Quest for the Real Jesus

interesting! Wow...
lots of think i did not know. Older program, but informative! Tons of myths about the real Jesus. Very well done.





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Hatchet III: Rated R Version

A sequel that lives up to the original for once.
Let me first say that I love horror films. There have been more duds than successes in recent history, and to a fan of the genre, this fact is extremely disappointing. When I first heard about Hatchet in 2006, I became ecstatic. A film that would solely rely on practical effects opposed to CGI? This seemed like a dream come true, considering that recent films that had the potential to be logged into my all-time favorites list were ruined by computer generated effects (I.e. The Midnight Meat Train). Needless to say, Hatchet blew my mind. The humor was right on point, the acting was grade A, and the gore was both realistic and gut-wrenching. Also, the constant throwbacks to old-school horror films and guest appearances from vintage horror movie actors made a beaming smile spread across my face.
Then Hatchet II came along. The bar was set very high, because I expected a lot from Adam Green and the rest of the cast. Now, don't get me wrong; the movie wasn't terrible. The appearances...

Excellent!
This is an awesome continuation of the first two! Victor Crowley is nasty and brutal as ever! Most sequels tend to lack & by the 3rd, well, not good. This will not let you down!

Great for Hatchet fans
I can't really give a fair review of this because I love the Hatchet series so much. This is a perfect end to the series but I wouldn't mind seeing a fourth one.

I am a huge fan of Danielle Harris so watching her in any role is always a thrill for me. I also loved seeing Caroline Williams, I loved her in "Texas Chainsaw 2" and it was great to see her back in another campy horror film.

If you loved Hatchet and Hatchet 2 then you are gonna love this.

These movies aren't for everyone. My only regret is that I watched this online instead of in a theater. These seems like the type of movie that would be fun to watch in a theater with a bunch of other people.

Also Rileah Vanderbilt must be the most beautiful woman who has ever lived. She needs to be in more movies.

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Paul the Apostle

in name only
Despite crediting a long list of Biblical experts, this made for television film is astonishingly inaccurate, but is still perhaps worth a rental; just don't expect to know much about the Apostle Paul from it, other than some rudimentary facts like his persecution of the early Christians before he was blinded by the light, and became a believer in Jesus.

It has a fabulously attractive cast, and all do an admirable job in the acting department. The main characters are Saul/Paul (Johannes Brandrup), Reuben (Thomas Lockyer), and Barnabas (G.W. Bailey).

Directed by Roger Young, whose other religious TV film from 1999, "Jesus", I found really ghastly and blasphemous, in "Paul, the Apostle" the acting and writing are far superior, and it is not offensive in its treatment of the Lord.

Shot on location in Quarzazate, Morocco and Malta, the cinematography by Giovanni Galasso is excellent, and it has a lovely score by Carlo Siliotto. The interiors and costumes...

not like the Bible Collection in accuracy at all!
this video is nothing more than artistic license with the Scriptures. My family was amazed at how many points we found in the Scriptures that were DIFFERENT than what was said or acted out in this film. We REALLY enjoy other parts of the Bible Collection films, such as Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Jeremiah, and Esther. BUT THIS ONE doesn't deserve to be named off with the B.C. set (nor the Sampson one). If you want to see some common yet erroneous doctrines presented, then this film won't bother you. The only part that was continously Biblical was the tension between the political religious parties. All else was corrupted and shoved together incorrectly. Finally, the "artistic license" taken where you see Saul/Paul go from being a wrestler, to the full naked backside of the characters, to a single nude breast of a woman later as her and hubby go to consumate, and the buttocks hanging out of a few others along the way....well, it was embarassing to see such...

Disappointing
I had high hopes for this film, but was soon disappointed. First, I think it's important to know that THIS IS NOT A FAMILY FILM. There are three scenes with gratuitous nudity (derrieres, breasts, etc) and sexual content (a sex scene and a nearly nude Nubian dancer). What kind of content is that to put into a religiously themed film?

Second, I had many difficulties with the "artistic license" used by the screen writer(s). Much of this film's contents is not in the Bible at all, much less mentioned in the extra-Biblical knowledge we have about Paul. Needless to say, this film should NOT be used as a teaching aide any more than the film "Pearl Harbor."

Third, the truly dramatic moments in Paul's life were handled very poorly. For example, the scene on the Road to Damascus could have been awsome -- if the movie had a better screen writer/director/actor ... and on and on and on. Instead, the writers and director seemed more interested in adding things folks who...

