Index of High Definition (HD) Movies on HD Cinema & Monsters HD

[Sean Mota]

Strange Fits of Passion (2002)

<p><img border="0" src="http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/x-site/icons/no-img-lg.gif" align="left" hspace="5">


</p>

Starring: Director:
Studio: Water Bearer Films Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 1.5 stars :A pitiful young woman decides to lose her virginity and supposed hilarity ensues in this disappointment of a film. Peppered with what I suspect are supposed to pass for witty conversations with smart observations on life and love, this movie's just a bit off. While there are a couple amusing bits, it basically put all its eggs in the basket of the main character, who I could barely stand. When a woman of her age exhibits this level of thinking, I'm left to believe there may be underlying reasons related to natural selection working against her desires to have sex. PQ and sound both weak.

 

[Sean Mota]

Nightwatch (1998)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6305051186.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> Ole Bornedal's thriller about a young law student who takes a job as a night watchman in a creepy morgue is long on style but comes up a little short on quality of storytelling. Bornedal sets things up in high style as Martin Bells (Ewan McGregor doing an American accent) makes his rounds in the middle of the night, with only corpses and his own paranoia for company. When bodies start coming in, the prostitute victims of a grisly serial killer, the imposing detective on the case (a hulking Nick Nolte) begins to suspect that Bells is the killer, as all clues start pointing to him. Coscripted by Steven Soderbergh (Out of Sight) and adapted from Bornedal's 1994 Danish thriller, Nightwatch forsakes out-and-out thrills for a more moody approach with flickering lights, menacing shadows, and echoing footsteps down long hallways. If only there were a little more energy before the highly effective denouement, which does get scares, even after the killer is revealed. Still, McGregor is supported by a stronger than average cast: in addition to Nolte, Josh Brolin does an amusing turn as McGregor's out-of-control best friend, Patricia Arquette fares well in the standard girlfriend role, and the always creepy Brad Dourif makes the most of a sinister and funny bit part as the on-call doctor. You won't jump out of your seat, but by the end of Nightwatch you will find yourself remarkably tense. --Mark Englehart


</p>

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Nick Nolte Director: Ole Bornedal
Studio: Dimension Home Video Aspect ratio 2:35:1

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 2.5 stars: Pretty good. Lots of familiar faces -- Josh Brolin and Nick Nolte stand out. Ewan McGregor seems to have some trouble settling on an accent. The story itself is a little on the predictable side, but good enough to hold my interest and gross me out a couple times. PQ was nothing special, but I liked the surround sound.

 

[Sean Mota]

Full-Tilt Boogie (1998)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005AB8R.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5">

</p>

Starring: Director: Sarah Kelly

Studio: Miramax Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 2.5 stars: As far as "the making of..." movies go, this one was pretty fun. I thought it spent a little too much time on the union issues, and Harvey Keitel needs to get over himself. Other than that, good stuff. Oh -- and Juliette Lewis rocks!

 

[Sean Mota]

Strait-Jacket (1964)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6302799171.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> Poor Joan Crawford just can't get a break. She hacks her husband to pieces and is sent away to a mental hospital; then after she comes back and tries to adjust to a normal life, there's more ax-swinging and more noggins rolling. Her pretty sculptress daughter (Diane Baker) just wants Mom to return to society and a happy, well-adjusted life... or does she? The plot is a little trite and predictable, the direction a bit staid, but it's all Joan's show anyway. Obviously director William Castle told her to play up her character's insanity, and Crawford turns the knob on the acting meter up to 10, then breaks it off and throws it away. She spectacularly mugs her way through the whole film, abruptly changing from severe schoolmarm to trampy vamp and back again several times. The scene where Mom meets her daughter's fiancée for the first time is particularly memorable; Mom guzzles half an iced-tea glass full of bourbon, then crawls all over the boyfriend while the viewer squirms uncomfortably. Back in '64, lucky moviegoers were given little cardboard axes when this feature made its run in the theaters. Sadly, the cardboard axes are long gone, but this is still highly recommended for fans of Crawford, Castle, and high-powered thespianism in general. --Jerry Renshaw



</p>

Starring: Director: William Castle


Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 3 stars: I think this movie cheated a little -- even after the awkward explanation at the end of how everything really happened, some things just didn't really seem right. But it was fun to watch anyway. For such an old movie it had pretty good sound and pq, not to mention a relatively high creep factor.

