When the Levees Broke A Requiem In Four Acts Documentary

Director Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke is the definitive document of the unmitigated disaster that was, and is, Hurricane Katrina. It's also a contemporary manifestation of an ancient tradition: an oral history, told by the people who lived it, with no narration and only the occasional use of archival cable and broadcast news footage in addition to Lee's own film. And a grim tale it is, an "American tragedy" subtitled "a Requiem in Four Acts," each of them about an hour long ("Act V," appearing on the third of the set's three discs, is a lengthy epilogue with new material not included in the original HBO broadcast) and focusing almost exclusively on New Orleans, as opposed to the Gulf Coast region in general.

Act I sets the scene; as the hurricane nears the Crescent City, some residents leave town, while others stay behind, figuring they'll just ride the storm out (Mayor Ray Nagin's "mandatory evacuation" order rings fairly hollow, as there's no public transportation provided for the many who don't own vehicles and thus couldn't get out even if they wanted to). The real problems begin after Katrina makes landfall on August 29, 2005. Displaced New Orleaneans crowd into the Superdome, soon to become a living hell for those stuck there; the incredibly poorly engineered levees break, flooding some 80 percent of the city; and people start dying by the hundreds, victims of drowning, lack of food, water, and medicine, and other causes. And so it goes. Act II finds the survivors struggling to keep it together while the federal, state, and local assistance they've been promised fails to show up; Act III traces the dispersal of these so-called "refugees" (as one man puts it, "Refugees? You mean they took away our citizenship, too?") all over the country, not knowing where their families, friends, and neighbors are, or even if they're still alive; and Act IV deals with the slow rebuilding of the city while insurance companies refuse to pay claims and money keeps going toward the Iraq war effort instead.

Several themes predominate here. One, of course, is the appalling performance of authorities on nearly every level, who ignored specific warnings about the levees and then professed ignorance after the fact; Lee doesn't have to go out of his way to make George W. Bush, FEMA chief Michael Brown, and other members of the Bush administration (not to mention his own mother) look bad, as they do an excellent job of that themselves. Another is the shameful ineptitude of the response; it's hard not to be disgusted when it's pointed out more than once that while we were able to provide supplies and assistance to Indonesians within two days of the 2004 tsunami, American citizens were virtually ignored for five days or more. Most of all, When the Levees Broke (which includes optional commentary by Lee for all four acts) leaves us feeling the sheer rage of the poor and dispossessed of New Orleans, where the population is 70 percent African-American. Confronted with the ignorance, arrogance, and callousness of the people whose job it was to protect them, they can point to just one cause: racism. –Sam Graham

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars WHY I FEEL THE LEVEES WERE BLOWN
ANY BODY FROM THE LOWER NINE WHO SURVIVED BETSY KNOWS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. KATRINA'S LEVEE BREAK WAS A REPEAT PERFORMANCE IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THE ELDER ONES WILL NOT TALK, THOSE THAT DID AREN'T HERE ANY MORE. IF LEVEE GAVE AWAY FROM WEAR /TEAR / DECAY, V OR U SHAPED GAP WOULD PULL BARGE THROUGH AT ANGLE PARTIALLY SELF PLUGGING HOLE WITH BARGE. IT TAKES AN H TYPE BREAK TO FLOAT A HALF-LOADED BARGE THROUGH THE GAP SIDEWAYS AND CARRY IT 3 BLOCKS PAST BREAKPOINT. CERTAIN PARTS OF THE GARDEN DISTRICT AND MOST DEFINATELY AUDOBON PLACE (HOME OF THE '12 APOSTLES'– DECENDANTS OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF NEW ORLEANS) MUST BE SAVED AT ANY COST. RELEIVING WATER SURPLUS ON ONE SIDE SAVES THE OTHER. SEE ARTICLE FROM 09/02/05 USA TODAY (YOU'D BETTER HAV A BACK COPY–**** ALL PRINTS OF THAT ARTICLE HAVE BEEN PULLED******—-.

5 Stars Powerful Reminder of Nature's Force and Human Failures
Spike Lee produced one very long but in-depth look at the ravages of hurricane Katrina. Having just spend a few days in New Orleans on a service trip with high school students, I found the film to be a great way to introduce the students to the human cost of Katrina, not just the lives lost but the continued failure to help the poor and vulnerable reconstruct their lives. So much of New Orleans remains destroyed 2.5 years later. Anything that is done for the poor is done by nonprofit organization and volunteers. There is no federal or state aid available as real and immediate assistance. The politics is disgraceful and the film certainly brings that out. There is also the suggestion that the levees were bombed but I find that the least believable aspect of the film. This is one very depressing film that may induce hope for change or a sense of powerlessness. In either case, it does something to the viewer. You will not leave it unaffected.

5 Stars Very powerful!!!
I think this is one of Spike Lee's greatest works. I enjoyed his unbiased approach. I'm glad I bought it becasue it shows the part of Hurricane Katrina the news media didn't cover. You will experience a lot of emotions. A must see documentary!!!!

5 Stars When the Levees Broke
I've seen this four part requiem on HBO before I ordered it and I must say that I love it more now than then. This is a great documentary. I feel as if Spike Lee did an outstanding job! The Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans was a horrible episode in American history, especially for many African Americans. It's heartbreaking to hear and see some of the events and stories, but by doing so it lets you know that this great ol' America that we live in and feel so secure in, has it flaws. We of course can't control mother nature, but the people who were in charge of protecting and insuring the lives of American citizens through a time of disaster, didn't fully step up.

