DVD Review: Alien Trespass [Blu-ray]: Eric McCormack, Jenni Baird, Robert Patrick, Jody Thompson, Dan Lauria, R.W. Goodwin: Movies & TV

Posted by admin  |  on 16 August, 07:50 AM
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DVD Review: Alien Trespass [Blu-ray]: Eric McCormack, Jenni Baird, Robert Patrick, Jody Thompson, Dan Lauria, R.W. Goodwin: Movies & TVDVD Review:  Alien Trespass [Blu ray]: Eric McCormack, Jenni Baird, Robert Patrick, Jody Thompson, Dan Lauria, R.W. Goodwin: Movies & TV 200981610282987577801

Product Description
A flying saucer, ray guns, body snatching and a one-eyed monster from outer space! It’s all here in this action-packed sci-fi adventure! Eric McCormack stars as an astronomer who gets possessed by a friendly alien bent on saving our humble planet. But even with the help of a lovely diner waitress, is he any match for the Ghota, a one-eyed evil alien on a murderous rampage?

A very good homage to 50’s sci-fi,

By Lawrence W. Stephens -

  

This review is from: Alien Trespass (DVD)

When I saw that this movie was playing at a old time theater that my wife and I used to go to when we were first married in the 70’s, sounds fun, lets go see it. Popcorn, drink, a real balcony and a 50’s style sci-fi movie, what could be better. And for the actors, real “B” quality. For the most part, a real homage to sci-fi. Blob and It Came from Outer Space comes to mine. Unfortunately, Eric McCormack in trying to act like a 50’s B actor, over acted his part. He seems to be posing. Look I’m Richard Carlson, no I’m Hugh Marlowe, no I’m Grant Williams, etc. Lot of fun at the theater. You can go back. Not sure if the prerelease price is worth it ($19.49).
Oh. For the story line see “It Came from Outer Space”.

Great Movie!,

By Raskolnikov (Ca, USA) -

This review is from: Alien Trespass (DVD)

When I saw this panel at WonderCon, I knew it was going to be a hit. The movie did not disappoint! I love the writing, the scenery, and the homage o the classic 1950’s sci-fi films. It’s a must have for your collection folks.

LOOK TO THE SKIES,

By Mark Turner -

  

This review is from: Alien Trespass (DVD)

There is a certain member of movie fandom that loves old movies. And each genre has its own devotees. Classic musical fans love the MGM musicals. Horror fans the Universal classics. And science fiction fans love those bug eyed monsters invading earth from the stars. The film ALIEN TRESPASS pays homage to those films while placing a tongue firmly in cheek.

The story begins (in the extended version) with the grandson of the film’s producer and the grandson of the film’s star introducing the picture. Of course they carry on the fight that began with their grandfathers over the film and then allow it to begin. The film had been shelved for years and now they’d decided to release it.

The story begins with astronomer/professor Ted Lewis (Eric McCormack) watching the skies while cooking on the grill as a meteor shower begins. But when a large meteor lands nearby, he abandons his wife at home to investigate.

As we already know, the meteor was actually a spaceship crashing. And while we watch, an alien in space gear exits the ship and wanders about. When Lewis shows up, his mouth opens to scream but before we can hear the scene changes.

Cut to lovers lane where teens Dick and Penny are parked. They have seen the crash as well but think it was just a meteor. As Penny pushes away Dick’s advances and encourages him to leave the area, they are confronted by a 6 foot tall, one eyed, tentacled creature. The care starts and they escape. But who to tell? No one will believe two teens in the 1950’s.

The local police think it’s all a prank when people begin missing and the teens tell their tale of a monster on the loose. But all the while Lewis, now possessed by the alien, hunts down this monster. With the help of waitress and aspiring artist Tammy, he tracks down the alien and explains what is going on.

It turns out the alien’s name is Urp and he was transporting the Ghota to a prison planet when it forced his craft to crash. Now they have just a few hours before the Ghota divides and begins a quest for world domination based on its hunger. They only have a small amount of time to save the planet, but how can they do so with no help from the local law?

The movie plays it straight as if this actually was a film made during the science fiction craze of the fifties. Everything from the sets to the styles to the acting screams low budget B-movie cheese. The people who made those films truly thought they were making something special, which we now can recognize that they did. At the same time they were making some of the campiest messes ever placed on celluloid.

The movie doesn’t knock those early films though. Instead it is paying tribute to the films that came before, giving a wink and a nod to film buffs along for the ride. The actors actually act as we recall the actors from that time period acting in these films. The monster is extremely low budget looking but functional. Amazingly enough the only thing that doesn’t look lifted from that time period is the cinematography.

McCormack does a great job as grandfather/grandson. While the elder of the two spoke as if he was the greatest actor alive, McCormack shows his pompous side as is that of his grandson. Robert Patrick shows up as an obnoxious sheriff who takes the teens in town to task just for being young. Dan Lauria turns in a steady performance as the town sheriff who doesn’t believe but begins to do so as the body count rises and pools of goo are left in the wake of the Ghota.

Directed by R. W. Goodwin who wrote several period piece episodes of THE X-FILES, the film shows his love of movies like THE BLOB and IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE with a touch of I MARRIED A MAN FROM OUTER SPACE tossed in. You get the sense he has a true admiration of the genre and perhaps can encourage a new generation to seek them out.

