Screaming in High Heels

Very Cool Documentary!
Screaming In High Heels is a very cool and informative documentary, mostly focusing on scream queens Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens, and Michelle Bauer. I'm a fan of all three of those actresses and their work, so I found it very interesting to find out things about them that I didn't know before. Also, there are clips from movies such as Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, Nightmare Sisters, Sorority Babes In The Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama, Silent Night Deadly Night, Slumber Party Massacre, etc. And although they were not interviewed, I thought it was cool that actresses such as Debbie Rochon, Tiffany Shepis, and Julie Strain were mentioned, since I'm a fan of them as well. Screaming In High Heels is definitely worth buying if you are a fan of the 80's scream queens and B-movies.

Screaming in High Heels dvd.
If you grew up in the 80's and watched alot of cable or B videos then you are very familiar with these lovely ladies. This is a nice stroll down memory lane. It represents a funtime in video/film history and will have you waxing nostalgic for their awesome/awful movies. worth the price.

Keep in mind ----this is MY generation
I grew up in the thick of the "Scream Queens" era where that name fast became a socially understandable "title" and folks knew what and who you meant.........been lots of sort-of screem-queens but this documentary stays on topic - with the 3 lovely ladies, that gave life to the phrase, itself.....if you are fans of the "Slimeball Bowlarama" and the "Teenage Exorcist" - you'll really enjoy this -- if you don't know what I mean ---start out with one of these or even "Nightmare Sisters" - and you will likely be hooked......they have not made films like this since that point in time....they have a life of their own....and the intelligent and well done cut-scenes and interviews are great -- especially Brinke(always my fave of the 3) who is still as pretty and articulate as always-----older but ain't we all from that decade --- I give it a 5 and gladly.

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Aristide and the Endless Revolution

A fine report on the lead up to the ousting of Aristide
This film effectively takes apart the Bush Administration's rationale for supporting the February 2004 coup in which democratically-elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was removed from Haiti in what Aristide describes as "a modern-day coup". This film eschews the false "objectivity" of corporate news (which is careful to avoid anything which might offend the powerful), and it definitely has a point of view: its sympathies lie with the poor majority of Haitians who since their homeland became the first independent black republic in 1804 have repeatedly been screwed by the superpower to the North (see Paul Farmer's excellent history "The Uses of Haiti", the seminal book on the US exploitation of Haiti). The film lets the facts speak for themselves, and lets anti-Aristide hardliners in the Bush Administration like Roger Noriega argue their case for supporting the removal of a constitutional government. The arguments are about as convincing as the various excuses for launching the...

Aristide and the Endless Revolution
Rossier's film vividly chronicles the rise and fall of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president; from Catholic priest to demagogue; from liberation theologian to cult figure; from populist president to political pariah.

Through even-handed interviews with high-powered supporters and opponents of Aristide, Rossier is able to remain objective. However, recent revelations about the CIA, the Haiti Democracy Project, and the International Republican Institute's involvement in Haitian politics buoy the film's integrity to a level of clairvoyance, helping us understand the events precipitating Aristide's removal from office.

By interweaving Haiti's history throughout the film, Rossier blends context with current events. In the end, we clearly see Haiti as a nation so depleted of resources, it can no longer press for justice in the international arena. The film is a must-see for anyone unfamiliar but intrigued with the process by which the...

A Stunning Documentary
Director Nicolas Rossier tells the story of Haiti's struggle for independence in his brilliant feature documentary. Interviews with leaders on both sides of the fence and historical background going back to the French conquest weave a compelling and well-balanced narrative. "ARISTIDE and the Endless Revolution" is a must see for anyone interested in how politics, human rights, and justice can be manipulated and undermined.

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2 Broke Girls: The Complete First Season

Rich Viewing
After an awkward attempt with 'Outsourced' the small screen returns with another sitcom involving the economy. This time, they get it right.

This CBS sitcom examines how two 'different' young women attempt to make ends meet in the current American economy. Max (Kat Dennings) has always been working class, but poverty is a new and really unpleasant surprise for Caroline (Beth Behrs). She had been rich, until her family lost all of it's money from dad's ponzi scheme.

The odd-couple friendship successfully works because they are both genuinely likable characters. They are both discovering what the world is currently like while struggling in a low-paying service sector job. This is where the storylines and comedy comes in.

Caroline is gennuinely shocked to discover what a 'public dental clinic' looks like. Or some people must delay obtaining their needed treatment altogether until pain is intolerable.But she proactively realized that selling off her...

I am in love with Kat Dennings!
Seriously, I love her SO MUCH! I have never seen an actor who could deliver the snark line after line after line, and keep it as amazingly fresh and well delivered as she does. She has a great team of writers giving her AWESOME lines to deliver, and they are awesome. Even just her delivery of surprise lines like "NO WAY!" is awesome.

My wife and I first saw her in Thor, and loved her in it (she was really the only part of that movie we liked), and we were pleasantly surprised to see her in 2 Broke girls alongside Beth Behrs -- even though Beth really just serves as the primary thing-to-be-mocked.

Make no mistake, 2 Broke Girls is raunchy. It is NOT for younger viewers. The pilot alone should send that message. And I can see where the claims of racism, etc. come from. But, if you are willing to acknowledge that all sides are getting shot at fairly, and there isn't real racism, sexism or anything else terrible on display (just uncomfortable at times), then you...

sassy Max and the hot blonde giraffe...
Even in unfortunate situations like the recent scandals that have rocked Wall Street, and affected the future of millions of investors, there are opportunities to create humor. Created by Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings, CBS's 2 Broke Girls, is a comedy set in New York City featuring two women from completely different ends of the socioeconomic spectrum, who come together as coworkers, only because one has lost her fortune, due to her father's involvement in a financial scandal. This is a well-cast show with pretty good writing, but it is often a little too crude than it needs to be, with frequent references to sex, drugs, and crime.

The series stars Kat Demmings as Max Black, a waitress in a small restaurant in Brooklyn. She's street smart, a little hardened and cynical, and has a bit of a gutter mouth, but underneath that rough and crude exterior, there's a warm caring person. Beth Behrs is Caroline Channing, a slim blonde beauty who bears more than a...