5 Stars Powerful
Well done documentary on how Katrina affected ALL of New Orleans not just the poor left behind. I found myself in tears at times. I found myself down in New Orleans volunteering to rebuild shortly after viewing this.

My copy has been passed around the block a time or two. Share with everyone you know.

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Above the Rim

A hot prospect threatens his college career by playing in a high stakes street basketball tournament. Starring Duane Martin, Tupac Shakur and Marlon Wayans. Year: 1994 Director: Jeff Pollack Starring: Duane Martin Leon, Tupac Shakur, Marlon Wayans

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Nice Basketball-Oriented Drama
The 1995 classic basketball movie "Above The Rim" is a great movie, even though it is going on ten years old. However, time can not erase the fact that this movie is spectacular. The cast of characters is good, the script is good, and overall this is an awesome movie if you're a fan of Tupac Shakur, or just a fan of basketball movies with more than just basketball in it.

The story is about Kyle Watson (Duane Martin) and Tommy "Shep" Sheppard (Leon). Kyle is really into basketball and he plays for the high school team, but he's a little self centered on the court. When his friend Bugaloo (Marlon Wayans) busts out of jail, he introduces Kyle to Birdie (Tupac Shakur), who wants to put Kyle on his annual Shoot Out Tournament team. Even though Kyle told his coach he was going to play for him in the shoot-out, he decides to play for Birdie, as he offers him somewhat of a better or good life. This part of the story is kinda cliche, either sell your soul for riches or do the right thing and go the better way out. Which one will Kyle choose when it's time? Shep has a story of his own. From what I could tell, Shep was a very good ballplayer when he was Kyle's age. Due to a certain tragedy, Shep threw it all away. Shep comes back from where he ran to, and ends up meeting Kyle's mother, and starts dating her. Kyle doesn't like Shep at all, due to a little bit of Birdie's influence, who is tied to Shep. Turns out, Shep helps Kyle throughout the movie.

There is not many extras on the DVD though. You could either get this on VHS or DVD and have the exact same thing. The movie has a great cast to back it up: Duane Martin, Marlon Wayans, Leon, Tupac Shakur, Tonya Pinkins, Bernie Mac, etc. They are all great in their roles. Despite being just about a decade old, this movie stands the test of time for me. It also has a great soundtrack, featuring hits such as "Regulate" by Nate Dogg and Warren G, and "Pour Out A Little Liquor" by 2Pac, and "Pain" by 2Pac and the Outlaws, which is one of my favorite songs. It really fits with the movie when they play it.

However cliche the storyline may be, this is still an excellent movie. The acting is tremendous, especially by Tupac and Marlon Wayans. This movie also established Leon and Marlon as 2 of my favorite actors. If you're looking for a great basketball movie with enough drama to keep you entertained, other than basketball, then this is the movie for you. This is also a good addition to your 2Pac collection (R.I.P.) Go ahead and buy Above the Rim now!

4 Stars no title
Well, here's a movie I didn't want to see at all (I loathe basketball), but I enjoyed it very much. Two actors to watch who are very charismatic - Leon and Tupac Shakur (whose murder robbed the screen of a very fine talent). The former exudes a quiet power reminiscent of Lawrence Fishberne; the latter has amazing eyes with incredibly curly lashes. Another note: I haven't seen a movie that looked this sharp and clear, whose colors were crisp and bright, in many a year. And the basketball shots during the "tournament"! Wow! What editing! Whoever did that really knew his stuff. The story was fairly hokey - good guy, bad guy, competing for the young basketball whiz, and fairly predictable. I did think his overblown jealousy of his mom dating Leon a little too too. But Shakur's portrayal of the local king-pin was very effective. He actually seemed friendly and OK, but the menace below was subtly done. I have seen him before in "Poetic Justice".

3 Stars another classic that was almost as good as juice Joe Brown
this is tupac's other good movie 4 those of u question tupac's acting ability tupac does it once again this time as a street wealthy gangsta more calm and smoother than his outragerous character n juice n da movie, he has a older brother leon (known as shep) they r both different from each other and both lost a family member with da scene showning both of their at da graveyard togehter marlon wayans did surprisingly good acting considering that he is usually a comedian n most of his movies but n above da rim he was funny but yet serious at da sametime duane martin delivers a very good 2 considerly great performance who needs more roles he does both comedy and serious actin and rumor had it that he once play n da nba 4 a short period of time 4 da ny knicks bernie mac acted well and was funny at da sametime this movie he played a drugholic who lived out n da streets I love da soundtrack 2 da movie from Warren G and Nate Dogg which is one of da best soundtrack songs i have ever heard

4 Stars Kinda Generic
"Above the Rim" is about the city game of basketball, played on asphalt in a rough, physical style, where the rewards are status and glory in the neighborhood. It was shot on location in Harlem, and especially at Rucker's Playground, a legendary court where, in the 1970s, visiting stars like Wilt Chamberlain and Julius Erving would drop by to play with the local heroes.

The movie moves the action up to the present and tells the story of a high school basketball whiz named Kyle (Duane Martin) who has attracted the attention of top college scouts. A Georgetown recruiter has been in the stands for several games. Kyle dreams of someday playing in the NBA and waits anxiously for a letter of intent from Georgetown, which doesn't come - maybe because, in an attempt to impress the scout, he's been hogging the ball and taking unwise shots.