ALIEN TRESPASS isn’t a perfect film. It also might not be for certain tastes. But it does offer an entertaining evening for rental that the entire family can watch together. Fun, homage and the confrontation between man and alien make for a film worth watching.
Search Alien Trespass [Blu-ray]: Eric McCormack, Jenni Baird, Robert Patrick, Jody Thompson, Dan Lauria, R.W. Goodwin: Movies & TV from AmAzon

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DVD Review: The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu-ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo-Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV

Posted by admin  |  on 16 August, 05:20 AM
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DVD Review: The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu-ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo-Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TVDVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 200981610241845377801

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Stills from The Class (Click for larger image)

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 20098161024187877801

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 200981610241812577802
DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 200981610241817177803

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 200981610241820377804

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 200981610241825077805
DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 200981610241828177806

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 200981610241832877807

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 200981610241837577808
DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs) [Blu ray]: François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 200981610241840677809

Product Description
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 08/11/2009 Run time: 130 minutes Rating: Pg13

Cantet’s French Class Has Oscar Potential.,

By G. Merritt (Boulder, CO) -
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)
  

  

  

This review is from: The Class (Entre les murs) [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)

I recently saw this film at The Denver Film Festival. It premiered at the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center, and has since been nominated for a Spirit Award in the category of Best Foreign Film. Because it was the first French film in 21 years to win the Palme d’Or at the Festival de Cannes in 2008, I’m predicting it will also be nominated for an Oscar, and it should win that Oscar. Directed by Laurent Cantet, and based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Fran鏾is B間audeau, The Class (Entre les murs, which translates as “Between the Walls”) tells the story of Fran鏾is Martin, a teacher in a rowdy, inner-city middle school in Paris, which represents a microcosm of the conflicting cultures and attitudes in contemporary France. Fran鏾is B間audeau stars in the role of the teacher.

Cantet filmed The Class (http://www.sonyclassics.com/theclass/) in a faux documentary style, using multiple improvised shots of real students and real teachers in a multi-ethnic French class in the 20th arrondissment of Paris. Shot almost entirely in a single classroom, much of the film chronicles Fran鏾is’ verbal confrontations with his French, African, Caribbean, Moroccan, Turkish, and Asian students. While he may not be a perfect teacher, Fran鏾is is highly effective in his pedagogic methods, much like Sidney Poitier’s Mark Thackeray character in To Sir, With Love. (The films have much in common.) In one pivotal scene, he uses the word “p閠asse” to describe two of his street-savvy female students (which translates as “skank”), which prompts a classmate, Soulaymane (Franck Keita), to defend them at the risk of being expelled and sent back to Mali. In another pivotal scene, one student tells Fran鏾is at the end of the school year that she has learned nothing and has understood nothing in his class. The Class is a not only a brilliant film, it is a perfect example of why French cinema surpasses nearly everything being produced in Hollywood these days. It plays out as a thought-provoking metaphor of the diverse ethnic mix of 21st-century Paris. Highly recommended.

G. Merritt

The More He Teaches, the Less They Learn,

By Chris Pandolfi (Los Angeles, CA) -
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
  

This review is from: The Class (Entre les murs) [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)

The first thing director Laurnet Cantet did right when making “The Class (Entre les Murs)” was asking the author of the original novel, Fran鏾is B間audeau, to write the film’s screenplay. He then went a step further and cast B間audeau as the teacher, M. Marin, which is only fitting since his novel is a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences as a literature teacher in a Parisian inner-city middle school. “The Class” is telling a story, yet it often feels as authentic as a documentary, not just because the actors are incredibly convincing, but also because it has been stripped of traditional cinematic embellishments. There are no special effects or elaborate camera tricks. There isn’t even a basic musical score. There are just the actors and the classroom set, and we’re watching the events naturally unfold.

I suspect most Western audiences will respond to this movie, despite the fact that it takes place in France. It tackles issues many students and teachers will find relatable, not the least of which is the sense that bridging the gap between student and teacher is sometimes impossible. Marin starts the semester with the hope that he will connect with his multiracial students, who live in urban areas and come from lower income families. But as time goes on, he slowly realizes that they don’t want to connect with him. I got the sense that neither side was able to see the opposing point of view; Marin has a hard time understanding why his students don’t want to learn, whereas the students have a hard time understanding why Marin wants them to conform.

Take, for example, the fact that one of Marin’s lessons covers sentence structure, which involves highly confusing terms like “imperfect predicate,” or something along those lines. The students take none of this in, but when you stop and think about it, does anyone? In the grand scheme of things, diagramming a sentence hardly seems like a necessary skill … unless, of course, you’re planning on becoming a linguistics professor. It’s not that Marin’s students are stupid–they just don’t see what the point is. Besides, it’s not as if society wants them to be anything more than what they project; it seems that when you’re automatically written off as a bad kid, there’s little point in trying to be something else.

Mind you, none of this is directly stated. This movie is more interested in implications, which is to say that we have no real idea why there’s such a disassociation between the students and the faculty. All we know is that it exists, and neither side knows how to make the other understand where they’re coming from. And then there’s the fact that most of the faculty base disciplinary decisions on statistical facts, and whenever a student faces a behavioral committee, they hear only generic spiels about how he or she isn’t living up to his or her potential. This isn’t quite the way Marin works; he bases disciplinary decisions more on emotion, which ultimately does more to harm his reputation than improve it.

There’s a fascinating sense of camaraderie amongst the students, as if they all share the belief that teachers are the enemy. One of the most troublesome is Souleymane (Franck Kieta), the son of Mali immigrants with a bit of an anger management problem. There are also Esmeralda (Esmeralda Ouertani), who’s of Middle Eastern descent and never feels valued by Marin, and Khoumba (Rachel Regulier), whose attitude seems to have soured since the last semester; just as smart as they are temperamental, both girls seem to know just how to use Marin’s less conservative teaching methods against him. The only distant character is Wei (Wei Huang), the brainy son of Chinese immigrants. We don’t learn much about him, although we suspect that his scholastic achievements are influenced more by duty than by a need to prove himself.

One of the best achievements of “The Class” is making us feel like we know the characters, and this is despite the fact that personal details are mostly kept hidden. We know, for example, that Marin is approachable as a human being, and he gets along just fine with the rest of the faculty, many of who are just as frustrated by their students as he is. But when it comes to being a mentor, something is seriously lacking; he can “teach” in the strictest sense of the word, but that doesn’t mean his students are actually learning anything.

