Monday, October 4, 2010

3:10 To Yuma Blu Ray

An absolutely perfect western, I have tried to find something I dislike about this movie and I've come up with nothing. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe are outstanding in this powerful reinvention of an already good film and story. Bale plays Dan Evans, a down-on-his-luck rancher and Civil War veteran looking for a way to prove himself to his family and earn enough money to buy his land in order to fend off the owner and his gang of thugs. Opportunity knocks when he earns the chance to transport a ruthless outlaw, Ben Wade, played to charming perfection by Russell Crowe, to a 3:10 train on its way to a prison in Yuma.

The journey is not a simple one as the outlaw outsmarts, outwits, and even seems unshaken by every member of his transport crew. While trying to keep ahead of Wade's fellow outlaws, the group also faces Indians and vigilantes.

The best stories are those in which the characters change and grow as the story unfolds. This is definitely true of this movie and Christian Bale and Crowe show their characters evolutions flawlessly. In the touching moment when Bale confesses the true motivation for his choices, everything changes for both men.

This is one of the best films I have ever seen and may even be my favorite western of all time.This movie is Blu Ray..aka Blu-Ray.


3:10 To Yuma

Master and Commander Blu-Ray

I'll have to admit I was awed by this film. Director Peter Weir and the producers of this masterpiece are to be commended for their audacity in creating and releasing a film of this genre in the first place-it just doesn't fit in with the formula age we now live in (just look at some of the mindless reviews this film has received here on amazon).

The fictional, though clearly fact-based story takes a snippet of a voyage of the HMS Surprise, an English warship assigned to capture or destroy the Archeron, a French vessel of superior armament and design. From the very beginning of the film one is assaulted with the idea of just what it was like to be a crewmember on a naval sailing vessel in 1805. Napoleon Bonaparte was at his zenith on the European Continent; the only place he was not able to dominate was the sea.

This film has a realism matched by only the best of the modern war genre; 'Black Hawk Down' and 'Saving Private Ryan' come to mind. Capt. Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) must make decisions that literally mean life and death to his crewmen, some of whom are mere children. Painful consequences are written all over the actor's battleworn faces.

The incredible battle sequences and the amazing navigation of Cape Horn (the southern tip of South America) are a tour de force of cinematography, CGI effects, and the simply magnificent soundtrack. I can honestly say the DTS format on this film is among the best sound I have heard in any DVD-it is that good.

I have watched this film three times now, and am still as impressed as the first time I saw it. There is nothing else in the sailing-era genre of naval warfare film that compares with Master and Commander. I thus give it an unequivocal 5 stars.


master commander

Proof of Life

This movie was engrossing and fun to watch! The characters were totally believable and intense to watch - and I was ready to disbelieve it, and them, at each turn because of the wrong-headed critics. Very entertaining! If you're an average movie buff, you won't be disappointed by this flick. It's got believable bad guys, entertaining and flawed heros, gorgeous locales, and an interesting, multi-layered story.
The love story isn't so much a love story as it is a character study of two people going through an intense and emotional period. It is completely believable how the situation dictates not love but, and I'll use the word again, very intense feelings. That kiss was such a release you could almost taste it yourself.
Buy this movie - you won't be disappointed if you let it carry you away.

proof of life

Cinderella Man

"Cinderella Man", Ron Howard's heart-felt film biography of boxing legend James J. Braddock, never received the recognition it deserved when first released, due, in large part, to Russell Crowe's bad press following a telephone-throwing incident. Overzealous critics tended to lump the incident and film together, and despite Crowe's public apology, many moviegoers skipped it. Now that the film is available on DVD, it's time to acknowledge the film for what it always HAS been; director Howard and star Crowe's FINEST film, together!

Braddock's story is so amazing and inspirational, that it is astonishing that it's taken seventy years to tell it. Sylvester Stallone 'borrowed' from it, extensively, in creating "Rocky", and in viewing the film, the parallels between fact and fiction are obvious; Braddock had been an 'up and comer' in the twenties, but broken bones and ill-advised matches had cost him a championship shot. Then the Depression struck, Braddock was wiped out, financially, and he struggled to support his wife and family through the most harrowing period in American history. Considered 'washed up' and too old for a comeback, all the boxer had going for him was his wife's love, his manager's faith, and his personal integrity, which refused to allow him to give up. He tenaciously climbed back up the ranks of younger title contenders, earning the adoration of a country trying to rebuild their own lives, as well, until, finally, he had his championship match, against ruthless 'killing machine' Max Baer. Their match would become the stuff of legends!