Parallel to high school basketball, but in a world of its own, is the neighborhood Shoot-Out, a tournament held at Rucker's Playground with teams sponsored by local merchants, including drug dealers. Kyle plans to play for a team run by his school coach. But then his best friend, Bugaloo (Marlon Wayans), talks him into visiting a club run by the sinister Birdie (Tupac Shakur), and the kid is seduced by its shabby glamor into agreeing to play for Birdie's team.

This is not a wise move. Birdie is a drug dealer, and that's a fact well-known to the tall, silent Shep (Leon), a former Rucker's star who moved out of town but is now back as a security guard at the high school. Shep was once friendly with Kyle's mother (Tonya Pinkins), and now, as they begin to see each other again, he tries to guide Kyle in the direction of college, and away from the superficial glories of the Shoot-Out.

The movie climaxes, of course, with the big Shoot-Out game, and with a violent surprise that I found less than likely. But that's not really what it's about. It's more about the dreams of poor black kids to use their basketball skills as a ticket out of the inner city.

This is an elusive dream, as the brilliant Chicago-based documentary "Hoop Dreams" demonstrates. Only a tiny percentage of high school stars ever play in college, let alone in the NBA. But kids like Kyle can't help hoping. And both Shep and his mother point out that education, not the NBA ticket, is the real reason to go to school.

The movie lives easily on the streets where it is shot, and the performances - especially by Martin, Shakur and Pinkins - are convincing. We get a sense of the daily rhythm of the character's lives, and for a drama, the movie finds room for a surprising amount of humor, especially in the dialogue.

The movie, directed by Jeff Pollack, was co-written by Pollack and Barry Michael Cooper, who wrote the poetic and evocative Wesley Snipes drama "Sugar Hill." In both films Cooper has a strong interest in family, in how extended support networks can fill some of the gaps left by the disintegration of the traditional family unit.

Here Kyle is a kid in a lot of potential trouble, but also with a lot of good support.

My complaint about the movie is that the plot goes on automatic pilot in creating the character of Birdie. The neighborhood drug dealer is such a standard cliche by now that it's almost as if they plugged him into the movie as a shortcut to a villain. Shakur plays him well, and he makes a satisfactory bad guy, but the subliminal message is that drugs are where the money is. The movie could have come up with more original choices.

5 Stars This is the real s( )t (My name is O.I)
This is the best sports movie ever, tied with Any Given Sunday. This movie was really melodramatic, and had excellent actors, like Duane Martin, Tupac, MArlon Wayans, that dude named Leon, and Bernie Mac. This movie was really violent and at the same time dramatic. My favorite character was Birdie (Tupac Shakur). Trust me, if you are thinking about getting this movie, get it. It is very good for all men to watch out there, and plus, get the soundtrack along with it. It is a classic, g-funk, rap album that is my favorite soundtrack, and I'm sure yall will like it to.

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Pans Labyrinth HD DVD

Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, Jorge Luis Borges, and Guillermo del Toro's own unlimited imagination, Pan's Labyrinth is a fairytale for adults. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) may only be 12, but the worlds she inhabits, both above and below ground, are dark as anything del Toro has conjured. Set in rural Spain, circa 1944, Ofelia and her widowed mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil, Belle Epoque), have just moved into an abandoned mill with Carmen's new husband, Captain Vidal (Sergi L?pez, With a Friend like Harry). Carmen is pregnant with his son. Other than her sickly mother and kindly housekeeper Mercedes (Maribel Verd?, Y Tu Mam? Tambi?n), the dreamy Ofelia is on her own. Vidal, an exceedingly cruel man, couldn't be bothered. He has informers to torture. Ofelia soon finds that an entire universe exists below the mill. Her guide is the persuasive Faun (Doug Jones, Mimic). As her mother grows weaker, Ofelia spends more and more time in the satyr's labyrinth. He offers to help her out of her predicament if she'll complete three treacherous tasks. Ofelia is willing to try, but does this alternate reality really exist or is it all in her head? Del Toro leaves that up to the viewer to decide in a beautiful, yet brutal twin to The Devil's Backbone, which was also haunted by the ghost of Franco. Though it lacks the humor of Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth represents Guillermo Del Toro at the top of his considerable game. –Kathleen C. Fennessy

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars superb hd dvd
the first and last new line hd dvd with one of the finest movies of the year.The movie doesnt need any comment and on this hd dvd you see the best

5 Stars BEST SOUND AND PICTURE
THIS MOVIE HAS THE BEST 7.1 CHANNELS SOUND AND THE BEST 1080 RESOLUTION. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY USE YOUR BLU RAY PLAYER.

3 Stars Absolutely awesome with a major fault
For a movie this spectacular, why can't it be in English.

In Spanish, I give it 3 stars.

If it were in English, I'd give it 6 stars.

5 Stars The best film of 2006! An inspired DVD edition!
In my opinion, the best of 2006. Del Toro's blending of brutal reality and terrifying but redemptive imagination was by far the most original, fascinating, best crafted, and profoundly moving film of the year. And this DVD is just chock-full of features that will deepen your understanding of the director's purposes in making this beautiful film.

5 Stars Hard to Imagine 4 Star Rating for This!
Outstanding film all the way around. I must admit I am surprised to see the 4 star rating.

