Pusher

A Danish Cult Classic Gets A Somewhat Unnecessary British Remake
It's hard to discuss the British crime drama "Pusher" without acknowledging that it is a remake of a tremendous Danish film by Nicholas Winding Refn. Winding Refn, in fact, created a trio of films now known as the Pusher Trilogy (the movies were from 1996, 2004 and 2005) and I would run, not walk, to see them if this genre interests you. A true auteur, Winding Refn has a brutal machismo and an unrelenting eye for the randomness of violence that is showcased in works including "Bronson" with Tom Hardy, "Valhalla Rising" with Mads Mikkelsen, "Drive" with Ryan Gosling, and the current "Only God Forgives" (also with Gosling) which opened to division and controversy at this year's Cannes Film Festival. I begin with this discussion of Winding Refn, because he endorsed this version with an executive producer credit. It may not be entirely fair to judge the two films with one another, so I'll try to break it down in a more helpful way. Fans of the original "Pusher" film will likely be...

strictly a comparison to the original
This film didn't need to be made and was not as good as the original. I got more 'real' feeling from the original and I thought it was way better done than this movie. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Go watch the original instead.

3 stars is kind 2stars is being mean
It is a film that rides on the back of a far more sucessful film, judging by the other 3star review here. It is not a good reason to make a film. Wan is the word. On the other hand it is not pretending to be more than it isn't either. So it keeps its integrity intact. From that springboard, the film revives itself as it goes along by its characters of interest. There are much worse films out there. Another way of keeping it's credability is because it's british , which tends to have higher standards in terms of taste and senability over-all , than if an american version copy-catting? Veg out to it if you see it for free on netflix but dont bother to buy it. I'm glad I found out about the real Pusher version from the other review here since I thought Valhalla Rising was excellent from the same director.

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Erased [Blu-ray]

Far from home. Far from safe. Far from over.
The true star of this better than average espionage thriller is Belgium. Shot in Antwerp and Brussels the cities are extraordinarily beautiful, written by Arash Amel and directed by Philipp Stölzl - both of whom are young and new to the business and it shows.

Ben Logan (Aaron Eckhart in a solid performance) is an ex-CIA agent employed by a huge conglomerate Halgate and working for one of their subsidiary companies as a security engineer. He has invited his daughter Amy (Liana Liberato) to move from the US to Belgium to live with him to reconnect after a lengthy separation. Ben's job is to try to get pass security protocols, fool the eye scanners and break into safes. But overnight Ben discovers that his company, Halgate, no longer inhabits his workplace and that all evidence of Ben's existence has been erased. Slowly he discovers that there is a huge conspiracy surrounding his employer and that soon he and his daughter will become subjects of a manhunt. Ben's...

Worth the $10 to Me
I decided to rent this movie now than wait a few weeks and see it on the big screen. I enjoyed it. It's not a "Hollywood" movie. There isn't a glossy look and storyline. It's realistic and cold and despite another reviewers comment, she (the daughter) didn't whine that much. Or maybe I thought she acted like a teenager getting to know her father while missing her dead mother and living in a foreign country. I liked enough of the trailer to want to see this movie and it took me for a ride. The plot and action was enough to keep me in the picture and interested in how it would end. That is what I look for in a movie. The bonus was watching in my pj's while eating popcorn with real butter.

Is this a great movie? No. Is this a good movie? Yes, it is to me. That's why I gave it four stars. The average is a three, but you know...I may read the reviews but in the end I make up my own mind.

I didn't notice a sound problem on my iPad. I did get it...

Good spy movie
Good movie overall with good fight and tech scenes. I didn't think that the sound track was overwhelming like another user said.

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The Sapphires (Blu-ray + DVD)

Bold Acting, Sensibly Handled Senstive Issues
This "gem" of a film is a treasure that's been buried under shallow box-office movies.

"The Sapphires" is not a glitzy Hollywood romp romanticizing the late 1960s. Neither is it a raw shock-value film of the Vietnam crisis. What it is is a gritty story about the conflicts of race issues, betrayal, family conflict, and the loss of innocence. And while the film doesn't shy away from the themes of exploitation, sexuality and confusion, it also doesn't saturate the screen with images to meant to overwhelm the viewer.

The based-on-life story of four sister/cousins (Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell) who boldly belly-up to the auditions for entertainers for the Vietnam Troops is inspiring. The fights between the girls are fast, furious and leave you breathless. The manager (Chris O'Dawd) pushes back with worthwhile pressure. The family dynamics are complicated and real.

The story stays focussed on the issue of the girls...

FAIR GO! Great movie, WRONG US dvd cover!
Not much more I can contribute to the very shabby treatment the great girls who are the Sapphires receive when it comes to the U.S. dvd cover that previous reviewers haven't already touched on.
I really like Chris Dowd but he is NOT 'the movie' as the dvd cover would strongly infer. I think the cover dismisses the girls as mere 'bit players' or 'backing singers' which is not the case at all. BUY the movie and see why the cover is an injustice to who the girls are, what they achieved and why it's so disrespectful! In Australia we always think that everyone is entitled to a 'fair go' so how about changing that cover eh?

