Mr. Holland's Opus

A Movie About Love and Love For Music
Recent showing of "Music of My Heart" starring Merryl Strepp as a substitute teacher striving to sustain a violin program for low-income kids in New York City reminds me of this all-time favorite classic released back in 1996. The bottom line is love.

Situated in Oregon in the fall of 1964, Glen Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) took up a job as a high school music teacher as his wife became pregant. Holland, now shouldered with added responsibility as a soon-to-be father, a composer, and a teacher, faced the immediate challenge of working with a diverse group of students: the naturally talented, the rebellious, and the physically impaired.

This is a movie about love and love of music. Glenn Holland is the central figure who strives to love his students and family through his devotion to music. Born deaf-toned, the dream of teaching his own son to become an eminent violinist inevitably bursts with much frustration. Glenn Holland is not perfect; in fact,...

Warm Plot, Rich Production
The quality of Mr. Holland's Opus spreads evenly throughout its plot, its message, and its marvelous appreciation of music and the arts. In fact, this movie delivers both definition and demonstration of music appreciation as a whole, absent of selective bias. Devoid of senseless killings, violence, or notable language, Opus is a family movie without the corny overtones. For many it's a tearjerker.

But Mr. Holland's Opus unfolds an issue. It is a simple plea for an increase in music appreciation among society--particularly our young people. Mr. Holland's career is pressured more and more by the gradual, yet perpetual governmental cuts in school funding for the arts amid the US. In sharp contrast, the movie makes it clear that support for the sports programs in public schools remain firm and solid. Careful to avoid cursing this predicament or hurling insults toward society, this message is rather Hollywood's way of calmly saying, "Take a look," using the...

My Favorite Movie!
I've seen a lot of classic films over my lifetime, but there was something about this movie that made it stand above the rest. Perhaps it was the moving story about a composer who turns to teaching in a high school to pay the bills, but winds up staying there for 30 years through a series of personal tragedies and triumphs. Maybe it was the spectacular cast that includes Richard Dreyfuss in an Oscar nominated turn as the title character, Glenne Headley as his loyal wife, Jay Thomas as his trusted friend, and Olympia Dukakis as the boss he hates and loves. It might have been the realistic way it portrays high school life over thirty years, or the wonderful use of music from different periods to add to the story, or even the way it doesn't stay away from sensitive issues in our world (death, war, the deaf, and the struggles of balancing work and family are all talked about). However, I feel the reason I love this movie so much is because of the realistic way it depicts a...

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [Blu-ray]

Another seagoing epic in Lewis' magical "chronicles"!
If there's anything that Walden Media's CHRONICLES OF NARNIA movie franchise (based on C.S. Lewis' timeless novels) is known for lately, it could very well be that it ever continued at all. The first film, THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, was a box office smash, but successor PRINCE CASPIAN didn't achieve the same success. But when Disney, who distributed and funded both films, decided not to participate in anymore NARNIA adventures, it seemed as though Lewis' tales were destined to remain forever frosted by the White Witch. But thankfully, Walden Media refused to let NARNIA die so easily, and so they've teamed up with 20th Century Fox to complete the third movie in the series, THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER. It could also very well be the last entry; critics have been lukewarm to negative on this film, and faced with so much competition this year from family films such as TRON LEGACY, HARRY POTTER, and even upcoming duds like YOGI BEAR and GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, this film...

3D Review by a 3D Connoisseur
POST-PRODUCTION 3D (converted from 2D to 3D)

My ratings are based mainly on the QUALITY OF THE 3D, not the video content.

There are about 51 out of screen effects that extend about 10% of the way, from the screen to the viewer and another 14 ranging from 15% to 25%. Most of the 25% effects are very quick though.

The quality of the in-screen 3D is excellent for a post-production (FAKE 3D) film. This movie was never intended to be in 3D evident by the camera angles and scene framing but the conversion only had one easily noticeable flaw and the cardboard cut-out syndrome seemed somewhat less evident than in other converted films. I'm not a fan of 2D to 3D conversions but you could do much worse.