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Buster Keaton Double Header

Nice to have in the collection
The print of the Railrodder on this DVD look like an older 16mm print and the print of the Silent Partner is pretty clear and sharp. If you don't own a copy of the Silent Partner with Keaton, it is worth the price of the DVD.

Buster Keaton is simply Great
This video contains items that have been in other videos, but the Silent Partner was new to me. Even if the story line has issues, still seeing ol' Buster is worth the price of admission.



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Lost World: The Jurassic Park [HD]

Okay, but........
I see reviews here that give this film one star, and in a way, it does deserve just that. However, there are certain parts that must make you think this movie is better than most people say it is. For one, the special effects are better than the original, and the way the film is shot makes them seem much more realistic. However, great special effects are no match for a good story.

Jurassic Park, the original, had a wonderful plot. Two dinosaur experts visit a park, not knowing what to expect. And the scary part is this....something like that could actually happen. Now, tell me this....why would Dr. Malcolm, Jeff Goldblum, go back to an island just to save his girlfriend? Yeah, he loves her and all, but I'm pretty sure that Mr. Hammond could get her back safely without making him go all the way there.

Also, there are several inconsistantcies in the film. Look at the original: There's a raptor expert with a gun hunting down what he knows best. What happens? He gets...

Sound vs Extras
Just when you'd think that scientists had realized dinosaurs and humans don't mix, along comes The Lost World: Jurassic Park to prove you wrong. In this sequel, John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) summons chaos theorist and onetime colleague Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) to his home with some startling information - while nearly everything at his Jurassic Park had been destroyed, his engineers happened to have a second site, where other dinosaurs, resurrected through DNA cloning technology, were kept in hiding. It seems the dinosaurs on the second island are alive and well and even breeding; and Hammond wants Malcolm to observe and document the reptiles before Hammond's financiers can get to them. Malcolm had enough of the dinosaurs the first time out, but he decides to make the trip when he finds out that his girlfriend, paleontologist Sarah Harding (Julianne Moore), is already there. However, Ian and Sarah aren't the only visitors arriving on the island; a camera crew led...

Not as good as the first, but still a lot of fun. . .
The Lost World - Jurassic Park has gotten a lot of criticism since its release. Much of it is justified, but equally as much is based on a very unfair comparison to the blockbuster original. Only a handful of movies can justifiably claim the title of "classic", and none that I know of are sequels.

The biggest problem for The Lost World is that it is impossible to recreate the sense of awe and wonder that was inspired by Jurassic Park's groundbreaking effects work. Instead, too much emphasis was placed on the savagery of the carnivorous dinosaurs and the incredible stupidity of the humans invading their territory.

However, it must be pointed out that the T-Rex's, raptors and other sauripods in this film are equally as impressive as they were in Jurassic Park. There are some very good, shuddery action sequences. When the location shifts to San Diego, there is a good deal of very legitimate comedy. The total absurdity of an Animal Control truck's headlong...

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42nd Street: River To River

New York Ciry, 42nd Street, what else can you say
Having worked in Times Square for 10 years, I found the background and interviews informative and entertaining. Great clips from the 1933 movie (one of my favorites) and the show. The jazz score and vocals was definitely 42nd street.





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Looney Tunes Mouse Chronicles: Chuck Jones Collection

A cute little mouse and two hilarious mice all on one Chuck Jones Blu Ray and DVD release
Both cartoons are good since they were made in the golden age of cartoons. Sniffles cartoons are cute and charming, even though he's a Looney Tunes character but his cartoons are mostly a resemblance of Disney cartoons. While Hubie and Bertie are really the Lonney Tunes that act looney, their cartoons are funny and hilarious. This is only for those who want both cartoons in a complete set.

Update: Original opening titles found on some cartoons recently that will appear on this release all remastard back to the cartoons - *

Here how the content will be on both discs (all are directed by Chuck Jones):
Disc 1: Sniffles the Mouse
Naughty but Mice (1939)
Little Brother Rat (1939)*
Sniffles and the Bookworm (1939) My personal favorite
Sniffles Takes a Trip (1940, previously seen as a bonus cartoon on Golden Collection Vol. 6) Note: it's completely remastard unlike its previous release which look ugly.
The Egg Collector (1940)
Bedtime...

For completists - and lovers of cartoon mice.
I'm looking forward to this set for one reason
(six, actually) and that is we finally get all
six Hubie & Bertie cartoons in one set. Four
of these have been previously released on other
sets, but it will be nice to finally get 'House
Hunting Mice' and 'Roughly Squeaking'. Hubie &
Bertie were two of my most favorite Chuck Jones
creations, though they were clearly inspired by
the repartee of Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall of the
Dead End Kids / Bowery Boys pictures. Most of
the Sniffles cartoons (included here) suffered
from an overdose of Disney-inspired cuteness -
except for the final two, when they began to
pattern the character on the 'inquisitive kid'
from the old Fibber McGee & Molly radio show.
("Whatcha doin', mister? Huh? What's yer name?")
Sniffles is very funny in these indeed. I'm sure
one or titles on the extra disc will make the
whole thing a bit more worthwhile.

Sniffles the Mouse
this release is outstanding. i remember watching these toons as a kid and besides bringing back a piece of my childhood they are beautifully rendered in fine vibrant colors. the sound is spectacular. this is one of the best out there if your looking for quality old school cartoons. it's too bad kids today don't get a chance to see real animation and genuine quality cartoons. These are the classics. it doesn't get any better than this.

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Darling Companion

Makes a nice change
Ok, I've seen the low reviews for this movie. And if I could give it 31/2 stars I would. But what a nice change of pace it makes! It's a warm, intimate movie with a truly wonderful ensemble cast, a cute dog and a gorgeous setting. What's not to like? There are some subplots, but the gist of the movie is that Diane Keaton (Beth) and Kevin Kline (Joseph) are in an empty marriage. She rescues a wounded dog near the freeway, and he loses it on a walk while he's on his cell phone as usual, which brings their tension to a head. Diane Weist and Richard Jenkins, lovers whose relationship worries the others, help in the search, along with her son. The part gypsy housekeeper keeps pairing them up in certain ways and telling them her visions of what they are to search for, but what they are really seeking is to understand each other. And that is the heart of the movie. It is obviously geared for boomers (is that its great sin?), and has some humorous references to growing older which are...