An important metaphor is introduced towards the end of the film, but to describe it would do you a great disservice. Let it suffice to say that the final few shots say volumes about the relationship between students and teachers, or lack thereof. It may not be immediately obvious, but if you pay close attention, I’m sure you will pick up on it. It’s a refreshing approach to the typical Hollywood version of a school drama, where eager but inexperienced teachers are able to reach out to their at-risk students and forever change their lives. This isn’t to say that “The Class” is a French version of school drama; it feels so genuine that genre doesn’t even come into play. It’s a compelling character study that enables us to see various points of view all at once, and it does so without lingering on extraneous details. I’d say that’s quite an achievement, considering how easily it could have gone wrong.

“The Class” Provides a Lot For Discussion,

By thornhillatthemovies.com (Venice, CA United States) -
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
  

  

This review is from: The Class (Entre les murs) [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)

“The Class (Entre Les Murs)”, France’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar this year, is an interesting, insightful, almost Cinema Verite look at one teacher and one class of his students in a high school in a Paris suburb.

Based on a book by the film’s star, Francois Begadeau, about his own experiences as a teacher, the film concentrates on Francois’ French class in a high school in a tough suburb of Paris.

But director Laurence Cantet focuses the film even further, heightening the documentary feel of the story. We focus on one group of students in one of Francois’ classes. These students are a melting pot of ethnicities, all trying to learn in the same environment even though they are clearly at different levels. So Francois’ job involves just trying to communicate with and maintain discipline with his students. Interestingly, each of the actors plays an eponymous student. I don’t a lot about the background or history of the story behind this film, but this fact leads me to believe that each actor is playing a fictionalized version of himself or herself.

As the school year begins, Francois arrives at his school to find char women cleaning the rooms. He begins to prepare and then meets with the other teachers. They go around the group, introducing themselves to each other, identifying the new teachers and the department chairs, offering welcome and help coping with the school year. Later, we see a teacher pointing out the good and bad students to a newbie, helping them sort out who will be trouble. This is the first moment when I really connected with the story and felt the film was going to show us an in-depth look at the French education system. Before this moment, everything looks and feels too perfect, too clean, too idyllic and well prepared. Early on, you get the feeling we should prepare for a fairy tale or a romanticized tale of an educator, ala “Dead Poet’s Society” or “Stand and Deliver”. When one teacher begins rolling down the class list, telling the new teacher “He’ll be trouble. He’s OK. Trouble” and then begins going down the whole list, with one word summaries of each, you realize this school is probably a lot more like the schools we are familiar with. When this moment happens, you have hope this film will dig deeper.

And it does. The story concentrates on Francois’ interactions with the students in one of his classes. We learn he had most of these students the previous year. He has a history with them and this leads him to have a familiarity of how they will act up, how they will test him. He asks one black girl to read a passage from “The Diary of Anne Frank”. She protests and accuses him of picking on her, she doesn’t want to read, why can’t he pick someone else. When he realizes the student, who provides the standard for many of the other girls in the class, has just become unreasonably unruly, he confronts her. “We got along well last year, what happened?” When she looks down, we know she realizes she is giving him a hard time. But she’s a teenager and it is difficult to express her feelings.

As the school year progresses, we see a few brief moments with the other teachers, but the main focus of the story is Francois and his attempts to try to teach his students. And throughout the film, Begadeau is able to portray Francois, showing us his conflict. He is a young man, I would guess mid thirties, young enough to still be a little idealistic, but also a teacher long enough to realize he won’t be able to reach very many of his students, he won’t be able to provide them with the education they so desperately need. As he interacts with his students, we get a sense of how quickly each of these emotions plays through each interaction with each student. When a student announces there is a rumor floating around that he is gay, he playfully responds by trying to teach them some French, making the student restate the accusation using proper grammar. Later, his frustration gets the better of him and he lashes out at some of the students. Later still, another student answers one of his questions indicating a deep knowledge and understanding of the topic he is talking about. These are the types of students he longs for and you can see the delight register on his face when he realizes this student is actually paying attention, actually trying to learn amid all of the disruptive behavior of the other kids.

An extended subplot concerns one of Francois’ students, an African kid whose parents don’t speak French at home and wear the dress traditional to their country. In a moment of frustration, Francois gets in an argument with two of the girls who are the most disruptive. At the same time, the young man, who has been problematic, gets fed up and ends up accidentally injuring another girl. But because of his history at the school, Francois and his superiors decide to hold an administrative meeting to decide whether he should be expelled. As all of the preparations for this meeting take place (two representatives of the student body must be in attendance and two representatives of the parents must also be in attendance), Francois begins to doubt if this is the right path. What will it accomplish? The student’s mom speaks no French and her son must translate everything for her. She doesn’t even believe her son is a troublemaker; he does his work, he never misses school. Francois tries to convince her this isn’t true. But she knows what she sees. Then during the meeting, we see how serious the school faculty takes this matter. It is almost a court trial, with people making statements, others asking questions and ultimately the student and his mom leave the room while they vote.

These moments help to illustrate Francois’ growing frustration with the situation. On the one hand, expelling his student will accomplish nothing. He will still have troublemakers in his class. In fact, it will probably only hurt the student. But on the other hand, if they don’t enforce the rules can the situation get anything but worse? So he feels a reluctance to follow the protocol, to continue with the proceedings.

There is a moment about midway through the film when the new teacher, the one receiving advice from a veteran about who will be good students and who will be bad, rushes into the teacher’s lounge, infuriated. “They’re nothing but animals”, he shouts. While this moment is a little ‘on the cuff’, it is a helpful illustration. We can completely imagine Francois being in this same mind frame a few years ago. But now that he has a few more years of experience under his belt, he realizes he has to simply do the best he can.

