Love the movies? How about blu-ray movies? Maybe movie merchandise? Learn more about your favorite movies past, present, and future, whether at the movie theatre, on blu-ray or on DVD. Find some unusual gift ideas for movie fans, including yourself. Join the fun and discover a new movie or two!
Anne Frank's House is a CD-ROM appropriate for use on a PC and Mac. It was designed for adults and young people, to take you on a virtual tour of Anne Frank's life including meeting her family, viewing the house on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam and learning about the Second World War and about the family's hiding from the occupying forces.
Your mouse will guide you around and through the building.
As you would expect, the main characters from Anne's life will be there including Anne, her father Otto, her mother Edith, her sister Margot and more. It shares the stories of their lives with unique images and information including pictures and reports from eyewitnesses.
Viewer David R. Martin says, "I ordered this CD several years ago...it's fantastic. You will not be disappointed. The disk contains a lot, and I mean a lot, of information. And loads and loads of pictures. It is an interactive CD. There is so much stuff on it, you will never be able to find it all. I never did."
You will want to note that this product was released in 2012 and therefore may or may not work on your current computer. Make sure you investigate before you order your copy of Anne Frank House here from Amazon.
Last night we watched the new Tom Hanks movie, Greyhound. Greyhound is non-stop World War II movie based on the C.S. Forester 1955 war novel called The Good Shepherd. (Find the book here on Amazon.)
The story is based on true events during the Battle of the Atlantic, which for those who might not know, refers to everything that happened in the Atlantic during World War II. Truth be told, I did not know that until my husband told me last night.
The movie takes place almost entirely onboard the American ship the USS Keeling, whose call name was Greyhound. In 1942, she was one of the ships that escorted a convoy of 37 allied ships carrying soldiers and supplies across the Atlantic through an area know as the Black Pit to the battlefields of World War II.
For five days the apparently inexperienced U.S. Navy Commander Ernest Krause, played in this movie by Tom Hanks, led the effort to fight off Nazi U-boats and help the convoy arrive safely at its destination. I think that Hanks does a fine job of portraying Krause as a personally modest but professionally decisive man.
OFFICIAL MOVIE TRAILER
WHAT IS IT RATED?
In the United States, Greyhound is rated PG-13 for war-related action/violence and brief strong language. It was definitely intense with a few tough moments but overall it was far from the toughest war movie that I have seen in terms of violence or language.
IS IT RECOMMENDED?
Greyhound is a very focused movie intent on showing one trip across the Atlantic and it did so with little in the way of character development. Some might be disappointed to not know more about the main characters and yes, I think that would have made the story richer, but historically, this movie is a fascinating look at what allied heroes did on the ocean during World War II. Yes, I recommend it for those who are interested in history and want a look at what it might have been like to be part of the convoys that helped bring goods necessary to Europe to end the war.
Writing for Roger Ebert's website, Brian Tallerico gave the movie a scant two of four possible stars. With reference to the sole focus of the movie of one trip across the Atlantic Ocean, he called it one of the "most purposeful war films ever made." He goes on to say that it is a "simple story of well-told heroism that’s almost refreshing." However, he also calls it more "shallow than lean." I think those are fair comments and good ideas to have in mind when you sit down to watch the movie. However, Tallerico closes with, "Hanks reminds us that heroes don’t wear capes and almost never call themselves heroes. Even with the minimalism of Greyhound, it is a comforting reminder in a time when it feels like we could all use a bit more heroism." A good reminder though I think that this year, 2020, with the world battle against coronavirus, we are surrounded by heroes.
Viewers on Rotten Tomatoes give the movie a better score, of 79 percent, with comments like "the role brings out another in the Tom Hanks gallery of seemingly unremarkable men rising to meet extraordinary challenges" and "a really interesting watch, even if it's stripped of the traditional creature comforts of the genre."
WHERE TO WATCH GREYHOUND?
Originally scheduled for release at the movie theaters on May 8, Greyhound fell victim to the coronavirus and eventually the theatrical release was cancelled. Instead it was released for streaming on Apple TV on July 10. As I write this, that is the only place you can watch this movie. It is unfortunate that such a big, loud film cannot be seen on the big screen.