 

[Sean Mota]

Flatly Stacked

<p><img border="0" src="http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/x-site/icons/no-img-lg.gif" align="left" hspace="5">


</p>

Starring: Director:
Studio: Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 4 stars: Good documentary about growing up with small breasts, and being a grown up with small breasts. Very interesting, and treated with just the right mix of seriousness and humor.

 

[Sean Mota]

The Hidden Fortress (1960)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005B1ZL.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> In one of the many classic collaborations between director Akira Kurosawa and his leading man Toshirô Mifune, this 1958 film tells the story of a warrior and a princess trying against all odds to return to their homeland with their fortune. Along the way, they are simultaneously assisted and thwarted by two itinerant and not too bright farmers with their own designs on the treasure, giving the story a subtle comic bent. The Hidden Fortress combines an epic tale of struggle and honor with modern comic sensibilities, creating a masterful addition to world cinema. --Robert Lane --

Description
A general and a princess must dodge enemy clans while smuggling the royal treasure out of hostile territory with two bumbling, conniving peasants at their sides; it's a spirited adventure that only Akira Kurosawa could create. Acknowledged as a primary influence on George Lucas' Star Wars, The Hidden Fortress delivers Kurosawa's inimitably deft blend of wry humor, breathtaking action and humanist compassion on an epic scale. The Criterion Collection is proud to present this landmark motion picture in a stunning, newly-restored Tohoscope edition.



</p>

Starring: Toshirô Mifune, Misa Uehara Director: Akira Kurosawa
Studio: Criterion Collection Aspect ratio 2:35:1

Voomer Reviews:

SalMaglie: 3.5 stars. I'm a huge Akira Kurosawa fan and I've seen this movie 5 or 6 times. Follow along and you can see where George Lucas got his idea for the plot to Star Wars. That makes it a must see for any Star Wars fans out there, and hopefully they'll become fans of Kurosawa along the way. He's one of THE best filmakers of all time.

Tvlman: Thanks to VOOM for showing "The Hidden Fortress." Even George Lucas admits he got the idea for the plot of Star Wars from this Kurosawa film. Just as "Fistful of Dollars" was a western remake of Kurasawa's "Yojimbo" and "Magnificent Seven was a western version of "Seven Samurai." Although the English translations are simple and at times misleading it is worth following along especially late at night when you don't need to run the sound very loud.The plots of Kurosawa are a lot more intricate and novel-like than the American movies. Check it out next time it is showing: Also, THRONE OF BLOOD (Kurosawa's version of Macbeth) YOJIMBO, SEVEN SAMAURI, RASHOMON.

Sean Mota: 3.5 stars good adventure movie. It is B&W but don't let this discard the movie. I could not see the connection of Star Wars but only the way that it cuts the frame. The story about the princess, I guess it's similar to the princess on Star Wars. Anyway, I found the story to be very good and very entertaining.

 

[Sean Mota]

And Baby Makes Two: Single Motherhood (1999)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000JZID.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> And Baby Makes Two is a remarkable look at a group of women in their 30s and 40s who choose to become single moms. By the end of this hour-long documentary, you'll be amazed at how much you care about the women profiled, at how you're rooting for them to succeed in their quest for motherhood. Exploring their fears, disappointments, and triumphs, directors Judy Katz and Oren Rudavsky enter into their lives for a two-year period, filming everything from insemination attempts to the birth of a child (which is very briefly, but graphically, shown) to the welcoming of an adopted daughter. The documentary is highly focused--there's no information on what these women do professionally, how they pay for their procedures, or what their dating lives are like--concentrating solely on the act of getting pregnant and having the child.
First we meet Jan, who has been trying unsuccessfully for a year to become artificially inseminated. We also peek into the life of Debbie, who is a midwife and impregnated by a friend who wishes to remain nameless and out of their son's life. Tough decisions must be made along the way, as evidenced by April, who tells us that she discovered after an amnio that she had a Down's syndrome baby and decided to terminate the pregnancy. Katz and Rudavsky give a balanced look, with naysayers in the form of the women's parents, who express concerns about the children's lack of fathers, what the neighbors will say, and the difficulty of raising a child alone. But after spending some time with these women, you become convinced that they're going to make amazing parents, even if they have to go it alone. But then, they really aren't alone, as they are supported and comforted and cheered by each other. Whether you're male, female, childless or not, this heartwarming and wonderful film speaks to all of us. --Jenny Brown