“The Class” is an interesting, almost Cinema Verite look at one teacher’s attempts to teach his students. It is a very good, very well made film. And the parallels to the American school system are almost shocking.
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DVD Review: The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo-Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV

Posted by admin  |  on 16 August, 02:40 AM
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DVD Review: The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo-Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TVDVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 20098161020032877801

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Stills from The Class (Click for larger image)

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 200981610195996877801

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 2009816102001577802
DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 2009816102004677803

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 2009816102009377804

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 20098161020012577805
DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 20098161020017177806

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 20098161020020377807

DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 20098161020025077808
DVD Review:  The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV 20098161020029677809

Product Description
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 08/11/2009 Run time: 130 minutes Rating: Pg13

Cantet’s French Class Has Oscar Potential.,

By G. Merritt (Boulder, CO) -
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)
  

  

  

This review is from: The Class (Entre les murs) [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)

I recently saw this film at The Denver Film Festival. It premiered at the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center, and has since been nominated for a Spirit Award in the category of Best Foreign Film. Because it was the first French film in 21 years to win the Palme d’Or at the Festival de Cannes in 2008, I’m predicting it will also be nominated for an Oscar, and it should win that Oscar. Directed by Laurent Cantet, and based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Fran鏾is B間audeau, The Class (Entre les murs, which translates as “Between the Walls”) tells the story of Fran鏾is Martin, a teacher in a rowdy, inner-city middle school in Paris, which represents a microcosm of the conflicting cultures and attitudes in contemporary France. Fran鏾is B間audeau stars in the role of the teacher.

Cantet filmed The Class (http://www.sonyclassics.com/theclass/) in a faux documentary style, using multiple improvised shots of real students and real teachers in a multi-ethnic French class in the 20th arrondissment of Paris. Shot almost entirely in a single classroom, much of the film chronicles Fran鏾is’ verbal confrontations with his French, African, Caribbean, Moroccan, Turkish, and Asian students. While he may not be a perfect teacher, Fran鏾is is highly effective in his pedagogic methods, much like Sidney Poitier’s Mark Thackeray character in To Sir, With Love. (The films have much in common.) In one pivotal scene, he uses the word “p閠asse” to describe two of his street-savvy female students (which translates as “skank”), which prompts a classmate, Soulaymane (Franck Keita), to defend them at the risk of being expelled and sent back to Mali. In another pivotal scene, one student tells Fran鏾is at the end of the school year that she has learned nothing and has understood nothing in his class. The Class is a not only a brilliant film, it is a perfect example of why French cinema surpasses nearly everything being produced in Hollywood these days. It plays out as a thought-provoking metaphor of the diverse ethnic mix of 21st-century Paris. Highly recommended.

G. Merritt

The More He Teaches, the Less They Learn,

By Chris Pandolfi (Los Angeles, CA) -
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
  

This review is from: The Class (Entre les murs) [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)

The first thing director Laurnet Cantet did right when making “The Class (Entre les Murs)” was asking the author of the original novel, Fran鏾is B間audeau, to write the film’s screenplay. He then went a step further and cast B間audeau as the teacher, M. Marin, which is only fitting since his novel is a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences as a literature teacher in a Parisian inner-city middle school. “The Class” is telling a story, yet it often feels as authentic as a documentary, not just because the actors are incredibly convincing, but also because it has been stripped of traditional cinematic embellishments. There are no special effects or elaborate camera tricks. There isn’t even a basic musical score. There are just the actors and the classroom set, and we’re watching the events naturally unfold.

I suspect most Western audiences will respond to this movie, despite the fact that it takes place in France. It tackles issues many students and teachers will find relatable, not the least of which is the sense that bridging the gap between student and teacher is sometimes impossible. Marin starts the semester with the hope that he will connect with his multiracial students, who live in urban areas and come from lower income families. But as time goes on, he slowly realizes that they don’t want to connect with him. I got the sense that neither side was able to see the opposing point of view; Marin has a hard time understanding why his students don’t want to learn, whereas the students have a hard time understanding why Marin wants them to conform.

Take, for example, the fact that one of Marin’s lessons covers sentence structure, which involves highly confusing terms like “imperfect predicate,” or something along those lines. The students take none of this in, but when you stop and think about it, does anyone? In the grand scheme of things, diagramming a sentence hardly seems like a necessary skill … unless, of course, you’re planning on becoming a linguistics professor. It’s not that Marin’s students are stupid–they just don’t see what the point is. Besides, it’s not as if society wants them to be anything more than what they project; it seems that when you’re automatically written off as a bad kid, there’s little point in trying to be something else.

Mind you, none of this is directly stated. This movie is more interested in implications, which is to say that we have no real idea why there’s such a disassociation between the students and the faculty. All we know is that it exists, and neither side knows how to make the other understand where they’re coming from. And then there’s the fact that most of the faculty base disciplinary decisions on statistical facts, and whenever a student faces a behavioral committee, they hear only generic spiels about how he or she isn’t living up to his or her potential. This isn’t quite the way Marin works; he bases disciplinary decisions more on emotion, which ultimately does more to harm his reputation than improve it.

There’s a fascinating sense of camaraderie amongst the students, as if they all share the belief that teachers are the enemy. One of the most troublesome is Souleymane (Franck Kieta), the son of Mali immigrants with a bit of an anger management problem. There are also Esmeralda (Esmeralda Ouertani), who’s of Middle Eastern descent and never feels valued by Marin, and Khoumba (Rachel Regulier), whose attitude seems to have soured since the last semester; just as smart as they are temperamental, both girls seem to know just how to use Marin’s less conservative teaching methods against him. The only distant character is Wei (Wei Huang), the brainy son of Chinese immigrants. We don’t learn much about him, although we suspect that his scholastic achievements are influenced more by duty than by a need to prove himself.

One of the best achievements of “The Class” is making us feel like we know the characters, and this is despite the fact that personal details are mostly kept hidden. We know, for example, that Marin is approachable as a human being, and he gets along just fine with the rest of the faculty, many of who are just as frustrated by their students as he is. But when it comes to being a mentor, something is seriously lacking; he can “teach” in the strictest sense of the word, but that doesn’t mean his students are actually learning anything.

