Chernobyl Diaries (DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy)

Loved it!!
I see alot of bad reviews for this movie but....I simply enjoyed it not really original but what is in this day and time.I love movies so i never,ever listen to bad reviews i watch them for myself due to the fact people like different things.The movie had a few jumps and scares but i freaking loved the ending!!!!

Seen this type of movie countless times
I'll give it 2 stars for the simple fact that the first 15 minutes or so of the film is decent. The setting is original but that's pretty much it.
If you've seen The Hills Have Eyes 1 or 2, then you've seen this movie also. Any movie goer will be able to predict who dies next in the group with astonishing accuracy. Many of the scenes in the movie are just simply ridiculous and obviously meant to prolong the storyline. It would have been a good 45 minute short film but the director saw fit to include another 45 minutes of cliche 'Hills Have Eyes' horror into the movie.

(Slight spoiler alert)
I began losing interest in the movie when a bear comes blazing down the hallway but what did the movie in for me was when the ex-spetsnaz (Russian special forces) takes running off into the woods at night with just a 9mm and no light to find out what's making a strange noise. He already knew the woods were extremely dangerous at night. Why not just stay in the van until morning...

not bad...but very predictable
Not a bad movie. The fact that a creepy place like Pripjat could indeed work very well as the location of a horrorfilm seems to have evaded all sorts of moviemakers for the last 25 years. So it was about time that someone took notice. The problem here is, they could have done so much - imagine this abandoned city, perhaps mutation of animals and nature through radiation from the reactors, or maybe a cover-up story by the government etc. but no! I'm not gonna spoil who or what the villains are, but I have to say this: if this is really all that the filmmakers could come up with, man, my dead grandpa would have had more imagination !
If there wasn't this terrible lack of originality, it could have been a truly great movie. But there are lots of films that are much worse, so if you are able to look beyond the (very) average storyline you might still enjoy it. At least the setting is perfect.

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Moonrise Kingdom (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Stirs the memory of adolescent first love
Set in 1965, Moonrise Kingdom is a stylized coming of age film that delivers on its promise to bring the viewer of any age back to the intensity of just-entering-adolescence love. That alone makes this an extraordinary film. In addition, the music and imagery are beautifully orchestrated to delight the senses. The casting, characters, and acting are superb. It is rare to have a film that puts together this much talent and then taps it to the fullest.

Heavy hitters include the brilliant Edward Norton (for once watching his language and holding his temper) as an anal but dedicated troop leader, Bill Murray who in stark contrast to the young stars in this film, fails to find any joy whatsoever in his work in the law profession, wealth, family or beautiful surroundings. His dissatisfied wife (Frances McDormand who was the psychiatrist in Norton's first film Primal Fear), is also an attorney (the lawyer banter are some of the funniest lines in the film). Bruce Willis (who plays...

Swept away by style and story
IN A WORLD WHERE films must shock, where films must employ impossible stunts, extreme violence and outrageous characters, comes Moonrise Kingdom - with none of it. This is a real STORY, with real characters, in which everything that happens is actually possible. What a concept. Told with humor and compassion, the film sweeps you along without the dreaded need for suspension of disbelief. The story is pure Americana - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Some do it better than others. Not everyone is a winner. Its stars - seven of them! - are all totally out of character. This is not a Bill Murray vehicle or an Edward Norton vehicle or a Bruce Willis vehicle. The stars fit in, almost as afterthoughts. It's the story that counts. Most impressively, it has style. From the opening shots of Susie, face on with her binoculars in various rooms of the house, you know this film will be stylish. And understated. It is worthy of any screen in the world, in a world where American films...

"REMARKABLE IN EVERY WAY!"
It's 1965, and this mystical-magical story will tug at the heartstrings as it entertains with delight for the entire family. Sam and Suzy are both age twelve, neither one of them is popular and they both have their own issues outside of their charming relationship. However, they are appealing to each other in a unique friendship when they decide to run away together in their own great adventure. Bruce Willis can play the role of just about anything, and in this captivating story, his acting performance is excellent, along with all the other characters. The heart-warming story is touching, enjoyable from start to finish, and very funny. A Magnificent fun-filled movie for the entire family. Highly Recommended!