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Von Ryans Express All New 2 disc Edition

Forget Indiana Jones. This 1965 high adventure stars Frank Sinatra as the leader of a mass escape from a World War II POW camp in Italy. That mission accomplished, Old Blue Eyes has sundry adventures camouflaging the freed men as German soldiers, trying to fool the Gestapo, and finally doing battle with enemy planes and ground troops while trying to get a hijacked train through a blocked tunnel. Sinatra is in great form and director Mark Robson handles the endless chain of action set-pieces with panache. A great pulse-quickener. –Tom Keogh

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars A NOVEL WAR MOVIE
Once the viewer has gotten past the fact that his movie is not based on fact, but fiction, then it's clear sailing for two hours of first rate entertainment. It's really a timeless picture, adaptable to all ages, with a simple plot, which may be responsible for multiple viewings 43 years after its release. Sinatra was a very underrated actor-"From Here to Eternity", 'The Manchurian Candidate", this film, et al. Perhaps his singing or his "friends" detracted from his filmwork, but most of it was first rate. Howard may be even better in this film, a realistic contrast of British "duty" to American expediency. In the end, Ryan must die for two reasons:too many gaffes have left too many dead, for which he must atone, and secondly, any other finale would have been trite,even absurd.Find out why this picture, beautifully photographed, continues to bring one back for more after all these years.

5 Stars If only one gets out, it's a victory !
"Von Ryan's express" still stands out among the most exciting, explosive and moving epic war films ever, not only because its vibrant final in the middle of those arresting Swiss landscapes, besides it explores step by step a lesson of leadership since the Colonel Ryan must assume by range the entire command of this group of prisoners and face against all the obstacles all the way through.

In order to get the freedom, this bunch of brave men will have the best they can, from their particular trench.

Fine performances of Trevor Howard as the reluctant British officer accustomed to follow the military paradigms of his ages against this new way of approach represented by Ryan.

One of the most relevant war films ever made.

4 Stars Heroes die hard
Von Ryan's Express is a compelling drama featuring the heroism and bravery of a motley crew of prisoners. Not short on bravery Frank Sinatra and his men do their best to wreek havoc on the German war effort and get their freedom as well. The action never stops and hopes remain high until the end when the main hero loses his life. It is a reminder that many gave their lives in a noble effort to win the peace and preserve a way of life. War is not a noble profession, but sometimes men can rise above with a little resolve and dignity. The greatest generation of all time is represented well here. One can only hope that lessons were learned in this war. Some choose to forget them, but I never will. I cherish my freedom and never forget those who died so I could live in peace.

4 Stars An enjoyable guilty pleasure but not a necessary upgrade if you already have the film
Von Ryan's Express belongs to the dying days of WW2-as-Boys-Own-adventure movies, where, for all the cynical window-dressing, the good guys can always outwit overwhelming numbers of Nazis and death is still heroic. It's also much more entertaining than it has any right to be as Frank Sinatra's unpopular new senior officer leads several hundred prisoners of war to freedom by hijacking a Nazi train and conning his way through Italy to Switzerland while Trevor Howard's old school British officer snipes at his bad form all the way and Edward Mulhare's loveable padre impersonates a German officer to get them past the checkpoints. Yep, it's The Great Escape meets The Train, with Great Escaper John Leyton along for the ride just in case anyone misses the connection. As big, not quite as dumb as it could be entertainment it certainly does the trick, throwing in an enjoyable if sparse Jerry Goldsmith score and a particularly memorable finale.

Sadly the new 2-DVD release really is hard to recommend for any but hardcore Jerry Goldsmith fans, the only notable extras being an isolated score track and a brief featurette on the composer. Aside from trailers and TV spots, the rest is made up with talking heads background featurettes with none of the films surviving participants contributing. Even worse is the fact that brief clips are used from a vintage behind the scenes short made during production, but the short itself is not included. It's fine for a first-time buy, but not really worth an upgrade if you already have the previous edition.

5 Stars Great war action
I saw this movie years ago and loved it then. When I saw the DVD I brought it. The quality of this fast paced movie is very good. I really enjoyed the scenes where Frank Sinitra,as the new POW leader,made the Italians give the POWs new uniforms. The action is plentiful and the acting good.Sinitra doesn't sing but he is convincing as the American colonel.

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Knuffle Bunny and More Great Childhood Adventure Stories Scholastic Storybook Treasures

Childhood is a magical time of learning, discovery, and personal growth and the trials and triumphs of growing up spring to life in this Scholastic DVD presentation of six favorite children's stories. "Knuffle Bunny," a story written and narrated by Mo Willems, follows Trixie and her Daddy on a trip to the laundromat where they inadvertently misplace Trixie's favorite bunny. After some panicked babbling on Trixie's part and a little help from Mom, Trixie's bunny is found and Trixie utters her first words. In Cari Best's "Shrinking Violet," the extremely shy Violet is panicking over a role in an upcoming school play, but her teacher cleverly ensures Violet's participation while respecting and easing her fears. "Possum Magic," (0152632247) written and narrated by Mem Fox, tells the magical story of an invisible possum named Hush and his grandmother as they eat their way around Australia in an attempt to make Hush visible and Lois Ehlert's "Planting a Rainbow" celebrates the colorful flowers of the garden. Bonus story "Brave Irene" by William Steig tells the story of a young girl's resolve to make an important journey in spite of a terrible storm and Miriam Cohen's "Will I Have a Friend" details the fears and triumphs of a young child on his first day of school. Each of these six scholastic read-along DVD stories is expertly narrated, features nice musical accompaniment, and preserves the stories' original artwork. (Ages 2 to 7) –Tami Horiuchi

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Knuffle Bunny is Great! The remaining 60 minutes is not.
Knuffle Bunny is great, it's awesome - but it's only 5 minutes long. The Scholastic Storybook Treasures feature a "main event" that gets you to buy the disc. Then they fill the rest of the DVD like the undercard of a major boxing match. The second story - "Shrinking Violet" is very good also. Two good stories, but the remaining stories are quite boring. At least, my three and a half year old thought so. Knuffle Bunny and Shrinking Violet are worth the price, just don't expect the full DVD to be as good as Knuffle Bunny.