To director Howard's credit, he never 'over-sentimentalizes' the story, or tries to turn it into a soft-focus 'fairy tale'. His vision of the Depression is the most accurate and heartbreaking since the documentaries of the '30s, and will come as a revelation to those whose only knowledge of the period is a paragraph in a history book. Jim Braddock is not a 'Superman', but a hard-working, decent man with no higher vision than to provide his family a better life, and as magnificently portrayed by Crowe, he embodies qualities of honesty and dignity that many of us dream of, but seldom achieve. In any other year, he'd be a shoo-in for an Oscar for his performance, it's that good!

Matching Crowe's portrayal are Renée Zellweger, as his loyal wife, Mae, who perfectly channels a '30s 'style', as well as a gutsiness that is timeless, and the wonderful Paul Giamatti, as manager Joe Gould, who would sell everything he owned, rather than see Braddock give up. Giamatti, a veteran character actor who finally saw his 'breakthrough' in last year's "Sideways", should finally get his long-deserved Oscar, for this role.

"Cinderella Man" is a film that will continue to be cherished long after the filmmakers are gone, a tale rooted in an earlier era, but still timeless.

Movies just don't get better than this!

cinderella man

The Silver Stallion

This is my all time favorite horse movie! Even if you don't like horses you'll like this movie its truly beautiful! The scenery is beautiful,and the air fighting they use is very impressive. It is a story about a brumby stallion who is hunted ( not to eat ) by men season after season. He manages to out smart and out run the man for a while but then he falls in love with the mans palomino mare and steals her away from the man and one thing leads to another. Great movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

the silver stallion

Mystery Alaska

I rented this DVD having never even heard of the movie.But after having watched it, Mystery, Alaska has become one of my favorite movies. This enjoyable tale about a town full of eccentric, hockey-obsessed people, moves along at a nice, steady pace. Unlike many movies these days, Mystery, Alaska doesn't rush through important plot points. When a former neighbor returns home bringing the New York Rangers to play against Mystery's legendary hockey team, the town sheriff, recently bumped from the team for a younger player who's got "jump", agrees to coach. The members of the team are fleshed out well by an ensemble cast of virtual unknowns, with the exception of Russell Crowe. The ending is exciting, and surprisingly unpredictable. For me, the actor that stole the show was Ryan Northcott, a barely credited character, who plays the pivotal role of the high school skating whiz who takes Russell Crowe's place on the team. He has a couple of the most amusing, and embarassing, scenes in the movie, and handles them with humor and grace. Overall, Mystery, Alaska was a funny, enjoyable movie that I recommend to everyone. You don't have to be a hockey fan to love Mystery, Alaska.

mystery alaska

The Insider

This movie is riveting, engaging, and extremely well done. The performances by Crowe, Pacino, and Plummer are especially sharp and on edge, and the direction by Mann is,as always, simply superb. From the opening frames illustrating the cache, access and raw power a TV program like Sixty Minutes offers its producers and stars to the immediately introduced suspenseful counterpoint of Philip Wigand as a man caught in a terrible moral dilemma, this movie is absolutely terrific.
While one relates to Russell Crowe's superb depiction (truly an Oscar-caliber performance) as the man who almost singlehandedly eventually breaks the back of the tobacco conglomerates, I found myself also captivated by Al Pacino's performance with a thoughtful and emotional coda as a smart and street savvy TV producer skating hellbent for leather over the dangerous edges between his personal morality and the seductive but corrupting pressures of a super-competitive and absolutely testosterone-crazy TV program. Likewise, Christopher Plummer's interpretation of Mike Wallace as an egotistical and morally obtuse dilletante who perhaps has stayed at the party overlong is a joy to observe. If it is at all accurate, maybe it's time to finally retire, Mike!
This is a movie that explores the way in which all the powers that be seem to be growing deaf, dumb, and blind to the rights and needs of the individuals in the society, as Wigand finds out quite quickly, to his despair. He finds himself compromised no matter which way he turns, and in an absolutely riveting scene played to the hilt, decides to do what's morally right regardless of the personal consequences. This seemed to be one of the quiet messages imbedded in the movie, that we all need to be more moral and have more intergrity in how we approach ourselves, each other, and the world at large. Amen to that, brother Mann.
Nice to see such extraordinary every-day heroism depicted and lauded on the silver screen. of course, life is never so simple as when it is most complex, and this movie certainly deals with some very controversial issues in an engaging, provocative, and thoughtful story we all can enjoy and learn from. This is a serious, disturbing, and dramatic movie I want to own and pull off the shelf periodically to watch and think about. I think you'll appreciate it too.

