Morgane et ses nymphes Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a wonderful piece of French fantasy, never seen in this country before. It bears many similiarities to Jean Rollin (2 girls trapped in a castle, roads that are endless circles, lesbianism, the use of the French countryside, ruins, even a graveyard. Plus 2 of the actresses acted for Rollin), but weaves its own charm. The print is immaculate and beautifully transferred, and the girls are beautiful.
If you're in the mood for an offbeat fantasy spiced with some nudity and soft core, you won't be disappointed.

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I Do ( I Do: How to Get Married and Stay Single ) ( Prête-moi ta main ) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been looking for this title in the US as a gift for my American friends...and it has finally come out !
Since this is the first review, i need to recommend this title heartily !
The movie opened in France a couple of years back with very good reviews and was a nice success...
The storyline :
Luis (Alain Chabat), a fortysomething bachelor, works for a perfume company and is known as a 'nose' (e.g. one who creates perfumes), he has an overbearing family of one mother & five sisters... who think it is about time he got married.
He eventually sets up a plan NOT to get married, hiring one of his colleagues' sister Emma (Charlotte Gainsbourg) for a very peculiar 'job'...
The rest you'll find out renting or buying this DVD !
The performances are delightful throughout, Alain Chabat and Charlotte Gainsbourg (daughter of late french singer Serge Gainsbourg and singer/actress Jane Birkin) bring warmth and wit to their characters, the mother (Bernadette Lafont) is her usual funny self !
The first time i watched it a few scenes had me in stitches !
So... if you're looking for a movie to make you forget your worries for 90mn... This is IT !


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Tom and Lola Review

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(More customer reviews)This film is about the beguiling spirit and bond between two children isolated since birth from the world and cared for by distant hospital staff. Objects of endless medical probes, the children watch TV and dream of a distant world. Once they've breach their isolation, they outsmart their caretakers in a race against time. As miniature fugitives, they elude their captors to explore a world where discoveries are found in every corner until they're betrayed.
It's a charming film that has a happy ending. Even though there are nude children in the movie, I highly recommend this movie for family viewing.

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Don Juan (Or If Don Juan Were a Woman) (1976) Review

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(More customer reviews)Brigitte Bardot stars here in her last film along with Jane Birkin, the other singer who recorded the Serge Gainesbourg hit, "Je t'aime". This film is worth seeing, as we see BB's and Vadim's evolution from "And God Created Woman" to this post-sixties over-the-top comedy-drama.
We get some great nude scenes with Brigitte and Jane, and BB's character Jeanne is someone fed up with men, so she resorts to seduce and destroy tactics. As in "And God Created Woman" she's pretty much playing herself, but with an exaggerated storyline of driving men to ruin, murder, and suicide. The campy ironic humor is there in such scenarios as seducing a priest as well as setting up a fake menage-a-trois to madden a bete homme. Also a scene with Robert Walker Jr. (Charlie X in Star Trek TOS) where the price she asks for making love is no less than his life, which he takes seriously. The ending is a multiple meaning one as BB saves a man who makes her "pay for her sins" (though he's unappreciative). I think the end hits home for Brigitte in real life saying in effect, "look you male-dominated world, you've made my life hell". And it's the last scene she ever did on film. Worth seeing for it's erotic quality (but what BB film isn't), the submarine home, the early '70s fashions, and the camp.

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2033: Future Apocalypse (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)
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Synopsis: 2033 Mexico City, a group of rebels try to overthrow a corporation controlled government that has been controlling the population with a synthetic altered food supply.
The Sci-Fi genre has long been one of my favorite genres to watch. And while this genre is often anchored it's picturesque visual vistas and elaborate special effects. Another area in which many of the most memorable Sci-Fi films excel is the way in which effortlessly mix social commentary in the story at hand.

Going into 2033: Future Apocalypse, I was not sure what to expect. I honestly can say that I have never seen a Mexican produced Sci-Fi film. With the bulk of my exposure to Mexican cinema being to their more Horror themed films.

