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First off, I am sorry that this troubled guy lost his life. I wouldn't go as far as saying he deserved it, but his death was to be expected; I think there's a great reason that humans and wild animals live apart, and always should.

That said, this film was a letdown. Aside from Timothy's CONSTANT reminders that he's doing a lot for the bears, I didn't really understand what exactly he was doing other than keeping himself entertained in his little private bear fantasy world. From the first clip of Timothy, he's instantly unlikable and self congratulatory about the "work" he's doing. He's like one of these people that give themselves nicknames.

As the film progresses, it becomes more evident just how troubled this guy was. Again, I want to stress that I don't think this dismisses his death, but, as a film viewer, it's less tragic when something like Timothy's tragic end happens to someone you don't really care for.

The story is interesting, but I would have liked it much more had the main character been a bit more altruistic and a bit less annoying and self-centered. I believe Timothy was doing more for himself than the bears. His private sanctuary gave him something to do and it wasn't clear to me that the bears got anything out of it.

It reminded me of a clip from "Born Free" where her husband realizes that Joy Adamson (right name??) has interfered in the natural course of the cubs' lives and has caused possibly irreparable harm by interfering. Joy, to her credit, agreed and turned everything around for the benefit of the animals. She successfully un-domesticated the cubs and set them free. She also agreed never to touch any future offspring, no matter how tempting. All interference was undone.

Timothy ain't Joy.

This was a fun film for what it was, which was a cross between the Steve Martin 'Cheaper By The Dozen' and Chevy Chase 'Vacation' movies. Steve Martin would have fit perfectly in the lead role, but Robin Williams was excellent.

Of course there are the obvious moments with Dad trying to be hip and of course there are the obvious backwards-family jokes about Jeff Daniels' clan, but taken at face value, this is a lite, fun film.

I thought the daughter was great -- apparently she's some pop star, but I thought she had the best lines. Robin Williams plays his usual self, but it's still appealing after all these years (I could have done without the 'sock puppet' though).

Watch it while in a light mood (Sunday afternoons work well) and you won't be disappointed. Just don't expect 'Citizen Kane'...

We toss around the term "superstar" way too lightly these days, but here's one guy that truly deserves it.

I was glued to the set this entire show. The song selection was perfect -- it only contained the songs I actually wanted to hear and cut in with documentary footage during the weaker new songs. I loved that the band was just a five guys on stage in a very minimalist environment. (With songs of this strength, you don't need a circus to be entertained).

The shots of the crowd were amazing, too. How many performers can affect the original Beatles fans (now in their 50's and beyond), get young kids to jump up at the opening lines of "Can't Buy Me Love" and impact everyone in between?

While watching, I also realized that in the wake of John Lennon's tragic death, Paul McCartney instantly became an afterthought. Paul not only lost John and George (no matter what their final relations were, it must be hard to lose someone with whom you changed the world), but he also lost his wife Linda and never really seemed to garner the acknowledgment Lennon's murder received. I agree that Lennon's murder was horrible, but only now did I realize that Paul was sort of forgotten in the aftermath. I was very happy that he's found love again in Heather.

As for those complaining about the audio/video quality, I had no complaints whatsoever; both were crystal clear on my set. I think these same people will complain about the quality of DVD when the next format comes out; they'll never be satisfied.

My only regret was not buying a ticket to this show when I had the chance. Thanks to this video I was able to enjoy it.

When people remember John Lennon, they will first remember his murder and then his music. I now have a new appreciation for Paul McCartney, because, if nothing else, he will be remembered for his music first. And let's hope another lunatic won't change this, because the McCartney catalog is pretty good.

I cried when I thought about all the money that the filmmakers wasted on making this garbage movie.

I cried when I thought about all the money I've wasted watching utterly predictable formulaic movies as this.

I cried when I realized that I live in the greatest country in the world and some foreigner may see this film and think it's representative of American filmmakers' capacity.

I cried when I realized the stars of this movie are still employed.

If this is what Hollywood is producing these days, I'll be crying for a real long time.

Stay away; this movie was horrible.

Ugh, this movie stunk. It's very derivative of Kevin Smith characters -- you know retail clerks passing the time talking about comics, Star Wars, chicks and life in general. The only difference here is that the characters are extremely weak, the plot sucks and they own the store and they don't mention ALL the tired Kevin Smith clichés (dying mid-backstroke, chick doing a dead guy in the back room, etc, ad nauseum).

I originally thought that Kevin Smith ghost-wrote/directed/etc this movie and I theorized that he was too embarrassed to put his name on it, but I can't find any evidence of that.