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Hardflip [Blu-ray]

Good Plot, Bad Ending
This movie could have been wonderful if it would have tied off loose ends. Add an extra ten minutes to the movie and show a resolve to the issues please! Well, too late, this movie is an hour and about 50 minutes and does not end with a very great tie over. Why?

#1- Did the son ever forgive the father? it doesn't show
#2- Did the father ever drop his girlfriend, or did she drop him?
#3- Did the young asian boy ever stand up and get away from the bully that always wanted to compete with the main character?
#4- Did the main character ever get accepted into college, as was his mother's wish?
#5- Did the boy ever get the skating scholarship that kept being brought up?
#6- Did the homeless man ever forgive himself and start picking up the pieces of his life again?

These are some of the main things that were acted out in the movie, but no sufficient ending to tie up the loose ends. I am sorry, i have to give it a two for that reason. And more...

Great for skateboarding fanatics. Good for the rest of us.
If you're into the skateboarding scene, you might be in for a treat here. Or you might be in for a laugh fest, if the movie failed to portray the world of skateboards realistically. Since I grew up in the era of roller skates, the ones with the keys to tighten the skates down over the shoes, I have no knowledge of boarding and I'll just give the benefit of the doubt to the director/writers here. John Schneider, who seems to be getting typecast as a father figure for hurting young people does his usual stellar job. Randy Wayne is excellent as the troubled, but very likeable, skateboarder. Baby faced Wayne is still playing kid's roles even though he will turn 32 this year. The conflict in this film was fairly intense, keeping the viewer's interest, even for non-skateboarding fans to see this through to the climax. My main issue, which prevented me from assigning five stars, is that the message of Christianity was a bit watered down, potentially leading some to believe all we have to do...

My favourite!
Hardflip is a movie unlike any other that teaches us not only forgiveness, but also that we can accomplish whatever we desire, and in reality nothing can stop us as long as we let go of our anger, and are able to forgive other people's mistakes and learn from our own. The most important lesson from Hardflip though is that we must also forgive ourselves as hard as it may be. In this story of Caleb a young skater hoping to get sponsored he is one step away from the most important position to reach his goal, but is faced with problems along the way, including his mother falling ill with a fatal disease, his father whom he never met attempting to reconcile, and his own self questioning what to do.

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Midnight Horror Collection: Hatchets & Cleavers

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Sterile Cuckoo [Blu-ray]

A bittersweet beauty
This lovely, heartwrenching film is the sort of story that just doesn't get told today -- perhaps the innocence & honesty required just isn't there any longer. More's the pity, because this is a beautifully tender story of first love & its inevitable ending, which deserves to be seen. Liza Minnelli is unafraid to play the eccentric, lonely Pookie as needy & infuriating when required. Yet we never lose our sympathy for her, especially as we realize that Wendell Burton's shy, introverted Jerry is gradually outgrowing her. She's exactly what he needed to break out of his shell, and he clearly understands this ... but he sees that they're destined to go different ways before she does (or before she'll admit it to herself). Minnelli & Burton are superb together, utterly convincing in their wistful, somewhat lost, always searching way. And Tim McIntire's supporting performance as Jerry's boastful roommate, who surprises us with a heartfelt confession on a night drive home, is a small gem in...

Marvellous Minnelli Classic, crying out for DVD Transfer
In my review of 'Cabaret', I rather rashly claimed that Liza's turn as self-destructive Ingenue Sally Bowles was her 'once-in-a-lifetime' performance. That, however, was before I caught this 1969 Gem, 'The Sterile Cuckoo', on Sky Classics.

Beautifully-directed by Alan Pakula in that strange, isolated, stereotypical 1960's-flick style, 'The Sterile Cuckoo' tells the bittersweet, emotionally macabre tale of anally-retentive college freshman Jerry Payne (Wendell Burton), and his intense relationship with the scatterbrained, maniacal Pookie Adams (Liza Minnelli), an enigmatic and energetic girl with a sad past.

Liza's first Oscar nomination was very thoroughly deserved. Even as late as 1969 the Oscars were not yet the meaningless PR-Fest that we now know them to be, and it's nominations for odd, thought-provoking performances like Minnelli's, here, that restores our faith in that system. She's absorbing and heart-wrenching, infuriating and devastating, all at the same time. Her...