From a plot stand point, 2033: Future Apocalypse presents many interesting ideas and yet it also leaves just as many things unresolved. The film's ending instantly coming to mind. The film spends the bulk of its opening act setting up who everyone it and what their motivations are. With the only character that resides in a grey area being the film's protagonist Pablo. When we are first introduced to this character his is a spoiled young man, who comes from a affluent family that has strong ties to those currently in control of the government. His mother is married to the most powerful man in the government. Pablo as a character does not take form until he learns that his biological father, a notorious rebel leader is still alive and from their he changes his path. From there he joins forces with the rebel forces trying to overthrow the totalitarian government.

A few areas in which this does often exceed expectations are its uses of special effects and its production design that does a very good making the locations used for this film look futuristic. Performance wise things are not as strong as they could have been. With no one performance leaving any lasting impression. Some of the short comings of the performance could be blamed on the lack of character development, while the majority of it being the one dimensionality of the majority of these characters.
In all, the plot is overly ambitious and in the end it never fully realizes its full potential. Also the at times does tend to lean more towards style over substance. And while there are many instances in which this works in its favor. There are just as many times in which this work's against the film's attempt as putting the what is unfolding into a deeper context.
The DVD:
Cinema Epoch presents 2033: Future Apocalypse is presented in an anamorphic widescreen that retains the films original aspect ratio. Colors are nicely saturated and flesh tones look accurate. Details look crisp and black levels fare well. There are no problems with compression and the image remains stable throughout.
This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in Spanish and removable English subtitles have been included with this release. Dialog is always clear, everything sounds balanced and robust when it needs too.
Extras for this release include a trailer for the film (1 minute 31 seconds - anamorphic widescreen, in Spanish with English subtitles) and a stills gallery. Also included with this release is a promo image gallery of titles that are available on DVD from Cinema Epoch. Overall 2033: Future Apocalypse gets a strong audio / video presentation from Cinema Epoch.

Review taken from 10,000 Bullets.

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Joy & Joan (1985) Review

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(More customer reviews)Joy and Joan (1985 - French) In this sequel to 'Joy', based on the best-selling international novel, Brigitte Lahaie is cast as Joy, replacing Claudia Udy as the lead from the first film, and is probably reason enough to view this flick. Lahaie takes over the titular role of an international supermodel with a relentless passion for sensual pleasure, and possesses one of the screen's most near-perfect and desirable figures ever paraded for our pleasure. She's a statuesque goddess of the female form, worthy of worship and an altar, and is breathtaking when undraped.
Unfortunately, for me anyway, she's not undraped often enough, not when you consider her 70's career as a hardcore performer. And, to her credit, one of the few actors to transcend her early career and become a fairly respectable legitimate actress ('Henry And June', a host of Jean Rollin films, among others). Don't get me wrong, the film delivers to a certain European soft-core extent, but leaves you wanting more of what you were hoping for when you picked this one up. In the first half of the film, we don't get to see much of what's transpiring during the sex scenes, leaving them tepid at best. Bummer.
Once she gets to Thailand, however, things heat up a bit when Isabelle Solar is introduced as Joan, a tour guide who at first aids and comforts Joy, then there's a Sapphic session that's truly enjoyable viewing, and they fall in love afterwards. With the males in the film being as despicable as they are, it's easy to comprehend why. But can one woman satisfy the carnal desires that embody Joy and her lascivious lifestyle?
Soon enough, the ladies are back in France, old flames re-emerge, and new equations are thrown in the mix. There's an excellent ménage a trois at the conclusion of the film that redeems some of the lameness of the earlier sex scenes, but this and the scene with Joy and Joan are really the only worthwhile exploitive reasons to see this one. And the lush Thai scenery is as interesting as anything the plot has to offer.
As usual, Severin gives us a fine quality print with only a few blemishes, good colors and contrast, but fails to deliver any extras of any kind. Not a trailer, slideshow or even a bio. All in all, a must-see/have for fans of Brigitte Lahaie, one of the seven wonders of the 70's/80's world, and for soft-core fans of Eurotrash like me.
3 stars for the flick, 1 added for Brigitte and the (Thai) scenery...