An important metaphor is introduced towards the end of the film, but to describe it would do you a great disservice. Let it suffice to say that the final few shots say volumes about the relationship between students and teachers, or lack thereof. It may not be immediately obvious, but if you pay close attention, I’m sure you will pick up on it. It’s a refreshing approach to the typical Hollywood version of a school drama, where eager but inexperienced teachers are able to reach out to their at-risk students and forever change their lives. This isn’t to say that “The Class” is a French version of school drama; it feels so genuine that genre doesn’t even come into play. It’s a compelling character study that enables us to see various points of view all at once, and it does so without lingering on extraneous details. I’d say that’s quite an achievement, considering how easily it could have gone wrong.

“The Class” Provides a Lot For Discussion,

By thornhillatthemovies.com (Venice, CA United States) -
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
  

  

This review is from: The Class (Entre les murs) [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)

“The Class (Entre Les Murs)”, France’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar this year, is an interesting, insightful, almost Cinema Verite look at one teacher and one class of his students in a high school in a Paris suburb.

Based on a book by the film’s star, Francois Begadeau, about his own experiences as a teacher, the film concentrates on Francois’ French class in a high school in a tough suburb of Paris.

But director Laurence Cantet focuses the film even further, heightening the documentary feel of the story. We focus on one group of students in one of Francois’ classes. These students are a melting pot of ethnicities, all trying to learn in the same environment even though they are clearly at different levels. So Francois’ job involves just trying to communicate with and maintain discipline with his students. Interestingly, each of the actors plays an eponymous student. I don’t a lot about the background or history of the story behind this film, but this fact leads me to believe that each actor is playing a fictionalized version of himself or herself.

As the school year begins, Francois arrives at his school to find char women cleaning the rooms. He begins to prepare and then meets with the other teachers. They go around the group, introducing themselves to each other, identifying the new teachers and the department chairs, offering welcome and help coping with the school year. Later, we see a teacher pointing out the good and bad students to a newbie, helping them sort out who will be trouble. This is the first moment when I really connected with the story and felt the film was going to show us an in-depth look at the French education system. Before this moment, everything looks and feels too perfect, too clean, too idyllic and well prepared. Early on, you get the feeling we should prepare for a fairy tale or a romanticized tale of an educator, ala “Dead Poet’s Society” or “Stand and Deliver”. When one teacher begins rolling down the class list, telling the new teacher “He’ll be trouble. He’s OK. Trouble” and then begins going down the whole list, with one word summaries of each, you realize this school is probably a lot more like the schools we are familiar with. When this moment happens, you have hope this film will dig deeper.

And it does. The story concentrates on Francois’ interactions with the students in one of his classes. We learn he had most of these students the previous year. He has a history with them and this leads him to have a familiarity of how they will act up, how they will test him. He asks one black girl to read a passage from “The Diary of Anne Frank”. She protests and accuses him of picking on her, she doesn’t want to read, why can’t he pick someone else. When he realizes the student, who provides the standard for many of the other girls in the class, has just become unreasonably unruly, he confronts her. “We got along well last year, what happened?” When she looks down, we know she realizes she is giving him a hard time. But she’s a teenager and it is difficult to express her feelings.

As the school year progresses, we see a few brief moments with the other teachers, but the main focus of the story is Francois and his attempts to try to teach his students. And throughout the film, Begadeau is able to portray Francois, showing us his conflict. He is a young man, I would guess mid thirties, young enough to still be a little idealistic, but also a teacher long enough to realize he won’t be able to reach very many of his students, he won’t be able to provide them with the education they so desperately need. As he interacts with his students, we get a sense of how quickly each of these emotions plays through each interaction with each student. When a student announces there is a rumor floating around that he is gay, he playfully responds by trying to teach them some French, making the student restate the accusation using proper grammar. Later, his frustration gets the better of him and he lashes out at some of the students. Later still, another student answers one of his questions indicating a deep knowledge and understanding of the topic he is talking about. These are the types of students he longs for and you can see the delight register on his face when he realizes this student is actually paying attention, actually trying to learn amid all of the disruptive behavior of the other kids.

An extended subplot concerns one of Francois’ students, an African kid whose parents don’t speak French at home and wear the dress traditional to their country. In a moment of frustration, Francois gets in an argument with two of the girls who are the most disruptive. At the same time, the young man, who has been problematic, gets fed up and ends up accidentally injuring another girl. But because of his history at the school, Francois and his superiors decide to hold an administrative meeting to decide whether he should be expelled. As all of the preparations for this meeting take place (two representatives of the student body must be in attendance and two representatives of the parents must also be in attendance), Francois begins to doubt if this is the right path. What will it accomplish? The student’s mom speaks no French and her son must translate everything for her. She doesn’t even believe her son is a troublemaker; he does his work, he never misses school. Francois tries to convince her this isn’t true. But she knows what she sees. Then during the meeting, we see how serious the school faculty takes this matter. It is almost a court trial, with people making statements, others asking questions and ultimately the student and his mom leave the room while they vote.

These moments help to illustrate Francois’ growing frustration with the situation. On the one hand, expelling his student will accomplish nothing. He will still have troublemakers in his class. In fact, it will probably only hurt the student. But on the other hand, if they don’t enforce the rules can the situation get anything but worse? So he feels a reluctance to follow the protocol, to continue with the proceedings.

There is a moment about midway through the film when the new teacher, the one receiving advice from a veteran about who will be good students and who will be bad, rushes into the teacher’s lounge, infuriated. “They’re nothing but animals”, he shouts. While this moment is a little ‘on the cuff’, it is a helpful illustration. We can completely imagine Francois being in this same mind frame a few years ago. But now that he has a few more years of experience under his belt, he realizes he has to simply do the best he can.