</p>

Starring: Director: Judy Katz, Oren Rudavsky
Studio: Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 3 stars: Documentary about single women who decide to have children without a husband. Pretty interesting, but I kept getting a couple of the women confused. Dealt with different ways of getting pregnant, adoption, raising a child without a father, general attitudes toward single mothers -- some pretty heavy issues that they handled well.

 

[Sean Mota]

Amélie (2001) - English subtitles

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00007K08H.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> Perhaps the most charming movie of all time, Amélie is certainly one of the top 10. The title character (the bashful and impish Audrey Tautou) is a single waitress who decides to help other lonely people fix their lives. Her widowed father yearns to travel but won't, so to inspire the old man she sends his garden gnome on a tour of the world; with whispered gossip, she brings together two cranky regulars at her café; she reverses the doorknobs and reprograms the speed dial of a grocer who's mean to his assistant. Gradually she realizes her own life needs fixing, and a chance meeting leads to her most elaborate stratagem of all. This is a deeply wonderful movie, an illuminating mix of magic and pragmatism. Fans of the director's previous films (Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children) will not be disappointed; newcomers will be delighted. --Bret Fetzer --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

Description
Nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay, this magical comedy earned overwhelming acclaim nationwide! A painfully shy waitress working at a tiny Paris cafe, Amelie makes a surprising discovery and sees her life drastically changed for the better! From then on, Amelie dedicates herself to helping others find happiness ... in the most delightfully unexpected way! But will she have the courage to do for herself what she has done for others?




</p>

Starring: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment Aspect ratio 1:85:1

Voomer Reviews:

Tvlman: Also thanks to VOOM for showing "Amalie" the outstanding French hit of several years ago that is just catching on in America. It is told in an interesting cinematic style that has crept into some of Tim Burton's work and is an excellent way to present the details of a story. Amelie is a young Paris waitress who discovers an old box of childhood treasures hidden beneath her apartment floorboards She returns the box anonymously to its rightful owner and watches from a distance as his life is transformed. This gives her an idea, "Do a good deed but don't get caught!" This also works in reverse for people who mistreat others. This leads her through a series of exciting and funny encounters. But then she meets a handsome young man named Nino. From here on it is not the familiar boy meets girl story but is quite different and inventive, so much so that hopefully there will never be a cheap American movie copy of this wonderful story.

TheTimm: 5 stars : The only thing better than watching this movie is watching this movie again. It's all about the characters and all their wonderful flaws. And it's all done just right. Good pq, and excellent surround sound.

 

[Sean Mota]

Citizen Ruth (1996)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6304438192.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif" align="left" hspace="5"> An uneven script is the flaw of this social satire set in America's heartland. It deals with an unrepentant junkie, played with unexpected finesse by Laura Dern. Pregnant for the umpteenth time and informed by a judge he may overlook felony charges if she aborts the pregnancy, the stoned Ruth Stoops is claimed as a dazed spokesperson by both sides of the controversial abortion issue. This has a lot to say about the abuse and influence of the media The black, black humor is subtle and intelligent and quite often works in the hands of the strong supporting cast. However, the script occasionally lurches into depressing territory, throwing off the balance. Still, this raises interesting issues and Dern's performance is very powerful. Ruth is flawed and prickly, but Dern brings her to life by imbuing her with interesting personality tics. --Rochelle O'Gorman




</p>

Starring: Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz Director: Alexander Payne


Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 0 stars: A comedy about abortion crusaders. Garbage. And not the least bit funny.