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It is rivaled only by the Emmanuelle series for its daring sexuality and enduring popularity. And in this first and best sequel to the erotic smash JOY, French hardcore goddess turned respected actress Brigitte Lahaie (HENRY & JUNE) takes over the titular role of the international supermodel with a relentless passion for sexual pleasure. This time, Joy flees the betrayals and depravities of her male lovers only to find ecstasy with a gorgeous tour guide (the delicious Isabelle Solar). But can one woman find a way to fulfill Joy's most intimate and shocking desire?This DVD has optional English subtitles.

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They Came Back Review

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(More customer reviews)A zombie film, yes, but do not expect a traditional zombie experience when viewing They Came Back. These zombies do not seek to gorge human flesh, or to frighten the audience. Instead the director Robin Campillo delivers a cerebrally stimulating narration of the return of the dead in his directorial début. Before making this non-traditional zombie film Campillo co-wrote and edited Laurent Cantet's memorable Time Out (2001), which offered a thoughtful tale of a laid-off office worker that takes his destiny in his own hands. There are stronger similarities between Time Out and They Came Back than between this zombie film and any of the more traditional zombie films such as Night of the Living Dead (1968).
Without delay the audience is informed about the sudden return of more than 70 million people, and approximately 13,000 have come back from the dead in the town in which the story takes place. These people who have returned have passed away within the last ten years, which means that there are many familiar faces among the returnees. They all wear light colored clothing and seem to be in excellent condition. This means that they will not have the familiar zombie look with decaying body parts or the peculiar gangly movement. Nothing seems to be different between them and the living with the exception of a blank and confused look on their faces.
In order to handle this sudden return of the vast number of people the authorities have taken control of most community Centers and warehouses in order to house the newly emerged population. The line of reasoning is based on identification of the returnees and to study them in more detail. In the order families discover their once lost family members the returnees can return to their old homes. However, many remain for a prolonged time in these temporary community shelters due to many various personal reasons. Nonetheless, it is evident that the people who have come back from the dead will cause additional problems to the living in several different ways.
Campillo's zombie film turns into a philosophical tale that illustrates the tangible question of what if people came back from the dead and populated earth. A wide range of notions are addressed throughout the film such as over-population, unemployment, governmental expenses, and much more. In the backdrop of political issues, the story reveals how it influences macrosociety. To further Campillo's visual manifestation of politics it could suggest an intangible concept that the human race might not be far from these issues when observing the world and its unyielding population increase.
The film also goes into great depth of how the return of deceased family member would influence the family and the individual. This view of a microsociety is delivered through three different marriages where the couples are of various ages. One family deals with the return of their dead son while the other two deal with the return of a spouse either male and female. Under close scrutiny the emotional impact seems to be emphasized on the family level. Here the viewer can experience the psychological aftermath of enduring bereavement to have these old psychological scars once again torn up. The psychological stress is not to be underestimated in a situation such as They Came Back offers, which displays an extensive array of emotional characteristics.
A vast sense of stress and anxiety rests within the film, but it never tips over when it feels overwhelming. The cast performs terrifically where they deliver genuine emotions such as confusion and a subtle apprehensive tension. The camerawork and lighting bind together the cast performances into a thick fabric where both the society and the family unit merge in an unsympathetic atmosphere where facts rule. Amidst this seemingly strong society the individual's are adrift in a disorientated emotional state while blindly reaching out for anything that could help them. All of the complexities within They Came Back offer a unique cinematic experience that encourages much philosophical contemplative work. Unfortunately, at times the film feels a little too cerebral which causes some scenes to suffer from mental congestion.

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Item Name: They Came Back; Studio:Haut et Court

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Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy (Strictly Ballroom / Romeo + Juliet / Moulin Rouge) (1993) Review

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(More customer reviews)The colorful, whirling world of Baz Luhrmann is brought to life in the Red Curtain Trilogy, comprising "Strictly Ballroom," "Romeo + Juliet," and "Moulin Rouge." While there are sticky patches -- particularly the pairing of Danes and DiCaprio in "Romeo + Juliet" --the overall effect is beautiful and poignant.

