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Harry's DVD Picks & Peeks - 4th week of June DVDs: Futurama, Swedish Erotica, Xanadu, Persepolis, Goodbye Uncle Tom & more!
Hey folks, Harry here – finishing up this week’s DVD column in the early twilight hours here in my London hotel! Got a lot of cool titles on this week’s offerings. As always – you can click on the box art or the title to go to AMAZON where you can learn more on a title – or if you feel like it, you can purchase the title and a small percentage will go to help support this column. Here ya go…
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
FUTURAMA: THE BEAST WITH A BILLION BACKS
Why Fox doesn’t put this out in Blu Ray – I just don’t understand. 1080p animation is so lovely. Not quite as good as BENDER’S BIG SCORE – this one is quite a bit of fun though. Yivo (David Cross) is awesome! He’s an other dimensional thing that’s controlling characters in the universe of FUTURAMA. At the very least we’re getting new Futurama – isn’t that a blessing?
10,000 B.C.
This is an incredibly ridiculous movie. And as soon as we get to the civilization – it derails into a turd of epic levels – BUT – man. I love pre-history bullshit man and creature flicks – and we’ve never had one that was anywhere near as great as CAVEMAN with Ringo Starr. Don’t get me wrong – I love QUEST FOR FIRE and ONE MILLION YEARS BC and WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH… and they are all better films than 10,000 BC. That said – I can’t help it – I still enjoy the hell out of this movie. It’s retarded and silly – but that’s exactly why I like it. That and the creatures – and Camilla Belle… yummy.
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
I wished this film had done better. It’s such an amazing world – and Nick Nolte is scary as hell. But the digital effects are truly remarkable. The fantastical work is top notch – and really captured me. On Blu Ray this work is all the more evident. Freddie Highmore can be a bit grating – and I think the human characters are not quite as convincing as the digital ones – but in this film – that’s actually praise, cuz I love the digital work at play. If you missed it, check it out. It’s actually kinda intense – so watch out for kids under the age of about 4 – this can get to them.
IN BRUGES
I missed this one in theaters – and really wish I hadn’t – but sometimes life gets between me and some films at the theater. Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes and Brendan Gleeson are fantastic in this film. The film is hilarious and thrilling all at once and marks the debut feature of this Academy Award winning Director. Is it any surprise then that he did good? Very enjoyable film.
PERSEPOLIS
Here’s the best animated movie of 2007 and hands down one of the best films of 2007. Here’s a film about growing up in Iran – during the incredible changes that transformed Iran into the place it has become. It’s a heartaching story – brutal, fun, hilarious and thrilling all at once. This story should be required viewing – especially given the situation that we’re finding ourselves in these days. If you have a Blu Ray player and love animation this is a must own – the stylistic animation looks so great on this format – literally bringing the the graphic novel to moving life. Fantastic.
XANADU – Magical Musical Edition ( with Complete Soundtrack CD )
Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly and ELO… Yes, the Electric Light Orchestra. Sure it’s a remake of an old Rita Hayworth film – but it also marks the first independent Don Bluth animation, great Disco era songs – roller skating, disco visual effects and dammit… I love it. But then I was a roller rink kid – and loved and love OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN. My first several girlfriends were all very much based upon her GREASE character. It didn’t hurt that her PHYSICAL concert was the first concert I went to by myself and sat front row center entranced and boy crushing on her. I love love love this movie. I know folks trash it, label it as one of the films that killed the musical – but that certainly wasn’t my opinion. I love the music and the goofiness of the story. And Gene Kelly – dancing to ELO and Olivia’s singing? Bliss. I love it. And getting a complete soundtrack CD as a bonus… oh yes, I have you now!
JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN
You like the actor Roy Thinnes? The fella from THE INVADERS televison series? What about Gerry Anderson’s puppet and model work – you know the THUNDERBIRDS fella? Well, all that – and a lot more came together on this really rather special Science Fiction B movie – that is quite a bit of fun – and long in coming to this format. It has classic model work at a very high degree of sophistication. If you love older science fiction this is really great.
THE FURIES – Criterion Collection
Now this is a great Anthony Mann western – if you have a lady in your life that hasn’t dug a Western yet – and she counts herself as a strong independent woman… well, unleash this Barbara Stanwyck character on her. This is also, sadly, the last performance of the brilliant actor – Walter Huston – and as always he’s incredible here. The Father / Daughter dynamic isn’t simple by any means – and Barbara is great as usual. The extras are robust as usual for Criterion. You should discover this western.
MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES
This is one of the films you have to thank for my love of cinema. I was fascinated with Lon Chaney as a little boy. I had this book in my room as a small boy called LON CHANEY: FACES, FORMS & FIGURES. And my parents showed me this movie – and I was hooked. I owe the film for my love for James Cagney, behind the scenes of filmmaking and a passion for make up and the fantastic…. And a love for smaltzy melodrama to boot. It’s why I purchased one of Lon Chaney’s makeup kits – and it is a film I love despite the fact that Cagney’s face was wrong for the character – he made it work. The makeup is funky and awesome all at once. Watching Cagney as a clown is bliss. This is a lurid melodrama about the Man of a 1000 faces – and one of my very favorite films of all time. I watched it later the night that the news broke about Winston’s death – and I rewatched it again tonight. God I love this movie.
CHARLIE BARTLETT
A bit of an updating of the FERRIS BUELLER kinda film. Robert Downey Jr is having so much fun as an alcoholic principal – that hates that everyone hates him. And Checkov/Anton Yelchin/Charlie Bartlett is a revelation in the film. Absolutely fantastic. Definitely someone to watch. Really entertaining movie about a very extrovert kid with moral quandries. I like this film an awful lot.
BEFORE THE RAIN – Criterion Collection
You think things are bad in the U.S.? Check out this film – a brilliant movie about life in Macedonia where religious and racial hatred sears the country. Incredibly powerful movie – the sort that Criterion is known for heralding. Great job guys!
STEP INTO LIQUID (Blu Ray)
I don’t know why I love surfing documentaries so much – maybe it’s just the astonishing beauty of the dynamic environment that these dudes throw themselves into… welll, it’s beyond anything I’ve been a part of. Who knows – maybe once I get down to 210 or so – I’ll attempt it… get eaten by a great white… or at least make the funniest YouTube blooper video of all time. C’mon – wouldn’t you like to see me wipe out? Me too. In BLU RAY – you can absolutely recapture the jaw dropping beauty of this film – that you witnessed in theaters – if you caught it. If not – here’s your chance. Fantastic and beautiful film.
SIMON, KING OF THE WITCHES
Ridiculously funny. SIMON, KING OF THE WITCHES is something you have to witness… to understand the powers of the unknown, the supernatural…. And Simon! Made in 1971, this film has all the Hippie-Satan connections that you always knew existed. PROOF – show your children!
MAID IN SWEDEN
I lust after Christina Lindberg – circa early Seventies. The girl from THEY CALLED HER ONE-EYE aka THRILLER – and any number of amazing Swedish eroticas – she has an allure that is absolutely irresistible. And I really want to hire this Maid in Sweden. Honestly honey, we need help cleaning up the house. That’s all. Really. No Truthfully, she’ll vacuum the crumbs from our red furred carpet. Ahem… anyway – this film is as hot as the cover of the dvd.
THE SECOND COMING OF EVA
Ok – I also have a thing for Brigitte Maier. Because I’m not only a Perv, but an educated Perv with a healthy respect for lovely ladies from the past. This film is as good as the cover, again. Impulse gets it. May they never run out of material. Curiously enough this was directed by the cinematographer of REANIMATOR!!! There’s your geek tie-in.
GOODBYE UNCLE TOM
Perhaps you didn’t attend last year’s BUTT-NUMB-A-THON… Perhaps you did. This was the film that fascinated, horrified, traumatized and unhinged the audience. This is a Time-Travel bit of pseudo-science fiction – from the makers of MONDO CANE. A documentary crew goes back in time to document the actual atrocities of America’s Slave Trade. The film is unbelievably offensive – but does have an African-American following that feels this movie is more truthful about that shameful period of America and the Black Experience than anything Hollywood has conjured. That said – that they do what they do… that they … Mr Gold Hands. My god. The most offensive thing I’ve ever seen. This is so far past any barrier of bad taste you might’ve experienced. That said – you’ve never seen anything like this before.
DICK TRACY RKO CLASSIC COLLECTION: DICK TRACY DETECTIVE; DICK TRACY VS CUEBALL, DICK TRACY’S DELIMMA & DICK TRACY MEETS GRUESOME
Get all 4 of the classic 1940s Ralph Byrd DICK TRACY features for under $10! These are not great films, but if you’re a Chester Gould freak that want more live action films than Warren Beatty made with the character – then here ya go. In particular – I love “Vs Cueball” and “Meets Gruesome.” Just too good of a deal!
