Good story spoiled by over-enthusiastic editing
on February 11, 2011 - 5:02 AM PST
of NOVA: Solar Energy - Saved by the Sun (2007)
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Well shot and well told, but the editors favored multiple jump cuts, blindingly fast zooms, excessively rapid pans, and other "Look at me, see what a great editor I am" techniques. My wife has trouble focusing on rapidly-changing scenes, and we both found this episode hard to watch.
Not that we didn't enjoy it, but how much fun is eyestrain anyway?
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Dated and old-fashioned
on January 17, 2011 - 5:54 AM PST
of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Collection (Disc 1 of 5) (2003)
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A mixed message on this one. My wife hated it and made me turn it off.
I reset my standards to 1948 and enjoyed it.
If you were born after 1960, you should probably skip this one...
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Too funny/Not funny enough
on January 1, 2011 - 6:08 AM PST
of The Judi Dench Collection: Keep an Eye on Amélie/Make and Break (1973)
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The first film looks glorious and detailed on my HD screen; the second movie looks like it was shot on a home-movie camera - it's soft-focus and has Kodachrome colors.
The first film, a farce, is so fast-paced and stylized (stage actor conventions and exaggerations) that I had trouble following it.
The second film felt like the middle third of a six-hour slice-of-life documentary. I could not understand why anyone bothered to film it.
Highly realistic and believable, I thought it was pointless.
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You need a really good player to play this blu-rey disc
on December 31, 2010 - 5:28 AM PST
of Up (Blu-Ray) (2009)
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0 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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I have a good, but old blu-ray player (Samsung BDP-1400).
It wouldn't even play the movie when the disc first arrived.
So I updated the firmware from the 'net, and now I can play it,
but the picture often pixelated (particularly in the top half of the screen).
That said, the movie was one of the most moving films I have seen in a long time. The computer graphics were excellently done, the extras were enjoyable. I'm glad I updated the firmware.
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It's different, but good
on November 21, 2010 - 7:45 AM PST
of Doki Doki School Hours: 1st Hour (2005)
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0 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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The teacher looks like she's 8 years old, but she's actually 27!
Hard to control the class when you look younger than them.
There are nine 'unusual' student in her class: a boy who loves another boy; a boy who loves himself; a girl who loves the teacher; a boy who looks and acts older than his years, and on and on.
The movie goes to great lengths to identify who is who, but with such a large ensemble I found it difficult to keep track.
Best advice: Don't try to understand it, just relax and let it wash over you.
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Simple-minded fluff
on November 19, 2010 - 5:17 AM PST
of If I See You In My Dreams - OVA Series (2003)
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0 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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Why is it in all the 'harem' anime that the male protagonist has to be a hopeless, spineless, unlucky weenie? I for one am getting tired of this trope.
That gripe aside, the story seemed to be formulaic, simplified, and predictable.
My wife and I couldn't finish viewing this disc.
On the positive side, the art and music seem to be acceptably good.
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Over the top & hectic
on November 15, 2010 - 5:47 AM PST
of Puni Puni Poemy (2004)
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0 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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This DVD is too far out, too frenetic, too fast-pased, and too incomprehensible for my wife to watch. I had trouble following it too.
We didn't finish watching.
The optional pig-latin subtitles were a cute touch, though.
MIke
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disappointing
on August 11, 2010 - 5:29 AM PDT
of Flight of the Red Balloon (2007)
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Having just seen the 1956 film, I was expecting (hoping for?) a touch of charm and magic. Instead I found 1 hour and 50 minutes of sad slice-of-life in contemporary Paris and less than four minutes total of a red balloon - and the balloon doesn't even interact with the boy! What a letdown.
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It's good and well made
on July 20, 2010 - 6:11 AM PDT
of The Secret Life of Bees (2008)
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Disclosure: This is not the sort of fare I would select for myself, but my wife wanted it.
Conclusion: We both enjoyed it, and I'm glad I rented it. The milieu and the characters are believably portrayed, and the film is quite moving.
Be sure to watch the extras.
