Collection ID 1720
Director: Rod Lurie
Starring: Kevin Pollak, Timothy Hutton, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Clotilde Courau, Badja Djola
Genre: Drama, Thriller, TV Movie
Studio: Battleplan Productions   Release date: 1999   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (France, USA)
Summary: After the death of the President, his successor is on the campaign trail to be re-elected. On a stop in Colorado, he is suddenly snowed in and he and his entourage are forced to take shelter in a small diner. Of course, the group completely take over from the diner's owner and his French-Canadian waitress. Also in the diner is a local redneck and a married couple. Suddenly, the movie moves into a suspense film as the President learns that Iraq has invaded Kuwait and slaughtered hundreds of American soldiers. Setting up temporary communications, the President announces that he will launch a nuclear attack on Iraq immediately if the country does not withdraw. Iraq reacts that they have 23 nuclear missiles trained on the US that they are ready to launch. Tensions mount with the involved civilians offering a different viewpoint to the President from the normal opinions of his advisers.
My Rating:
My Review: It's been a long time since I've seen this movie (Nov of 2004). What little I remembered made for an enjoyable reunion with this taught political thriller. Set in a small Colorado dinner during a fierce snowstorm (feels a lot like 12 Angry Men), the president of the U.S. (played by Kevin Pollak) is on the campaign trail when an international incident arises and military action is called for. Will he have the nerve, fortitude and wisdom to properly wield America's most potent weapon? The threat of Nuclear Destruction looms as the stakes rise. The movie was released in 1999/2000, but it presaged Gulf War II and eerily included Donald Trump as a presidential candidate as part of the backstory. Shocking and revealing. What lengths would we (as a nation) be willing to go to in order to preserve the status quo, to preserve our strategic alliances and military dominance in the world? Written and directed by Rod Lurie, one can only wonder what crystal ball he held while making this movie.

Collection ID 397
Director: Mike Mitchell
Starring: Rob Schneider, William Forsythe, Eddie Griffin, Arija Bareikis, Oded Fehr
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Happy Madison Productions   Release date: 1999   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: A man becomes a male gigolo after being mistaken for one while housesitting a male gigolo's house.
My Rating:
My Review: Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo - 1999 (Comedy, romance) Stupid funny. An American comedy in the tradition of ‘Dumb and Dumber’. In this movie, Rob Schneider plays Deuce Bigalow a less-than-attractive ’pool boy’ who babysits a gigolo’s apartment. In doing so he inadvertently kills the gigolo’s fish and needs to find some cash quick - Naturally, he breaks into Antoine’s black-book in order to pick up some of Antoine’s under-serviced clientele. It’s ridiculous, rude, deprecating, offensive, predictable and juvenile. In other words it’s funny as hell. If you go into the movie thinking you’re going to get some high-brow serious drama you’re deluded - Come on… A movie starring Rob Schneider is named ‘Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo’ what were you thinking? Sit back and relax, get ready for a laugh as Deuce does his man-whoring. Despite the puerile R’ rated shenanigans of Schneider and crew there is a positive, uplifting message to the movie. If you enjoy the Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey style comedies you’ll love this movie. I give this laugh-fest a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1118
Director: Mike Mitchell
Starring: Rob Schneider, William Forsythe, Eddie Griffin, Arija Bareikis, Oded Fehr
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Happy Madison Productions   Release date: 1999   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: A man becomes a male gigolo after being mistaken for one while housesitting a male gigolo's house.