"Strictly Ballroom" is the problem in Scott's (Paul Mercurio) life. He's an outstanding dancer, but he refuses to conform to the Australian ballroom rules -- he wants to dance his own steps. When he loses his partner, awkward Fran (Tara Morice) enters the scene and asks to dance with him. These two outcasts of the ballroom start to fall in love as they try to win a major competition.

"Romeo + Juliet" gives a modern Californian twist to the classic tale of feuding families and starcrossed young lovers. Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Juliet (Claire Danes) come from a pair of families locked in a deadly feud, but they fall in love anyway. Their desperate efforts to be together lead to tragedy...

"Moulin Rouge" gives us another kind of bittersweet love story -- a musical rather than a revamped classic. Bohemian poet Christian (Ewan McGregor) dips into the sensuous, flashy world of Moulin Rouge. There he falls in love with the beautiful, sickly Satine (Nicole Kidman), a star at the club, and a well-known courtesan. Unfortunately, their growing love is threatened by a duke, who wants Satine all for himself.

As a boy, Baz Luhrmann grew up around ballroom competitions, which give the heart to these movies. But the soul is in the presentation. It's theatrical, colorful, dazzling to the eyes and centered on classic tales of doomed love and succeeding against the odds.

Luhrmann's sense of the theatrical is included in his direction -- it can be very sharp and fast, and sometimes downright crazy. With another director, it might seem flashy and gaudy, but Luhrmann's unique style works. A particular risk is making a musical, something which spelled death for movies for a long time... until Luhrmann revived it with Moulin Rouge. Or the postmodern tale of Romeo and Juliet, which is imperfect, but still quite pleasant.

The acting tends to be excellent, although the acting in "Romeo + Juliet" is spotty, and DiCaprio and Danes have zero chemistry. But McGregor and Kidman in particular are outstanding, and Tara Morice and Paul Mercurio of "Strictly Ballroom" have electricity and sweetness to spare. The supporting actors are quite good as well.

And the three-DVD set is graced with plenty of extras -- documentaries, commentary on each film, behind-the-scenes peeks, featurettes, and some gorgeous music videos. And there's even an extra disc included with a "Red Curtain" documentary about Luhrmann's style, scripts, screensavers, more music videos, and more.

Baz Luhrmann reinvented the musical and gave his movies a lush, strange look that entices viewers even now. Sensuous, fun and funky, this is a trilogy to definitely check out.

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Contains: *Moulin Rouge *Moulin Rouge Bonus Disc *Romeo and Juliet Special Edition *Stricly Ballroom *Behind the Red Curtain

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Nathalie (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)Catherine (Fanny Ardant), a successful doctor, seems to be in a happy marriage with her businessman husband, Bernard (Gerard Depardieu), until she learns that Bernard is having an affair. She reacts to this news with some tears but seems otherwise unmoved. That same evening, she randomly strolls into a Gentlemans Club for a drink and happens to meet the beautiful stripper/prostitute, Marlene (Emmanuelle Béart), who seems very curious and interested in Catherine. After some conversation, Catherine decides to hire Marlene (whom she re-names "Nathalie") to seduce her husband and report their sexual activities back to Catherine. The sexual game between Nathalie, Catherine, and Bernard takes strange twists and turns, with each scene exposing more about each character...and how their relationship changes with one another, as well as within their own self. Excellent film, directed by Anne Fontaine, this DVD includes the French version film with English subtitles, a making-of documentary (with no subtitles), a photo gallery, and a trailer that includes one of the smashing songs from the movie. Highly recommended. You can buy this from Amazon.ca, the Canadian site.