This is low budget film-making at its lowest. Little creativity and flat characters. Simply awful. 1/10

When I came across this movie at the video store, I had never heard of it, despite some of the names associated with it (I think the Back to the Future creator wrote it or something). Well, I rented it on a gamble that paid off for me, but it may not be for everybody.

It's a quirky film with an overall feel much like the more recent 'Big Fish' -- complete with a cast of oddball characters and bizarre situations. It's an enjoyable viewing and has some very funny scenes.

My only major complaint about this film is that it has some raunchy language that completely takes away from its charm. Casting Michael J. Fox as a ranting, swearing cell phone toting lunatic is a welcome change of character, but it would have been way more effective without the language. Now, I could care less about abusive language, but it really hurts the film in that it loses a large part of the audience that probably would have appreciated it the most.

It's a good film, but it could have been much better. After all, Marty McFly never swore his head off. 8/10

*** possible spoilers ahead ***

When I first started watching this film, I thought, "Here we go again, the loser of the family is trying to win the family stamp of approval (which isn't gonna happen) and we're going to struggle along with her character's failed attempts." But then something changed...

On the surface, this is all you may notice and that would make it a lame movie. However, as the story unfolds, April's desperate attempt to please her family goes way deeper than meets the eye. Put yourself in April's shoes and you'd throw in the towel by mid-morning. The final resolution ends the film on such a perfect note that it made the slow beginning worth the time. It's like a cracking whip that makes no sound and then CRAAACK!!! out of nothing.

Patricia Clarkson is perfect as the mother and the family dynamic is just awesome. They're no different from any of our families and I think that's what makes it work.

Well worth it! 9/10

I found this overlong film completely unwatchable. The lack of sets may work on stage, but it's utterly unbearable on film. I could only handle about 20 minutes before scanning ahead and quickly realizing that the scenery NEVER changes. Eject.

It appears that a lot of people liked this film, but I can't understand how they sat through 3 hours of an unchanging set. It became distracting to the point where any merit the film may have had was masked by the fact that the visual elements were the equivalent of staring at a dot for three straight hours; it's like making a movie by filming pages of a book; why bother?

Dogville should only exist as a play; it'd be much easier to avoid.

2/10, because 1/10 is probably ignored.

This is such a great film on so many levels I can't really settle on where to begin. It is so beautifully shot (in that stark black/white that only nitrate negative could achieve), has a witty, clever and extremely well-written script, features some of the best acting in film's history, acrobatically balances the main plot/subplots with expert precision, contains some of the best characters on celluloid, has many true-to-life parallels (Swanson's career/real life cameos/DeMille's involvement/etc) and is peppered with such great dialogue/narration that today's film writers should take note. If that weren't enough, there's even a cameo by silent film great Buster Keaton (among others).

One of the most appealing aspects of this film is how, in the story, an aging, forgotten star is trying to recapture a bygone era (the silent film era). What's interesting is that now, so many years later, we're looking back at her looking back. To present day viewers, Gloria Swanson of the 1950's is a long forgotten lost gem and to experience her own longing for the 1920's is especially captivating (and a little chilling, I might add). I don't think this film could have had that same effect when it debuted and maybe this added dimension holds so much more appeal for today's audiences. We all know that nothing lasts forever, but we don't often consider the abandoned participants; much like the veterans of a past war.

In response to the famous Swanson line (while watching one of her silent films): "...we didn't need dialogue; we had faces", I'd like to also add that they "didn't need movies; they had films."

They truly don't make them like this anymore. 10/10

I never understood how some bands can be so huge overseas and virtually unheard of in the US. Kate Bush (along with Ultravox and many, many more) leads the pack.

If you've never heard of Kate Bush, rent this video first. It served as my introduction to Kate Bush way back in the early 80's. I had only vaguely heard of her and and that point, all I really knew was that she wrote a song (Wuthering Heights) that Pat Benatar covered (and badly, I might add). On a gamble, I rented the video and have been mesmerized ever since.

The film documents Kate's early live show and really gives you an idea of what a complete artist she really is. Through many costume changes and a wide array of dance choreography is her music threading the pieces seamlessly together. It's enjoyable from start to finish.

Although it's a shame this live show never made it to the US, I'm happy it's still available on video. Maybe one day we can get it on DVD, too?