5 Stars Terrific Video of a Wonderful Story!
Knuffle Bunny is a wonderful story to share with young children and this video enhances the story by making it even more special. Having both Trixie and her dad narrate makes the story more real. I used in with my K-2 grade library classes and both boys and girls identified with Trixie losing her bunny. They all laughed when she started bawling and her daddy tried to hide with her behind a tree. They all also know what going 'boneless" meant and many admitted that they had gone "boneless" more than once. The love between father and daughter shines bright, making this a must have video for lovers of the book.

4 Stars Loves her bunny!
Like Trixie, my 3 yr old daughter has a very special bunny. We fell in love with the Knuffle Bunny and Knuffle Bunny Too books right away. Our daughter can really relate to Trixie and now and then even calls her bunny 'knuffle bunny'. As far as the dvd, our daughter loves watching Knuffle Bunny, Planting a Rainbow and Will I Have a Friend?. The other stories don't seem to have her interest, however that is probably just an age or personality thing. I am happy for her to watch books being read to her and word tracking on the screen. Our daughter loves to be read to, but I think she enjoys seeing some familiar books come alive with animation.

4 Stars Knuffle Bunny We Love You!
Knuffle Bunny is one of our family's favorite books and we can't wait to see the DVD. We have other Scholastice Storybook DVDs and have never been disappointed. They are true to the original book, gentle and adorable–we don't even feel guilty letting our children watch them, and our kids absolutely love.

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Dan Zanes and Friends All Around the Kitchen Crazy Videos and Concert Songs

With his trademark happy hair and spirited band comes Dan Zanes in his first-ever DVD, a concert/video collection of sing along melodies blending rock, folk, and global rhythms into a homespun musical menagerie. Formerly with the Del Fuegos band and riding on the success of seven CDs, Zanes presents All Around the Kitchen! featuring nine musical selections performed live in concert at New York's Knitting Factory. Whether familiar songs such as "Hokey Pokey" and "Polly Wolly Doodle," or lesser known numbers like "Malti," Zanes takes traditional music, winsomely turns it on its head, and adds such diverse instruments as accordion, banjo, upright bass, mandolin, and ukulele. On the program's alternative track, viewers can choose among a half dozen music videos pulsating with kids, street scenes, dancing, singing, and jubilant acoustics. There is "House Party Time," "All Around the Kitchen," and "Hello" as seen on Noggin, as well as "Jump Up" and "Go Down Emmanuel Road" performed on Sesame Street. Zanes' soulful musicians, contagious enthusiasm, and all-inclusive approach to music make this a song-and-dance fest where everyone finds a voice. (All ages) –Lynn Gibson

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Awesome
I bought this video for my 3 year old grandson when I bought the guitar as recommended by some of the reviews. It proved to be a hit with him and mommy, daddy and gramma too. You ask him who his favorite music is he answers,"Dan Zane" He especially loves "Mother Goose"

5 Stars Quality Children's Viewing
As a parent Dan Zanes' DVD meets all my criteria for educational viewing. My 2 year old daughter loves it! She sings along with the songs and enjoys both the footage of the concert and the creative music videos. We both especially love Emmanuel Road with the whimsical animation and counting from 1 - 5 and back down again. My daughter's hair requires a daily hair regimen and this video is perfect to keep her amused while I comb, detangle, and style her hair.

5 Stars Dan Zanes & Friends - All Around the Kitchen!
This DVD has folk songs that kids really enjoy. My graddaughter has it and I bought it for my other granddaughter. The songs are very catchy.

5 Stars My daughter LOVES this DVD!!!
I bought this DVD for my daughter's 2nd birthday and she just LOVES it! She asks me to play "shake shake" for her all of the time! It is so cute to watch my daughter dance and sing while she is watching this DVD. We also ended up buying our daughter two if the audio CD's because she love Dan Zanes so much!

Great DVD for all ages! I like the music as well.

5 Stars Great music for adults and kids
Our family loves Dan Zane!! His music and videos are fun for the adults and kids…everyone gets to sing and dance! I recommend it to all our firends!!

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The Law of Attraction In Action

On this inspirational DVD program, Esther and Jerry Hicks present the teachings of the Non-Physical entity Abraham, whom Esther calls infinite intelligence and Jerry refers to as the purest form of love Ive ever encountered. The Law of Attraction is never more evident than in the pulse of an Abraham-Hicks Art of Allowing Workshop. And this is one of the year s best, so sit back, relax, allow, and attract.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Channeling is not my cup of tea BUT
I like "Abraham"/Hicks teaching a little more than the ever so harsh and materialistic "Secret".

This stuff does work. I publish books that the authors Hicks and the producer of the Secret "borrowed" from. There is a catch however; the Universe cannot be used as an ATM. There is a reverse blow when you manifest. What does this mean? It means that there is a cost for everything. Oh yes, if your karma would not allow manifesting something it won't work. period

AMN

Murine Press

4 Stars The Law of Attraction in Action
It's an excellent material. Well done, clear.

I knew about it from the documentary "The Secret". It helps anyone to understand the First Law of the Universe: The Law of Attraction.

5 Stars Awesome and Inspiring
I have been following Abraham's teachings for 2 years and never had the opportunity to sit in on a seminar. This video was a wonderful way to feel like you were a part of the seminar and I felt that they were talking to me too. It was great to watch Esther and Abraham in action. I recommend this to anyone who wants to improve their life. They are AWESOME.