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A Man and a Woman (1966) Review

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(More customer reviews)And this ain't it. But it's all we got for now, so heh.
"Un Homme et une Femme" holds up quite well some 32 years hence. Younger viewers may not realize that a lot of the montage devices and tricks that may seem 'dated' were actually popularized and/or invented herein by Claude Lelouch. I actually found myself rewinding to watch the color sections a couple of times, especially the mid-film sequence scored to Francis Lai's achingly sentimental and lovely "Stronger than Us" as Anouk Aimee (the world's most beautiful woman) and Jean-Louis Triginant stroll the Deauville shore and muse on art and life. The tinting and grain of those sections - the boat ride, Anouk remembering her dead husband (Pierre Barouh) as he sings "Samba Saravah" to her - set a trend I pine for again.
The story? Well, thin, even by today's lughead standards (widower and widow fall in love against some lovely French scenery shot in winter), but it's obvious Lelouch was going for something that was quite new, then: a marriage of film and music that was not a "musical" per se, but rather, the forerunner of MTV (well, MTV with a soul, let's say). Cut loosely but thankfully not on-the-beat to Lai's jazzy/lush mid-60s score, Lelouch suceeds darn well. The freeze-frame ending cued to the final electric piano note, and that moment when Anouk Aimee pauses for the longest time and says to Jean-Louis, "You never told me about your wife", are two of my favorite filmgoing moments.
"Un Homme et une Femme" is emblematic of a world-view which I, for one, wish would take hold of folks again and topple the psychotic-trash-nihilistic consciousness now dominating pop culture. It was thoughtful, romantic, inward and outward at once, loving of sentiment but not wallowing in sentimentality, sophisticated, in love with love and with being alive in the world... not afraid of seeming tender. If any of this strikes you as square or passe or naive, then, this ain't your movie.
Let's hope the DVD gets released in French. Daria could use some alternative programming to 'Sick,Sad World', as could some of the rest of us.

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From director CLAUDE LELOUCH (And Now...Ladies and Gentlemen) comes this 1966 classic, a tender, visually exciting film of revitalizing love: a race-car driver (JEAN-LOUIS TRINIGNANT) and a movie script girl (ANOUK AIMEE) share a romance filled with humor and truth, intertwined with the demands of career and parenthood. Winner of OscarsO for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay.

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Happily Ever After (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Ils se marièrent et eurent beaucoup d'enfants" ("Happily Ever After") is a cleverly written examination of contemporary views on love, lust, marriage, infidelity, and the single life. Writer/Director/Actor Yvan Attal has come up with a winner, an entertaining, funny, and ultimately thoughtful treatise on how we cope with partnering.
Three men work together in a car dealership. Vincent (Yvan Attal) is the apparently happily married man with a beautiful wife Gabrielle (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and child. Georges (Alain Chabat) on the other hand is in a tumultuous marriage with Nathalie (Emmanuelle Seigner) who has gender issues that go far beyond feminism and negatively influence their child. Fred (Alain Cohen) is single, bedding every lovely woman he encounters, balancing trysts between mornings, afternoons, and evenings and is deeply envied for his Don Juanism. But Fred actually longs for the sense of belonging that married men enjoy.
The men's lives intertwine on many levels. Most important, we discover that Vincent has a lover (Angie David) despite his idyllic married life and while it is Georges whom one would expect to seek solace from a lover, he remains faithful to his nagging wife! Gabrielle senses Vincent's affair and encounters a sexy man in a music shop (Johnny Depp) who begins to preoccupy her thoughts. She is a real estate broker and comes close to an assignation with a client but remains faithful. All the while she daydreams about her brief encounter with Depp and satisfies her wandering eye with those memories. Fred discovers that one of his paramours is pregnant and happily decides to leap into the married fray. The only 'adults' sharing advice here are Vincent's long married parents (Anouk Aimée and Claude Berri in very welcome comeback cameos!) and it is this 'standard' that adds the final humor to the film.
The manner in which all three men deal with their living situations asks as many questions as it gives answers. Attal finds joy in all forms of coupling and is careful to offer all sides of decisions his characters make in arriving at what provides them happiness. This is a smart movie with terrific twists. There is just enough slapstick (an all out food fight between Vincent and Gabrielle - real life husband and wife team Attal and Gainsbourg - that proves to be one of the fun-loving bits of silliness that binds their marriage) to keep the mood light. Not a profound film, but a joyous French comedy handled by total pros! In French and English with subtitles. Recommended. Grady Harp, October 05