If you do watch Greyhound, be sure to come back and let us know what you think!
Happy viewing! I look forward to the distant day when it is safe for us to return to the movie theater.
I had no expectations from the 1989 movie My Left Foot and picked it up because it was set in Ireland. Yes, it was to be another movie in our armchair traveller's trip to Ireland. Anyway, I thought that the movie started off slowly and that it seemed dated but in the end the story of Christy Brown and his family reeled both myself and my husband in.
Christy Brown was born with cerebral palsy in 1930s Dublin in a time when most born with that disease and many others were shipped off to care facilities. However, Christy was born into a poor family who could not afford to send him away and was raised in the interesting and economically struggling environment that he was born into. Despite the many challenges provided by this home, he was loved and was included and eventually goes on to become a painter and the author of numerous books including the one of his own story as shown below.
Here’s a look at the movie via the original trailer:
Is My Left Foot recommended by me? YES. We totally enjoyed this story despite the uncertain beginning. But don't take my word for it, this movie was unexpectedly successful and widely circulated in the end but originally produced for the local Irish market. When it received wider circulation both the critics and the audiences liked it. Daniel Day-Lewis won an Academy Award for Best Actor and Brenda Fricker for Best Supporting Actress. Other nominations for the film were for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and for Best Picture. I believe that the cast, which also included Ray McAnally and Fiona Shaw, was indeed excellent and that the movie drew us in in large part because of the performances put in by that cast.
Roger Ebert said, "It is the story of a stubborn, difficult, blessed and gifted man who was dealt a bad hand, who played it brilliantly, and who left us some good books, some good paintings and the example of his courage."
The Guardian calls it, "A moving portrayal of an astonishing man with a brilliant brain trapped inside a damaged body."
If you like a good story about one person's battle to express himself and you don't mind that it is a bit gritty and dated, I think you might enjoy My Left Foot. While it is not meant to be about Ireland, it is a good peek into Dublin in the 1930s. Let me know what you think of it if you do check the movie out. See you at the movies! Brenda
Next up on our armchair trip to Ireland is the movie Michael Collins, which is yet another story of troubled times in Ireland that is based on a true story. It is set in that beautiful country but once again it is definitely not a beautiful movie as it tells another extremely violent story.
Michael Collins is a historical biopic film that tells the story of the man of the same name who led a guerrilla war in Ireland against the United Kingdom and eventually went on to create the Irish Free State and lead the National Army during the civil war. It is set roughly between the years of 1916 and 1920.
IMDBsays that this movie was given the rating of PG in Ireland because of the historical value of the film despite the fact that it includes so much violence. They wanted the film to be available to young people who needed to know about that time frame in the country’s history. The film is more appropriately rated R elsewhere.
Here’s a look at the movie via the original trailer:
The New York Times says Collins was, “a leader who experienced a sea of change during his brief career, evolving from a pioneer of modern-day terrorism into a proponent of compromise and peace.” I believe that Liam Neeson does a solid job of portraying Michael Collins. Also in the cast are Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea, Alan Rickman and Julia Roberts.
Is this movie recommended by me? Well, yes, if you are interested in a look at this period in Ireland's history and if you can tolerate the unpleasantness. The Guardian says that Michael Collins is, “A watchable and mostly well-judged film on a worthy subject, but one that is undermined by a couple of careless liberties with the facts.” For my and possibly your purposes of understanding a bit more about the history of Ireland, this film works even though it may not be 100 percent accurate. I would hazard a guess that most historical movies have taken liberties with the facts. Learn more about Michael Collins and/or buy your copy on Amazon by clicking right here.
We are taking a trip from the comfort of our family room to Ireland by checking out numerous movies set in that beautiful country. The first story is brutal and there is nothing beautiful about it. Fifty Dead Men Walking was released in 2008 and features Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess, Kevin Zegers, Natalie Press and Rose McGowan. It is based on an autobiographical book of the same name. The story is that of a young man who worked for the IRA but became a police informer. Set in the late 1980s during a time period known as The Troubles, it is claimed that the young man in question saved fifty people from certain death while he worked undercover.