*** Everything considered I'm stretching ***
*** this one to a 4 star/very good ***

MY 3D RATING = VERY GOOD (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent)

Note: As far as the percentages go, everyone's eyes are different. What...

A Tale With a Different Tail
Right off the top, if you're looking for a literal book-to-movie adaptation, you're going to be very disappointed. Aslan may as well be a tiger. There are countless modifications that did not completely align with the book and numerous subtleties noticeable to anyone familiar with the story.

For the most part, however, TVOTDT stayed true to form, following Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) - along with their easy to hate cousin Eustace (Will Poulter) - through the fabric of a family painting and into the vast tapestry of the Narnian world created by C.S. Lewis and onto the Dawn Treader (the ship in the painting). Aboard the ship the join forces with recently crowned - a year in Earthly time, and three in Narnia - King Caspian (Ben Barnes) who, along with his crew of sentient beasts and willing sailors, seeks out seven Telmarine lords and swords. Almost immediately after they board the Dawn Treader, and unequivocally after they disembark for their first...

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The National Parks: America's Best Idea [Blu-ray]

A VISION REALIZED
I live in Gardiner, Montana (location of the Roosevelt Arch) and work in Yellowstone, and I experienced firsthand the genuine passion and forthright efforts of Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan and their staff as they took their vision and turned it into a poetic masterpiece. Their years of hard work not only in Yellowstone but throughout the entire national park system have paid off, and we are the lucky beneficiaries of their skillful and spirited tenacity.

This film speaks gently and lovingly of the National Parks idea. The majestic vistas, the enlightening interviews, the background music -- woven together they demonstrate the power of "place", and fill us with a desire to further protect and honor these sacred sites.

We cannot live without the land, and we cannot live well without understanding our past. "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" is an authentic rendering of those very truths, and like all things good and beautiful, will be experienced and...

America's Best *IDEA*
Not sure why people are complaining about not getting more geological data or wildlife info. This documentary is about the IDEA of our National Park systems which includes inspirations and motivations. As history lover's review says...its how (and why) our National Parks came to be. I'm sure Burns included the term "idea" for good reason. The idea that Burns goes after seems to be a philosophy against commercialism and greed which makes sense after seeing the first episode. Who cares if spirituality was one of the inspirations though? For many, appreciating nature is a spiritual or at least meditative experience regardless of what they do or don't believe. So far this documentary is organized much the same as Burns' other films. Nice music, nice scenery captured in nice camera work with nice photographs- all interwoven with Park Rangers, historians, writers and other experts on the people and places mentioned. So far so good! Leave it to Burns to use National Parks to provide another...

Good-enough content, poor HD
Although the series suffers somewhat from repetitiveness occasioned by the need to keep re-orienting viewers as multiple story sequences are interrupted for long periods of time while first one, then another, thread is begun, I am glad that I was patient enough to view the entire collection. If you like Ken Burns's thorough and somewhat laid-back style, you will find it agreeable here as in his other series, even if this is not quite his best effort. One should bear in mind that this is primarily an historical documentary, not a travelogue or guide to the parks.

In terms of content, I'd probably give the series four stars; but I was disappointed in the video quality of the new motion-picture footage that Burns's photographers accumulated over six years of hard and dedicated work. I believe that a fundamentally wrong decision was made in the choice of medium. Burns has a love of old-style photography, and the many stunning examples of still photos were a joy to behold. I...

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Yoga For Weight Loss for Beginners

If I can only have one yoga video, I'll choose this one!
Having done yoga both with videos and in a class, I found this video to be a step above most other yoga videos. It is arranged in three sections, each having multiple workouts. The first section is designed for beginners, with one section teaching a basic set of poses, and two sections with flow-style practices of varying length. That is, the poses flow from one to the next for continuous, slow movement. The pacing is great - slow enough to allow good form in each pose, but fast enough to allow you to move along with the breath, as you breath in and out. However, it is clearly not "remedial," and includes poses requiring some flexibility, balance, and strength (e.g., downward-facing dog with one leg raised, as well as some balancing poses). If someone lacks flexibility or strength, I'd definitely recommend starting instead with "Essential Yoga for Inflexible People," which a friend tells me is perfect for beginners. The second section (the one I use the most) is a little more...