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Strangely enough, I like it
on July 9, 2010 - 5:31 AM PDT
of Princess Nine Vol. 4: Strike Zone (2001)
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I don't like sports, or baseball in general. I don't like the art style in this series. Its target audience is young women, and I am on old man. Yet, oddly enough, I like this series very much. Why? because of the characters. It doesn't take long before you find yourself rooting for them to win.
Of course if you're a feminist you'll like it even more.
Recommended!
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Watched it twice!
on June 15, 2010 - 5:23 AM PDT
of Paprika (2006)
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Saw the movie. Watched the extras. Watched the movie again the next day. It's not only that good, it's that intricate. Rewarding!
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well done, but not great
on June 14, 2010 - 5:53 AM PDT
of Body and Soul / Borderline (Criterion Collection) (1925)
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2 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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They did a great job of transferring 75-year-old material to DVD.
Putting Robeson into a black-and-whilte film is appropriate; putting him in a silent movie is a great waste.
In 'Body and Soul' Paul Robeson plays a sinful and dissolute preacher - a role he later renounced and repudiated. He also does a cameo as the preacher's honest and upright twin brother. This is a reasonably good film for its day and age.
'Borderline' is a different thing entirely. It's an experimental, arty, 'avant guard' film somewhat in the mold of 'Chien Andalou' but nearly devoid of dialog or discernable plot. If you like art-house films you'll probably appreciate this one - if not you'd be better off skipping it. One highlight: Robeson's wife appears in it.
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Enjoyable
on June 5, 2010 - 7:05 AM PDT
of The Princess Diaries (2001)
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The reviews indicated that this was not a very good movie.
I enjoyed it more than I had expected to.
Yes, it's simple, but it's quite well made.
The "deleted scenes" are fun to watch too.
MIke
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A well-made, enjoyable film
on May 15, 2010 - 1:48 PM PDT
of The Man Who Loved Women (1977)
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1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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Full disclosure: This is not the type of movie I normally enjoy.
Caution - subtitles in English and other languages, audio in French and Spanish only.
However, I enjoyed this film. The director and the actors did a wonderful job of bringing this story to life - and it's the first film I have seen featuring an Aeronautical Engineer as a protagonist.
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Slow start, then quite funny
on April 25, 2010 - 12:47 PM PDT
of Zorro, The Gay Blade (1981)
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1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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For the first half hour I couldn't figure out what I was watching.
Then it became clear that it was a comedy, not an adventure.
Its funny, but its not hilarious.
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enjoyable, but not great...
on April 17, 2010 - 6:31 AM PDT
of Down to Earth (1947)
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1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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I first saw this 50 years ago, and I enjoyed it then. Having just watched "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" and then viewed this film again only increased my pleasure - I now get all the in-jokes.
Having said that, this film is marked by utterly forgettable songs, cliche dances, and it needs more suspension-of-disbelief and most fantasies...
Transfer of an old movie to DVD was done quite competently
Bottom line: enjoyable, but not great.
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Nicely remastered from 1941
on April 11, 2010 - 12:28 PM PDT
of Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
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The movie is based on a Broadway Play, "Heaven Can Wait". It is very cleverly constructed. The performers, especially the principals, do a good job of bringing the characters to life. I enjoyed the remake, so I wanted to see the original. Both are enjoyable.
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Beautiful film
on April 10, 2010 - 1:11 PM PDT
of The Fox and the Child (2008)
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1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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The plot has no surprises; it is very simple and charming.
However, the marvelous scenery and excellent photography would carry this film even without the girl...
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What a waste of film!
on April 2, 2010 - 5:10 AM PDT
of Special (2005)
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Who wants to spend 83 minutes watching a delusional loser get mocked and beaten? Our hero spends most of the film with blood on his face.
Low-budget movie with off-shade colors does not add visual appeal.
There are some good performances by supporting cast.
There may be an audience for this type of film, but I'm not in it.
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Funnier than it has any right to be.
on March 28, 2010 - 6:45 AM PDT
of Silent Movie (1976)
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2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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My wife and I may have missed some of the sight gags because we were laughing too hard! Mel Brooks at his best.
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