the insider

Master and Commander

"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," directed by Peter Weir, tells the rousing story of HMS Surprise, an English warship sailing around South America during the Napoleonic era. The ship's captain (played by Russell Crowe) engages in a battle of wits, wills, and firepower with a rival captain during the perilous sea trek.
This is a vivid, exciting tale of naval warfare, but it's also a satisfying and moving portrayal of a unique community: the company of a warship. The film is full of stirring action scenes, but it is equally rich in the details of the men's everyday life: their food, shipboard entertainment, naval tradition, etc. It's a sweaty, muscular portrait that really puts you in the midst of this fascinating world.
Weir gets superb performances from the large ensemble cast. Crowe won my heart as the captain: he portrays a man who is tough and witty, but also humane and reasonable. Paul Bettany plays the ship's surgeon, both a loyal friend and verbal sparring partner for the captain; it's a marvelously realized relationship. The rest of the cast rises to the high mark set by these excellent performers; Max Pirkis in particular shines as a courageous young midshipman.
There are some intense scenes of violence and combat surgery. But this material is not gratuitous, and is handled with care by Weir, who never loses sight of his characters' humanity. And the film is also about much more than war; it's also about exploring a distant land and seeing wondrous sights. There are nice moments of humor to balance out the film's serious themes of military discipline, ethics and tactics. Overall, M&C is a rousing adventure story, told with heart. As a Navy veteran myself, I'd like to thank and commend all involved with this film.


master and commander

Body of Lies

I have been awaiting the release of this dramatic action thriller directed by Ridley Scott and Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crow for a long time and I was not disappointed.

DiCaprio plays a C.I.A. agent in the middle east who is trying to collect intelligence and is running into twists and turns around every corner. DiCaprio's performance is outstanding. You completely forget who he is and become immersed as him as a C.I.A. agent who is undercover. This is quite an acting job considering that he is the furthest thing from that. He has the grizzled appearance of someone undercover and his scenes are so strong and commanding that he doesn't have that baby boy aspect to him that I've seen in other of his pictures. His was an Oscar worthy performance.

There is the eye in the sky tracking DiCaprio by camera from above as he goes about his seemingly rouge missions for the C.I.A. Russell Crowe plays the older C.I.A. family man who is in contact with Ferris (DiCaprio) as he walks the minefield that is intelligence gathering in the middle east. Crowe is absorbed in his daily life in America and seemingly is oblivious to the hardships and deadly consequences that Ferris is facing. This is an understated role for Crowe who also very good performance. He does not look at all like that same man who played The Gladiator. And I think this is the most relaxed character I've seen him play yet.

This film was expertly directed by Ridley Scott to the point that at times I felt as if I were there. You can almost feel the sand in your lungs and the stink of death and open air markets as you feast your eyes on this gem.

Although I'm not typically an action movie man this one reeled me in because you really didn't know what was next around the corner. The action scenes are great, by the way, even though that's not why I pick movies to watch.

This is a great movie and if you like the actors, director, and genre of this film then it is a definite for you to watch.
I give it all five stars and will watch it again.

body of lies

Gladiator

Gladiator was an excellent movie, definitely timeless. Crowe carries the show on square shoulders. The rise and fall of a powerful man, a man in his humility and a man set in his want of vengeance. I would like to point out that Crowe is at this point in more than 20 films (I read a review that said 4 or 5) though his first noteworthy in the US was in 92 with 'Romper Stomper'.
The rest of the cast does quite well. Joaquin Phoenix does a great job as the loathesome Commodus, at times when I saw it in the theatre he actually had people booing him or calling him a 'wuss' out loud but it was by no means against his acting in the movie, it was playing his character to the hilt.
The action scenes are done very well especially in the gladiatorial arenas. I felt the first war scene in the movie was a bit to choppy and moved around a bit too much. Still, I found myself tensed up and having to remember to relax, it is a movie after all.
The computer visuals add to the great action. The dawns in Rome are magnificently done, the costumes well made and each 'gift' the movie, such as Maximus' gladiator armor, is delivered with a strong background to it.
Sure to be an epic classic.

gladiator

A Beautiful Mind

Bonnie writes..."As I usually try to do, I read the book prior to seeing the movie. The book was much clearer than the movie but I thought the movie was very well done.