“The Class” is an interesting, almost Cinema Verite look at one teacher’s attempts to teach his students. It is a very good, very well made film. And the parallels to the American school system are almost shocking.
Search The Class (Entre Les Murs): François Bégaudeau, Agame Malembo-Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel, Boubacar Toure, Burak Özyilmaz, Carl Nanor, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Dalla Doucoure, Damien Gomes, Esmeralda Ouertani, Eva Paradiso, Pierre Milon, Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo, Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo: Movies & TV from AmAzon

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DVD Review: The Wizard of Oz (Import - English - All Regions): Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Judy Garland: Movies & TV

Posted by admin  |  on 4 August, 06:26 AM
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DVD Review: The Wizard of Oz (Import - English - All Regions): Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Judy Garland: Movies & TVDVD Review:  The Wizard of Oz (Import   English   All Regions): Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Judy Garland: Movies & TV 2009841715987577801Somewhere over the rainbow,

By Dragonfly (Los Angeles, CA) -

Another flawless classic that withstands the test of time. Most people have forgotten that the movie starts off in black and white, then turns to color when Dorothy reaches Oz. This is the way it was shown originally in 1939, and that’s the way this import version presents. The only minor distraction is the default foreign subtitle. But that’s what the DVD remote is for. Click the “subtitle” button a couple of times, and the subtitle is completely gone. Heck, what could be easier. The best thing about this import is it’s a lot cheaper than the domestic version. Same quality picture, and sound.

The Wizard of the Odyssey,

By J. Preston (San Juan Mountains) -
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
  

  

I’ve been thrilled and enchanted by the Wizard of Oz since I was a small child.

This version has MANY advantages over the others available. First, it is playable on ALL DVD players and you can exchange this DVD with friends in other countries, or, play it on DVD players and computers from other countries.

Second, the black and white and color on this DVD are true to the original screen version. (I once saw it on the big screen in Scottsdale in 1989 when an old theater had closed - the Wizard of Oz was the first movie shown at the theater when it opened in 1939).

Third, the version is the true screen version first shown to audiences in 1939. Why is that good?

The first screen version was edited to be a gentle portrayal of the essence and spirit of the book the Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

As popular as the movie has been in history, few have read the book.

The book is L. Frank Baum’s version of Homer’s “The Odyssey” with Dorothy as hero (heroine). Baum was a minor scholar of the Classics (he studied Greek in military school when he was a teenager). He took the story line, conflicts, antagonists and protagonists of the Odyssey, and, put them into a compelling context for readers at the turn of the twentieth century.

Dorothea is, in ancient Greek, the name of the goddess of truth and wisdom. “Toto” (meaning “everything”), the faithful dog, is a metaphor for our “faith” as we journey through life in search of home (as did Odysseus). Brains (the scarecrow), heart (the tin man) and courage (the lion) are what all of us use in our lives to find our home and our soul mate (as did Odysseus - as does Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz).

When Dorothy is in peril in the Witch’s castle, she relies upon “Toto” (her faith) to summon her brains, her heart, and her courage.

Many commentators have mused about the name “Oz.” I’ve read some conjectures that border on the ridiculous. (One biographer of Baum speculated that “Oz” came from the O-Z on lower drawer of Baum’s two drawer file cabinet).

“Oz” is the correct ancient Greek abbreviation for the Odyssey. In English, and in the Greek from about 400 BC to the present, the abbreviation for the Odyssey would be “Od”. However, in attic Greek (from about 800 BC - the time Homer wrote the Odyssey) if the “d” is surrounded by two vowels, it is changed, in ancient Attic Greek, to “z” or “djeta”. Hence, the first two letters of the original ancient Greek for the Odyssey are not “Od” but “Oz”.

And that’s how L. Frank Baum came up with the name of “Oz”.

Buy this version. You can’t go wrong at this price.

This is a Great DVD!,

By Loveguitar (Georgia, USA) -

The box is covered in Korean characters, but don’t let that scare you from buying this DVD. It’s the original “Wizard of Oz” movie that we grew up with! Even Judy Garland’s name got goofed up as “Jody Garland” but still, the DVD is clear, crisp, beautiful and sounds wonderful. And it’s a lot cheaper than the the “Wizard of Oz” alternative DVD’s. You only get one DVD - just the movie, no extras or games or behind the scenes information. But I didn’t want any of that. I just wanted the movie.

When you pop this movie into your DVD player go first to “Set-up” and under Subtitles click on “none”. The movie is in English since it’s the original and there is absolutely nothing about it I can find to complain about. I loved it! Though it took a few days longer for it to arrive than I expected, it was well-packaged and the plastic case is as good as any other DVD case.
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DVD Review: Race to Witch Mountain (Two-Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV

Posted by admin  |  on 4 August, 02:45 AM
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DVD Review: Race to Witch Mountain (Two-Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TVDVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Two Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841762042177801

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Loosely based on Alexander Key’s novel Escape to Witch Mountain, Race to Witch Mountain is not so much a remake of the 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain as an entirely new film based on some key plot points from the former film. When two innocent-looking teens appear in Jack Bruno’s (Dwayne Johnson) cab and tell him that “we must travel in that direction,” Jack thinks it’s a bit strange, but shrugs it off and starts driving. Soon they’re being followed and chased off the road, but is it Jack’s past catching up with him or something much larger? Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig) reluctantly confess that they are aliens from another planet, but Jack refuses to accept their statement until Sara starts moving things with her mind and Seth slips through the body of the car and deflects the SUV that’s pursuing them. Sara and Seth tell Jack that they must recover their crashed spaceship in order to save earth from being taken over by aliens, so Jack takes them to see Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino); a scientist who he met by chance and who believes in the possible existence of extra-terrestrials. While the four are initially wary of one another, Dr. Friedman provides some valuable contacts and they begin trusting one another out of sheer necessity. Soon they’re battling secret government agencies, heavily armed personnel, and even a cybernetic Siphon (that looks a lot like a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica) in a desperate attempt to gain access to the heavily fortified Witch Mountain and the crashed spacecraft. Action-packed car chases dominate the film (a bit excessively, in this reviewer’s opinion), but the acting and chemistry between actors is good as is the suspense and intrigue. Rated PG due to sequences of action and violence, frightening and dangerous situations, and some thematic elements. (Ages 9 and older) –Tami Horiuchi