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Olympus Has Fallen [HD]

When this comes out in DVD, I will be purchasing.
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I went to this movie. The decent action flicks of yesterday have been replaced by superheroes shooting space aliens or super gory, gross movies that are so hardcore they turn me off before I ever get past the trailer. But this movie takes you back to the really cool action thrillers of yesteryear and frankly, I was riveted throughout.

The action is non stop and the acting is superb, especially for this type of movie. I had never seen Gerard Butler in a movie before but from now on, he is on my watch list. His portrayal of Mike Banning is gritty and down to earth, never over the top. Aaron Eckhart does a very good job with the rather thankless role of the Hostage In Chief. He, too, never stoops to caricature; just a man faced with a horrifying situation. Morgan Freeman and Angela Bassett are solid and realistic as the Speaker of the House and the Director of the Secret Service. Rick Yune is a absolute chiller of a villain...

Olympus Has Fallen Review
Best action movie of the year.
Even though the White House is a very unlikely site for the plot, it is not an unlikely story in view of the latest and older
developments in the recent history of the US.
Edge of your seat action, does not let off for a single minute. You will definitely never get bored.

Exciting, Edge of Your Seat (with some flaws)
This movie is fantastic for these people:

- You like the film concept of a foreign government capturing the President inside the White House, with a single hero (as in Die Hard) who tries to save the day (and the world) - against all odds.

- You're looking for an exciting, heart pounding, non-stop action flick.

- You like movies with lots of explosions, surprises, and situations that look really impossible.

- You don't care if there are some things about this film that are a bit cliché. They can work in films. And you're just looking for some entertainment anyway.

- You're okay with a character theme that's been done before. There's some time taken to show you the woundedness of Gerard Butler's character, and some of what makes him tick. It's not a new theme. You've seen this before. But you're ok with that.

This movie is not for you if:

- You can't stand cliché's in movies.
- You're...

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Sexecution

A Fun Independent Horror Flick
The actors do a great job in creating fun characters that are loose and irreverent. In particular the character of Erica drives the film playing a relentless unapologetic bad-girl. It's refreshing to see a female lead and one that gets the best lines. This isn't a film with buckets of blood, there are some gruesome scenes, but most of the film deals with the characters haplessly trying to get out of the dangerous situation they find themselves in. Highly recommended if you enjoy an indie dark comedy.





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Screen Test

Suprisingly Enjoyable Movie
I rented this movie for a cheap thrill and a couple of chuckles, and ended up viewing a surprisingly entertaining and downright funny movie. Sort of an early American Pie, this movie follows four boys in their quest to get laid. This is where the paths of the two movies divirge, however, the boys unite under the idea of holding auditions for a phony porno flick. This is where the movie really starts to get funny. Be forewarned, however, that this movie is not really intelectual humor, but if you are a fan of Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, or any other comedians of this type, you should definately give this movie a try.





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Three Short Films

Amazing Collection of Shorts
I must say that I was pretty excited to receive my copy of this collection of short films, especially Paper People. All three films were brilliantly done and very entertaining to watch. I hadn't heard of the other two short films, but I was blown away by the last film, You Don't Know Bertha Constantine. It was beautifully shot and the story was so touching and moving it brought me to tears. Bravo guys!

A short film must have!
This is a great collection of shorts with well written characters and riveting plot lines.
Wunderland is a glimpse of a moment at the front lines of WWII.
You Don't Know Bertha Constantine reflects devotion in the worst kind of adversity. I could relate strongly to Bertha's courage, determination, and loyalty.
Paper People, which has received a great deal of accolades at short film festivals, is intense and intriguing with an ending not to be missed.
The directing and writing team of Andrew Kightlinger and Luke Schuetzle are truly dynamic and I look forward to future productions from this duo.

A Must Have Collection
I have seen all three of these shorts by the Schuetzle Prodcution Company. Each one is well crafted. "Paper People" is a well written story with solid performances by the cast. It is well directed and the post production work is top quality. This short has swept the film festival circuit. "Wunderland" is a tense WWII battle scene. It was shot as a pilot for a web series. It was very well done. "You Don't Know Bertha Constantine", is a well written and performed story of a grieving widow struggling to honor her loved one's life. This award winning script transitioned to the silver screen nicely. The collection is a must have, if you like short films.