KASDAN STILL HAS THE TOUCH
It's been 9 years since director Lawrence Kasdan put out a film, the last being DREAMCATCHER. More than that if you can remember the type of film he is best known for, an ensemble piece that captures the essence of what being human is all about. His classic THE BIG CHILL is but a forgotten memory to some and unknown to a new generation of movie goers. But Kasdan has always excelled at these ensemble pieces and it's nice to see him in true form with DARLING COMPANION.

Many will look at the box for this release and think it is nothing more than another animal picture. That does set the stage for this tale but it isn't the main ingredient. Diane Keaton plays Beth, the mother of one daughter Ellie (Lindsay Sloane) who's moved her family to New York and another Grace (Elisabeth Moss) who's in school. After dropping Ellie off at the airport while driving home, Beth tells Grace to stop the car on the freeway. There, they find a wounded and lost dog that they take home. While...

"CHARMING, HEARTWARMING, INTIMATE!"
Beth and Joseph are in an empty marriage, along with an empty nest. Beth rescues a wounded dog near the highway, and develops a special bond with the dog. Her husband loses the dog, and Beth becomes distraught and upset as she forms a frantic search. In the process and unexpected,different people meet and various couples are in desperate need of healing. The intriguing story portrays relationships, love,and loss. Some are on the verge of divorce, others feel empty, and some are looking for soul-mates. Acting Performance of entire cast is Excellent, the story is heartfelt, and the movie entertains from start to finish. The adorable dog is an added attraction, and the setting is perfect. An enjoyable summer movie. Refreshing, and Highly Recommended!

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I Am Gabriel

Convicting
Echolight Studios brings to life an interpretation of the God-sent archangel, Gabriel. Mentioned in the Old Testament, Gabriel spoke to Daniel and again his presence was shown in the New Testament as the bearer of the "Good News" to Zechariah, his barren wife Elizabeth and the virgin Mary. The angel announces himself to them as "I am Gabriel" and so, he follows suit in his introduction to Promise, Texas.

This larger-than-life angelic being is sent to earth to the town of Promise, Texas - a town whose hope is gone. The loss of a baby triggers a series of events in the town that spur the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

Gabe appears out of nowhere with nothing but the clothes on his back and his prayer mat. Taken in by the family who'd lost their baby years earlier, they simply trust in the presence of this child. Gabe reignites the desire to talk with the Father, the God of all, and reminds the people of Promise, God loves them and hears them...

Hope is available
Whenever I watch movies I'm not sure what to think. It's not my normal go-to genre to watch drama as I'm more of an action and adventure with big special effects type of movie watcher. However this one is worthy. When it comes to Christian films there seems to be a big line with some being overly cheesy and some being really quite good. This one was really pretty good in an unbelievable way. What I mean is that here we have Gabriel, as in the angel Gabriel that comes to a town on the edge of failure and hopelessness with a message and a gift from God. It is not something you see every day and this was not a big budget film, but it was well done. The scenes were real and in small town life rather easy to see and imagine, no matter how unbelievable our minds think miracles may be.

I knew going in that I would probably be a fan as I have enjoyed many things from Mike Norris over the year, even if they do usually have action, this was more a drama - well definitely a drama...

Great movie/great new talent
This movie is a great reminder to all Christians to talk daily to God. It is also an affirmation of His goodness and His desire to bless us. It opens with 2 Chronicles 7:14. That is a message all of America needs.

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The Pirates! Band Of Misfits

Movie and book differ enormously - but both are spot on
The book is great. The movie is great. That doesn't usually happen. I guess it is because Gideon Defoe, the author of the book, also wrote the screenplay for the movie, intending one not to be a "spoiler" for the other. The movie was definitely more of a kids' movie, where the pirates were the ragtag underdogs struggling to keep up in the increasingly competitive pirate world (you are judged for your "booty"--double entendre?). The book has different characters and a completely different villain! That is how much the stories differed. The book also contains more grown-up humour - more people being run-through by swords, more blood, more walking the plank, more steely pirate bad-assedness. Queen Victoria is one crazy woman in this movie, enough to get PETA up-in-arms for ages. The other pirates the Pirate Captain competes against for the Pirate of the Year Award (Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven) are swashbuckling good fun, even if they are more than a little rude toward the beloved Hugh...

Joyous genius!
After years of disappointment the Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) resolves to finally win the Pirate of the Year competition and so embarks on a series of raids on passing ships in the hope of earning sufficient booty to compete with the his rivals Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) and Black Belamy (Jeremy Piven). However he is still plagued by bad luck with the best produced by a succession of raids being the capture of Charles Darwin (David Tennant). Still at least Darwin is able to identify that Pirate Captain's beloved parrot Polly is in fact a dodo, supposedly extinct for over a hundred years. This gives them both an idea...!

Pirates! is a gloriously hilarious, exquisitely produced movie. Its very much a children's movie but with plenty of sly asides to keep adults on their toes as well. The sets are stupendous and almost beg a second viewing in themselves to allow the viewer to try to aborb all the teeming detail. Both the voice performances of the cast, and the painstaking...

great for the family
I'm really picky about kids' movies. If my daughter enjoys it, fine, but she isn't what you might call discerning. This is one of the few that I actually enjoyed watching with her. Sharp humor, clever writing and fantastic to look at. It even has David Tennant! What else could you want?

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The Highest Pass

Story of a Reckless Guru and Clueless Disciples!!!
This movie is nothing more than the story of reckless guru who is so irresponsible that he risks the lives of people who trust him just to prove a point. He call himself a guru, a yogi, the enlightened one. Let me tell you sir, action speak louder than words. Throwing a bunch of philosophy/spirituality in the air infront of people who are foreign to your culture does not make you a yogi. Nor does living and growing up in Rishikesh, India. Because of Guru's foolish behavior, there were several places where people in his group have died because of him. He made stupid decisions to prove a point that the highest road lies within you. If you want to prove something to yourself by all mean go ahead and ride your bike all the way upto Mt.Everest but don't risk the lives of the ignorant ones in your group. I have no problem with the adventure/challenge they picked but there is something known as calculated risk, specially when someone else's life is at stake. Please don't waste 2 hrs of...

