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September 8, 2009 by Indoor Games · Leave a Comment
Munich Widescreen Edition
July 31, 2009 by Indoor Games · Leave a Comment
During the 1972 olympic games in munich 11 israeli athletes are taken hostage & murdered by a palestinian terrorist group known as black september. In retaliation the israeli government recruits a group of mossad agents to track down & execute those responsible for the attack. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 02/05/2008 Starring: Eric Bana Ciaran Hinds Run time: 164 minutes Rating: R
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Spielberg’s bravest film
Spielberg is an unashamed pandering crowd pleaser. Yeah he knows how to make technically good films but he really doesn’t know what art is.
Schindler’s List you say? Amistad? I don’t know who your friends are but I don’t know of anyone who isn’t against slavery or horrified by the holocaust. Easy. What did you expect him to show the other side of those stories? Actually he could have, Africans sold slaves. Germany was in a gigantic depression.
But this film surprised me. Spielberg knew he was going to take criticism for treating this problem even handedly. He’s Jewish after all. He raises questions that are uncomfortable for the good guy/bad guy crowd. So it’s no surprise there are a bunch of 1 star reviews. Of course they hate him for questioning right wing dogma. I’m gonna give him a 5 star for being brave. Good for you Steven.
As for the film. I liked it. It’s not something I’d want to watch repeatedly, it could use a little editing. It’s not a fun film to watch. But it’s certainly a good film worth watching at least once and maybe a couple of times. Due to the subject matter I doubt it’ll be on TV very often.
4 Stars great
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RDGSMLQPW5ZXP Munich (Widescreen Edition)
5 Stars A second viewing later and I’ve fallen in love with the characters and story
I first saw the movie when it came out in theaters in December 2005, and was ultimately forgotten by me, until I decided to buy it on DVD two and a half years later and watched it again. And I found that the movie was highly enjoyable, entertaining, and something that I could easily watch again and again just for the character interaction.
Sometimes it seems ridiculous to base politics and beliefs off what is seen in movies, but this wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened to me; before seeing the movie, I saw Israel as the wrong party in the Middle East, having stolen Palestinian land, and then leeching US assistance in oppressing Palestinians just because they lived in Israel 2,000 years ago. After this movie, I can’t see either side as bad. It’s a conflict beyond black and white whose basest participants are nowhere near anything resembling Stalinist or Hitleresque evil people they are made out to be by their enemies via propaganda or extremist ideology.
The opening sequence of the movie is done in amazing fashion that makes you feel as though you are watching the news and hearing about the events unfold in real time with your supportive Muslim family and your tense, frozen-stiff with terror Jewish family, while you also get very beautifully shot and gory scenes of the Black September terrorists breaking into the Israeli athletes’ hotel room in Munich, where the fighting and conflict is so well-directed, you feel as if you were one of the Israelis, and that if you just stayed quiet and followed orders, you would make it out alive.
What ultimately happens is already well-known, but still hits painfully, and with the simultaneous reading of the Israeli names of the victims on the news with the Palestinian names of those who planned the botched kidnapping listed off by Mossad high command.
Every character that is come across in the film is interesting, and has innate chemistry with whomever else they’re talking to. Eric Bana as Avner is perfect in the role, being highly sympathetic even as he is indeed a terrorist. Ciaran Hinds as Carl plays the father-like figure to Avner and the rest of the group, like a rock holding the makeshift family together. Daniel Craig as Steve is the quintessential hothead who seems the be the prototypical terrorist in that he is driven purely by hatred for the Palestinians, yet is still well-rounded in that he is a believable, likeable person, without any characteristics that seem wildly out of character for him. Matheiu Kassovitz as Robert is the makeshift bombmaker, who manages some minor humor that is in no way out of place or inappropriate.
Even their enemies in the conflict are keenly humanized without being overly apologetic, from Abdel Wael Zwaiter in Rome, who is clumsily killed while trying to talk and reason with a highly nervous and tense duo of Avner and Robert, Hussein Al Bashir’s brief conversation with Avner in the Cyprus hotel balcony before the bomb under his bed blows him up, and nearly kills Avner and two civilians in the process, to Louis’s intentionally bunking the four Mossad agents in an old apartment with a group of Palestinians at the same time, the two groups forced to keep their identities and intentions a secret or else risk exposing their plans to the enemy.
