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The Getaway (US Version)
Quincy Jones (Actor)
| Gordon Willis (Actor)
| Slim Pickens (Actor)
| Sally Struthers (Actor)
Ali MacGraw and the late Steve McQueen go on the run in this reckless western-style actioner. Sam Peckinpah's classic The Getaway was shot in the early seventies, and unveils a male, weapon-dictated society in which the undermining of moral values walks hand in hand with illegality. Caught in the middle of it all are MacGraw and McQueen as an outlaw couple trying to outwit a corrupt state official with both their marriage and a half-million dollars of loot at stake. Though not to be mistaken for role models, the two leads will no doubt draw viewers to their side, as they represent Peckinpah's iconic headstrong individuals. The late director found an ideal collaborator in scriptwriter Walter... [read more]
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SPIRITED AWAY (Japan Version - English Subtitles)
Miyazaki Hayao (Producer)
| Hiragi Rumi
The Garden of Eden Among Fantasy AnimationsMiyazaki Hayao's epic animation Spirited Away takes viewers on a fantastic roller coaster ride through Japan's land of make believe. Spirited Away is the tale of a seemingly ordinary ten-year-old girl, Ogino Chihiro, who gets drawn into a dangerous inhuman world full of bizarre happenings that is inhabited by the likes of phantoms and sorcerers. Presented as a spoiled brat at the outset of the movie, Chihiro's character sees a big change in attitude after she gets separated from her parents, proving that she can fend for herself if worst comes to worst. Even though Miyazaki's film also approaches some serious themes, including how the individual can be changed by the influence of a greedy... [read more]
November 1, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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The Wild Child (US Version)
Jean-Pierre Cargol (Actor)
| Paul Ville (Actor)
| Charles Grandval (Actor)
| Francois Truffaut (Actor, Director)
Known as the principal representative of the French nouvelle vogue movement, Francois Truffaut invites viewers to an extraordinary happening of the past in The Wild Child. Based on the notes recorded by doctor Jean Marc Gaspard Itard (Truffaut), this documentary-style black and white movie revolves around a feral child (Jean-Pierre Cargol) spotted in the wilderness of Aveyron, France in the early 18th century. Suspected to be mute at the time discovered, the boy is kept like an animal until doctor Itard takes him into his care with the goal of finding out whether he can re-adapt to human society. Also attempting to find out how man develops his intelligence and what differentiates him from... [read more]
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Laurel and Hardy II - Way Out West/Block-Heads (US Version)
Laurel Stan (Actor)
| Hardy Oliver (Actor)
| Gordon Douglas (Director)
Another Fine Mess from Laurel & HardyLaurel and Hardy head Way Out West to prove that they are masters of the comedy in this classic black and white Hall and Roach studio production. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have blessed me with years of cheerful laughter through their funny short films that were repeated numerous times, always with hilarious effects. The comedy duo's full-length movie Way Out West is the main feature on this release which includes as extras the 1938 World War I farce Blockheads and the short Chickens Come Home in which Hardy attempts to cover up an affair. Way Out West sees the comic pair performing at the top of their game, appearing as messengers who have to deliver a deed to the heiress of a gold mine.... [read more]
October 18, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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The Jungle Book (2-Disc Set; 40th Anniversary Edition) (US Version)
Dodie Smith
| Ken Anderson (Writer)
| Walter Sheets
| Eva Reitherman (Director)
Classic Jungle Beat Keeps On SwingingThe final movie made under the supervision of the late, legendary Walt Disney, The Jungle Book invites viewers to a story full of adventures and laughs. Disney's classic work The Jungle Book was also the first movie that I had the joy to watch in a cinema and it still hasn't lost any of its past splendor. Loosely based on the same-titled novel by Rudyard Kipling, the Wolfgang Reitherman-directed animation revolves around Mowgli, a man-cub who grows up in the jungle. He is kept company by some of Disney's most unique characters to date including happy-go-lucky bear Baloo, the jungle V.I.P orangutan King Louie, and Kaa, the perhaps cutest man-eating python to ever crawl on screen. Ever since I... [read more]