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Wrath Of Gods

The Burden of Sturla's Dream!
Many MANY years ago, being a dedicated Werner Herzog fan, I went to see the documentary, "Burden of Dreams" which was based on the many trials and tribulations of filming his incredible movie, "Fitzcarraldo" in the jungles of Peru. "Wrath of Gods" could be its Icelandic cousin. There seem to be certain films that fight against their creators. Their directors, crew, and cast must give all they have, and sometimes even a bit more, in order to see their dream realized. Indeed, there are moments during WOGs when the forced smile on director Sturla Gunnarsson's face melts into something sad and desperate; those are among the most beautiful moments in this film, because that sadness and desperation added to the haunting (and I mean that in the most lovely and primal way) beauty of what became "Beowulf & Grendel". There is no happy, storybook ending here; the film did poorly by Hollywood standards, but so what?! The film is ultimately true to the prose, true to the raging, frozen,...

Outstanding interview with Gerry!
I can't believe what I'm seeing...a solid hour interview with Gerry Butler AFTER a grueling workday on the set. I'm amazed at his patience under the visible stress of an aching head and body after braving the Icelandic weather to shoot this revealing documentation. How much more can he do to show his appreciation for the support of his fans worldwide? His behavior speaks volumes about the depth of his character and his commitment to excellence and dedication as an actor. His star is definitely rising and he is indeed 'paying his dues'...he is not afraid to shoulder the tough roles, transforming himself into a character in ways that startle directors and producers alike. When he signs on to play a role they can be assured of this: they will get much, much more than their money's worth from the likes of this humble, towering Scotsman who has his feet planted solidly on the ground and who has restored the grandeur of moviemaking. Don't look for his handsome face in the gossip rags...

Better than Beowulf! Mother Nature at Her Wildest!
I liked Beowulf the film in spite of the unpolished, anachronistic script, because of the gorgeous scenery, excellent costume and set work, and good performances by the title characters. For me the best part was Iceland itself; its vistas and its unbelievable weather, and this is where Wrath of the Gods surpasses the film by far. I think it gives insight into formation of the culture when people struggle to survive in such a place. Highly recommended for anyone interested in filmmaking.

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Super 8 [HD]

Entertaining, engrossing and extra-terrestrial - Derivative but from the very best
Super 8 is admittedly not a perfect film, but I enjoyed it so much, and was so taken by the characters and the actors playing them, that I didn't really mind the occasional inconsistency or lingering "awed expressions" scene.

Set in a small town in Ohio in 1979, the basic plot centers around Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney), a 13-year-old boy whose mother recently died in a factory accident, leaving him with only his father, Jackson (Kyle Chandler), a sheriff's deputy who's a more than decent man but who has never known how to really be a father. Jackson's escape is burying himself in his work, while Joe's is helping his best friend Charles (Riley Griffiths) make an amateur zombie movie with the help of their other friends Preston (Zach Mills), Martin (Gabriel Basso) and Cary (Ryan Lee). But Joe's involvement becomes truly committed when Charles persuades Alice Dainard (Elle Fanning), a girl he secretly has a crush on, to join the project.

Things taken a sudden turn...

This movie is "Mint!"
I saw Super 8 at IMAX today. LOVED it and want to see it again, soon! I laughed, I cried, and I jumped up out of my seat 8 times! It was a fun, fun nostalgic ride on an early summer afternoon. The late 1970's music, costumes, location, and set props were right on. Fantastic cinematography, sound design, and special affects.

Ahhhh, but this movie has heart in the story and in the acting. Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, and the new young actor who plays Joe Lamb steal the movie. This 'coming of age' story is set in a more innocent time, before middle schoolers began 'hooking up.' The rest of the kids who make up the motley film crew are believably hilarious. Each cleverly has his or her own specialty in film making. You can only imagine a young JJ Abrams doing the same thing when he was a boy.

Super 8 is not the BEST movie I've ever seen, and the ending is somewhat predictable. But it is the BEST movie I've seen in a long, long time.

1 of the Best films I've seen in 2011 - 5 Stars for both movie and blu-ray transfer
First off, I just finished watching an advance blu-ray copy of this film and the movie and blu-ray transfer blew me away. IMO, this film is one of the very best of 2011 and if you are a fan of "old-fashioned" type drama/suspense films that have to do with extra-terrestrial life and what happens to a small rural community in the late 1970's is truly a film that will stay with you long after the movie's end. To give any more away would be a sin, so I won't.