This sequence also has some lighter, and yet in the broader context most deeply disturbing, moments, such as Steve and a Palestinian silently fighting over what music to play on the radio, before mutually settling on an American station (I forgot what type of music), and Avner arguing Arab/Israeli politics with the Palestinian group’s leader, with the Palestinian’s conclusion that the reason to fight the Israelis over Palestine is that a home is more important than anything else.
Like with most any movie involving a makeshift “family” between comrades, there’s always the series of events that leads to its dissolution, and for viewers like me, a sense of that time being the best time of their lives, and the (survivors’) lives afterwards being bleak and emptier without the comradery. Indeed, even Spielberg said of the character of Avner “I don’t think he’ll ever find peace”.
For the negatives, I think the biggest downpoint of the movie would be the poorly-explained, completely fictional and unimportant French connection involving “Louis” and his whole amoral spy network of secret information and connections that seemingly works everywhere with everyone from terrorists to first world countries, in a sort of “Quantam” (”Quantam of Solace”) sort of ‘apathetic godly overseer’ type role. While at the very least the conversations had with Avner and the old man (forgot his name) at the head of the family, I didn’t find it to be all that necessary, and would have spoken more for Mossad’s intelligence capabilities if the information on their targets had come from Mossad instead of from an unnamed, barely known, seemingly unstructured independent French organization with eyes all over the world and no real desire to do anything with it but sell information to the highest bidder.
While there are flaws, it’s definitely a movie both tragic and enrapturing, grittily shot and realistically depicted, with intense chemistry between virtually everyone involved that makes it worth multiple viewings and owning.
4 Stars 3 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:
A movie that captures perhaps better than any other the weariness of being an assassin far from home, Munich sometimes feels too long (especially during the scenes in America) and ends inconclusively, but supplies so much good material that I can recommend it without reluctance.
4 Stars Really enjoyed it!
My only regret on this film is that it is very slow going. I enjoyed the thought of the film, and the original live events that underlie the film are incredibly interesting.
However, the film itself runs very slow, and is hard to follow. I love the premise behind the film, and Spielberg writes a wonderful script, but it is very hard to give a film like this five stars. That being said, it is definitely worth the money!
Enjoy!
2008 Olympics Beijing 2008 Complete Opening Ceremony
July 29, 2009 by Indoor Games · Leave a Comment
2008 Olympics Beijing 2008 Complete Opening Ceremony
This 2-volume set is your opportunity to once again witness the most memorable Opening Ceremony in Olympic history…the complete 4-hour extravaganza from beginning to end. A special index allows you to easily navigate throughout the entire ceremony. Own the celebration that people will be talking about forever!
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Still waiting for the blu-ray version…
I bought the Chinese-produced DVDs in China and regrettably it’s far inferior than what I saw in NBC HD production (it’s a shame the Chinese produced such an amazing event yet their video production/editing etc fell far behind). Now we know NBC’s got the full event in well produced HD format, so why not release it? Come on NBC!
3 Stars not bad
If you did not get to see the opening ceremonies, this is worthwhile watching. It was not as spectacular as I had hoped.
1 Star Disappointing
i purchased this video to recapture for my children in years to come one of the most memorable olympic openings I have ever seen. The quality of the video is terrible and the audio portion of the video is just as bad. This isn’t the video you want to purchase if you want a piece of what the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremonies really were!
4 Stars Amazing
I have to say this DVD was amazing. I’ve never really paid attention to neither any Olympic ceremonies until now; nor the games either. This open ceremony has some history about China which I didn’t really know about and A LOT of fireworks which was cool. Though, one thing the back of the DVD box shows is the open ceremony is 4 hours long; not true. It’s more like a little over 2 1/2 hours long, and is just like the one that was aired on NBC. Still, I’d recommend this DVD to any one who would like to learn about some history in the world (or about China). Good Job Beijing.