Odd Little Film
The first time I saw this movie it bothered me. Watching the love story develop between Pookie and Roger was like watching a horror movie, I kept wanting to yell at the guy for getting into a relationship with this obviously unstable, needy, life-sucking parasite of a human being. But the film haunted me (maybe because I couldn't get "Come Saturday Morning" out of my mind), so much so I bought the video. It's really a different film that couldn't be made today. The pace is different, the plot depends on the characters, Liza Minelli's performance breaks your heart. I suggest this film to anyone who doesn't like the typical romance film of the "Pretty Woman" persuasion. Watch it after you've broken up with somebody if you want a good cry.

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Stand Strong Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack

Must see!
Our world is experiencing a lot of stumbling blocks, two of which are withdrawing from God and tough financial situations. This great film addresses both of these! And is very well done, with a great story line, tear filled scenes as well as ones that make you laugh. Great for family movie night!

Fantastic Movie with a very Timely message
We absolutely loved this movie. It wasn't afraid to share a tough message in a clean uplifting way. On top of the the content - the movie itself is very high quality and entertaining to watch. I am recommending it to everyone!!

Clean and Christian
It's hard to find good media these days that is clean enough for the whole family, and even harder to find modern day stories of virtue and solid Christian principles. I was so happy to see what a great job Illumin8ed did on Stand Strong. Great Bible-based messages, full of real life lessons for young and old. It will have you laughing and crying. Definitely a keeper!

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Terror Train (Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray/DVD Combo]

Better Than It Had To Be
Lets just start off with a blanket statement that is unequivocal; I typically DESPISE "slasher" films. Oh, I worship every frame of Halloween (1978, which is classic cinema period) and had fun seeing Friday the 13th (1980) for the first time and going BOO! But I don't go to see "dead teenager" movies, don't rent them, and don't care. I didn't even like Red Dragon with Ralph Fiennes as a very worthy screen monster; I don't want to get to know mad killers, I want to see them smacked over the head with a coal shovel and done away with.

I first saw Terror Train quite by chance -- sleepover party at a friends in 1981 at the age of 14 where a bottle got passed around. Everyone else zonked out; I snuck upstairs to watch HBO on his parent's big screen TV set, and what did they happen to show, but Terror Train.

I had never seen a movie like it before. We had whispered to each other in the hallways of our middle school about Jason Vorhees and his mad mother, but I had...

Terror Train on Blu-Ray - a classic gets the HD treatment, but the results are mixed
It can be a challenge to review Blu-ray releases on Amazon. Theater reviews, VHS reviews, DVD reviews, digital copies - they often all end up under the same collection of feedback. I tend to rate the films themselves with the initial star rating, and cover the specifics of the medium I am reviewing in the body of the review. So, considered alongside the other films of the slasher genre, Terror Train is easily 4 star film, in my opinion. If you appreciate 1980s horror and understand the mechanics of film making at the time, this is easily one of the better entries of the period. The Blu-ray from Shout! Factory, is, however, a bit disappointing when considered alongside some of their other recent releases. I would probably give the disc three stars. It is worth buying, but if you are trying to decide between this movie and Shout! Factory's recent releases of The Funhouse, Halloween II or Halloween III, Humanoids from the Deep or Piranha, I would place this title at the back of...

Party Pooper...
Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween, Halloween 2, The Fog) plays a college gal who is tricked into playing a sick joke (involving a cadaver) on a freshman frat pledge. Three years later, all is forgotten, as the fraternity brothers and their girlfriends hop aboard a rented steam train for a big New Year's Eve costume bash. Little do they know, someone has killed one of their pals and taken his place! So, one by one, he fools his victims into getting close enough to kill. Then, he puts on their costume and assumes their identity (It's a neat trick, and is similar in effect to the scene in Halloween where P.J. Soles mistakes Michael for her boyfriend)! Jamie Lee is convincing enough to make up for some of the shabby acting around her. Ben Johnson (Sugarland Express) is solid as the concerned conductor. David Copperfield is only mildly annoying as the magician (what else?). TERROR TRAIN chugs along at an enjoyable pace, never stopping long enough to become tedious. I recommend it to all Jamie...

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