Definitely a brutal film. Rated R, it is loud, nasty, gritty, violent, horrible. It has torture and it has a sex scene. I had to look away many times but I appreciated the chance to learn a bit about Ireland’s history of that time period even if we are unsure exactly what "inspired by a true story" means. The author says that indeed it was inspired by rather than adapted from his book. In any case, the trailer shows exactly what you can expect from the 2008 movie:
Is the movie Fifty Dead Man Walking recommended? Well, yes, if you are interested in a look at this period in Ireland's troubled history and if you have the stomach for the nastiness. The Hollywood Reporter calls the performances stunning. I'd agree and this movie will definitely leave you with something to think about. It might even make you want to read the book by Martin McGartland. You can learn more about the movie or buy your copy on Amazon by clicking right here.
We have long been enthralled by the man that was Walt Disney. It was then with interest that we learned about the PBS television program American Experience: Walt Disney that aired in September, 2015. I just discovered that this program is readily available on DVD for individuals who are interested in learning more about Disney.
The program contains four hours of information about Disney. Lots of information plus lots of rarely seen historic footage of the man in action taken from directly from Disney's vaults. Here's a peek at the program via the Youtube video trailer:
Watching the video will inform you, if you did not know, that all was not sweetness and light with Walt Disney. As The Hollywood Reporter says, Disney was part "visionary genius and part union-busting ego-maniac." No one would have accomplished what this man accomplished if he had been a simple, easy going man.
American Experience: Walt Disney would make a wonderful gift idea for any adult Disney enthusiast. It is an affordable look into one of the men who shaped the culture of America as we know it today. Will you be adding it to your collection?
Mr. Selfridge has taken me on a trip back to London, England, in the early 1900s. If you are a fan of period dramas, why not join me on my journey?
The third season of Mr. Selfridge is currently airing, which means you can purchase seasons 1 and 2 and watch them marathon style, if you like.
To catch season 3, I suppose you can set your PVR for the rest of the series now and miss a few episodes or you can wait and purchase it when it has been released on blu-ray (shown in the picture here) and DVD.
Mr. Selfridge was, as the tagline says, the showman behind the retail empire and he is putting on quite a show. If you love period dramas or are fascinated with the history of retail, you will enjoy this series.
I'd be remiss if I did not say that it is a great choice for those suffering Downton Abbey withdrawal.
As a Downton Abbey fan, I am always looking to read more about the hugely successful Masterpiece Theatre mini-series and I just stumbled across a number of really interesting places to follow the series and I thought I would share them here with you.
First on the list, is Instagram. I am not very familiar with Instagram but was impressed when I discovered a whole page of pictures and links about Downtown Abbey, which you can find here.
From Instagram, I found the official Downton Abbey page on Facebook. If features more great information and pictures as well as bonuses like a quiz to determine which character you would be in the series. You can find the Downton Facebook page here. I th ink that the Facebook page will be a great source of information about future developments in the world of the Crawleys.
Then I found the official Pinterest Downton Abbey Page. As you would expect, it is full of wonderful Downton Abbey pictures for browsing, more links for reading and, if you are on Pinterest, for pinning.
I always enjoy blogger Flixchatter's postings and you might enjoy her post, "Musings on Downton Abbey - Seven Things That Got Her Hooked on the Show." As a fan, you will likely agree with all seven of her points. You can find her post here.
As a family that had lots of Lego around, I was interested to discover Eric Stevens' Lego recreation of Highclere Castle and the characters in Lego form. He used his talents to design it for his girlfriend as a Christmas present. You can check out his Downton Abbey Lego creations here. Wouldn't it be great if Lego created a Downton Abbey set for those of us who are less creative than Eric Stevens?
For a complete behind-the-scenes look at the world of Downton Abbey, you might consider the book shown here on this page. Behind the Scenes at Downton Abbey is "The Official Backstage Pass to the Set, the Actors and the Drama." Find it on Amazonby clicking here. It is one of the most recent publications about the miniseries.
Hope that these resources give you a bit of a contact with the world of Downton Abbey!