The blu-ray video and audio is fantastic. The aspect ratio is what appears to be 2.35:1 or thereabouts (Amazon has it wrong at 1.85:1). The video throughout is pristine with vivid colors in the daylight scenes and ink blacks in the night scenes. Details are vivid as you would expect from a top-notch blu-ray transfer. The audio equals the quality of the video and I've had to monitor the volume because I live in an apartment and use a 9.1 speaker configuration. Vocals came mainly from the center speaker along with the...

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Nightmares Come at Night: Remastered Edition [Blu-ray]

Not for the Franco beginner
Jess Franco's "Nightmares Come at Night" aka "Les Cauchemars naissant la nuit" is important for two reasons. First, it's a movie that sounds far more important when referred to by its French title. Two, the gorgeous Soledad Miranda of "Vampyros Lesbos" and "She Killed in Ecstasy" fame turns up in a very small part. Fans of this exquisite Spanish beauty will love to see her in another Franco film, even if she's only onscreen for a matter of one or two minutes despite receiving prominence on the DVD case. "Nightmares," it turns out, is a rather obscure effort from director Franco that disappeared for a number of years. Many feared this film lost until it recently resurfaced just in time for the DVD revolution. After sitting through the roughly eighty minute runtime of "Les Cauchemars naissant la nuit," I'm beginning to understand the reasons for its obscurity; it's not the sort of film that would endear itself to a large audience. In terms of plot and linear continuity, "Nightmares"...

Lurid and Moody ...
Jess Franco's NIGHTMARES COME AT NIGHT was much better than I was expecting. This doesn't have Soledad Miranda in much of it, despite her billing on the box cover and still photos. However, the story and atmosphere was very close to the Franco film A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD in some of it's pace and moodiness. Franco's cinematragraphy seems a bit tighter here and Bruno Nicolai gives an inspiring score as always.

This film isn't for everyone and I am sure some Franco fans may cry foul at this release. Proceed with caution.

lesbians seeing stuff
This is a pretty okay film about a lesbian who sees things and blacks out and hurts people. And the people who loved her and who manipulated her and things like that.

You know, some things were certainly happening in this movie, but I couldn't figure if the director intended for me to care or not. Or whether I was really supposed to know anything at all or not. But I didn't mind, I just went with the flow. Pretty fun movie to watch.

It's in a threepack with Werewolf Woman and Flesh for the Beast for actually a couple of bucks less, so you'll definitely want to pick that up instead of this dvd by itself. It's the same DVD as listed here too, so if you hate triplefeatures on single disks there's no problem there.

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Off Limits [Blu-ray]

Up to his old tricks, Bob Hope shows why he's better at entertaining the troops than policing them
- Wally Hogan: "Connie, it may not show but I'm yellow."
- Connie Curtis: "It shows."

You'd think Bob Hope would've learned his lesson, having already gotten snookered in CAUGHT IN THE DRAFT. Here he gets bullied into enlisting in the U.S. Army again. Alternately (and more drably) titled as MILITARY POLICEMEN, OFF LIMITS is one of old Ski Nose's lesser known films. But it's got some good laughs, a song or two, and the sole teaming up of Bob Hope and Mickey Rooney on the big screen. On one hand, Mickey Rooney is no Bing Crosby. But, on the other hand, Bob Hope is no Judy Garland.

1953's OFF LIMITS is a minor hybrid boxing / military comedy; it finds Bob Hope at his most relaxed and Rooney back to his wholesome next-door-neighbor kid routine, kind of like as if Andy Hardy had enlisted. Bob Hope plays Wally Hogan, a womanizing boxing trainer who follows his champion prize fighter into the U.S. Army. But Wally is left holding the bag when his boxer is discharged...

This Film is Worth Having in any Collection
Bob Hope plays Wally, trainer for a boxing champ. When the champ is called in for his enlistment into the Army, Wally follows him to protect his interest in the champ. The problem is the Army rejects the champ because he failed the psych exam. Wally's real trouble begins when the Army accepts him and the champ goes off with his handlers, who are actually mobsters.
Enter Mickey Rooney (Herbie Tuttle), a wannabe prizefighter who wants Wally to train him while they are in the Army together. Trouble is Wally wants out of the Army so that he can resume his fast-living lifestyle as a boxing trainer, until he meets Herbert's aunt Connie (Marilyn Maxwell). Connie does not think much of Wally and she does not like boxing.
So to not give away the rest of the plot I will leave here.
Great comedic movie! Well worth watching over and over. It would be a better price value if Amazon would lower the price about $5-$10.