 

[Sean Mota]

Paul Bowles: The Complete Outsider (1995)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6303499295.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> This 1993 documentary conceived and directed by Catherine Warnow and Regina Weinreich is an at times disturbing but always fascinating portrait of the enigmatic and reclusive author who many call the original expatriate and the godfather of the Beat Generation. Using the environment of present day Tangiers as a springboard, the film charts the life of Paul Bowles, from his privileged upbringing to his promising career as a celebrated composer on Broadway in 1930s and '40s New York to his move at the suggestion of Gertrude Stein into the expatriate community of Morocco, a mysterious land and culture from which Bowles never left. Bowles is seen in the environment that most suits him; as he says, "I never make plans; they make themselves." The documentary also details the complex and tumultuous relationship between the author of such seminal works as The Sheltering Sky, Delicate Prey, and Without Stopping and his wife Jane, from her attempts at writing and her alcoholism to their respective affairs with both men and women. Featuring testimonials from such notables as Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, what emerges in Paul Bowles: The Complete Outsider is an indispensable and evocative portrait of one of the most influential writers of this century. --Robert Lane




</p>

Starring: Director: Regina Weinrich, Catherine Warnow



Studio: First Run Features Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 2 stars : Nothing too exciting, but kinda interesting. A doc about a writer/songwriter dude who hung out with William S. Burroughs and the boys.

 

[Sean Mota]

Gregory's Two Girls (1999)

<p><img border="0" src="http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/x-site/icons/no-img-lg.gif" align="left" hspace="5">


</p>

Starring: Director:
Studio: Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 2.5 stars: Good stuff. Some gorgeous Scottish lassies, interesting characters, and one unbelievably uncomfortable Freudian slip that was very very funny. The movie just plain looked good too -- good colors and compositions.

 

[Sean Mota]

The Quest (1986)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004U9Q3.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5">


</p>

Starring: Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith

Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

riffjim4069: 3.0 stars: good, not great. A young Kurt Russell and Tim Matheson star as brothers who are reunited 10 years after being taken as children by Indians; Russell was raised by Shianne and Matheson by Cowboys. Also taken was a sister whose whereabouts are unknown. Together they search for their missing sister who they believe is residing with an Indian tribe. I remember watching this series back in the mid-70s, but it was short lived since the public lost interest in Westerns. This is a good Gunslinger movie.

 

[Sean Mota]

MacKenna's Gold (1969)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004TJJU.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> Attempting to do for Westerns what his Guns of Navarone had done for World War II action epics, director J. Lee Thompson crafted Mackenna's Gold as a lavish, absurdly ambitious variation on Erich Von Stroheim's Greed, resulting in a last-gasp Western so eager to encompass the genre's traditions that it turns into a big, silly, wildly entertaining mess. Gregory Peck surely had more serious intentions when he signed on, and he brings prestigious gravitas to his glum role as Marshall Mackenna, who gets shanghaied into searching for the gold-filled canyon of an elusive Apache legend. The rest of the 1969 film labors to undermine Peck's respectable demeanor; how else to explain Omar Sharif as a Mexican villain, Julie Newmar as a hot-blooded Apache temptress (with underwater nude scenes that were celebrated in Playboy magazine), and a jaw-dropping finale that's so ridiculous it's impressive in spite of itself?
Formerly blacklisted screenwriter Carl Foreman and composer Dimitri Tiomkin joined up to coproduce the film, and one can only imagine how Anthony Mann or Howard Hawks might've handled Foreman's sensible script. Thompson goes for scenic splendor, heavy action, and heavier emotions, casting everything at a fever pitch that's wildly enjoyable without betraying his "serious" intentions. A stable of Hollywood veterans (Eli Wallach, Raymond Massey, Edward G. Robinson, and others) appear in lively supporting roles--they're all dispatched in a garish Apache ambush--and Camilla Sparv is an ingénue with plenty of fighting attitude. Gold fever reaches its peak, along with some awesome special effects, and divine intervention reaches new heights of intensity. Top it off with José Feliciano's theme song, and you'll be in zany Western heaven. --Jeff Shannon




</p>

Starring: Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif Director: J. Lee Thompson

Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

Sean Mota: 3.0 stars. A good western movie with fine acting and a good story. Funny at times and very entertaining. Not displayed in its OAR but nonetheless the PQ was very good.

 

[Sean Mota]

Loophole (1991)

<p><img border="0" src="http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/x-site/icons/no-img-lg.gif" align="left" hspace="5">


</p>

Starring: Director:
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertain Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

riffjim4069: 2.0 stars: Martin Sheen helps a gang of unconvincing thieves rob a London bank via the sewer system. The movie didn't stink quite as bad as the sewers, but it didn't smell all that great either. Watch this flick if you've already washed the dog, clipped your toenails and generally have nothing better better to do with your life. 2 stars for Martin Sheen because I will always associate him with Apocalypse Now.