"Dream Girls" Australian-style!!!
I refuse to spoil this movie for you, because you should experience it yourself at every level -- and there are many. What I will say is that, if you love American soul music and you hate racism of any kind, you'll like this film. Inspired by a true story, three aboriginal sisters and a cousin set out on the journey of their lives accompanied by the aspiring group's white "Soul Brother" manager. Their "dream" is to sing for the U.S. troops in Vietnam during the war.

This movie is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching! Sometimes, you'll laugh and, sometimes, you'll want to cry -- in between which you'll probably sing and dance. The power of music and the power of love mix here for a very "soulful" experience.

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Pawn Shop Chronicles (Blu-ray + DVD)

SALVATION COMES IN MANY FORMS
Alton (Vincent D'Onofrio) runs a pawn shop in small southern town. It provides the connecting link for three stories which are also loosely linked. The first tale involves the misadventures of crack heads wanting to rob their manufacturer. The second tale involves Richard (Matt Dillon) attempting to track down his long lost wife (Pell James). The third involves a down on his luck Elvis impersonator (Brendan Fraser).

This could be described as a grindhouse, "Creepshow" style. The episodes are clever dark comedy, marvelously written, directed, and acted. For those like their films on the oddball Tarantino side, check this one out. Yes, it had me laughing out loud, especially the first episode.

Warning: Film contains scenes of captive women who had been abused and treats it on the light side.

Parental Guide: F-bomb, N-word, Masturbation (Elijah Wood) TV screen sex, nudity (Pell James, plus many more)

Interesting
This movie isn't something you should let your children watch. It's star-studded by some of the biggest actors in recent film history and while you think they'll be prevalent throughout the movie- they're not, at least visually. Pay close attention to little details, as each of the stories is tied to the next, because that ending will have you gasping in your seat. The first story is hilarious, Paul Walker's accent as a hillbilly is on point! Make sure you keep your eye out for that Elvis impersonator too! This movie isn't one of those blockbusters and it isn't meant to be one, if you watch it, do it with that in mind. It's not meant to keep you on the edge of your seat but rather to keep you laughing. If you get into it enough, you'll want to rewatch it for anything you may have missed.

How do you become so jaded that you can't see how funny this movie is?
I was amazed to see this film's 12 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Proves how narrow-minded and establishment-oriented that site has become. This film is wonderful. The first episode is worth the price of admission. The second one is pretty extreme but just keeping reminding yourself that it's going to have a punchline. And Brendan Fraser's sad-sack Elvis impersonator is an inspiration for us all. All the actors are wonderful and you also get the unbeatable Vincent D'Onofrio as a bookend character for all the segments.

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The Lords of Salem

"The Evil Within"
I've read so much hate and disgust for Rob Zombies newest film "The Lords Of Salem" that I've been eagerly awaiting to see it myself not just because I love Robs work but also to see what all the fuss is about. It is an evil as hell horror movie if you allow yourself to get sucked into what is happening in the film, not as a fan or critic but just as someone experiencing a piece of art that is meant to leave you in awe. I feel that the lords is a true horror film that is definitely outside of the box and range of casual mainstream horror movie goer. It's root are deep in horror and deals with something that can truly be horrifying, Witchcraft and The Devil.

Of course this isn't a film for everyone, someone looking for another gore fest or cookie cutter teeny bopper horror film should look else where as "The Lords of Salem" is a horror film that stands out from the norm in every way possible and delivers itself as a true horror experience.

All these websites,...

all hail the lords!
went and caught a late showing of lords of salem the other night, and i was rewarded for my efforts, as I absolutely adored it. there were five other people in the theater, which kind of surprised me, and two of them left mid way through. I think that kind of sums up how esoteric a movie it was, and I'm amazed something so specific and particular can still get made. it was disturbing, beautiful, blasphemous, and, strangely, it left me feeling kind of upbeat.

the story is basically about immolated witches using what looked like a 78 rpm record in the present time to crack the doorway open for their return via the descendants of their executors. the vehicle for their musical transmission is local salem deejay Heidi hawthorne, played by sheri moon zombie, who really does a nice job, i thought. not perfect, but alternately energetic and morose, and always working hard. in her alone moments, i thought she was most effective, conveying simultaneously what recovering from...

Rob Zombie's best film to date.
This film is proving to be a divisive one among critics and fans, but that's to be expected coming from Rob Zombie. If you like his other movies, I'd wager you'll like this one as well. If you are not a fan of Rob Zombie, there's less chance you'll enjoy this, however I'd recommend still giving it a try and not dismissing it outright. When he's in top form (Devil's Rejects) Mr. Zombie can craft unique, high energy works; when he's not in top form (Halloween 2) his work can tend to be self-indulgent, weird for weirdness' sake and needlessly vulgar. Nevertheless, as hit-or-miss as he is, I find it impossible not to love Rob Zombie, due to the clear passion he has for his work, his desire to make something unique, and his obvious respect and love for horror films of all eras.

I'd say this film represents Zombie at his best; he's created a fascinating, horrifying, uniquely creepy ride full of grisly imagery that will embed itself in your brain and stay there long after the film...

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