Great Hope Vehicle
Another great release by Olive Films of a Paramount catalog title. It is interesting that on the movie itself the title is MILITARY POLICEMEN. This makes me think that the print used was from England. Bob's line delivery is as sharp as ever. His timing impeccable. Mickey Rooney is good but the real scene stealer is Eddie Mayehoff as their officious superior officer. A lot of fun. Picture and sound are good. A good time but I would look for a discounted price since there are no extras.

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Frostbite!

SHE MUST BE GIGGLES,
The original Canadian title for this film is "The Movie Out Here," neither of these titles have anything to do with the plot. Adam (Robin Nielsen) plays a straight man to the sometimes zany comedy of this feature. He is a low level corporate Toronto lawyer who returns to his home town of Fernie to close a deal...a deal that will take his friend's Theo's (James Wallis) Business. Wallis comes across as a light version of Zach Galifianakis. Let's throw a party to save Theo...

We add to this comedy, Sasquatch, a bad engagement (Lisa Durupt), a bad boss (Karin Konoval), two local cops (Nils Hognestad,Artine Brown) and a series of running jokes. The humor ranged from mildly humorous to a good over the top belly laugh. This is a typical 3 star teen-type comedy with the addition of a few great scenes such as the bathroom scene and the nursing lady (Rebecca Husain) on the plane.

Worth a Redbox rental for a fair comedy.

Parental Guide; F-bombs, brief sex and...

Not As Funny As I Thought It Would Be
I expected more action and for it to be alot more like Hot Dog: The Movie and Out Cold. If I had it to do over again I might rent it but not buy it.



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Moonie and the Spider Queen

Moonie delivers!
Nicola Cuti brings his adaptation of his cheeky,sexy, Starbabe to the screen in this first serialized chapter. Moonie first appeared in 1968 as a self-published underground comic by Mr Cuti, and has been delighting fans with her voluptuous form ever since.The subject of many comics, and even novels, seeing Cuti bring her to the screen is wonderful indeed. Chaptered in serialized form at approximately 25 minutes each installment, it moves at a brisk pace and keeps your attention through out. Make no mistake, there's plenty of T&A involved here, and dirty jokes abound, so it's definitely not for everyone. But for those of us who love a good dose of the wink-wink-nudge-nudge it has it in spades.

Working with a small budget has created a bit of a blessing for Cuti (who wrote and directed the movie) as the film relies on the clever use of the often-times hilarious (on purpose!) dialog. Oh, there's special FX of course, and Cuti manages to make the best of the limited resources...





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The U Funny Project

A Stand-up Comedy you will LOVE!
I love stand-up comedy, so this was funny to watch in general but I really liked white chocolate! Highly recommend this stand up comedy!





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So Much So Fast [HD]

Motivates you to re-align priorities
Well put-together and though-provoking. Every scene confronts the family with decisions that challenge their perspective--as well as the viewer's--about what comes first in life. Even the seemingly mundane daily tasks resonates with significance when it may be one of the last time you get to share that experience with the afflicted family member. How many of us could be jolted from the incessant "work-only" mentality that this society place on us to lift our hands off the keyboard and spend a quiet afternoon with someone--even if they were not in imminent danger of a life-terminating disease--just because it is the more important thing to do? This is a heart-warming movie that the audience--whether they have any member of their family with a life-threatening affliction or not--will gain a lot of perspective.

Powerful and moving
Very well made, touching, involving documentary about a man dying of
ALS.

It's inspiring and profoundly moving to watch him keep his sense of
humor and humanity throughout, and watch his brother, who became
obsessed with saving him, finding a way to start a whole foundation in
a renegade way.

It deserves kudos for the unusually honest and heartfelt way it explores the
stresses the whole experience puts on the family, along with the deep
sense of connection it brings them.

Great learning tool
Very good resource for those wanting to learn more about ALS and it's affects on patients and families as a whole. Great Hospice tool.

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The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition

Creme de la Kermie.
Mini review of one of my alltime 10 favorite films.

Many people question why this is on my top 10. I think the question is why is it not on theirs? This is pure entertainment for the whole family. It is a movie that works on all levels. The story is enchanting. The music is charming and whimsical. The muppetry is fantastic. It is hard to imagine a better opening to a movie than the rainbow connection sequence.