Really Works
I have not done a lot of yoga before, but now I'm hooked.

This DVD is fantastic. It has two levels of workouts (and each level has a few workouts) - one level is for beginners and one has some more challenging poses once you are comfortable with the first level.

There is also a third section (again with a few workouts) that incorporates weights and/or a resistance band into the workout.

Not only have I lost some weight and am closer to touching my toes easily, but I have really toned up from this DVD. I would have called this DVD, "Yoga for Getting in Shape" Highly recommended.

Highly recommended!
What I love most about this video is that it's a bunch of videos in one. Depending on the time you have in a given day, you can always fit in one of the workouts - so no more excuses! The instruction is crystal clear and the setting is beautiful. I was skeptical about doing yoga with weights at first, but it works. And this video really teaches you, so you can eventually do the workouts on your own.

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Bicycle Dreams: A Cycling Film [DVD]

A monument to the immortal words, "I can!"
What is it about bicycles that make a certain brand of men and women strive to do what other people only dream about?

Auerbach's movie gives an up-close and personal view of what drives the cyclists who pedal across deserts, mountain ranges and plains coast-to-coast in the Race Across America.

You feel their pain and personal struggles, you cry over their tragedies and you share their exhilaration when they finish. You hear in their own words what makes them push themselves beyond normal human limits.

By the end, you'll know the answer to the question: What do you call the last cyclist to cross the RAAM finish line?

A winner.

Intestinal Fortitude at it's Finest
I'm writing with prejudice, I am a cyclist. Never have I witnessed such a crystal clear depiction of what it feels like to spend hours on the bike. I am awed by Auerbach's prospective, he made you feel as if you were there with the RAAM competitors. You felt their pleasure and pain. You understood why they were doing this. This documentary made sense of what could easily be misconstrued as a ridiculous attempt for recognition. It is doubtful that RAAM soloist finishers will ever become famous, but they will have a sense of satisfaction few others will ever achieve.

"I have reason to believe the grass might be a little greener
on the other side" - Bob Schneider

"The rawest form of desire is just wanting to survive."
I learned about Bicycle Dreams from a post on a cycling forum, so when I bought the movie I thought it was going to be a "cyclist's" film, focusing on the details of RAAM, the bikes, and the technicalities of the race. But it isn't so much about RAAM as it is about the people involved in the race - who they are and why they do this amazing event. Endurance athletes (especially ultra-endurance athletes) are a special group, and the athletes featured in the film are all likeable, easy to watch and, without exception, inspiring in their dedication and toughness. I've watched this film more times than I can remember, and with each viewing I find it more engrossing and entertaining. Whether you're a cyclist, an endurance athlete, or just fascinated by people who want achieve far beyond what is considered normal, you'll love Bicycle Dreams. It is well worth watching, again and again.

"At the end of your life if people say you were kind, that is enough." - Dr. Bob Breedlove

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Red Dawn

Q: How does this remake stack up against the original? A: It doesn't
"Dude, we're living Call of Duty. And it sucks."

So says a character in Red Dawn 2012, succinctly summing up the movie. This film purports to be a remake of John Milius's 1984 cult classic about a group of American teens who band together to fight back against communist invaders but don't be fooled. In reality Dawn 2012 is a poor man's version of the Red Dawn inspired missions from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (where the Russians invade America).

Dawn 2012, like too many blockbusters, feels like a movie assembled by a committee to say nothing and offend no-one, to be as safe and commercial as possible. I am glad to say that in this case second guessing the lowest common denominator didn't pay-off and that Dawn 2012 flopped at the box office. The original Red Dawn isn't a perfect movie - the script is a bit disjointed and the acting could be better - but at least it has convictions. At least it takes some risks. At least it has a director who is passionate about...