Excellent journey to the self.
I had been waiting to see this movie since it came out in a limited amount of theaters for what felt like forever, I was finally able to see this documentary and I was so overwhelmed by its wisdom and beauty. Shot in the India, this film takes you along for the journey that Anand took with a handful of others to reach the highest passable road in India on motorcycles. One rider named Adam that had followed Anand's teachings had only been riding for a few weeks and held in like a champ. It's a journey of self discovery, humor and danger from time to time and kept me engaged. Through following through the crowded streets of the city into the picturesque beauty of the countryside, this film takes you through a range of emotions. There is joy and peace, self doubt and discovery. Anand shows once again the energy and wisdom of the ages that he possesses and really gets to the heart of the matter with the people that are with him with honesty, open mindedness and sincerity from the...

Inspiring! A must see
A must see! It's not often a film really entertains and inspires you deeply. You forget its a documentary with such stunning Himalayan visuals and music. I could watch it many times, there are so many gems. The leader, Anand Mehrotra, is incredibly accessible, modern, funny, and wise.

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Danny Phantom: Season Two, Part 2

Got it All, bu OUT OF ORDER
First off, I got 4 discs with my season 2, unlike the 3 mentioned in the title. After looking at a season guide, it appears to be only the season 2 episodes and they're all there. But oh my god are they all out of order. They put "Memory Blank", the one that kick starts the season and explains the new logo on his costume, at the end of disc three. They put the two double episodes, "Reality Trip" and "Ultimate Enemy" on the last disc. And of course, they screw up the order of just those two and put "Reality Trip" first. My recommendation, if you got my version and want to watch them in order, put them all in a DVD changer. That way you don't have to take out and put in a disc every time to you want to watch the next one.

Oh, and for those who got the other incomplete version of season 2, return it and buy this one. It may be out of order, but at least it's all there as far as I know. Here's what's on it (and yes, they are in this order...).

DISK 1...

The Episodes are in Order!
Good news everyone, I just received this set in the mail today. Much to my pleasure, the episode listing on the DVD wrap matched the episode listing on the discs! I ordered from the user ROUTE 66, and it also arrived incredibly quickly.

I read somewhere that the first run of products were the only ones affected by the wrong episode listing, but I promise the one that I received is perfect and in order!

3 on this release...
3 stars. Viacom, you idiots, you have the season dividings wrong! They have the seasons split- Season 2 is only half of season 1 and the first several episodes of season 2! Which means this DOES NOT have the best episode ever, The Ultimate Enemy, my reason for snagging Season 2 first! Props for DP DVDs, anti-props for deceptive labelling! >:(

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Family Affair

Heartbreaking, eye openining, shocking
Watching this helps me understand my own mother and what she went through more. People do not realize the level of acceptance that a child being abused must go through to survive. That acceptance stays with them through their whole lives sometimes, and its not for anyone to judge them on that. My heart breaks for these four siblings and their braveness of telling their story is inspiring. I hope healing and love fills their lives in some capacity.

A must see!
An honest, haunting and disturbing movie. I must commend the producer for having the "guts" to air this very "dirty laundry" of his family's secrets.

Incredible
As a social worker in New York and I have heard many stories of children being taken advantage of by their parents. I have worked with these adults and this story has helped me to better understand the aftermath of incest. Bravo to the producer & family members. You all have increased my knowledge base. Thank you for sharing your story and pain.

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Monsieur Lazhar

Touching and subtle
How is a class of eleven/twelve-year olds to cope with a tragedy that suddenly and out of the blue takes away their teacher? How do parents and teachers react to the trauma the children are experiencing? The school principal is under pressure to keep things "normal", none of the other teachers can take on the class, one school councillor is designated for the class of twenty plus young minds - a crisis of great proportion... Into this challenging scenario walks Bashir Lazhar and offers himself as the ideal replacement teacher. With great subtlety and compassion does the film, Monsieur Lazhar, explore the evolving relationships between teacher and students, among various teachers and last but not least, between Bashir Lazhar at the school and his personal struggles beyond. While set in Montreal, Quebec, the messages of the film are nor locality specific, and could happen anywhere. The story touches on the different ways of dealing with loss and guilt, with honesty, lies and...

Very touching
There is no shortage of good French language films about children and their teacher(s). Though this one is set in Montreal, it has many of the endearing qualities that French directors bring to their portrayal of the interaction between children and adults.

What makes this film excellent is its overall tone. It's touching, it's heartwarming and ultimately sad, but in an almost uplifting way. The acting - the children - is flawless.
And while the subject matter of death is at the core of the film, it is enveloped in a
feeling of awe and detachment at how the kids deal with it, and themselves, and a humanistic
portrayal of the teacher who has to take on the class following the suicide of their previous teacher. The teacher himself though has his own understated but real demons to cope with. But the heart of the film, including most of its scenes, take place in a classroom.

Technically, the film has a near perfect touch. Scenes end when "they should"...

Monsieur Lazhar -- C'est exquis!
And I don't throw that word around. Everything about this film is exquisite: the story, cinematography, editing, pertinence, depth, character development, acting, soundtrack -- and the French (my second language) is pristine. I don't recall breathing while watching it in the theatre, but I must have. The popcorn went untouched. I can hardly wait for the DVD!

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1 out of 7

To Feel Alone
This movie is the experience of a child teen who runs away in the town of Portland. It is about a quiet reflective girl who is in a power struggle. She wants to be in control and deals with it by running. It doesn't help because her mother cannot hear her. Hurt and Angry but quiet and restrictive. She wants to find love and connection. Their is an element of beauty in the setting of the city and the fall of the leaves in parks and outer limits of the townscape. The bridges and the walks thru the city felt real and peaceful, it was the buildings against the sky against the townscape, they were alone but there were people, they were inner, they being the boy she meets and falls in with. He is harder to find, his character is lost and it comes out, it is hard to feel a connection with him as the viewer. Her life may have turned out quite differently if she had not found Devon and had the baby. These are parts of the film to be explored. I loved the truck that said soul food. I love soul...





