The Bourne Identity (Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Jason's not paranoid, he's just in a tough spot.
I'll be honest, I haven't read the Robert Ludlum novel, nor do I remember seeing the original film staring Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith. So I'm not able to point out differences or inconsistencies, if indeed there are any. Having said that, I can't imagine its predecessors topping Doug Liman's version of "The Bourne Identity." This is the sort of film I like to watch pretty often and each time I find something new to enjoy.

The plot, while nothing very original, provides a useful framework around which we get to enjoy some of the most believable action sequences I've seen. Let's face it, an assassin suffering from amnesia is not going to lead a dull life, particularly not after his "friends" decide he's gone rogue. There's only so many ways you can film stunts and action sequences like a car chase but Liman has managed to somehow make the many action scenes seem fresh. I particularly liked seeing what looked like a mini-minor out driving the police using skill and...

Fool me once, shame on yoUniversal Studios
First, I rate the MOVIE Bourne Identity and the older Collector's Edition DVD both as 5-star. I expected the Extended Edition DVD to include all in the older Collector's Edition DVD AND MORE. What you get with the Extended Edition DVD is a FREE TICKET (EXPIRES AUGUST 8th) to MOVIE Bourne Supremacy and a weaker DVD release that is largely a promotion for the new movie.

What you LOSE (Extended Edition DVD versus Collector's Edition DVD):

an extended farmhouse scene; DTS sound; Doug Liman's informative Director's Commentary track.

What you DO NOT GAIN (Extended Edition DVD versus Collector's Edition DVD):

the SAME alternate ending IN ROUGH, GRAINY QUALITY as in the deleted scenes of the Collector's Edition; the SAME deleted/extended scenes (except for the ADDED alternate beginning noted below and the OMITTED farmhouse scene noted above); the SAME Extreme Ways music video by Moby and the SAME DVD-ROM access to web site; no featurette whatsoever...

A skillfully made thriller
THE BOURNE IDENTITY is a tightly conceived, well directed, well photographed and particularly well acted suspense thriller loosely based on the Robert Ludlum best seller. True, many liberties have been taken from the novel, but when you take the time to note that Ludlum himself is the producer, then all arguments are off. Matt Damon and Franka Potente are terrific as the amnesiac agent and his 'only friend' who helps him escape a mad and endless chase from multiple groups of would be assassins. The characters are well developed - Damon gives one of his better perfomances, doing most of his stunt work himself while Potente continues to prove she is an actress worth watching. The supporting cast of such fine actors as Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, etc help propel this movie along. Outside of the French Connection this is one of the best car chases ever filmed - gratefully without the now-boring background of explosions and destruction. In all a fine film that is delivered on DVD with...

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Mr Hockey: Gordie Howe Story

Really good TV movie
I caught this just as it started on of all channels - Lifetime and really liked it. I love the history of the World Hockey Association (WHA), and have seen the old clips, but to see the Aeros jerseys, the Whalers, the Jets (with Bobby Hull and the pissing contest that they had with each other) Cleveland Crusaders (with accurately depicted with Gerry Cheevers in goal) it was amazing! I thought that it was really well done for a made for TV movie, with a lot of passion. Andy Mikita does a great job, bringing back 1973. I'm glad that the Red Wings and the NHL allowed the use of true logos and names (including the Oilers, who originally started off in the WHA). Even some of the old known stories were included, like when Marty gets drafted after Mark and someone in the room yells..."hey are you going to draft Colleen next?" (Marty and Mark's mom) I enjoyed it from start to finish and it is a great story. I am purchasing this movie when it comes out immediately. If you like hockey,...

Meet the real Mr. Hockey
Most of us were to young to actually see Gordie Howe play. He retired from hockey (NHL) in 1971. Then in 1973 he decided to make his dream come true and play with his sons on the same team.
The movie really shows how strong his wife was....She had the financial smarts and gave Gordie the support he needed (eventually..lol) You get a closer look at Gordie and the Howe family. It's more than just a hockey movie, it's the true events of the Howe family.
The hockey scene's were ok, wish they could have added a little more hockey into it.
After watching this movie I had much more respect for Gordie...the man and the hockey player.
Overal 4 out 5 stars. (More hockey scene's would have brought it to a 4.5 of 5 stars)

Weak telling of great story
Mediocre acting and often-clumsy writing distracts from what is really a great sports story. Recommend if it's free streaming but as long as they are charging for it, I'd use your $3.99 or whatever for something else.

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SHADES OF DAY - Director's Cut

Intersting film
I thought this film is worth watching. This was the first time I saw the finished product. Support indie film makers.

Not your father's Dostoevsky.
A stylish, sexy ode to LA. The script takes the original's 19th century themes of love, longing and loneliness and updates them for our modern, often strange, urban world. With polished cinematography that transcends the usual indie moviemaking, nice performances all around, and--surprise, Dostoevsky fans--even moments of humor, this L.A. story brings Dostoevsky into the 21st century.

A Noir Wrapped in a Fable
Highly entertaining and deeply affecting, this film is full of surprises. It's a noir wrapped in a fable. It has a magical quality, but the magic derives from its extraordinary characters rather than supernatural forces. And while it's character driven, "Shades of Day" manages to achieve an almost epic quality. This directorial legerdemain can be attributed to both the richness and variety of the film's iconic Los Angeles locations and to the magnitude of its themes----sex, love, betrayal, greed, and death. But director Sumin never forgets that the cinematic seeker of truth must also be an entertainer; he juggles his seemingly weighty themes with a circus-like sense of fun and adventure.

The film is beautifully shot and edited from a script by Sumin and playwright Jeff Bergquist. The title appears to be a canny reversal of "White Nights," one of Dostoevsky's finest stories. This is a case of a film being "inspired by..." in the best sense of the word. Sumin projects...