Read the One Star Reviews, decided to rent it, and Bought it after watching it
I almost did not watch this movie. But after renting Judge Dredd based on the large number of five star reviews it recieved, and deciding that it was not my cup of tea, I felt that perhaps I did not need to put as much stock in the opinions of others, even if those opinions are apparently shared by a number of people. Back to "Red Dawn" [the remake]. It is not that bad. Granted, it is different, both in terms of story line and character development than the original. After watching the remake, I also bought the original on Amazon Instant Video so I could watch them back-to-back and compare. The original does a better job at portraying the characters on a human level (at least for the Wolverines, but also for some of the bad guys such as the Russian Spetznaz commander and the Cuban Colonel). The remake falls short in terms of helping you identify with the characters. On the plus side, the story line of the remake is a bit more plausible (Marine on leave organizing a guerilla...

Not Bad, But Just Doesn't Have the Heart of the Original 1984 Film.
Well I just got back from the Midnight movie of this film which is a remake of the 1984 original movie, Red Dawn, which had an all star cast consisting of; Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O'Neal, and Powers Boothe. The setting for the 1984 film was a small town in Colorado when suddenly during a normal fall school day, Soviet, Nicaraguan, and Cuban troops parachute out of the sky and begin landing on the football field and throughout the small Colorado town. A few of the teenagers led by Patrick Swayze's character Jed, flee into the mountains and left to fend for themselves while the remaining towns people that were captured are forced to live at the whim of the invading forces. After a few short weeks of living in the mountains the teens are forced to make a decision on whether or not to fight or submit to the rule of the occupying...

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Ma & Pa Kettle Complete Comedy Collection

Glad they finally did this right!
Uni's new release of the MA & PA KETTLE films is remarkable for two reasons. One, the movies are presented on single-sided discs (2 films per disc). Two, they included the last two films in the series. Sadly, it took TCM to license the last two films (which they titled THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE KETTLES) for Universal to even have the reason (and the new transfers) to issue this complete set. The last two films are presented in anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1. At least 4 of the others should have been, but Universal just lazily used the same full-frame (open matte) transfers from the previous releases. Those quibbles aside, bravo to Universal for getting this set out at a very affordable price.

As to the customer who mentioned that their set had only four discs....the fifth disc is attached to the inner back cover, and not on the center flippers.

Finally "MA & PA KETTLE" the Complete 10 film Collection on 5 Discs (explained)
In 1946 Author Betty MacDonald wrote a Best Seller "The Egg and I". In 1947 Universal Pictures made it into one of the most popular movies starring Oscar Winner Claudette Colbert & Fred MacMurray as a newly wed city folk gone country chicken farmers. And Majorie Main & Percy Kilbride as; "MA & PA KETTLE" the mad cap country neighbors with 15 kids. "The Egg and I" and the Kettles were so popular that Universal Pictures made a sequel starring the "Kettles" in "The Further Adventures of Ma Aand Pa Kettle" IN 1949. Again so successful were the Kettles 9 more hilarious films followed. Main & Kilbride were the perfect team & the first Beverly Hillbilly type comedies.

All 10 films on 5 disks are Standard Format and in Black & White remastered pisture and sound (Excellent quality even on a blu-ray player).
The original release of the series was released on DVD in 2004 in 2 volumes with 4 films per set. NOTE: the last 2 films; The Kettles in the Ozarks and The Kettles on...

great fun
This is a very endearing and lovable series which is all about funny things that happen in Ma and Pa Kettle's home and all the mischiefs that their fifteen offspring's are up to.

The series started with The Egg and I (1947) starring my favourite actress Claudette Colbert.Her Husband Fred MacMurray buys a property in the suburbs which actually is a village with the idea of setting up a Egg Farm and earning profit from it.But all his efforts fall apart as one misfortune after another follows and Claudette Colbert's patience is umpteenth time tested.Ma and Pa Kettle are their neighbour played by MARJORIE MAIN and PERCY KILBRIDE.After this movie Ma and Pa Kettle series started which continued for 9 more movies which still delight audience with their riotous humour and crazy antics.

Marjorie Main is tall heavy built and powerful,she is the brainy and decisive one.Percy Kilbride is thin unassuming,lazy and speaks in dragging voice.Their are two Red Indians too who...

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