For those of us watching Downton Abbey season 4 in North America on television the slow way, week after week after painful week, the news that the new season is available on DVD and blu-ray disc on January 28, 2014 may be is welcome. After having watched seasons 1 through 3 on blu-ray disc at my own speed in three marathons, I personally find the weekly watching of each episode particularly torturous.
Of course, whether you simply want to be free to watch the series at your own pace or you missed the opening two-hour special, you will find it all right here on this release bundled together with all of the other episodes from season 4 along with some bonus features.
In case you missed it, here's a peak at season 4 through the official trailer:
How about you? Are you watching the program weekly or are you simply going to buy the season on disc when it is available?
My Sunday nights
are spent at Downton.
How about yours?
Brenda
Neil Young's Archives have been deemed, the "Most Ambitious Artist Collection Ever Produced." The set took 20 years to put together and includes an amazing 128 audio tracks, 48 of them which were previously unreleased and 13 of them which had never been heard. The set is packed with more than 1,000 photos, lyrics, letters and memorabilia items.
You will learn all about the first 10 years of Neil Young's career and enjoy information about his life that, when released, was not available anywhere else.
You can enjoy Neil Young's Archives on your choice of format, blu-ray, DVD or CD.
With regard to the blu-ray release, Blu-ray.com says, that this volume, Neil Young Archives Volume 1, is groundbreaking for a number of reasons including that it sounds like "pristine vinyl", has lots of footage and rare tracks and shares many special moments. They suggest that it lays an impressive trail for other artists to follow.
Sesame Street 20 Years and Still Counting is a short and sweet peek into the history of a television show that is and has been watched around the world. Hosted by Bill Cosby and guest starring Kermit the Frog, this show will take you back to the years when you watched Sesame Street and at the same time give you a bit of background information about why Sesame Street was created.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I laughed and I cried and I and was disappointed when it was over. I remember watching Sesame Street extensively when I was young. I remember watching it, too, when I was a bit older but I did not know until today that Sesame Street was written to appeal to adults and children because the producers wanted parents to watch the program with their little ones.
If you were or are a fan of Sesame Street, I highly recommend this DVD.
If you know someone who has fond memories of the program and the gang, this would be an excellent and inexpensive gift idea.
FINALLY, my husband and I went to see The Help and we loved it. Don't tell anyone but he said that The Help was a far better movie than Conan...but it's true (and hardly surprising.) Here's a bit more:
I have read the book, The Help and I loved it so I was unsure about what the movie would bring. The movie, however, remained mostly true to the book and was perfect. At more than 2 hours, it is long but at no point will you find yourself waiting for the time to pass.
The characters were perfectly cast -- I think all of them. Loved Skeeter, although it took me a minute or two to reconcile her with the picture I was carrying in my head from the book. Aibileen was amazing, loving and brave. Minnie, strong and feisty. Celia, absolutely hysterical. Hilly definitely not nice. The mother, spot on.
I really like what Jeremy Jahns had to say about The Help so I thought I would share his words here with you. I appreciated the fact that he toned down the foul language for this movie review. (Too bad he wouldn't do that for all of them.) About The Help he says that it is a well-written, well-acted movie and the characters are really likeable, too. I agree.
I like his review. I loved the movie. I feel comfortable HIGHLY RECOMMENDING it to you. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry and it does NOT matter if you have read the book. My husband enjoyed this movie as much as I did and he had not read it.
Read more about what the experts are saying about The Help by visiting my page about what the experts are saying by clicking right here and be sure to let us know what you thought of it, if you have seen it.
Recently I watched an exceptional Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie called The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler and I was impressed. This movie is about a young woman who worked tirelessly during World War II to save, in the end, 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland.
The movie was well done, taking into account that it is a made-for-television movie, which really only means that it is not a big budget movie and that it might perhaps be a little easier to watch than something made for the big screen.
The story was good enough to make me want to readthe book, which was released in 2005. The real Irena Sendler, was nominated for a Nobel Prize in 2007 and, unfortunately, passed away in 2008 before the movie was released in 2009.
If you are interested in learning something about a largely unsung female hero or heroine, you should check out The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler. It is not available on blu-ray but it is readily available on DVD.