3 Stars Some excellent info but missing some major concepts
Esther Hicks (Abraham) presents some fantastic, life-changing info in her books, CDs and DVDs, but is missing some MAJOR life-concepts. What I found to be missing was gratitude and giving…..the focus seems to be completely on getting what you want, but I didn't see anything about serving others or being grateful for what you already have. (I've read or watched "The Law of Attraction", "The Law of Attraction in Action" and "Abraham: The Secret Behind the Secret") In that light, I found The Secret to be far superior.

What bothered me the most is that she states that there is no such thing as right or wrong, and that murder cannot be wrong. She went on to say that in some way, those murdered or suffering beings chose the suffering before they were born. (That was stated in "Abraham: The Secret Behind the Secret") I found this to be completely bizarre and WAY off the mark. The same day I heard that on her DVD, the news had a story about a man had "dropped kicked his baby like a soccer ball"….the baby later died. I thought…."so Esther thinks that's OK?….that child CHOSE the suffering?" That's beyond strange to me.

I also don't really buy the whole channeling thing….I think she BELIEVES that it's happening, but I believe it's all coming from her, not some group of entities that possess her after a few deep breaths. Abraham's accent has changed pretty drastically over the years, which I find quite telling.

All that said, there is still a lot of very valuable info to be had in the Hicks books, etc….you just have to gloss over the bizarre stuff.

5 Stars Cannot get enough of the Abraham's teachings
This philosophy is so "delicious" I listen to it as much as I can during the day. It is a great commute companion. It has given me a new perspective on life. I thank God, the Universal Consciousness which created circumstances and events that lead me to get in touch with Abraham's teaching. Only good things have come out of it. Thank you God

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10 Things I Hate About You

It's, like, Shakespeare, man! This good-natured and likeable update of The Taming of the Shrew takes the basics of Shakespeare's farce about a surly wench and the man who tries to win her and transfers it to modern-day Padua High School. Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) is a sullen, forbidding riot grrrl who has a blistering word for everyone; her sunny younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) is poised for high school stardom. The problem: overprotective and paranoid Papa Stratford (a dryly funny Larry Miller) won't let Bianca date until boy-hating Kat does, which is to say never. When Bianca's pining suitor Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) gets wind of this, he hires the mysterious, brooding Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to loosen Kat up. Of course, what starts out as a paying gig turns to true love as Patrick discovers that underneath her brittle exterior, Kat is a regular babe. The script, by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, is sitcom-funny with peppy one-liners and lots of smart teenspeak; however, its cleverness and imagination doesn't really extend beyond its characters' Renaissance names and occasional snippets of real Shakespearean dialogue. What makes the movie energetic and winning is the formula that helped make She's All That such a big hit: two high-wattage stars who look great and can really act. Ledger is a hunk of promise with a quick grin and charming Aussie accent, and Stiles mines Kat's bitterness and anger to depths usually unknown in teen films; her recitation of her English class sonnet (from which the film takes its title) is funny, heartbreaking, and hopelessly romantic. The imperious Allison Janney (Primary Colors) nearly steals the film as a no-nonsense guidance counselor secretly writing a trashy romance novel. –Mark Englehart

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars 10 Things I Hate About You
This movie is a comedy romance. It is fun for the whole family. It has a lot of great sarcasism, and also in the end, you still get the little warm fuzzy feeling you get in romances. I recommend this movie to any who appreciate sarcasism for humor.

5 Stars Great
The best teen comedy of the late 90's. Theres something in there for everyone. If you're from the Northwest or you've ever wanted to go it gives you a great impression of what its like to grow up in Washington

4 Stars Entertaining.
10 Things I Hate About You starring Julia Stiles is a clever and modern twist on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. This film is even sadder to watch now since Heath Ledger's passing, his performance made him a star. Ledger is very likeable and charming in this film, you'll love him in it. Great cast, fun comedy, and unexpected romance. Buy this movie today!

4 Stars Taming the shrew
Excellent movie. Funny , love story. Filmed here in Tacoma and it wasn't raining , Imagine that ! Julia & Heath were fantastic.

4 Stars Surprisingly excellent teen comedy
The 80s were a big time for the teen genre; it seemed like almost every week there was a new teen movie opening, but with the end of the 80s and the end of the John Hughes era seemed to be the end of the teen genre. While there were still some teen movies produced in the 90s they didn't seem to get over as well. But towards the late 90s with the success of the TV series Dawson's Creek and the American Pie franchise suddenly the teen genre was back in a big way. What followed were mostly lackluster movie, but 10 Things I Hate About You is one of the better ones to follow.

Clich?s are a very odd thing; sometimes they can do a movie in due to how predictable it is where as other times they help make the movie enjoyable. 10 Things I Hate About You is one of the movies where the clich?s actually help and make the movie a lot of fun. We've seen movies like this done back in the 80s and overall done better, but there is just something about this movie that works really well and it comes out very enjoyable.

I have no problem with sexuality in movies it's a shame in these PC days everyone seems to complain, but it's kind of nice not having any of that. At first the sexual gags are fun, but then other filmmakers see that and try and up the ante and it's no longer fun. It becomes doing these gags for the sake of it. 10 Things I Hate About You goes back and does things more simple and simply just aims to make you laugh and entertain you and it very much gets the job done.