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The Gatekeepers [HD]

Every American Should See This Now
Insights from six former heads of Shin Bet, supplemented with rare footage of targeted assassinations and disturbing historical events. Encourages reasoned analysis of the effect and morality of the use of violence for security purposes. Highly relevant to citizens of any country grappling with the use of drones, targeted assassination, occupation, or torture. Don't be turned off by fact that it is a documentary--movie is riveting.

Hoping Peace...
I am neither a Jew nor a Muslim and to me it seems so hard if these people will ever achieve peace since when it comes to politics, geographically they certainly are not in a peaceful zone. As an outsider, I appreciate a sincere and well presented documentary which allows me to educate myself and this director has surly done his work by presenting facts and interviewing few people who have been in charge of defending Israel... but what is important, are those legislators who unfortunately have a mind of their own but controlled by few... Bravo.

Rare insight for people not so familiar with the Middle East
The film offers interviews with the last six heads of Shin Bet, Israel's secretive state security service. Despite being largely sympathetic to the men, their interviews were laced together very well to show inconsistencies in their responses. As is common in interviews with governmental officials, politicians are not shown in a very favorable light. However, the film makes it clear that Shin Bet was not blameless in the things that happened.

I think this is a documentary that would benefit many Americans, if not others, as it gives a very different perspective on Israel's history than can be found anywhere else. As an American who is very interested in understanding the state of affairs in the Middle East, and who is just starting to see the "darker side" of Israel, I found this documentary very useful and interesting.

The biggest reason this is not rated five stars is that it was hard to remember which of the men corresponded with which years as directors of...

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Ben 10 Omniverse - Heroes Rise 2

Ben 10 is the Best
AWESOME! I love Ben 10 Omniverse. Rook is a great partner to Ben, and the new aliens are pretty cool too.

fun item
this was a fun and entertaining dvd. my nephew loved it. we will surely watch it again and again. thanks

for my grandson
My grandson loved it. He has is a Ben 10 fan and watches his DVD's over and over again. Thank you

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Would You Rather [HD]

Brilliant but flawed
I know this is by no means a perfect movie, but I truly loved it. Jeffrey Combs performance was fantastic and I really liked the story. There were really no surprises, but the casting and the dialog kept the movie interesting for me. The "choices" idea that runs through the movie caused for a lot of tension, but I feel that it could have been exploited a bit more. Most of the gore in this film is what plays in your head, because most of those shots cut-away. I found this very effective and was tense through most of the movie. I do want to say I feel a little guilty in liking this so much because there is a definite cruelty to the violence. Having said that, I felt that it was a compelling, tense, film that managed to entertain. I'm already wishing there was a sequel.

THERE IS A PROCESS INVOLVED
Iris (Brittany Snow) has a brother who needs a bone marrow transplant. The creepy Shepard Lambrick (Jeffrey Combs) offers to pay for it if she wins a game of a sadistic "would you rather," one that we quickly discover is played to the death. 8 people are assembled in a dining room and forced at gun point. Since Iris is the only person we know anything about, everyone but Scooby-Doo can figure this one out.

Amy, played by porn star Sasha Grey, is an aggressive player who immediately plays to win. Shepard has an obnoxious son (Robin Taylor) who insults the players.

There is a fairly decent intensity factor with this film, but it really doesn't stimulate the grey matter. The whole set up is rather inane. If you like the "ten little Indians" style movies with slasher elements, this one is satisfactory as long as you keep your expectations low. Perhaps 5 stars on a Red Box rental scale.

If you liked this film you might also like "Truth or Die" which I...

Loved it
This movie contained everything I want in a horror flick. I will watch it again and would highly recommend it to all of my friends!

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Everything Is Broken

The Frontier at the Ends of Civilization
When Nolan, the jaded scavenging veteran at the heart of the new Syfy series Defiance, strides from the Lawkeeper's office early in the pilot episode, seasoned viewers will recognize the streetscape. With storefronts built of reclaimed materials and stacked cargo compartments, it distinctly resembles the Eavesdown Docks from Joss Whedon's Firefly. And for good reason, since both shows shows channel the same American frontier mythology.

Frederick Jackson Turner's seminal 1893 essay, "The Significance of the Frontier in American History," identified the idea of frontier as the defining trait of American society. Crossing the invisible line from society to wilderness allows individuals to shrug off confining Euro-American stipulations of hierarchy, subjection, religion, and money. But Turner lamented that the closing of the American frontier, according to the 1890 census, marked the end of American pioneer fervor.

Firefly, like Star Trek before that, rejects that...

Well Written, Well Executed SciFi
My husband and I really enjoyed the pilot episode. It was far better than so many recent entries in the genre. We hope our support will keep it on air if (as we hope) the writing and execution continue to hold up to the high standards set in the opener.

Definite Potential
For some reason the first episode was released early, but for those watching now or watching on the 15th, the show has great potential. Its not perfect, and the first episode has its slow parts, but overall it was enjoyable to watch, especially as you get to the battle near the end. This is the first time a game and tv showed have been tied together like this, and as a player of the game I really want to see Defiance end up successful for everyone involved. We need more companies, and people, willing to try new things and I hope future episodes continue to improve as the story expands and the cast gets used to working together. The cast itself is pretty solid overall with a few well known names involved. Jaime Murray (Spartacus/Warehouse 13) and Julie Benz (Buffy) being two of my favorites. Farscape fans will also notice one of the people behind Defiance is the creator of Farscape, Rockne S. O'Bannon. We need more good sci-fi shows out there and so far Defiance looks like it could be...

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