A couple of months ago, we were very excited that a new version of Robin Hood was coming out, but when it did finally arrive, we were disappointed with the movie reviews including the one in our local paper which gave the movie just 2.5 stars.
Needless to say, because of that review and because of others, we did not go to see the movie at the theatre. That is, until this weekend when it was showing at The Rainbow Theatre, our local discount movie theatre, when our teenage son was treating us to a movie for our birthdays.
I'm still surprised because I think I liked it.
Well that's not quite fair. I really did enjoy the movie.
I looked at my previous post about Robin Hood where I said, "I am trying to picture Russell Crowe as Robin Hood and I'm coming up...empty."
Well, any doubts that I had were mistaken because Russell Crowe was perfect. He WAS Robin Hood and the rest of the cast was also pretty amazing. I had a bit of a time getting used to Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian at the beginning and my husband was disappointed with the treatment and inconsistencies of King John's character. Robin's merry men, were perfect.
The cinematography was nicely done, too. The sets and the costumes all seemed 'right' to me. I am certainly not a historian but they just felt appropriate to me for the time period.
And I really enjoyed the story although it did present a slightly different but not unbelievable take on the Robin Hood we think we know. Purists might be disappointed.
What, then, is keeping me from saying I loved this movie? Well, I guess it would be the violence of which there was a lot. If you like action packed adventure movies and you don't mind violence, you will probably enjoy this one. By the way, it is rated PG-13 for violence in warfare some sexual content. I think the violence was extreme for a rating of just PG-13.
I'm still forumlating my opinion of Russell Crowe's Robin Hood and wonder, if you have seen this version of Robin Hood, what you thought of it.
Fans of Anne of Green Gables may be surprised, as I was, to discover that there is a new Anne film out. Looking For Anne is a totally unique film because it does not tell a story from Lucy Maud Montgomery but instead tells a story that illustrates the importance of Montgomery’s book to the women of Japan since World War II.
The story is that of a seventeen-year old Japanese girl who plans a trip to Prince Edward Island with her grandmother to discover the Island and to follow Anne's footsteps. She eventually takes the trip alone and winds up on a quest to find the young soldier who gave her grandmother a copy of Anne of Green Gables in Japan in 1946.
Looking For Anne opened in Japan on October 31, 2009 to much success and went on to win two prestigious awards at the Singapore Asian First Film Festival, one for Best Film and one for Best Director. It is a joint Canadian and Japanese film with approximately 60 percent in English and 40 percent in Japanese with subtitles, as appropriate.
Looking For Anne was filmed in Prince Edward Island and is said to be a beautiful travel film, if you are interested in seeing what P.E.I. looks like. The pictures I have seen so far have managed to make me homesick for the Atlantic Provinces.
Unfortunately for North Americans, we are unable to see this film at this time.
Right now, if you are curious about the movie, you will have to settle for the official movie trailer with English subtitles. It looks like a great film, subtitles or no subtitles.
Are you an Anne fan? Are you curious about the impact Lucy Maud Montgomery's work had on girls around the world? Will you be Looking For Anne when this movie is released?
A friend asked me today, "Why was I watching The Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter?" I couldn't answer except perhaps to say that I do like many of the Rolling Stones songs and I am intrigued by the history of both the band and the era.
Gimme Shelter is a remastered Criterion Collection release that is available on both blu-ray and DVD. A 1970 film, the new versions were released on December 1st, 2009.
Some call Gimme Shelter "the greatest rock film ever made" and "one of the greatest documentaries ever created." It follows the Stones on their 1969 U.S. tour with a particular focus on the 300,000 person free concert at San Francisco’s Altamont Speedway. I am thankful that the cameras were there as they recorded an unbelievable era and a concert the likes of which I hope will never happen again.
Of course, it features the band members -- Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman -- a few years younger than they are now. It was supposed to feature The Rolling Stones Altamount Speedway free concert in Northern California and it did.