 

[Sean Mota]

King Solomon's Mines (1985)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0792836650.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> Camp and cult fans may get a few laughs from this tongue-in-cheek version of the classic H. Rider Haggard adventure novel from '80s low-budget outfit Cannon Films. Richard Chamberlain gives a pun-prone take on Great White Hunter Allen Quatermain, who is recruited by Sharon Stone to rescue her father from the clutches of a German colonel (Herbert Lom) and a Turkish slaver (John Rhys-Davies), who have captured him to possess his map to the legendary diamond mines of King Solomon. Director J. Lee Thompson (The Guns of Navarone) and the game cast do what they can with the dodgy special effects and groaner-filled script; viewers who don't mind sub-par serial-style thrills might find some kicks here. --Paul Gaita


</p>

Starring: Richard Chamberlain, Sharon Stone Director: J. Lee Thompson
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios Aspect ratio 2:35:1

Voomer Reviews:

riffjim4069: 2.0 stars: Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone create a less-than-stellar morph of Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone. The soundtrack, costumes and plot were all a cheap imitation of the originals. The stunts and special effects were borderline terrible - cast performances were fair-to-poor and all characters were unbelievable. I gave this move 2 stars because it was so bad it was quite funny...I couldn't stop laughing. This movie was also a poor remake of a '50s Classic by the same, except Sharon Stone's character is searching for her father vice husband and, of course, this one stunk. This movie was OAR, 2.35:1, and PQ was pretty good.

Sample Dialog (pretty much like this the entire movie) where a German Soldier is torturing the Father while Sharon Stone is forced to watch:

Soldier: You're very attractive.
Stone: You Swine!
Soldier: Who said I was talking to you!

Sean Mota: 0.5 stars. Some movies were never meant to be. This one is one that should have never been made.

 

[Sean Mota]

The Big One (1998)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6305087415.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> A brazen mixture of stand-up comedy, political commentary, CEO confrontations, and shenanigans with Random House tour escorts, Michael Moore's second foray into dark docucomedy after Roger and Me follows his Midwest book tour to promote Downsize This. One of his Milwaukee tour escorts explains that medium-sized cities in the Midwest tend not to attract tours by the self-important celebrities of the Coasts; instead, they attract "more thoughtful authors like Michael." His kind of thoughtfulness evokes both laughter at, and disgust with, corporate America. To be sure, there is a certain naiveté in Moore's proworker take on corporate and political America--his half-serious plan for a Nike shoe factory in Flint, Michigan, makes as much business sense as coal mining on Maui--but he gives voice to well-reasoned arguments that have most easily gotten lost amid the Clinton-era boom's corporate downsizing and reliance on "temporary" employees.
In cities like Des Moines, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Portland, The Big One juxtaposes both Moore's lighthearted-sounding but deeply biting humor speaking before bookstore patrons and painful-to-watch confrontations with security personnel at companies such as Procter & Gamble and PayDay. (For future targets of Moore's style of journalism, take note of Nike CEO Phil Knight's fairly effective approach as Moore calls him to task on Nike's Indonesian labor.) Moore speaks clandestinely with Borders employees organizing a union; a woman laid off from Ford attends Moore's Rockford, Illinois, bookstore visit the same day. Though slow in spots, frustrating if not depressing in others, it's intensely funny the rest of the time. The Big One is fundamental viewing. --Erik Macki

Description
Outrageously entertaining and widely acclaimed, THE BIG ONE marks the return of America's favorite corporate avenger, the hilarious Michael Moore (ROGER & ME, TV NATION). Armed only with a camera and a sharp sense of humor, Moore is back in the nation's heartland and searching for an executive -- any executive -- who will respond to one tough question: If Fortune 500 companies are posting record-setting profits, why do they continue laying off thousands of workers? Looking out for the little guy with plenty of laughs along the way, Moore's howlingly funny crusade has resulted in a crowd-pleasing motion picture that's big entertainment fun!