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I Heart Shakey

Best Family Movie Ever!!!
We absolutely loved this movie!!! My 5 year old loved it, and it kept her entertained while my husband and I were laughing at all the hijinx and we enjoyed all the stars that made appearances. We absolutely loved the story about family and loyalty and the lessons that it taught our child about keeping a pet for a lifetime. The breakout actress, Rylie Behr did an amazing job and I hope to see her in more films. This is our new favorite move! Buy this movie, even if you don't have children!!!

movie
This was a good movie if you like good feeling movies. Good for families with kids or for the kids.

I did not like the movie itself
It was too crazy also part animated and part not. It was just not what I thought.
It was not what I wanted

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Redemption of a Dog [HD]

Great Cast & Well Written
Redemption of a Dog has a great cast and is well written. It touches on relatable issues that give laughter and reveal such raw emotion with pain, forgiveness and healing. I enjoyed Tamera Mowry-Housley's performance and seeing her in a dramatic role, Keith Robinson held his own beautifully - definitely worth seeing.

Watch until the end
I must say that when this play/movie started, I was set back and thinking "WHAT IN THE WORLD DID I JUST RENT?". There were moments as it started off that I even took a snack break and left the movie going. HOWEVER, very quickly did this movie shock me because it picked up and caught your attention through out the rest of the production. I misjudged the movie too promptly. Give this movie time to play out and I'm sure you will find quite a surprise with the drama and real life issues it brings to the table. Very well done. The only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is because of the way it starts off which is deceiving and will make you think it's just another stupid low budget movie. It's not low budget at all but very promising. It will keep your attention if you give it the chance. I would recommend.

Delighted
It was a well written play. Cast member did a wonderful job.
I was impress with Ms. Ford acting skills.

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Searching for Sonny

An incredibly clever comedy; a movie hasn't made me laugh this much and this loud in a long time.
I saw this film on the festival circuit this year and found myself laughing more and louder than I can recall doing in a movie theatre recently; this film and Seth MacFarlane's "Ted" are far and away the two funniest films I've seen all year. The screenplay deliriously twists and turns in ways you never see coming, and that only enhance the comedy. The performances are spot-on across the board, and I was stunned to learn after the screening that this was the director's first feature, given that the filmmaking was so assured, and with a very specific tone and voice that felt like it had been cultivated over time. I look forward to seeing more from him. Give yourself a fun night and check out "Searching for Sonny". I just ordered the blu-ray and am looking forward to seeing it again.

Check out my review from when it screened at PBIFF
Go here for my full review of "Searching for Sonny", from when I saw it premiere at the Palm Beach Int. Film Fest:

[...]

DAMN funny comedy, for the movie geek in all of us.

Very Funny Movie!
I saw Searching For Sonny at a film festival last April. It is a very funny movie. I loved every moment, every hilarious situations! The movie kept me on the edge of my seat with anticipation of what was going to happen next. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who want to have a good laugh. I am looking forward to adding it to my DVD collection.

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Monsieur Lazhar

Touching and subtle
How is a class of eleven/twelve-year olds to cope with a tragedy that suddenly and out of the blue takes away their teacher? How do parents and teachers react to the trauma the children are experiencing? The school principal is under pressure to keep things "normal", none of the other teachers can take on the class, one school councillor is designated for the class of twenty plus young minds - a crisis of great proportion... Into this challenging scenario walks Bashir Lazhar and offers himself as the ideal replacement teacher. With great subtlety and compassion does the film, Monsieur Lazhar, explore the evolving relationships between teacher and students, among various teachers and last but not least, between Bashir Lazhar at the school and his personal struggles beyond. While set in Montreal, Quebec, the messages of the film are nor locality specific, and could happen anywhere. The story touches on the different ways of dealing with loss and guilt, with honesty, lies and...

Very touching
There is no shortage of good French language films about children and their teacher(s). Though this one is set in Montreal, it has many of the endearing qualities that French directors bring to their portrayal of the interaction between children and adults.

What makes this film excellent is its overall tone. It's touching, it's heartwarming and ultimately sad, but in an almost uplifting way. The acting - the children - is flawless.
And while the subject matter of death is at the core of the film, it is enveloped in a
feeling of awe and detachment at how the kids deal with it, and themselves, and a humanistic
portrayal of the teacher who has to take on the class following the suicide of their previous teacher. The teacher himself though has his own understated but real demons to cope with. But the heart of the film, including most of its scenes, take place in a classroom.

Technically, the film has a near perfect touch. Scenes end when "they should"...

Monsieur Lazhar -- C'est exquis!
And I don't throw that word around. Everything about this film is exquisite: the story, cinematography, editing, pertinence, depth, character development, acting, soundtrack -- and the French (my second language) is pristine. I don't recall breathing while watching it in the theatre, but I must have. The popcorn went untouched. I can hardly wait for the DVD!

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The Operative [HD]

Amusing, Romantic Action/Adventure Flick
Primarily this film is action, adventure and intrigue. Crossing and double crossing. Who's allied with whom and why. But on another level, what another reviewer called bad acting is really ingenious, self-effacing humor. At heart, it's also a romance with a happy ending. I watched this film because the female lead, played by Teryl Rothery, is one of my favorite actors. She did a great job with a character who got to show more emotional range than one might expect for "the girl" in a film of this genre, but in the end (and along the way!) I enjoyed the story and the characters. Teryl's work made me pick it up and the quality of the film as a whole meant I watched the entire thing rather than fast forwarding to her scenes. (I have no patience for bad films!) The line of comedy for a film with so much "serious" intrigue and shoot-'em-up action is indeed a hard one to tread, but The Operative does it well. Worthwhile entertainment with plenty of action as well as a subtle dose of heart...