Beyond Race to Witch Mountain on DVD DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Two Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 200984176206277801
Race to Witch Mountain on Blu-ray
DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Two Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841762010977802
Watch the Original Witch Mountain Classics
DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Two Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841762015677803
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Still from Race to Witch Mountain (Click for larger image)

DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Two Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841762020377804

DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Two Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841762025077805

DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Two Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841762029677806

DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Two Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841762034377807

DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Two Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841762037577808

A Series of Chase Sequences To Witch Mountain,

By Flap Jackson “Sky Is Burning, But At Least We… (State Road, NC) -

  

This review is from: Race to Witch Mountain (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

Taking all the roles Vin Diesel wishes he could have, The Rock/Dwayne Johnson has made quite a name for himself as that likable tough guy, which ‘Race’ seems to lean on, even though Johnson is often less than charming as he was in “The Game Plan.” In fact, characterization and/or story sort of lacks, and most of the movie feels like filler until the next chase sequence. Sure, there’s some genuine funny/cute moments, but most of the movie is either been there, done that, or ‘that’s nice/cool.’

But in the end however, despite its many faults, and probably mostly due to the likable kids in the movie, the movie turns out to be enjoyable, if not entertaining. If you’re looking for a little excitement in your family film, then this is a fine choice for you. Otherwise, it’s neither here nor there, until you somehow find yourself there, and it somehow winds up being good. It’s also nice to have a Tom Everett Scott sighting.

Real Score: 3.5

Watchable, but that’s about it,

By C. R. Swanson “wilybadger.wordpress.com” (Phoenix) -

  

  

At the store yesterday I bought a copy of the classic movie Tron. It’s still got a paper-thin plot, and the SFX are aged, but, damn, I love that movie! David Warner for the win!

Along with the DVD came a little coupon for a free ticket to the movie Race to Witch Mountain, which is basically a remake of the 1975 film, Escape to Witch Mountain (funny side note: one of my friends said once he knew he might be gay after seeing the character of Tony in that movie). I remember the movie myself. I watched it quite a bit when I was a kid, whenever it wa son TV (for you youngun’s out there… this was in the days before DVDs and barely in the days of VHS. If you wanted to watch a movie, you had to wait until it was broadcast).

I heard about this new version and had zero interest in seeing it. Then I got the free ticket and thought, eh, what the hell.

So now I’ve seen the film and I call it… mediocre. The SFX are quite good and Dwayne Johnson is very charismatic (I’m surprised his movie career hasn’t taken off more, but I think it helps that he’s no longer calling himself The Rock). But otherwise, this is nothing special.

The film tells the story of two aliens who apparently are unable to pilot a starship into orbit and instead conveniently crash in the Las Vegas area. Sooper sekrit guvmint sp00ks track this crash and start tailing the aliens, who now look like normal kids and have stowed away in the back of a taxi being driven by Johnson’s character. Stuff happens, the government proves to be omniscent, omnipotent and omnipresent (if only the real government functioned like that), the kids make all sorts of pretentious remarks, I yawn and look at my watch.

This wasn’t a bad movie, really, and it was nice to see the original actors from the first movie back again in something other than just a little “Oh, look who it is!” cameo. But the story was weak, the government agents implausible and the less said about the acting aside from Ciran Hinds and Dwayne Johnson the better (Alexander Ludwig is most notable here as an “actor” whose primary talent seems to be standing around looking attractive and desirable to the readers of Non-Threatening Boys magazine. In this, at least, he succeeds admirably).

I’ll grant the original Witch Mountain movies weren’t any great shakes, but they were at least somewhat better than this warmed-over drek. Don’t waste your time.

Amusing SF ,

By wiredweird “wiredweird” (Earth, or somewhere nearby) -
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)
  

This review is from: Race to Witch Mountain [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)

You’d think a Las Vegas cab driver had seen it all, especially with that UFO convention in town, right? Almost right, until two solemn children show up in his car. They have a wad of cash that they don’t seem to understand very well, an urgent need to reach some desert destination, and a schoolbook way of speaking. It seems as legal as anything in Las Vegas and the money’s green, so they’re off.

So, a moment later, are the government goons in their black SUVs, in hot pursuit. The kids turn out to be something pretty special. The big bad gov guy calls them “illegal aliens,” without stating just which laws they broke or just how alien. Then the chase is on with a few extras thrown in, like a killer robot and the only UFOlogist in the world who actually has a clue.

There’s plenty of action, a bit of bloodless violence, some ominous but ambiguous threats against the kids, and a steady stream of one-liners to keep the mood from getting too grim. Maybe this isn’t one for the ages, but it provides some popcorn entertainment where no one gets killed and everyone keeps their clothes on. Enjoy!

– wiredweird
Search Race to Witch Mountain (Two-Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV from AmAzon

[asa]B002935GN2[/asa]

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DVD Review: Race to Witch Mountain (Single-Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV

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DVD Review: Race to Witch Mountain (Single-Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TVDVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Single Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841753431277801

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Loosely based on Alexander Key’s novel Escape to Witch Mountain, Race to Witch Mountain is not so much a remake of the 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain as an entirely new film based on some key plot points from the former film. When two innocent-looking teens appear in Jack Bruno’s (Dwayne Johnson) cab and tell him that “we must travel in that direction,” Jack thinks it’s a bit strange, but shrugs it off and starts driving. Soon they’re being followed and chased off the road, but is it Jack’s past catching up with him or something much larger? Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig) reluctantly confess that they are aliens from another planet, but Jack refuses to accept their statement until Sara starts moving things with her mind and Seth slips through the body of the car and deflects the SUV that’s pursuing them. Sara and Seth tell Jack that they must recover their crashed spaceship in order to save earth from being taken over by aliens, so Jack takes them to see Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino); a scientist who he met by chance and who believes in the possible existence of extra-terrestrials. While the four are initially wary of one another, Dr. Friedman provides some valuable contacts and they begin trusting one another out of sheer necessity. Soon they’re battling secret government agencies, heavily armed personnel, and even a cybernetic Siphon (that looks a lot like a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica) in a desperate attempt to gain access to the heavily fortified Witch Mountain and the crashed spacecraft. Action-packed car chases dominate the film (a bit excessively, in this reviewer’s opinion), but the acting and chemistry between actors is good as is the suspense and intrigue. Rated PG due to sequences of action and violence, frightening and dangerous situations, and some thematic elements. (Ages 9 and older) –Tami Horiuchi