My Rating:
My Review: Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo - 1999 (Comedy, romance) Stupid funny. An American comedy in the tradition of ‘Dumb and Dumber’. In this movie, Rob Schneider plays Deuce Bigalow a less-than-attractive ’pool boy’ who babysits a gigolo’s apartment. In doing so he inadvertently kills the gigolo’s fish and needs to find some cash quick - Naturally, he breaks into Antoine’s black-book in order to pick up some of Antoine’s under-serviced clientele. It’s ridiculous, rude, deprecating, offensive, predictable and juvenile. In other words it’s funny as hell. If you go into the movie thinking you’re going to get some high-brow serious drama you’re deluded - Come on… A movie starring Rob Schneider is named ‘Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo’ what were you thinking? Sit back and relax, get ready for a laugh as Deuce does his man-whoring. Despite the puerile R’ rated shenanigans of Schneider and crew there is a positive, uplifting message to the movie. If you enjoy the Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey style comedies you’ll love this movie. I give this laugh-fest a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 491
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Eduardo Noriega, Marisa Paredes, Federico Luppi, Fernando Tielve, Íñigo Garcés
Genre: Drama
Studio: Deseo, El   Release date: 2001   Rated: R   
Language (Country): Spanish (Spain)
Summary: It is 1939, the end of three years of bloody civil war in Spain, and General Franco's right-wing Nationalists are poised to defeat the left-wing Republican forces. A ten-year-old boy named Carlos, the son of a fallen Republican war hero, is left by his tutor in an orphanage in the middle of nowhere. The orphanage is run by a curt but considerate headmistress named Carmen and a kindly Professor Casares, both of whom are sympathetic to the doomed Republican cause. Despite their concern for him, and his gradual triumph over the usual schoolhouse bully, Carlos never feels completely comfortable in his new environment. First of all, there was that initial encounter with the orphanage's nasty caretaker, Jacinto, who reacts even more violently when anyone is caught looking around a particular storage room the one with the deep well. Second, and more inexplicable, is the presence of a ghost, one of the former occupants of the orphanage named Santi. Not long after Carlos' arrival, Santi ...
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 1042
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Eduardo Noriega, Marisa Paredes, Federico Luppi, Fernando Tielve, Íñigo Garcés
Genre: Drama
Studio: Deseo, El   Release date: 2001   Rated: R   
Language (Country): Spanish (Spain)
Summary: It is 1939, the end of three years of bloody civil war in Spain, and General Franco's right-wing Nationalists are poised to defeat the left-wing Republican forces. A ten-year-old boy named Carlos, the son of a fallen Republican war hero, is left by his tutor in an orphanage in the middle of nowhere. The orphanage is run by a curt but considerate headmistress named Carmen and a kindly Professor Casares, both of whom are sympathetic to the doomed Republican cause. Despite their concern for him, and his gradual triumph over the usual schoolhouse bully, Carlos never feels completely comfortable in his new environment. First of all, there was that initial encounter with the orphanage's nasty caretaker, Jacinto, who reacts even more violently when anyone is caught looking around a particular storage room the one with the deep well. Second, and more inexplicable, is the presence of a ghost, one of the former occupants of the orphanage named Santi. Not long after Carlos' arrival, Santi ...
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 558
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Starring: William Holden, Cliff Robertson, Vince Edwards, Andrew Prine, Jeremy Slate
Genre: War
Studio: Wolper Pictures   Release date: 1968   Rated: Approved   
Language (Country): English, Spanish, French (USA)
Summary: During World War II, a special fighting unit is formed that combines a crack Canadian Army unit and a conglomeration of U.S. Army misfits who had previously served time in military jails. After an initial period of conflict between the two groups, their enmity turns to respect and friendship, and the unit is sent Italy to attempt a dangerous mission that has heretofore been considered impossible to carry out.
My Rating:
My Review: Now here's a movie worth watching. A group of American and Canadian soldiers are thrown together to form the first Special Service Force. The American misfits and Canadian crack troops form an anvil against which the Germans are crushed. A great WWII movie. Not as good as the Dirty Dozen, but exceedingly well done. Outstanding music, fantastic cast, great casting, terrific locations and costumes. A riveting story based on historical fact. This movie is worth watching again and again. I first learned about this movie when I was in the Air Force's NCO academy. It's been on my must 'Buy' list since then. I finally got a copy, and boy am I glad I did.

Collection ID 1259
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Starring: William Holden, Cliff Robertson, Vince Edwards, Andrew Prine, Jeremy Slate
Genre: War
Studio: Wolper Pictures   Release date: 1968   Rated: Approved   
Language (Country): English, Spanish, French (USA)
Summary: During World War II, a special fighting unit is formed that combines a crack Canadian Army unit and a conglomeration of U.S. Army misfits who had previously served time in military jails. After an initial period of conflict between the two groups, their enmity turns to respect and friendship, and the unit is sent Italy to attempt a dangerous mission that has heretofore been considered impossible to carry out.