DOUBLE DOSES OF THE BOZ
In THE OPERATIVE, Brian Bosworth gets to play a double role...one of an ex-CIA operative screwed by the government, and a flashy Texas billionaire. While Brian will probably never see an Oscar on his mantelpiece, the durable action star has learned to at least put life into his characterizations and take the punches he so often gets. Brian is bogged down in this one though by a confusing, inarticulate script and Russian dialogue that tends to hinder the understanding of what's going on. A subplot involving an ambitious FBI agent adds a little color to the proceedings. There's enough action, however, to keep you entertained and by the end of the movie, the plot's maelstrom almost makes sense.
A good time waster, if nothing else.

The Operative
This movie was shot at my house in Victoria.Bought it for review of interior of house. The acting is marginal and the script was less. No wonder it did not get on the big screen.

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Phantoms [HD]

Phantoms (1998)
Director: Joe Chappelle

Cast: Ben Affleck, Peter O'Toole, Rose McGowan, Joanna Going, Liev Schreiber, Nicky Katt, Clifton Powell.

Running Time: 91 minutes

Rated R for science-fiction violence, gore, and language.

Dr. Jenny Pailey (Joanna Going) is bringing her younger sister, Lisa (Rose Mcgowan), home from L.A. to the small quiet town of Snowfield, Colorado. It's a peaceful environment to live in, with a population of 400, and the town has some nice ski resorts that make it a popular site during the summer. Upon returning, however, they discover everyone either missing or dead, with bodies that have a strange gooey look to it. They try to leave, but find their car and every other vehicle in town dead. Exploring further, they enter a bakery, where they encounter Sheriff Bryce Hammond (Ben Affleck) and his two deputies, Shanning (Nicky Katt) and Stu Wargle (Liev Schrieber). As they look further into town, they discuss what could have...

Good Adaptation
I think this is a good adaptation of Dean Koontz's book. As for scary, anyone that thinks "The Village", "Final Destination", "I Saw What You Did Last Summer", or "Blair Witch Project" are scary but think that "Phantoms" is bad, you just don't have a clue. The suspense slowly builds with no clear goal of how to destroy the creature. Excellent music helps build the suspense. If anything is lacking in the movie, it is the creature.

The creature is not quite as good as it could have been with a larger budget. My guess is they didn't want to spend alot of money on CGI. It is still well done and the acting is definitely good. The directing, camera work, and sets are good too. The camera work reminded me of some of Hitchcock's work. All-in-all certainly worth more than the five dollars and ninety-nine cents I paid for the DVD.

Affleck was the bomb in phantoms.
Word, b****, Phantoms like a motherf***er!

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The Grifters [HD]

ELEVATOR TO HELL
Produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by Stephen Frears, THE GRIFTERS is a winner. With three top actors, Anjelica Huston, Annette Bening and John Cusack, Frears invites us to a non-stop ride to hell.

Caught between his mother and his girl-friend, John Cusack will have a hard time to survive and become a man. You can almost touch the hate those two women feel for each other. Their last encounter is really a scene you will remember : set in Phoenix, in a motel, in a subtle variation of PSYCHO's first murder, it is a moment of great cinema.

Cusack is outstanding as the gentle grifter, Frear's cinematography is first class and Anjelica has never been so devilish. No doubt about it, THE GRIFTERS is a masterpiece of the film noir genre.

A DVD that bleeds.

Nice Special Edition of a great movie
A fantastic movie about con artists. The tone of this movie is perfect: utterly unsentimental, deadpan, cool and calculated. Great score, great performances (not just the three leads, there are tons of bit parts that are very memorable), great dialogue. The pacing is snappy. I'm not going to say the movie is flawless, but honestly I can't think of anything particularly negative to say about it.

The DVD is a modest collector's edition. Some may say the extra features are a bit spare, but what is here is very useful and informative. The commentary track is consistantly listenable. There are four participants: the director, the screenwriter, and stars Cusack and Huston. The four were recorded separately and edited together seamlessly to make an entertaining and insightful track. Also here are two short but well-made featurettes, one covers the making of the film and the other sheds some light on the work of the author who wrote the book upon which the film is based.

Superb
I've never been a John Cusack fan, but he's utterly riveting in the role of a coming-of-age grifter caught between two indelible women. Annette Bening, at least here, is a pure force of nature, a sexy tsunami overwhelming everything in her path. And Anjelica Huston??? Her entire career has been one splendid performance after another, and this is one of her finest. You simply cannot take your eyes off her. The interaction of these three is one of the best examples of ensemble acting outside of an Altman film. And the little subtleties around these three -- from the brilliant set piece of the orange scene to the almost-identical dresses worn by Lily and Myra to Elmer Bernstein's moody score -- make The Grifters a compelling experience. The only disappointment is that the CD has NO extras at all, but you could certainly make the case that this is a movie that can stand completely on its own.

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The Big One [HD]

Response to 3/8/99 review calling The Big One "a disaster"
America needs more movies like the Big One. We've have been lulled into complacency by corporate, political, and media propaganda. This isn't conspiracy, it's reality! Michael Moore simply and effectively demonstrates the numerous ways in which workers are screwed daily by the interests of corporate capital. One must remember that to effect a game, one must be a part of it - Michael Moore does work within the system, but he at least attempts to do good for the majority of working people. As far as the interviewees being more "clever" and "genuine" than Michael Moore - asking him to leave and refusing to answer questions (with the exception of Nike's CEO) is not appealing or genuine. If politcal cliches and avoidance is clever and appealing to you, then I imagine the status quo, oppresion, and greed are too. This film charmingly and humorously addresses the question of how far the majority of citizens will let the corporate community go. What is...

This Hit Home....from Former Enron employee
Boy this hit home hard. I was a former Enron Broadband Services employee.

I really liked the movie, it was approachable, and friendly. I didn't think even the Phil Knight meeting was all that bad. It was rumored to be soo awful, but here it was pretty friendly and sweet (cuz I was expecting bloodshed & chairs flying)---both guys came out looking pretty nice & sweet.