The movie is a cornucopia of awesome quotes. I think my favorite still remains: If frog's couldn't hop, I'd be gone with the Schwinn.

The cameo roles are excellent as well. Steve Martin excels as a put upon waiter. Dom Delouise is impressive as a hollywood agent adrift in a swamp and Mel Brooks steals the show as a german mad scientist.

Great movie--but what the HEY? Censorship!
I love the Muppet Movie. Its nods to film noir and buddy films, the music by the fabulous Paul Williams, the celebrity cameos, the characters--especially Miss Piggy and Fozzie.

Now then, I always watched the Muppets very aware that the movies were working on both the child and adult level, and happily put in the DVD anticipating my favorite muppet joke of all: when Kermit walks into a bar after having lost Piggy and says, sadly, "I'll have a grasshopper, please."

Great joke! Kids won't know what a "grasshopper" is or that he is boozing over being stood up--they'll just tune out til the music!

So why did they cut it from the DVD?

Especially when they kept the visual that Kermit drank alllll the champagne after Piggy left, and Rowlf's assertion that every night he has "a coupla beers." This PC thing has gone too far. I suppose it's not enough to deduct a whole star--except it's my all time fave muppet moment.

Oh well, love the movie. And...

"A bear in his natural habitat....a Studebaker!"
This is one of the first films that I ever remember seeing, and it is still one of my favorites today. This story about the Muppets' cross-country excursion to Hollywood is beautifully told through the wonderful vision of Jim Henson. It answers the question about how the Muppets first came together, and offers the audience a glimpse into the lives of the various eccentrics that made up 'The Muppet Show' before they became famous. My favorite is, of course, The Great Gonzo, the "prince of plungers." His out-of-this-world weirdness always adds more fun to the chaos of the situation, as Kermit and Co. try to outrun the evil Doc Hopper and make it to Hollywood on time to audition. I also love the big Studebaker that Kermit and Fozzie drive around in as they sing "Moving Right Along." All of the songs are memorable, from "Rainbow Connection" to Gonzo's "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday." I have seen this movie a million times and I...

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Troubleshooter [HD]

Excellent -- except for subtitle issue
I am really enjoying this movie, but it was not subtitled in English so I had to use the Closed Caption provided by Amazon. Only problem with that was a significant portion of dialogue was missing. Sentences were never finished, sometimes nothing popped up in relation to what a character was saying. I'm understanding most of what's going on I guess, but I know I'm missing very important things. If Amazon could have this title properly subtitled, I'm sure many more people will watch it. Otherwise, excellent action, some drama, and some great funny moments.





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Emperor

Great historical war drama
"Emperor" (2013 release; 98 min.) brings the true story of how General/Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces MacArthur (played here by Tommy Lee Jones) was sent to Japan following Japan's surrender to end WWII, to assess which top ranking officials from Japan, including possibly Emperor Hirohito, should be brought to justice and stand trial. MacArthur enlistens the help of General Fellers (played by Matthew Fox) for the actual investigations, focusing on the Emperor, the Prime Minister and a few other top Ministers. The problem is that Washington demands a conclusion in only 10 days. The movie's script (based on the book 'His Majesty's Salvation' by Shiro Okamoto) intertwines the political and military aspects with a romantic involvement by Fellers with a Japanese woman whom he gets to know in the 1930s in the US, but who eventually returns to Japan without telling Fellers. Fellers is determined to find her now that he is back in Japan. Will Fellers find his former flame? Will...

Thought-Provoking Historical Drama
At the conclusion of the War in the Pacific ("V J Day," for those of us old enough to remember), the Allied forces had a dilemma: Should the Emperor of Japan (the Emperor of the Chrysanthemum Throne) be tried (and hung) for war crimes? Few of us gave it a moment's consideration at the time, but here is a thought-provoking drama that examines the issue.

It stars:
* Tommy Lee Jones ("Lincoln") as General Douglas MacArthur, tasked with reconstructing Japan, writing a constitution and restoring the economy. (Plus MacArthur really wants to run for President of the United States.) Is Jones getting all the good parts lately, or does he just make his parts seem that good?
* Matthew Fox ("Alex Cross") as General Bonner Fellers, the guy who understands that if Emperor Hirohito is hung, an insurrection will be inevitable and the war will NOT be over. Fox does great suppressed rage. Watch for it!
* Eriko Hatsune ("Norwegian Wood") as Aya, the sweetheart Fellers met...