</p>

Starring: Michael Moore (II) Director: Michael Moore (II)
Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 4 stars: Good stuff. Say what ya want about Michael Moore and his politics, but the guy sure can make an amusing, thought-provoking documentary when he wants to. Basically, this one documents a book-signing tour he goes on to promote his book "Downsize This!". Along the way he pokes fun at corporate America and all the hypocrisy & greed it displays. Laugh-out-loud funny.

 

[Sean Mota]

Iron Monkey (2002)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005Y77G.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5">



</p>

Starring: Director:
Studio: Dimension Home Video Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

Sean Mota: 4.5 stars. Nice movie. Full of action and nice story. This one is a winner.

TheTimm: 3.5 stars: I agree with Sean -- this one's a winner. A pretty interesting story wrapped around some really cool fight scenes.

FredOh: Iron Monkey is awesome. Unlike the programming guide, it's not the 1977 old style kungfu movie, its' the donnie yen, kickass movie.

 

[Sean Mota]

O Amor Natural (1997) - English subtitles

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6305197776.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5">



</p>

Starring: Director: Heddy Honigmann

Studio: First Run Features Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 1 star: Old people read erotic poems from a book by Carlos Drummond de Andrade. Maybe something gets lost in the translations, but they don't strike me as particularly erotic or poetic. And I didn't find that the people reading them seemed to add much to the poems either. Had pretty much lost all interest after an hour or so, when they were reading the same poems again.

 

[Sean Mota]

Larger Than Life (1996)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/630441336X.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> Jack Corcoran (Bill Murray) is a mildly successful motivational speaker on the lower end of the trade-show circuit. At his engagement party, he finds out his long-believed-dead dad has only recently died, leaving him a large inheritance. Of course, Jack doesn't know how large until he meets a suspicious lawyer (Harve Presnel) who unloads Dad's prized possession: a four-ton circus elephant named Vera (Tai). Larger Than Life is a buddy-road movie. Murray uses his old tricks to bully or con several people into helping him, including a whacked-out truck driver (Matthew McConaughey). In this day and age of digital effects, Murray could be teaming up with Roger Rabbit or some other special effect; his interplay with Tai is quite natural. Director Howard Franklin codirected the underrated Quick Change with Murray, and it's clear they work well together. A curio in Murray's career, this film is effective and fun family entertainment, filled with good-natured ribs, bubble-light dramatics, and a scene-stealing elephant. She's a charmer. --Doug Thomas




</p>

Starring: Bill Murray Director: Howard Franklin

Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 2.5 stars: Not bad, but I expect a bit more from a Bill Murray comedy. A bit disappointing considering it had a pretty strong cast, including Janeane Garofalo and a couple other familiar faces. But it was pretty clean humor, might appeal to youngsters.

jgantert: 3 stars. I liked it, funny and good clean family entertainment. Excellent sound and PQ.

 

[Sean Mota]

Beowulf (1999)

<p><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005LQ6P.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"> Beowulf translates the ancient epic poem of the same name into a postapocalyptic Road Warrior-style future, in which a military outpost is being invaded by a monstrous, blood-thirsty creature. Drawn hither by the evil emanations comes Beowulf (Christopher Lambert from Subway and the Highlander series), a powerful warrior with dark secrets of his own. There he meets the beautiful Kyra (Rhona Mitra), a woman warrior with a couple of cleavage-revealing outfits. Her father Hrothgar, meanwhile, is haunted by dreams of a blond, seminaked succubus with crimped hair, who has some mysterious connection to the murdering monster. Everyone, even father and daughter, has a different accent. It's all pretty trashy--the script is full of bravura lines like, "The only thing that keeps me from becoming evil is fighting evil"--but the cinematography and special effects are capable, there are lots of cool-looking swords and weaponry, and there's some pleasantly cheesy techno-metal music that plays intermittently for no good reason. Christopher Lambert, with white hair and a full-length leather duster, looks a little bored, but he's still his competent brooding action-hero self. If you enjoyed Mortal Kombat, this is right up your alley. --Bret Fetzer




</p>

Starring: Christopher Lambert Director: Graham Baker

Studio: Dimension Home Video Aspect ratio

Voomer Reviews:

TheTimm: 2 stars: Didn't quite hit the spot, but came close. Rhona Mitra's hot. And that blonde chick was really hot. And medieval weapons are cool. And the soundtrack kinda rocked. And yet. Go figure.