The movie is about the Nobel Prize winner in economics, John Nash. It stars Jennifer Connelly and Russell Crowe, John Nash is a Princeton student when he develps Schizophrenia. The movie is very accurate in its portrayal of delusions and hallucinations, though it was sometimes confusing - especially the part about whether his roommate really exists.

Both Crowe and Connelly do excellent jobs. The movie goes light on Nash's bi-sexuality, does not go into his having a deadbeat dad, and ignores his relationship with Eleanor Stier. Other than these things, it is pretty true to the book.

Nash does have a beautiful mind. Once he starts losing his mind due to the tragedy of schizophrenia, it is heartwarming to see that he maintains the respect of his Princeton colleagues and students. I applaud this movie for raising peoples' consciousness about schizophrenia.

I highly recommend this movie for anyone who enjoys drama and is interested in mental illness and resilience."

I saw this movie too.I thought it was awesome.Russell Crowe sure can play a varity of characters with such performance.As with any Russell Crow movie,you'll be sure to love this one too.

a beautiful mind

State Of Play

J.White writes.."Finally a great adult suspense film about several timely subjects . It 's about the dying newspapers and political corruption.
Russell Crowe is excellent as an overweight ,slightly shabby journalist ,who is flawed personally,but an excellent journalist.
Helen Mirren is good as his stressed boss.Ben Afflek is surprisingly good as his old friend and US congressman. Rachel
McAdams is fine as the new face of the news,a blogger for the newspaper. There is suspense, that grabs you and holds you til the end. I saw it with friends and discussed it through and after dinner. Always a sign of a good movie. How in the world does Crowe manage to be so appealing in messy clothes and overweight? I highly recommend this movie. "

I also thought this was a great movie.Lots of mystery,deception,and a hell of a thriller.I'm a huge Russell Crow fan,so this is a must for my collection.He does a great job in this movie,as he does in all his movies.

state of play

A Good Year

I really don't understand all the bad reviews from critics and reviewers alike for I personally loved this movie. Now, it's not the grandest spectacle to grace the big screen nor is it Russell Crowe's finest hour, but `A Good Year' is some quality entertainment and serves it purpose in the relaxed and happy season that is fall. Having just seen the poorly made and highly overrated `Catch a Fire' I was ready to relax and watch something entertaining and enjoyable, and being the Russell Crowe fan that I undoubtedly am I decided that `A Good Year' would be just that movie.

Max Skinner (Crowe) is a stuck up British stock broker who at one time was a kind hearted soul, and his fondest memories are littered with his Uncle Henry (Finney) and his Chateau in France. Upon his Uncles death Max is left the sole owner of Henry's estate, and in like fashion he flies out there in order to sell if for profit and make it back ASAP. What he doesn't bank on is Christie Roberts (Abbie Cornish) showing up claiming to be the long lost daughter of Henry and claiming rights to his estate. Throughout the course of the film Max has to go through the stages of redemption, which include discovering the jerk he has become and rediscovering his inner child.

The two key components to his wonderful film is the scenery and the acting. The script and storyline as some have already pointed out is very unoriginal, we've seen this done plenty of times, but the beauty that is France, as well as the beauty that is Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard (who plays Fanny, the seductive woman who steals Max's heart) more than make up for the familiarity. Crowe is, as many know, my all time favorite actor ever, and I feel that he can carry any film he touches. Whether you are a fan of his phone throwing escapades or not, you have to admit that the man is gifted, very gifted. Here he proves that by being just as compelling and engrossing laughing and smiling as he is riding into battle. Albert Finney and Marion Cotillard are also wonderful here, but to me it was little Freddie Highmore (such a talented young man) who outshined most in the cast (can anyone outshine Crowe...I don't believe so).

As I said in the beginning, I don't understand all the bad press. So what if it's no `A Beautiful Mind' or `Gladiator', so what if Russell was not Lucky Jack or James Braddock, `A Good Year' is still a good time and Max Skinner is just as fun as Crowe ever was. I recommend it, I enjoyed it, no better yet, I loved every minute of it.

a good year

Robin Hood Blu Ray DVD

This is the same movie below.Russell Crowe's Robin Hood.This is the Blu-Ray DVD.

robin hood blu-ray

Robin Hood

I have yet to see this movies.I'll add the new Robin Hood trailer below.At least it gives you a small taste on what these movie is all about.I'm a big Russell Crowe fan,so it's automatically going in my movie collection.

Lots of good actors in it,including Cate Blanchett.It's definitely a good movie for your collection.

It's about 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power.

Sounds like action to me.A Robin Longstride movie worthy of the title.

robin hood