I still wouldn't buy Nikes, because I worked there on a short contract, and if you aren't a model-type, you get stared at like a skunk and people refuse to talk to you---and they don't even know you. Got an interesting mass of murderous Stepford Wives or cheerleaders working there. And isn't anybody getting sick of those PERKY, gungho marketing sociopaths yet???

Moore is pushing that more folks should get involved in standing up for their rights. He leads by example, and makes it approachable for everyday people who aren't into bloody confrontations.

I do think businesses should be able to make a...

This Time Moore Is Less
While frequently funny and quite insightful, Michael Moore's follow-up to "Roger and Me" (1989) isn't quite up to the level of its predecessor. His take on corporate America's ruthless tendency to slash U.S. jobs in favor of low-cost labor overseas and his considerable sympathy for American workers is highly commendable - even laudatory in the age of "Armageddon". But, too often, Moore makes himself the subject of the docmentary and the film constantly pushes us to see him as the champion of the underdog. His confrontations with security personnel and junior hirelings at various corporate headquarters is becoming an old schtick by now - he acts perplexed every time he's ejected from some sleek office building although he knows darn well that he's not going anywhere: these scenes are inserted simply for a cheap shot at the impersonality of the conglomerates.

For all that, though, Moore has developed an appealingly rambanctious style of cienmatic...

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The Young Stranger

Pleasant JD Fare
1957's "The Young Stranger" was the debut of teen idol James MacArthur and introduced him in fare that could have starred Sal Mineo if there weren't room for someone else to take the gauntlet. MacArthur would later be featured in Disney fare so he did well in his debut. Like Mineo's "Dino," "The Young Stranger" written by Robert Dozier was supposedly based on a play also. Also in the cast are James Daley as the father and Kim Hunter as the mother with Whit Bissell, James Gregory and a young Jack Mullaney as an already established juvenile delinquent, something the plot seems to want to peg the young stranger as having as his potential. It was a rather pleasant experience and also featured the debut of director John Frankenheimer ("The Manchurian Candidate," "Grand Prix" and "The Gypsy Moths.") Thank you, Warner Archive, once again for the great job bringing this rare entertainment to home screens. 16 x 9 in b&w.

Nice Family Drama
This is a nice family drama that explores a son's conflicted relationship with his father. It shows the sad consequences that result when father's spend much time trying to become rich and famous and calously neglect to care for and love their sons.

Excellent sensitive coming of age drama
I found this film to be a gem. I was a teenager in the 1950's and this film was so painfully true. Far better than Rebel Without a Cause. I was also tremendously impressed with James MacArthur. I only knew him from his excellent Disney films.

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Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood [HD]

One of those stupid funny movies you either love or hate
There are a few conditions required for "getting" this movie. You have to understand a few things before getting the jokes. Probably the most important thing is that you've seen Boys 'N The Hood and/or Menace II Society. These two movies contain the majority of the spoofs seen in Don't Be A Menace... There are also references to Poetic Justice, Juice, and Higher Learning. Without having seen the first two, most people will probably not get the jokes. Secondly, if you're into the hip hop culture, this movie will be a lot funnier. There's a lot of play on words from the rap lingo that you won't get if you haven't listened to it.

I really enjoyed this movie. It's a hilarious spoof of gangsta movies and gangsta rap. Keenan Ivory Wayans' cameos were hilarious. Shawn and Marlon make a great comedy team. It's just too bad they don't get more exposure (they're TV show on WB is hilarious, too). It's all tongue in cheek fun pointed at the harsher looks at...

a guilty pleasure...
So many people just hate this film but I found it absolutely hilarious. Like the Scary Movie flicks it helps if you know the source films (Boyz N The Hood etc) fairly well. A lot of the funniest moments come from the deadpan way ludicrous lines are said, eg, of a pretty girl: 'What's her name?' 'Oh, that's Dashiki.' And the way characters refer to 'the hood' in inverted commas all the time, as in, 'I'm leaving 'the hood',' (cue gunshot). Who wouldn't laugh at the love-making scene where Trey ups the erotic ante by libating Dashiki with kool-aid then melting government-surplus cheese & dripping it like molten wax over her body? Well, a lot of people, apparently. But I laughed out loud a good many times watching this movie. The 'guilty' aspect is that it makes it almost impossible to re-watch Boyz N The Hood, Menace II Society etc in a serious manner because so many key scenes and moments are burlesqued in DBAMTSCWDYJITH.

What Is Wrong With Y'all!
MY GOD! You have absolutely no sense of humor whatsoever if you didn't find at LEAST one part of this movie hysterical! I was rollin from the opening part! Who is anyone to say that I have a shallow sense of humor just because I liked it? You have to know how to laugh at certain things and everyone these days are so "politically correct" and "edgy" that they forget the funny things and don't keep it real! Obviously they've never been in the hood or known anyone like the characters in Don't Be A Menace, because there really are people like that! I think it's most likely a movie that only blacks will understand. If you're white and you loved, more power to ya. This movie is just wayy too funny!

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Teaching Mrs. Tingle [HD]

A Most Wonderful & "Ironic" Surprise With Loads Of Cameos!
I admit that I purchased this movie for the plain and simple fact that Dame Helen Mirren appears in it. I can also say with all honesty that I have never watched a single episode of Dawson's Creek or 7th Heaven. I am a huge fan of Mirren's versatile acting abilities. She is amazing in this film, but I won't gush on about her...

However, I was pleasantly pleased and surprised with this film and all of it's actors. It is a well written script by Scream's Kevin Williamson who also shows his ability to direct in his debut.

I also enjoyed several cameo appearances by faces that I haven't seen in a while. The principal is played by Michael McKean. You knew him as Lenny Koznowski, the nasal, nerdish pal of Andrew "Squiggy" Squigman on the hit TV series Laverne and Shirley. Molly Ringwald is Miss Banks, the administrative assistant in the school's office, Vivica A. Fox plays guidance counsellor, Miss Gold and Jeffrey Tambor as Coach "Spanky" Wenchell.

The movie moves at a quick pace...

Decent Movie, Bad Conclusion
I wasn't sure what to expect when I first saw this movie awhile ago. Would it be a crazy teen romp complete with insane pranks on teachers and classmates alike? Or would it be a dramatic piece with lessons and morals to spare? The answer? A little bit of both.