My Architect is a great film about Nathaniel Kahn's search for himself via the legacy of his famous Architect father, Louis Kahn, dead since 1974. The film builds slowly, but perfectly, and what starts out as a seemingly lost fortysomething's identity crisis unfolds into a beautiful tale with much deeper meaning with regard to the importance of love, loss, family and perhaps more importantly, our life's work.

I had never heard of Louis Kahn prior to this film, although I was vaguely familiar with some of his work. Through the words (both good and bad) of Louis Kahn's colleagues, you get a very good sense of what Nathaniel must have felt as memories are recalled and stories retold. Sometimes it seemed as though these people were telling Nathaniel how to feel about his father. As I listened to each recollection, my own opinion of this man would range from beautiful to horrible, sometimes in the span of a moment, so you get a good feel for the rollercoaster that Nathaniel's emotions must have been riding.

The final sequence in Bangladesh totally made the film for me. The reverence of which the people of Bangladesh spoke of Louis Kahn's work tied all the loose ends together nicely for me, and, hopefully, for Nathaniel.

I think Nathaniel Kahn finally found what he was looking for.

Kate Winslet has not made a bad film to date, so with my own bias in check, I was eagerly awaiting this release. Ms. Winslet certainly did not disappoint, but Jim Carrey was the surprise of the film.

I loved Jim Carrey in The Truman Show. I believe the man can act, but ten too many facial contortion roles (a la Ace Ventura) and pathetic screenplays (like Bruce Almighty) clouded his acting ability to the point where his persona overshadowed any shallow role he would take. ...But, not here -- you finally get to see him act like he's capable within a character that is just phenomenal.

The Kate Winslet character is the perfect drug for which Jim Carrey needs to be cured. His attempt to erase her memory takes you on a wonderful trip inside his mind that rivals a Wonka factory visit.

Pay attention, there's a lot to enjoy in this film. Eternal Sunshine is one of those rare films (especially today) that has a great premise, superb acting and stays with you long after you leave the theater.

Kudos to the filmmakers, Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet; let's see 1000 more films like this.

(And if there's any possibility of erasing film memories, I'd like to add pretty much every Ben Affleck movie to my list to be erased!)

I gave this movie a 9/10, largely due to Ben Kingsley's acting. Damn, this guy is good!!

The film itself only rates about a 7 because you never really feel for the Jennifer Connelly character. She loses her house due to an administrative error coupled with her own laziness brought on by self pity. Maybe if they delved more into her character, you'd feel a little more sorry for her. The entire film she (and her companion) are completely in the wrong and, although the situation is unfortunate, it was well within her power to avoid it. Jennifer Connelly does a very good job of playing her role; I just didn't really care much for her character.

Ben Kingsley, on the other hand, is doing nothing but trying for a better life for his family. He's a hard worker and seized an opportunity fully within reason. At times, his acting raised the hairs on my arms he was so convincing.

House of Sand and Fog is worth watching if you accept the hole in the story's premise and instead sit back and enjoy the acting. With that in mind, you're in for an enjoyable afternoon.

When I saw that this film was one of the top rated IMDB films, I had to see it. Overall, it was a decent movie, but I failed to recognize its greatness. It was way too long (3+ hours) and it was just a simple story, decently acted and, well, kinda blah. Maybe my hopes were set too high, but when I finally saw "Bicycle Thief", that film completely lived up to its praise, as do most of the other top rated films I've seen (although "Casablanca" is another extremely overrated flick).

I don't know, maybe it's a Kurosawa thing or maybe it's us westerners simply amazed at the mystique of the Samurai. Who knows? It's not a bad film -- in fact it was somewhat enjoyable. If you have a few extra hours to spare, pick it up on video, but as for me, I'd rather catch some of the more deserving top films.

Rating: 6/10

Terminator films are supposed to rule. Even in the age where sequels, by definition, suck, somehow Terminator 2 still ruled (maybe even more than the first). A standard was set, they aimed high and they hit higher with strong characters, a strong story and excellent effects.

T-3 did NOT rule, however. There was virtually NO story, the special effects were completely derivative of T2 (couldn't the cgi geeks come up with something better?), the characters were so devoid of depth that you almost wished them dead and the authors copped out by simply dismissing the well crafted plot of the earlier Terminator films.

The introduction of cute one liners from T2 was so overused in T-3 that it got stale quicker than a "Charlie's Angels" sequel. The film makers of T-3 simply cashed in on a proven formula and didn't seem to care one bit about fumbling on one of the best film storylines ever created. I, for one, had expected that they would have spent much more time on the story and had done justice to the prior films. Mediocrity does not belong in Terminator films;they deserve much, much more. 6/10