The screenplay by Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith was very well written with excellent and characters with plenty of depth; all the usual type characters are here; the jock, the pretty popular girl, the guy in love with the popular girl, the outcast and the bad boy. With all of that one would think this movie would probably fail, but to the credit of the writers they take the basic teen movie formula and work it well and write a very entertaining movie.

Director Gil Junger pretty much delivers the text book teen movie direction and like the writing instead of hurting it really works well despite any clich?s. When doing a teen flick there are often silly and over the top moments; sometimes they work and sometimes they fell flat. But here the over the top moments are well done and believable.

10 Things I Hate About You in my opinion is a much better movie than one might think. The movie has a lot of heart and a great message of just be yourself. This is the type of movie that is a great pick up if you are feeling down. At least for me it works like that and entertains me for 90-minutes and puts a smile on my face and despite any flaws that is all that matters. How the movie ends shouldn't come as much of a shocker to the audience. I think it's safe to know from the very start once the plot kicks in how this will all turn out. But again despite all this 10 Things really works so well and is one of the better teen flicks of the 90s and quite honestly would make my top 10 teen comedies, I really enjoyed this film a lot more than I thought I would.

I'm not gonna jump on the let's all praise Heath Ledger, which due to his tragic death a lot of people are now doing. Heath Ledger was a very talented actor and despite being an Oscar nominated actor didn't fully reach his potential. I think the future was very bright for him and he would have lived up to that potential. But here in 10 Things he was really great. He played the typical teen movie bad boy with another side. And he does it so well and brings so much to the role. His character was one of the leads and honestly it could have been a boring clich?d character, but Ledger brought so much and almost makes it fresh. Julia Stiles I also really liked; her character was a lot of fun and any scene with her and Heath Ledger worked great.

The rest of the cast is excellent as well, but in my opinion Larry Miller as the over-protective father steals the show. I've always liked Larry Miller; he's one of those guys that seems to always pop up. You might not always know his name, but you'll know his face. Even in the smallest of roles he always delivers and in 10 Things I Hate About You he clearly steals the show.

Teen driven movies often hire actors in their mid to late 20s and even as old as early 30s. While that isn't old, but for playing a teenager it sure is. So it's really refreshing to see a movie about teenagers and all the actors very close to the ages. Most of the cast in the movie were very close to the ages of their characters at the time of filming.

In closing, while 10 Things I Hate About You may not be the most original teen comedy what it lacks in originality it makes up in just pure fun. This movie is a blast from beginning, middle to end. The highlight of the movie is Heath Ledger singing Just too Good to Be True in the bleachers to Julia Stiles.

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Silk

Based on the best-selling novel by Alessandro Baricco, Silk is a visually stunning epic spanning two continents. Hervé Joncour's (Michael Pitt) devotion to his beautiful bride (Keira Knightley) is tested by increasingly, dangerous trade missions in search of silkworms for his towns survival. From his journeys to Japan, Hervé brings great wealth for his village, but with each return to the Far East he becomes torn by the temptation of a local warlords sensuous concubine and his love for Hèléne.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Just some mess!
This movie is a rushed, half-hearted mess! I've loved Alfred Molina since "Frida" and I hope this bad film doesn't negatively impact his career.

This film works by the concept "less is more." The lead characters are always tight-lipped and have close to no lines. I think it's meant to imply that they are too deep for words, but it'll definitely make the viewer think, "Who chopped all the dialogue out of this?!" As a period piece, this work is kinda plain. You see a few nice outfits and a few, very small settings. The makers must not have had a budget to do more, or something. You'll see better outfits and settings of Europe and Japan in films like "Farinelli" or "Memoirs of a Geisha."

While a lot of stuff is rushed, a lot of stuff is painfully prolonged. The main character and his French wife are instantly in love. You never see their courtship develop. It's like they just become a couple because he's a man and she's a woman. There's no reason why the main character should fall in love with his Japanese paramour. Again, there is no dialogue or development for that. I highly doubt in conservative Japan, elders would let a young lady get down with a foreigner to whom she is not married so easily. On the other hand, when the main character first travels from France to Japan, he doesn't just take a boat. It's like he took a coach, then a train, then a camel, then a unicorn, and then he practically swam the Sea of Japan.

Whereas Huang's "M. Butterfly" made an interesting and needed twist on "Madame Butterfly," this film does nothing fresh to address East-West schisms. Like always, the West is masculine, the East is feminine. This film is highly disappointing. It is not a well-done arthouse piece; it's a cheap impostor.

1 Star lemme even the score out…. where's the "zero star" rating?
I rented this on the single, only, recommendation in existence (5-star) at the time. My wife says it better than I; "I'm glad that was a free rental; too bad we got suckered right through to the end. That's 2 hours lost."

She and I rate this movie between a 2 and 3–excruciatingly plain, with no more substance that is obviously apparent. A weak story line that can't be saved by either lead performer's presence. It might qualify as an "art house" movie, but that's as good a description as it deserves. Skip it, unless you're trapped indoors and can't bear watching paint dry.

5 Stars A quiet , visually stunning gift of Love
This Italian-Japanese production is a quiet and visually beautiful tale of Love. This a movie for those that appreciate the power of the unspoken. Stunning cinematography, and tender and graceful music by Ryuichi Sakamoto. A film to be felt on many levels. Like a fine piece of classical music, each instrument (person/character) had a specific role to play in experiencing its message. There are no hero's or villians here. While this film may be considered too slow for some, it is a welcome change from the frantic, action-driven pace of most films of today.