That concert at the speedway was also supposed to be the West Coast’s version of Woodstock but things went badly wrong from the very beginning when Jagger was hit in the mouth and the concert and film wound up being a very dark experience with everything from bad acid trips to the stabbing death of a concert goer. It turned out to be a concert and documentary like no other and may have helped end the 'Peace and Love' hippy movement, a time as evidenced on this documentary, without rules and order.
Let me warn you that, while this film is interesting from a history and music perspective, it is also disturbing. Not rated, it has plenty of alcohol, drugs, nudity and violence to be aware of. The video, which follows, gives you a peek at the contents of this film.
Because I have limited access to blu-ray movies, I watched it on DVD and therefore turn to the experts to see what they have to say about the blu-ray format of Gimme Shelter. High-Def Digest is able to highly recommend it and considers the blu-ray a good transfer, considering the quality of the original 16 mm material. Others concur that this is the best Gimme Shelter will ever look.
Bright Star is a beautiful 2009 period piece set in England in the 1800s, which tells of three years in the life of poet John Keats. A love story, it focuses on his romantic relationship with Fanny Brawne. Fanny was his ‘Bright Star.’
The film appeared in the 62nd Cannes Film Festival and was released to the public on May 15th, 2009. It does include the recitation of some of Keats’ poems including The Eve of St. Agnes and Ode to a Nightingale. However, I definitely do not think you need to be a fan of poetry or a fan of John Keats to fall in love with this movie.
Bright Star was based on a screenplay written and directed by Jane Campion who also directed The Piano and The Young Victoria. She took her inspiration from Andrew Motion’s biography of Keats and from letters actually written by Keats. Lines from those letters appear in this film.
Bright Star is considered exceptional in two areas including the wonderful performances put in by actors Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw and Paul Schneider who were, in my mind, perfectly cast, which resulted in a Best Supporting Actor award from the National Society of Film Critics.
The other area it is considered exceptional in is the way it presented life of the time period. As a result, the movie was nominated for an Academy Award at the 82nd Academy Awards for Best Achievement in Costume Design and it received awards for Best Technical Achievement For Cinematography from the British Independent Film Awards and a Truly Moving Sound award from the Heartland Film Festival.
I think anyone who loves a period piece, loves poetry or who enjoys a good love story will enjoy this movie. It is a quiet film and truly beautiful. Poetry lovers, of course, would take special enjoyment from Bright Star but, as I said earlier, I really do not think you have to be a poetry fan to love this movie.
If you are interested in buying it, you will find it on Amazon by clicking right here. I was disappointed to learn that this film was not released on Blu-ray.
Have you seen the 1959 version of The Diary of Anne Frank? If you have not and you are interested in Anne Frank and that part of our history, I do recommend you see this movie.
It is a black and white film so be prepared for that.
And it is long, so be prepared for that. (Some movies from that era, this one included, actually have an intermission built into them.)
It is a simply done film on a set that is a replica of the Annex where the Frank family hid for two years. I have been in the Annex so I particularly enjoyed that aspect of this film.
It is a well-done representation of the tensions that two families experienced living in a situation with the constant threat of discovery hanging over their heads.
This version of The Diary of Anne Frank is available on DVD and on blu-ray. The DVD is said to be a definite improvement over the VHS version and the blu-ray version receives top marks and is recommended by the blu-ray experts.
This film would be of interest to anyone who has read the story of Anne Frank's diary with the caution that it is considered inappropriate for children under 12 years old. Younger children may find the constant tension, the world events and the tragic ending of this movie a bit much.
This movie was well received when it was released, receiving eight Academy Award nominations and winning three and it was well received by me. In the language of the experts, I would have to say, "RECOMMENDED."
Recently, I wrote a page about our visit to Anne Frank's House in Amsterdam last summer and that page inspired another one called Anne Frank Movie Reviews on DVD and Blu-ray. This second page is about many of the top-rated Anne Frank movies and documentaries that have been made.
After I did some research, I managed to gather six of these films together and watch them. While there was some repetition, it was definitely worth watching them all. Discover my page, Anne Frank Movie and Documentary Reviews here.
Anne Frank Remembered as shown here, includes "vintage newsreels, photographs and even a rare home movie." Find it by clicking here to Amazon where it is available on Prime Video, Blu-ray, DVD and even VHS.
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