Disclosure: My wife and I were dating when this movie was being made, so it has certain nostalgic resonances that may be missed by younger viewers.
A great deal of talent went into this movies, all to good effect.
It's good to see the under-appreciated Donald O'connor NOT being someone's sidekick, but a star in his own right. His masterful drunken dance is an incredibly good blend of grace, coordination, and inebriation!
Enjoy!
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Should have been much better
on August 27, 2012 - 3:17 PM PDT
of The Muppets (2011)
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0 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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Nice concept, if somewhat reminiscent of "The Muppet Movie".
I stuck with it as long as I could stand it. always hoping it would get better; but alas, my tolerance for stupidity was exceeded after 45 minutes.
Jim Henson, like Gene Rodenbury and Walt Disney, was one of a kind and can be imitated, but never be replaced.
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Sw it twice, loved it twice
on August 18, 2012 - 6:13 AM PDT
of Finding Neverland (2004)
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Fascinating blend of reality and imagination, only appropriate for J M Barrie. Rich in novel cinematic inventions, some of with stick vividly in my memory. Good job.
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Very visually beautiful
on August 16, 2012 - 6:27 AM PDT
of Animated Classics of Japanese Literature: The Izu Dancer/The Dancing Girl/A Ghost Story (1986)
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The first and third segment ave very japanese and subtitled clearly.
The middle segment seems to be set in late 19th century Europe (Germany, Italy?) with occasional references to Japanese culture. Also, it has no English subtitles that my top-of-the-line player could display, so I can't tell what's going on.
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Good movie
on July 29, 2012 - 12:12 PM PDT
of Classic Musicals Collection, Vol. 3: Kismet (1955)
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1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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Full disclosure: I saw the stage production with the incomparable Alfred Drake - and I loved it!
Keel (the unnamed Poet) tends to become a one-note in his lowest register, and that irks me. The Wazir's wife steals the show in my opinion - great acting & great singing.
The script deserves an Oscar for its wondefully intricate, yet satisfying, construction. Dazzling!
They shoehorned more musical numbers into the movie than the stage had, but they left out some of the stage version's music. Zubidiah's dance vocals, anyone?
Well worth seeing...
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Very moving, affecting movie
on July 28, 2012 - 8:52 AM PDT
of Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
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Excellent acting on the part of the teen-age cast, and the grownups are good too. The film is involving, uplifting, rewarding - but I expected that when I rented it...
Reccommended
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