1 Star Are we sure?
Only an observation based on the advertisement shown on Amazon.
Whoever made this would have been smart to visit nbcdvd.com first since the jacket shown on this product is the one used by NBC on their 2008 Olympics HIGHLIGHT disc. In other words, this looks like a highlight disc, not the complete opening and closing ceremony disc.
Frankly, that’s why I skipped this product and moved on … I want to be sure to get the correct content!
The Game Plan Full Screen Edition
July 14, 2009 by Indoor Games · Leave a Comment
The Game Plan Full Screen Edition
Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 08/15/2008 Run time: 110 minutes Rating: Pg
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Mistoke Dwayne for Ben Stiller
I own this movie on Pay-Per-View on my Tivo. Like the title says above, when I first saw this movie I thought Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was Ben Stiller from Night at the Mueseum and Madagascar. Madison Pettis is not new to Disney’s work. She played Megan on Corey in The House which is still on Disney Channel. Overall a hilarious movie. I am technically reviewing this in preperation of Super Bowl XLIII (or Super Bowl 43). This is good film also for football fans. Unlike myself, I just play at school in PE, but I don’t mean to brag, but I scored quite a couple touchdowns.
1 Star Never received
Since I ordered this on dec 10 and still have not received it over a month later, I really can’t review it. I will never order from Amazon again. I have sent them 3 emails telling them I never got the movie, but they have ignored them.
5 Stars The Game Plan
This is a great movie with a wonderful story line. Lots to warm your heart & make you laugh. Great for the whole family!
5 Stars Family Movie
First of all i love madison pettis.Great actor.Her and the rock are good pairs.The movie had a great message behind it and it was a very very funny and a great family movie.
1 Star I never got it
I never got the item for the person that I purchased it form. I am very disappointed in the order.
Ice Castles
July 2, 2009 by Indoor Games · Leave a Comment
A young girl is on top of the world until a tragic accident dashes her hopes and dreams of becoming a world-class figure skater. Only with the help of those who love her can she prove to the world — and herself — that she still has the potential to realize her dreams.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Lynn-Holly Johnson Worth Seeing
This is far from a believable story: a top ice skater losing her sight and then becoming even a better skater after becoming blind! Hmmm……I don’t think so.
However, the girl - “Alexis Winston,” played by Lynn-Holly Johnson - is such a beautiful and sweet person that she alone makes the movie worth watching. Johnson was an accomplished skater in her own right, so she makes the skating scenes look realistic.
The bad news was the character, “Beulah Smith,” portrayed by Colleen Dewhurst, an annoying butch-like foul-mouthed woman, the opposite of Johnson. Her bad mouth prevents this from being a good family film, which it could have been.Familiar ’70s actor Robby Benson plays Johnson’s boyfriend, but he’s not all that likable, either.
This is mainly Johnson’s film……and who’s complaining?
5 Stars Ice Castles
Product just as described… love this movie even though it’s such a B movie. Great for rainy days!
4 Stars classic love story
This movie is a classic for anyone who grew up in the 80’s. It is hard not to love.
5 Stars Ice Castles
I remembered watching Ice Castles when I was younger and having a crush on Lyn Holly Johnson :). I still find the movie a great watch and good to show kids. It has some themes through-out the movie that are inspirational. Thanks to the intiators, cast, crew and Amazon.
5 Stars Exceptional Story
I first saw this when it was relatively new. I had serious doubts that anything staring Robbie Benson would amount to anything–I was wrong. Now years later I saw it again, on Christmas Day. Back then I thought it was good. I now know this is a great film. Not every scene is perfection, but a majority of it is. One thing I noticed on second screening, was there was more to this story than a girl overcoming obstacles and the odds. There are two other important elements which I think raises this film as great: the intricate play between power and innocence, and a finely woven dramatic fear of abandonment. These themes run through all of the characters in the film–not just the girl. This same Christmas I started reading Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’s THE YEARLING . While I didn’t do this on purpose, I was surprised to find that they tell essentially the same story.