October 16, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Fresh Water
Cass Phang (Singer)
Cass Phang, today happily married and no longer active in the music scene, was once one of Hong Kong's most sought after artists. Fresh Water, her 1996 follow-up to the classic Outside The Window featuring the marriage tune Love Token, is a good example of her unique vocals which are still remembered by numerous fans. This album sees the singer's premier attempt as executive producer, and the easy-listening songs on the album are fine picks during sunny days and in the later hours of the night. Cass teamed up with songwriters like Erica Li, Tu Zi Chi, Lin Xi, Wyman Wong, and Albert Hammond for the album. In general, the songs are carried by her pleasant expressive voice which is nicely... [read more]
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The Natural (Director's Cut; 2-Disc Set) (US Version)
Glenn Close (Actor)
| Kim Basinger (Actor)
| Robert Duvall (Actor)
| Robert Redford (Actor)
Redford strikes a winner with WonderboyBaseball has always been a no no for me. I have never cared to watch a game broadcast, let alone participate in a game. Nevertheless, I was quite impressed by Barry Levinson's movie The Natural which was inspired by the same-titled novel by Bernard Malamud. Featuring a striking cast including Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley, Robert Duvall, Richard Farnsworth, and of course Robert Redford in the leading role, this film revolving around a baseball myth clearly delineates good and evil. Accordingly, the movie in many ways resembles the story of a larger-than-life hero. Not invincible, the film's protagonist, Roy Hobbs (Redford), has his ups and downs and is prone to give in to... [read more]
October 3, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Fried Green Tomatoes (Anniversary Edition Extended Version) (US Version)
Stan Shaw (Actor)
| Nick Searcy (Actor)
| Chris O'Donnell (Actor)
| Gene Hackman (Actor)
Female ensemble serves Fried Green TomatoesFried Green Tomatoes is one of those movies that lets you know where you're at right from the beginning. Jon Avnet retells Fannie Flagg's novel Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop with such finesse that viewers are bound to be immersed in the movie's happenings. Weaving a tale of eternal friendship that crosses the boundaries between the present and the past as well as race, gender, and age, Fried Green Tomatoes offers an excellent springboard for its female leads. Mary Stuart Masterson shines in her role as the stubborn but good-hearted Idgie Threadgoode, and Mary-Louise Parker gives a convincing portrayal of her lifelong pal, adorable Ruth Jamison. Kathy Bates gives another splendid... [read more]
September 20, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Arsenic and Old Lace (US Version)
Jean Hersholt (Actor)
| Jack Carson (Actor)
| Josephine Hull (Actor)
| Susanne Marsee (Actor)
Nostalgic Grant-Capra collaboration with a kickCary Grant stars in Frank Capra's dark screwball comedy classic Arsenic & Old Lace. The formula of this 40s movie revolving around an elderly pair of sisters who share a deadly hobby still hits the marks after all these years. Shot in black and white, the film is a blend between macabre and laugh-out-loud humor that ignites like a well-lit firework. Caught in the middle of it all is none other than Grant as Mortimer Brewster, whose honeymoon with Elaine Harper (Priscilla Lane) gets postponed again and again by an accumulation of unforeseen happenings that leave the viewer chuckling more often than not. Jean Adair and Josephine Hull are marvelous as cute spinsters whose secret lies in their... [read more]
September 13, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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My Life As McDull (Korean Version)
Animation
Hong Kong's best-loved pig is the star of the hilariously funny biography-style animation My Life As McDull. For all those who consider the Hong Kong reflected in movies such as the Infernal Affairs trilogy as a bit too grim, this 2001 hit movie, which was even a match for Miyazaki Hayao's Spirited Away, should come as a positive surprise. It follows the various life stages of piglet McDull who views the world through rose-tinted glasses. Anything but a successful person, McDull may stand as a representative of the ordinary Hong Kong citizen, living in a small apartment and clinging on to small dreams. However, what makes this naively cute protagonist stand out is the fact that he always... [read more]