Next week we’ll be taking a look at the first titles for July – including MAD MEN – SEASON ONE, GANGS OF NEW YORK (BluRAy), MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS, IN THE LINE OF FIRE (BluRay), Second Season of THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO, MISHIMA: A LIFE IN FOUR CHAPTERS, ONLY THE VALIANT, POINT BREAK (BluRay), PATRIOTISM – Criterion, Adam West BATMAN Movie in Blu Ray!, CITY OF MEN, DRILLBIT TAYLOR, SEX AND DEATH 101, GIRL ON THE BRIDGE and lots lots more!
Readers Talkback
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10,000 BC was pretty lame but I'm still getting it.
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must rent that.
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Olivia,Sonny Malone,Gene Kelly=Xanadu an epic MASTERPIECE of 1980s Gay Purportions and Dammitt Kira is my DREAM GIRL..FOREVER!
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Was that a pubic hair joke? Anyway I felt Beast With a Billion backs was a big improvement over Bender's Big Score.
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I just don't have enough time :P
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Comes out today. Really funny, old school comedy. Check it out.
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When I listened to the audio commentary on Bender's from memory they said something like "if you're watching this in high-def" or words to that effect. Sorry for paraphrasing but I remember the HD thing because I suddenly felt very ripped-off having bought the Sd version precisely because there was no word on a BD version. Fucking Fox. They're getting a very bad reputation in the HD world for charging like a wounded bull and then not even shovelling the already-produced SD extras on. It's happening with regularity. And it's not like they're maxing the bitrate so extras won't fit. Yes I bought Predator because I love that stupid film. But I wasn't happy at the piss-poor 'effort' they put in. <p> So now of course I'm on the fence about Beast. Much rather have it in HD. <p> P.S. Jesus Harry. I'm not buying ANY of those pornos, and you know why? Because there's no way I could watch any of those nubile swedes without a big red unwanted corpulent image appearing in my head. Nice that you're getting your rocks off by being so public about it big guy, but the whole thing's redundant because you (every week) spoil perfectly good porn (sorry, "pron") for the rest of us - Amazon won't see a cent from us, and you get freebies. See?
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is my mom's favorite movie. and the only two films my mom has seen this summer are Sex in the City and Lost in Vegas. So I'm pretty much smart enough to stay the hell away from any movie she ever watches. That said, ELO absolutely rules.
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Harry, you're reviewing way too much porn on this site. That's just not cool dude.
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I think it was someone on CHUD who called it (paraphrasing) the gayest gay film that ever gayed a gay. That reviewer was pretty much spot on.
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I still have nightmares about golden hands. =(<br> <br> Anyone know if Teen Lust is out on DVD?
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Nice to see some smut in there Harry.
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I was hoping that was a documentary about The Baseball Furies. I always thought they weren't given their due in The Warriors. They were much tougher than The Orphans. But not as tough as The Lizzies. Then again, not many things are tougher than a pack of angry lesbians.
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It's my #14 favorite movie of all time. But I'm not diggin' that cover. It's a crappy version of Sonny Malone's painting. And I've already got the soundtrack (obviously) so I'm not sure that that's worth it. I'll have to look at it in the store.
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No - because she knew who she was marrying and accepts me for who that was. Novel concept, eh?
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check out her myspace page for some old Super 8 trailers. Red band trailers got nothing on these
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What are your thoughts on the Dirty Harry ultimate collector's set? Moriarty's review has stalled.
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Harry, what is the situation we're finding ourselves in today? I'm asking because I'm thinking about seeing PERSEPOLIS, but before I do I'd like to know what you mean. are you talking about the terrible religious-ness of large parts of the world, be it christians or muslims or jews or whatever? or are you talking about something political? I'd like to know so I can decide whether PERSEPOLIS really is required viewing for me.
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You could always see it, then decide for yourself.
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Please explain for us that can't be arsed to see it.
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do i detect a note of anger in your post Harry?
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I want the cheesiness factor to be set to "stun" please.
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I don't see the point of these DVDs. Before VCRs you had to go to disgusting theaters to see real smut so most guys just got those really bad quassi-adult cable channels and beat-off to Sylvia Kristal and Laura Antonelli movies. But why would you watch it now? The movies were stupid with interchangable "erotic journey of self-discovery" plots.
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June 23, 2008, 11:37 a.m. CST
Remember in Xanadau when Swan got Ajax to bust Gene Kelly's head
by Stuntcock Mike
True Story.