While I won't say I loved this movie, I did love Katie Holmes'character transformation here. From serious, studious bookworm to adventurous and optimistic. Cool job with the acting and writing there. Others may praise Helen Mirren's portrayal of Mrs. Tingle as being the highlight but for me it was Katie who stole the show.

My only real problem with this movie is the ending. Too many issues are glossed over for a happy, neatly packaged conclusion. The kids may have hated Mrs. Tingle for she was no doubt a bitter old lady, but the kids did indeed have a stolen test paper. What was Mrs. Tingle to do? Ignore that completely? And the issue is basically forgotten by the end of the film as the three students walk away...

Helen Mirren is sensational
People think that movies are suppose to be grand, 100 million dollars worth of [effects] thrown together to make our mouth drop with delight. This movie was so great! Helen Mirren is sensational, she show that even that the most horrible times, she can still manipulate even the most smartest people. Katie Holmes is great and her being close from my home town she is a great actress with awesome abilities as a person. Jo Lynn (Coughlan) was phenomenal she made me laugh so hard when she did the exorcist scene, well done! Barry Watson (Tambor) was great as well! But look deep in yourselves haven't we all had a teacher that we would just like to tell her what we think of her!! I know i have! Well this movie brilliantly written by Kevin Williamson helps us do that. It is not too violent and seeing that it was close to Columbine it was well titled. Teaching Mrs. Tingle sounds alot better because they do teach her a lesson and they dont kill her. Nobody dies and nobody really gets seriously...

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Welcome To Hard Times

Not Remastered as stated
This movie supports an all star cast and a its different kind of western to be sure. The acting, production, and directing is very good.The only problem I had with this movie is it is NOT REMASTERED. The movie has a dark tint through out and is also grainy. If it was truely remastered, I would have give it a 5 star rate......If you like westerns with a different twist,its worth having if you can get for the right price......support your favorite artists.........

Enigmatic Western
I first saw this movie decades ago with my Mom. We were both struck by the Gothic story line and the mysterious villain played by Aldo Ray. Its reviews claim that it is a "flawed western". I disagree. It is a treat, and, I am glad to see it is finally out in some format.

Henry Fonda, Janice Rule and Aldo Ray in a tale of revenge and violence in a small western town.
A small town is victimized by a vicious and violent gunman played by Aldo Ray. Henry Fonda plays a sheriff trying to hold the town together when this criminal comes back. A brutal man, who terrorizes the community must be dealt with, the only way his kind can be dealt with, Violently.

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Santa Mesa

Moving meditation on a child adapting to a new culture
Santa Mesa is one of those films where you wish it could go on longer. It's quite an impressive debut for Ron Morales, a former camera/crew member on such films such as the Departed and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. He clearly picked up some major soft skills as he explores the journey of 12-year-old Hector, born and raised in the US, to a strange new land - the Philippines - where he can't speak the native language (Tagalog) and lives with an older relative who can't speak English.

Morales successfully avoids the common cliches of culture clash and poking fun of differences. Rather, through Hector's eyes he gently takes us through a gritty new community where he must learn to survive by choosing his friends, mentors and relationships. One of the main characters is the background of poverty along the railroad tracks where Hector now must call home - a constant reminder of the challenges and noise that Hector must filter out and overcome.

The film's...

A MOVING STORY
This film was very touching and moving to me as it followed the life experiences of a young boy who left the only place he called home to be introduced to a world unknown on the other side of the planet. Many of us have been through experiences such as these at one point in time in our lives. I loved how the producers were able to make you place yourself in Hector's shoes, the star of the movie and feel many of the frustrations he learned to overcome.

To me, Santa Mesa was about making the best of what you have in life and where you are in life to grasp who you really are in this great, big world.

touching
A very touching coming-of-age story. Poignant without being melodramatic. Beautiful cinematography, terrific performances by the teenage actors. Recommended!

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Bruce Almighty [HD]

the funniest movie of the year
This is one of the funniest movies I've seen in some time. Bruce Almighty starts Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, and Morgan Freeman. The basic premise is this is a comedy about one man who is given the powers (and responsibilities) of God and we get to see what he does with this power. Knowing that the movie stars Jim Carrey we expect quite a bit of over the top humor. While we do have a fair amount of the typical Carrey humor, Bruce Almighty is a lot more than that.

Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) is a reporter for a local television station. He gets the assignments that show off his warm and humorous side. But Bruce wants the anchor position that will be opening up when the current male anchor retires. Bruce does not feel that he is getting the respect or the opportunities necessary for him to be able to get the job he has always wanted.

Bruce is living with his girlfriend Grace Connelly (Jennifer Aniston), an elementary school teacher. When Bruce loses his job (have a nice...

Funny and moving
Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) is a local TV news reporter in Brooklyn, NY who is constantly sent out on the least desirable assignments and made into the "funny" guy instead of the serious person he wants to be perceived as.

His goal is finally sit in the anchor's chair and be taken seriously as a news personality. He is so goal oriented, it causes strife with his girlfriend Grace (played wonderfully by Jennifer Aniston). Nothing seems to go right for him. His dog eliminates in the house, his car gets demolished, he gets embarrased on TV and continues to butt his head against the wall.

Grace is a school teacher that has a special bond with her students. She is spiritual and loving, and cares deeply for Bruce, warts and all. Bruce only sees his goal and as the world crashes around him, he blames God for his troubles.

In a scene reminiscent of "Oh, God!" (starring George Burns and John Denver), Bruce goes to an unusal, nondescript building to talk about a job...

The Moral Of The Story
Bruce Nolan is a flunky reporter who is always sent on remote locations to cover ridiculous assignments for a local television station in Buffalo. His life goal is to be head news anchor, but his career is cut short when he swears on the air. After his neglected girlfriend dumps him and everything in his life goes awry, Bruce asks God for Help. God answers him, but Bruce cops an attitude and tells God how unfair He is and what a terrible job He is doing in the world. God listens patiently and tells Bruce that he can play God for a while, which is similar to giving explosives to a child.

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