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On Golden Pond (DVD) (Special Edition) (US Version)
John Fox (Actor)
| Sidney Lumet (Actor)
| Katharine Hepburn (Actor)
| William Lanteau (Actor)
An ensemble cast featuring the late Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda as well as his daughter Jane Fonda light up the atmosphere of the touching Mark Rydell movie On Golden Pond. Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda play the elderly couple Ethel and Norman Thayer in this early 80s movie revolving around the fear of getting old and being left alone. Henry Fonda as Norman Thayer, who hides his fear of aging behind bitingly ironic and sarcastic remarks, towers above the rest of the cast who deliver remarkable performances of their own. Putting the art of acting back to its well-deserved place, Rydell's perceptive film is carried by such unforgettable dialogues like the following: Billy Ray: "So, I... [read more]
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Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Full Frame) (US Version)
Ralph Fiennes (Actor)
| Helena Bonham Carter (Actor)
| Nicholas Smith (Actor)
| Liz Smith (Actor)
Cartoons may never have looked better or acted cooler than in The Curse of The Were-Rabbit. The heroes of this movie, namely Gromit and Wallace, were first introduced to me by a friend during my university days. At that time we went out to see a special short movie feature about the clever dog and his inventive master, including The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave, and I became an instant fan. As for this full-length movie, it lives up to or even surpasses the fun and the creativity found in the earlier works of this franchise. Creator Nick Park's imitation of suspense works very well, one of the best examples being perhaps the scene in which Gromit chops the carrots. Applause must also go... [read more]
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Grease
John Travolta (Actor)
| Olivia Newton-John (Actor)
| Stockard Channing (Actor)
| Kelly Ward
Olivia & John - Rockin' 'n' Rollin'In the end of the 70s, Grease was the word, and it comes as no surprise, as this musical with its chemistry-charged leads, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, sparkles with the style and charm of a nostalgic era. Taking the viewer back to a time when rock 'n' roll and love song crooners were on the top of the list of all teenagers, Grease revolves around the happenings in and around Rydell High School. It's also the romantic tale of Sandy and Danny, two summertime lovers who are hopelessly destined for each other, even if it runs counter to the hip traditions of the school's commanding Pink Ladies and super chic T-Birds, whose head happens to be Danny. Caught in a world were falling in... [read more]
August 16, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Enter the Dragon (25th Anniversary Special Edition) (US Version)
John Saxon (Actor, Director)
| Bruce Lee (Actor)
| Bob Wall (Actor)
| Michael Hubbs (Writer)
Still classic after all these years...Enter The Dragon presents the arguably most successful Hong Kong-Hollywood collaboration to date. Completed shortly before its leading star, Bruce Lee, passed away, it contains some of the finest moments in martial arts movie history. Enter The Dragon has essentially been divided into 3 sub-plots that merge together as the main tale moves on. Bruce Lee portrays Mr. Lee, a highly ambitious Shaolin student who works for the British police to bust a drug trafficking organization led by a certain Mr. Han (Shih Kien). John Saxon plays Roper, a happy-go-lucky playboy who is in need of a little extra cash to pay off his debts. Jim Kelly as Williams on the other hand is more than happy to leave his... [read more]
August 9, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Charade (US Version)
Walter Matthau (Actor)
| Coburn James (Actor)
| Ned Glass (Actor)
| Hilyard Brown (Actor, Producer)
Silver-screen legends Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant are too good to be true in the romantic murder mystery adventure Charade. The star magic of this once-in-a-lifetime movie couple lets Stanley Donen's early 60s film fly by in front of the viewers in no time at all. Acting as the movie's protagonist damsel in distress, Hepburn may never have been more charming, placed right in the middle of a cat-and-mouse chase that leaves everybody guessing until the end. Involved in the whole riddle, which involves a gang of dishonest war-time veterans, is a large amount of money that seemingly has vanished into thin air. Hepburn gives a convincing natural performance as the cute, but often helpless... [read more]