5 Stars 'Come back or I shall die'
For those who fell under the spell of Alessandro Baricco's novel SILK, a meditation about love, desire, and conflict, this cinematic transformation adapted as a screenplay and directed by Fran?ois Girard will not disappoint: reservations about making Baricco's poetry visual are for the most part put to rest. The resulting film, SILK, is supported by a sensitive cast, wondrous cinematography by Alain Dostie, a haunting musical score by Ryuichi Sakamoto, and is an appropriate extension of the beauty of Baricco's short novel.

Set in France in 1862, Herv? Joncour (Michael Pitt) is following his family tradition of military duty until a somewhat mysterious man named Baldabiou (Alfred Molina) approaches Herv?'s father Mayor Joncour (Kenneth Welsh) with an idea to increase the tiny French town's revenues by capitalizing on the manufacture of silk. He talks the town council into fortifying his project and in a short time Baldabiou has several silk mills running. A problem arises when an infection attacks the silkworm eggs and threatens to destroy the business. Baldabiou convinces Herv? to travel to Africa to buy silkworm eggs to solve the dwindling supply. Herv?, meanwhile, has met and fallen in love with the beautiful H?l?ne (Keira Knightley) who is loving enough to encourage Herv?'s travel to Africa for the eggs, a trip Herv? makes and returns with eggs that make the town's mills thrive, allowing the prospering relationship between Herv? and H?l?ne to result in marriage and hopes for a happy future.

The eggs are again attacked by disease and this time Baldabiou sends Herv? to Japan where the perfect eggs can be smuggled out of the country: the trip is arduous, long (through Europe, Russia, China to Japan), and while Herv? succeeds in securing the precious eggs, he also loses his heart to the seductive eyes of the baron's concubine (Sei Ashina). Upon returning home the town prospers, Herv? and H?l?ne try to have children, but Herv? is again forced to travel to Japan for more eggs - and to fulfill the longing to see the concubine again. Japan is now at war and the trip is far more harrowing than before and while Herv? doesn't satisfy his desire for the concubine, she gives him a note in Japanese as he departs for France. Upon returning to France, Herv? has the note translated: 'Come back or I shall die'. His love for H?l?ne remains strong and he shares the experience he had in Japan. A letter is delivered to Herv?, a beautiful love letter, and it is at this point that H?l?ne becomes ill and the events that transpire bring life to the real meaning of love in an unexpected way.

There are problems with the film: the Japanese conversations are not translated by subtitles (perhaps the director wants us to feel the alienation of a Frenchman in a strange land) making the viewer feel that chunks of the story are missing; the emphasis of the film is more concentrated on the beauty of the various locales than on the character development; Michael Pitt is a fine actor but the inner conflicts of his character are not explored well. But these flaws are minor when the scope of the film is viewed in full. It is a beautiful work and one that will satisfy the readers of the novel from which it was adapted. Grady Harp, February 08

2 Stars Did not get it…
I must say that part of my problem with this film was that it was so dark. Not subject matter only, but the actual lighting of the film Now I know that there was not electric light in mid-19th century French villages and not in Japan either. But, I actually was peering at the screen trying to make some of it out.

I have not read the book and so am basing my remarks simply on the movie. I do not understand the life-changing attraction between Herve and the concubine. They hardly look at one another, do not share any words, know nothing about one another and yet yearn to be together. Was it just the excitement of someone new, or the allure of someone exotic? For an oriental woman who belongs to someone else to write "Come back or I shall die", there has to be some major reason. Maybe we are to assume it was just love at first sight?

How did Helene know about the concubine? In one scene, she and Herve are making love and she is crying. Is it because she cannot conceive a child, or does she feel that something has changed with Herve? I will say that the twist in the plot regarding the long letter was interesting and touching.

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Elf Infinifilm Edition

Elf is genuinely good. Not just Saturday Night Live-movie good, when the movie has some funny bits but is basically an insult to humanity; Elf is a smartly written, skillfully directed, and deftly acted story of a human being adopted by Christmas elves who returns to the human world to find his father. And because the writing, directing, and acting are all genuinely good, Elf is also genuinely funny. Will Ferrell, as Buddy the adopted elf, is hysterically sincere. James Caan, as his rediscovered father, executes his surly dumbfoundedness with perfect aplomb. Zooey Deschanel, as a department store worker with whom Buddy falls in love, is adorably sardonic. Director Jon Favreau (Swingers) shepherds the movie through all the obligatory Christmas cliches and focuses on material that's sometimes subtle and consistently surprising. Frankly, Elf feels miraculous. Also featuring Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart, Peter Dinklage, and Ed Asner as Santa Claus. –Bret Fetzer

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars great family movie (10 yrs +)
My daughter Bootsy,my wife and myself Peter realy enjoyed it. We thought it was also very funny.

5 Stars Finally Seen It
Very,very cute with a heart warming ending.It lit up my holiday exceptionally since I needed it desperately,I was burglarized over xmas and lost thousands of $ worth of quality mechanic tools(my name is on the majority so if you see them call te police).

5 Stars Good Show
Was a very good movie in very good condition. Was great price and delivered promptly. Thank you!!

5 Stars A fun family movie
Love this movie. It's a fun, silly, family movie that all ages can enjoy. I usually put our Christmas movies away until December, but this is one that I would keep out to watch when I need a chuckle. I highly recommend it.

4 Stars Will Ferrell is an absolute delight!
Saturday Night Live veteran Will Ferrell is an absolute delight as an elf working his way out of the North Pole and into New York City. He takes a job at Gimbel's department store during the Christmas season and meets his new girlfriend. Great moral support from James Caan and Ed Asner.

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