My Rating:
My Review: Now here's a movie worth watching. A group of American and Canadian soldiers are thrown together to form the first Special Service Force. The American misfits and Canadian crack troops form an anvil against which the Germans are crushed. A great WWII movie. Not as good as the Dirty Dozen, but exceedingly well done. Outstanding music, fantastic cast, great casting, terrific locations and costumes. A riveting story based on historical fact. This movie is worth watching again and again. I first learned about this movie when I was in the Air Force's NCO academy. It's been on my must 'Buy' list since then. I finally got a copy, and boy am I glad I did.

Collection ID 80
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Alexander Godunov
Genre: Action
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox   Release date: 1988   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: New York cop John McClane gives terrorists a dose of their own medicine as they hold hostages in an LA office building.
My Rating:
My Review: A classic American action flick - A blockbuster with starpower and great lines. Bruce Willis plays John McClane; a kick-ass, take no shit New York cop. For Christmas he catches a flight to L.A. He's planning to spend the holidays with his wife and kids, maybe patch up his marriage, enjoy the smiles of his kids, and knock back a few cups of egg-nog. All those plans go out the window when a group of European terrorists decide to target the Nakatomi tower. The party-goers soon become pawns and hostages in this high stakes heist. There's just one problem - Hans didn't calculate the odds with one loose cannon in the works. John McClane shows these terrorists what one New York cop can do. Yipee Ki Yay, Mother… Great dialog, excellent pacing, editing and direction. The acting was o.k. but the action was the star. Thrilling, suspenseful, roller-coaster of action. 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 724
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Alexander Godunov, Reginald VelJohnson
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation   Release date: 1988   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, German, Italian (USA)
Summary: New York City Detective John McClane has just arrived in Los Angeles to spend Christmas with his wife. Unfortunatly, it is not going to be a Merry Christmas for everyone. A group of terrorists, led by Hans Gruber is holding everyone in the Nakatomi Plaza building hostage. With no way of anyone getting in or out, it's up to McClane to stop them all. All 12!
My Rating:
My Review: A classic American action flick - A blockbuster with starpower and great lines. Bruce Willis plays John McClane; a kick-ass, take no shit New York cop. For Christmas he catches a flight to L.A. He's planning to spend the holidays with his wife and kids, maybe patch up his marriage, enjoy the smiles of his kids, and knock back a few cups of egg-nog. All those plans go out the window when a group of European terrorists decide to target the Nakatomi tower. The party-goers soon become pawns and hostages in this high stakes heist. There's just one problem - Hans didn't calculate the odds with one loose cannon in the works. John McClane shows these terrorists what one New York cop can do. Yipee Ki Yay, Mother… Great dialog, excellent pacing, editing and direction. The acting was o.k. but the action was the star. Thrilling, suspenseful, roller-coaster of action. 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 1413
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Alexander Godunov, Reginald VelJohnson
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation   Release date: 1988   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, German, Italian (USA)
Summary: New York City Detective John McClane has just arrived in Los Angeles to spend Christmas with his wife. Unfortunatly, it is not going to be a Merry Christmas for everyone. A group of terrorists, led by Hans Gruber is holding everyone in the Nakatomi Plaza building hostage. With no way of anyone getting in or out, it's up to McClane to stop them all. All 12!
My Rating:
My Review: A classic American action flick - A blockbuster with starpower and great lines. Bruce Willis plays John McClane; a kick-ass, take no shit New York cop. For Christmas he catches a flight to L.A. He's planning to spend the holidays with his wife and kids, maybe patch up his marriage, enjoy the smiles of his kids, and knock back a few cups of egg-nog. All those plans go out the window when a group of European terrorists decide to target the Nakatomi tower. The party-goers soon become pawns and hostages in this high stakes heist. There's just one problem - Hans didn't calculate the odds with one loose cannon in the works. John McClane shows these terrorists what one New York cop can do. Yipee Ki Yay, Mother… Great dialog, excellent pacing, editing and direction. The acting was o.k. but the action was the star. Thrilling, suspenseful, roller-coaster of action. 5 out of 5.