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is one of the absolute worst movies I have ever seen. A blatant Rushmore rip-off with absolutely no emotional depth. RDJr looks bored to death. I'm surprised Harry enjoyed it. He usually sees through something like this.
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Yet another drive in classic! This and Quint's review of Robinson Crusoe On Mars really brings me back. I think this is this first movie I ever heard of the term doppleganger.
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I knew it would suck right away but I had hope we would see a lot of the sabertooth tiger. Nope. Waste of an awesome animal.
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definitely going to check out Persepolis and most of these other titles too.
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A turd by any other name is still a turd. I saw this feces-fest at a test screening 2 months before it came out. WOW! easily one of the top 10 worst films in the past 8 years. The creatures are there for no reason, and are we supposed to be rooting against the big bad civilization? I don't get it. Overly long and flat out silly. Emmerich still makes money with this crap, and is allowed to make more films. Hollywood still kisses his ass after Independence Day, and nobody has bothered to tell Mr. Emmerich that ID4 sucked as well. F' the Hulk, I want a Godzilla reboot!
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BEAST WITH A BILLION BACKS. I wish these guys just keep on doing Futurama... So clever and funny.
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A young girl's erotic journey from Milan to Minsk, anyone?
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...and not even films that are shitty in a good way. 10,000 BC and Charlie Bartlett? Come on, they both sucked bigtime.
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Well at least I did not walk out of 10,000 bc.
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According to a reviewer on IMDB, Mr. Gold Hands is a pedophile slavemaster who enjoys painting naked african boys golden with his bare hands.
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So far I like Anton Yelchin but his character was one of the big reasons why this didn't work. There were moments I felt sorry for him (who takes care of you?) but the rest of the time he was insufferably annoying. Robert Downey Jr. did seem to be having fun though and I can watch him do just about anything.
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And I'm not gay!
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Wherever you go<p> You're never far away from me-ee<p> I want you to kno-o-ow<p> I only have to close my eyes, dear<p> And suddenly I'm where you are<p> You better never stray--<p> Cause I'll never be far away<p> ...<p> Love song, or stalker song? YOU be the judge!
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I had forgotten Xanadu would be rereleased tomorrow; this, along with the original Superman in '78 are tied for the most times I've ever seen a movie in a theater - 8. It was check your brain at the door entertainment, in the best tradition of 'let's put on a show'.
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Harry is referring to that recent troublesome episode where Hillary Clinton supporters felt it necessary to leave Daily Kos because Obama supporters were persecuting them. Truly a historic crisis that will live in liberal memory for at least another four weeks.
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"Death Blow", when someone tries to blow you away!
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Nearly 7 months after BNAT, this exclamation -- shouted by a black man at the end of the film as he viciously murders several white people -- is the enduring memory I have of "Goodbye, Uncle Tom".<p> I think "Goodbye, Uncle Tom" was the penultimate film we saw, right after the atrocious "The Poughkeepsie Tapes" and the tits-and-ass fest that is "Teen Lust."<p>Ultimately, I'm glad Harry put it in the lineup, just so I can say I have witnessed a film that made everyone in the theater collectively (and perhaps, simultaneously) say and/or think, "What in God's name were these filmmakers thinking?".<p>Here's a clip of one scene that kind of gives you an idea of what we saw at BNAT.<p>http://tinyurl.com/676rbj
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was there ever a more boring movie made...kills me that this was the final film for gene kelly, and he was treated like a has been...comeon, the lead's dream is to build a roller disco...go see the play when it comes to your town...now that is some good fun...
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Love song in its textbook form back then. Now - maybe not so much. Thanks, Harry, for bringing back a lot of nice memories of Xanadu. It was pure escapist entertainment. It wasn't Chariots of Fire or Reds back then. We need those kind of movies to balance the super-serious quality stuff.
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But it's *my* dream to build a roller disco.<p> Let's Skate!
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You have to remember, I was just an 18 year old kid at the time, and this gave me goosebumps; the music, the choreography, the steadicam. <p> http://tinyurl.com/5zpdmp
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NOT MUCH OUT THIS WEEK. THE ONLY THING I'LL CHECK OUT IS THE BEAST WITH A BILLION BACKS
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All over the world, everybody got the word, everybody everwhere is gonna feel tonight.