Beyond Race to Witch Mountain on DVD DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Single Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841753395377801
Race to Witch Mountain on Blu-ray
DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Single Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 20098417534077802
Watch the Original Witch Mountain Classics
DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Single Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 200984175344677803
More Great Disney Live Action Hits

Stills from Race to Witch Mountain (click for larger image)

DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Single Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 200984175349377804

DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Single Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841753414077805

DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Single Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841753418777806

DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Single Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841753421877807

DVD Review:  Race to Witch Mountain (Single Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV 2009841753426577808

A Series of Chase Sequences To Witch Mountain,

By Flap Jackson “Sky Is Burning, But At Least We… (State Road, NC) -

  

This review is from: Race to Witch Mountain (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

Taking all the roles Vin Diesel wishes he could have, The Rock/Dwayne Johnson has made quite a name for himself as that likable tough guy, which ‘Race’ seems to lean on, even though Johnson is often less than charming as he was in “The Game Plan.” In fact, characterization and/or story sort of lacks, and most of the movie feels like filler until the next chase sequence. Sure, there’s some genuine funny/cute moments, but most of the movie is either been there, done that, or ‘that’s nice/cool.’

But in the end however, despite its many faults, and probably mostly due to the likable kids in the movie, the movie turns out to be enjoyable, if not entertaining. If you’re looking for a little excitement in your family film, then this is a fine choice for you. Otherwise, it’s neither here nor there, until you somehow find yourself there, and it somehow winds up being good. It’s also nice to have a Tom Everett Scott sighting.

Real Score: 3.5

Watchable, but that’s about it,

By C. R. Swanson “wilybadger.wordpress.com” (Phoenix) -

  

  

This review is from: Race to Witch Mountain (Two-Disc Extended Edition + Digital Copy) (DVD)

At the store yesterday I bought a copy of the classic movie Tron. It’s still got a paper-thin plot, and the SFX are aged, but, damn, I love that movie! David Warner for the win!

Along with the DVD came a little coupon for a free ticket to the movie Race to Witch Mountain, which is basically a remake of the 1975 film, Escape to Witch Mountain (funny side note: one of my friends said once he knew he might be gay after seeing the character of Tony in that movie). I remember the movie myself. I watched it quite a bit when I was a kid, whenever it wa son TV (for you youngun’s out there… this was in the days before DVDs and barely in the days of VHS. If you wanted to watch a movie, you had to wait until it was broadcast).

I heard about this new version and had zero interest in seeing it. Then I got the free ticket and thought, eh, what the hell.

So now I’ve seen the film and I call it… mediocre. The SFX are quite good and Dwayne Johnson is very charismatic (I’m surprised his movie career hasn’t taken off more, but I think it helps that he’s no longer calling himself The Rock). But otherwise, this is nothing special.

The film tells the story of two aliens who apparently are unable to pilot a starship into orbit and instead conveniently crash in the Las Vegas area. Sooper sekrit guvmint sp00ks track this crash and start tailing the aliens, who now look like normal kids and have stowed away in the back of a taxi being driven by Johnson’s character. Stuff happens, the government proves to be omniscent, omnipotent and omnipresent (if only the real government functioned like that), the kids make all sorts of pretentious remarks, I yawn and look at my watch.

This wasn’t a bad movie, really, and it was nice to see the original actors from the first movie back again in something other than just a little “Oh, look who it is!” cameo. But the story was weak, the government agents implausible and the less said about the acting aside from Ciran Hinds and Dwayne Johnson the better (Alexander Ludwig is most notable here as an “actor” whose primary talent seems to be standing around looking attractive and desirable to the readers of Non-Threatening Boys magazine. In this, at least, he succeeds admirably).

I’ll grant the original Witch Mountain movies weren’t any great shakes, but they were at least somewhat better than this warmed-over drek. Don’t waste your time.

Amusing SF ,

By wiredweird “wiredweird” (Earth, or somewhere nearby) -
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)
  

This review is from: Race to Witch Mountain [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)

You’d think a Las Vegas cab driver had seen it all, especially with that UFO convention in town, right? Almost right, until two solemn children show up in his car. They have a wad of cash that they don’t seem to understand very well, an urgent need to reach some desert destination, and a schoolbook way of speaking. It seems as legal as anything in Las Vegas and the money’s green, so they’re off.

So, a moment later, are the government goons in their black SUVs, in hot pursuit. The kids turn out to be something pretty special. The big bad gov guy calls them “illegal aliens,” without stating just which laws they broke or just how alien. Then the chase is on with a few extras thrown in, like a killer robot and the only UFOlogist in the world who actually has a clue.

There’s plenty of action, a bit of bloodless violence, some ominous but ambiguous threats against the kids, and a steady stream of one-liners to keep the mood from getting too grim. Maybe this isn’t one for the ages, but it provides some popcorn entertainment where no one gets killed and everyone keeps their clothes on. Enjoy!

– wiredweird
Search Race to Witch Mountain (Single-Disc Edition): Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ted Hartley, Ciarán Hinds, John Kassir, Kim Richards, Meredith Salenger, Cheech Marin, Garry Marshall, Christine Lakin, Harry Murphy, Jr. Tom Woodruff, Tom Everett Scott, Bob Koherr, Andrew Shaifer, Beth Kennedy, Jonathan Slavin, Bob Clendenin, Greg Gardiner, Trevor Rabin, Andy Fickman: Movies & TV from AmAzon

[asa]B002935GMS[/asa]

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