Masatoshi Nakamura
I saw emperor shortly after it was released. I went to see it not only because I am interested in Japanese culture and history, but because I wanted to see the renowned Japanese actor and singer Masatoshi Nakamura in one of his rare appearances in an, American movie. He had a small part in it, but in my opinion he did a wonderful job. He had about a 5 minute speech which was quite powerful and moving. Mr. Nakamura has a long list of accomplishments and is very well known in Japan, so I am very happy that he had the opportunity to play an important role in an American movie.

Overall I think the movie was very well done. I would recommend it to anyone especially those who are interested in American and/or Japanese history.

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1939: Battle of Westerplatte

True war movie that is worth watching but don't expect wall to wall excitement. Fighting scenes are lacking. I say B-
"If we go to war no one will back us up." September 1st, 1939, the Polish city of Gdansk is an important port city that the German's are looking to take control of. Trying not to scare the entire country the army decides to send a small group of 600 soldiers against the Germans with only one goal, hold out for at least 12 hours. When it becomes clear that no support is coming for them and with dwindling supplies and medical aid they have to decide to fight till the last man falls or surrender. This is a true story of the first battle of WWII. This is not a terrible war movie at all and is worth seeing but it is pretty slow moving and the war scenes leave something to be desired. The movie is interesting though and really makes you understand what the Polls went through in the beginning of Hitler's advance but it is just a little too slow in some parts to stay fully focused on. Overall, a true war movie that is worth watching but don't expect wall to wall excitement. I give it a B-.

Very Good Polish WW2 Film
Very good foreign film about a couple hundred Polish soldiers defending a peninsula near Danzig/Gdansk, Poland in the first few days of WW 2 in Europe. I don't specifically know the history of this battle. But the storyline seems good, there's moral dilemmas, fear and bravery in battle, insubordination and difficult choices for the Polish. There are quite a few good action scenes. It's a foreign film, so don't expect something like Saving Private Ryan, Defiance or U571. In My opinion, if Your a fan of WW2 or Foreign films. This is well worth watching. Like a lot of foreign WW2 films I've seen it is longer and has noticeable dubbing. It would fit in the top ten or 20 (I watch a lot of foreign and foreign WW2) foreign films. I'll watch it again a few times I'm sure. I was slightly surprised they didn't mention the Communists attacking Poland from the East. Since they mentioned Britain and France declaring war on Germany. If those poor Polish Souls only knew what was in store for them...

Not a well done WWII film; adds nothing to your library
I'm a huge WWII film buff and wanted to like this film but it totally missed the mark with me. The story of the start of WWII and the Poles being attacked by Germany certainly is compelling as a staring point, but I had to fast forward theu sections of this film I disliked most of it so much. First; the battle scenes are rather poor. Their is a lot of "Poles fire 3 rounds--5 Germans fall down" kind of action which is not compelling. Then the main story line of two contrasting leaders of the Polish defense constantly at odds with each other could have been great but...the one leader is totally brave & gung ho, and the other has severe shell shock or some other condition and is disappearing from leading his men just when they need him most over & over. This aspect of the film gets repeated many times and becomes downright annoying after awhile and ruins any good points of the film in my view. Other 'new' movies on WWII are out now like "Storming Juno" which is a terrific little movie,...

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Beer Wars [HD]

Great show!
Very informative and highly interesting. Makes me only want to support micro brewers from now on. Look what they did to Rolling Rock's people. Terrible!!

Interesting perspective on the beer industry
If you can get over the voice of the narrator, this is an interesting look at some if the history and current dynamics of the beer industry. Not sure if anyone who doesn't really like beer would enjoy this movie, but I did.

The Big Two control the beer business
There is a lot that I already knew about the major breweries holding a monopoly of the beer that's sold across the country. Just talk to any experienced bartender, bar owner or liquor store manager and they will tell you pretty much the same thing this documentary did: Anheuser-Busch and Miller control who sells what beers and where they are displayed in stores. A-B and Miller control 70% of the beer market and the smaller and better craft brewers are struggling.

So to gain the other 30 percent of the market, marketers for A-B try to buy up the smaller brewers, such as Rolling Rock. As one brewer said, they buy up the smaller companies not so much for the beer, but for the brand recognition.

A few brands featured are Dogfish Beer and Yuengling, all eastern beers, but the story is pretty much the same across the country. When Congress allowed craft beers to be sold in the late 1980s, that is when A-B, Miller and Coors started paying attention to the growing...

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