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Roland Emmerich should have ignored science (well he actually did) and put man and dinosaur together ala One Million Years BC which this movie was very loosely based on. I mean is having man and a T-Rex co-existing together really much more far fetched than the Egyptian pyramids being built thousands of years before the first Egyptians were built and having them use an animal to help build the pyramids that was long extint before the pyramids were even built? Heck, Mamoths were extinct about 2000 years before 10,000 BC nevermind in 2500 BC when the pyramids were actually built.
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Probably my 2 favorite films of 2008 thus far and no one has seen either of them. I hope that changes.
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...they tore down the Deco Building used as the facade of Xanadu is incorrect. It burned down so there's wasn't much left. Word is that somebody is rebuilding that facade at a theme park near you, though. <p> Oh yeah, I love Xanadu, too. Fuck all you bitches.
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Harry, if you love these things, check out Crystal Voyager (if you haven't already!). It's really good. And what's more, it's got Pink Floyd's Echoes as the soundtrack! You can't ask for more!
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Xanadu stands as the second monument (Grease being the first) to the hotness that is Olivia Newton-John. When she had that HBO concert in the early 80s I think I saw that bad boy at least 25 times.
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Oh, and Spiderwick is a great little film. I was starting to give up on these kiddie fantasy movies, but I really won't mind seeing more of this series.
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What do you expect? The guy's name is Devin.
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Jurassic Park iv????
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I had no idea they did a flick about these costumed-stuffed-animal-people-fucking-each-other-conventions.
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I'll have to check this one out. I love classic model work, especially space stuff.
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More like a corn in your poop flick.<p>The mammoths looked great but there was no real sense of dread and the villains were too cartoonish.<p>Mel did this so much better with Apocalypto.<p>I can't even recommend 10,000 BC if there's nothing else to watch. Go stare at the wall for two hours instead.<p>The Hammer (why the snub, Harry?) was great and deserves to be seen by more people.
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Kenny? Kenny?
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Agent Zero ("The Pool Guy") Barcelona ("The Engagement") Blame it on the Rain ("The Calzone") Brown-Eyed Girl ("The Pool Guy") Blimp-The Hindenburg Story ("The Puerto Rican Day") Checkmate (" The Pool Guy") Checkmate ("The Movie") Chunnel ("The Pool Guy") Chow Fun ("The Pool Guy") Cry, Cry Again ("The Little Kicks") Cupid's Rifle ("The Pool Guy") Death Blow ("The Little Kicks") Firestorm ("The Pool Guy") Means to an End ("The Calzone") Mountain High ("The Pool Guy") The Muted Heart ("The Engagement") The Pain and the Yearning ("The Comeback" - recommended by Vincent, a youthful film critic) Ponce De Leon ("The Dog") Prognosis Negative ("The Dog") The Other Side of Darkness ("The Comeback") Rochelle, Rochelle ("The Movie") Sack Lunch ("The English Patient") Weekend at Bernie's 2 ("The Comeback" - The "Gene Pick") [Kramer' see the film at a video store and says "Now, that's an hilarious premise." Elaine decides to rent 'Bernies' but regrets it saying (shouting at the TV screen) "Bernie is dead, you moron!...Just because he's wearing sunglasses he looks alive?! (picks up video box) Ugh, how long is this weekend, anyway? Ugh!"]
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sure I could, but I don't want to risk wasting two hours of my life on a movie that didn't really look like my kind of thing from the trailers I saw.
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Get duped into watching that lame ass Sweedish movie Storm? Terrible movie. And not terrible in the 10,000 B.C. way were its at least stupid so I don't care.
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just watched it last nite. now i really regret not seeing it and the little indy theatre! great film!
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AT the little indy theatre...damn no-edit function!
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Acutally, I don't think things are bad in the U.S. I plan on seeing Macedonia, but I've already been to Europe, India, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. All of those places have people far worse off than the U.S. I'm sure after seeing Macedonia, I'll think the same of the poor people that have to live there too.
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Just picked that movie up today. I definitely thought this was a good flick and probably the best of this week's releases. Some very clever writing and perhaps the best setup I've seen in a movie in a god while (though it could be argued that it was a bit too clever). This will be added to my list of movies I have to watch every Christmas (along with Die Hard, A Christmas Story, and Bad Santa).
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just finished watching it. GREAT suggestion!! never got dull, Downey Jr is very good, ending is very nice. overall - A.
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Elaine, you don't like The English Patient? You're fired.
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Maid in Sweden... Roshelle, Roshelle: A Young Woman's Erotic Journey from Milan to Minsk... best title EVER.
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