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The Incredibles (Widescreen) (US Version)
Brad Bird (Director)
| John Walker
| Holly Hunter
Superheroes have had a fair amount of silver screen presence and there seems to be no end in sight, as far as the demand for this genre is concerned. The Incredibles sees Brad Bird bring alive his own share of superhero magic with a little help from the talented Pixar Studio team. Longer than most traditional animations, The Incredibles has plenty of good laughs and thrills to offer. Supposed to showcase superheroes, some of the film's most appealing scenes are perhaps those that expose the featured characters as human beings deep down inside. Whether it's Helen revealing more than she ought to when she is asked about Bob's whereabouts ("either he's in trouble, or he's going to be..."), or... [read more]
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Gladiator (Limited Edition Packaging) (US Version)
Djimon Hounsou (Actor)
| Ridley Scott (Actor, Director)
| Richard Loncraine (Actor, Director)
| Joaquin Phoenix (Producer, Actor)
Re-inventing the beauty of the classic costume movies, Ridley Scott is ably assisted by a convincing cast led by Russel Crowe in this touching tale about a man's battle for final justice. Shot in the beginning of the new century, Gladiator is one of those movies that puts you right into the middle of the happenings. Crowe no doubt imbues the protagonist with a charisma that has become rare in Hollywood productions, especially those from the more recent past. Perhaps one of the finest scenes from the movie is the one in which the protagonist has to face his archenemy, the new emperor of Rome, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), for the second time. Crowe's portrayal of Maximus says it all: he makes... [read more]
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Ultrasound 1997-2003
David Tao
He has been hailed as the Chinese godfather of R&B and his success along with the frenetic reaction of music lovers everywhere says it all. David Tao simply has that special sound - Ultrasound. The 38-year-old singer/songwriter no doubt has music in his veins, which may partly be inherited from his father, David Tao (Tao's original name was Anthony, but he changed it to David later on), who also used to be a well-known singer in his younger years. No doubt, David Tao is today a source of pride for his father. Here are a few comments on the material featured on Tao's Ultrasound. Melody comes blowing in as a melancholic ballad reminiscing about opportunities lost in the past, while Shanghaied... [read more]
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Hombre (US Version)
James Mason (Actor)
| Diane Cilento (Actor)
| John Beradino (Actor)
| Cameron Mitchell (Actor)
Before slipping into a more relaxed role next to Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy + Sundance Kid, Paul Newman gave a convincing performance as a cynical hero in Hombre. Newman portrays John Russel, an individual who feels resentment for the white culture as a result of being raised by native Apaches and witnessing their hardships. Shot in the latter half of the 60s, Martin Ritt's film paints the picture of a biased society that looks down on Native Americans, treating them as an inferior people void of rights. Supporting his tribe even after he is called back to his white roots, the movie's protagonist has to put his life on the line in order to save a group of people from a society he has... [read more]
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Rear Window (DVD) (Collector's Edition) (US Version)
Brigitte Auber (Actor)
| Richard H. Riedel (Actor)
| Kiva Hoffman (Actor)
| Frank Cady (Actor, Director)
Hitch turns peeking into a cinematic delight...The blinds roll up slowly as this film unveils a classic team-up between Grace Kelly and James Stewart, while the skilled direction by master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock keeps the excitement high. Stewart stars as the unusual protagonist L.B. Jeffries, in this guidebook film shot around the mid-50s, temporarily trapped in a wheelchair due to an unexpected accident. Unable to attend to his regular work as photographer, he does what we all may find us doing from time to time, mostly unintentionally - spying on the people living in our vicinity. Even though the movie just introduces various neighbors as a means to an end, it is all done effectively, perhaps leaving some of the viewers wishing... [read more]
June 7, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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