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The Visitors (1996) Review

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(More customer reviews)A very funny French comedy, this movie, and its sequel, was a huge hit in France.
A medieval knight (Jean Reno, of "The Professional" and "Godzilla" fame) and his servant (Christian Clavier, a famous French comic actor, unknown abroad) got magically transported forward in time to the XXth century, where he meets his descendants - and tries to adjust to our modern world, from the mysteries of running water and flushing toilets, to those of modern women and the free pursuit of life and happiness for all. The pace never slacks, the movie offers a series of sight gags, as well as a number of more tongue-in-cheek and even (gasp) intellectual jokes and double-entendres -along w/ some "profound" reflexions slickly intertwined w/in the storyline. The movie can be approached at several levels, from the basic visceral to the high-fallutin', and has appeal to different audiences - and viewers' moods. The language is precious (difference between old French and modern French) but there's enough situational and sight humour in there that even non-French speakers should find the movie enjoyable.
The U.S. remake, albeit with the same main actors, was not quite on a par, as seems to be too often the case. I felt it favored the slapstick, and neglected the more subtle undertones that the original managed to carry as well.
If I have to pick a nit, it would be that that the DVD doesn't offer more Special features - but the movie is well-worth the purchase (or rental :-) anyway. Pick a bottle of wine and some good cheese, and make an evening of it!

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Flyboys (Full Screen Edition) (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)The critics don't like it for the most part, but I really had a good time. Flyboys won't win any awards, but it sure entertained my packed theater. People laughed at most of the little jokes scattered throughout this long film. Clocking in at over two hours it is a bit too long and some of the dialogue is lacking, but the romance is handled well (unlike Pearl Harbor, thank God!), as are the many amazing CGI dogfight scenes. If your bored one afternoon, you should check out Flyboys, otherwise just wait for the DVD.

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Inspired by the true story of the legendary Lafayette Escadrille, this action-packed epic tells the tale of America's first fighter pilots. These courageous young men distinguish themselves in a manner that none before them had dared, becoming true heroes who experience triumph, tragedy, love, and loss amid the chaos of World War I. Hang on for the ride of your life!

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Yves Saint Laurent - His Life and Times/5 Avenue Marceau 75116 Paris Review

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(More customer reviews)The 2nd movie (5 Ave Marceau) is a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and development of YSL's 2001 spring-summer couture collection. For fans of the rarified world of haute couture, we get to see the design process from sketch to toile to final preparation of dresses with all the minute and perfectionist adjustments made to hems, linings, collars, flounces etc. YSL's regular house models are featured including the evergreen Amalia. His muse Loulou de la Falaise Klossowski and also Anne Marie Munoz are there by his side to give their opinions and support. For once we also get to see his chiefs of ateliers working out his sketches and trying to come up with creations that match what he dreams of. It's a hushed temple of design with everyone contributing to the final designs. We get to see how fabrics are draped and chosen, decisions on embroidery, how the style of the model's walk can affect the design, how some colours or fabrics are rejected and replaced; successful creations are paraded by the house models in front of YSL and others and greeted by cries of "ravishing", "beautiful!" and "sensational". I only wish that the 1hour plus movie was even longer. There's only a little snippet of the actual fashion show tacked onto the end of the movie but that's not really the point of the movie. The style of filming is slightly distanced - we observe the team observing the designs and sort of listen into their conversations. Totally recommended if you love couture and love YSL. In French with accurate English sub-titles.

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Two feature documentaries about the man who re-imagined women's fashion. His Life and Times is an intimate biography featuring extensive interviews with the reclusive designer. 5 Avenue Marceau 75116 Paris is a behind the scenes look inside Saint Laurent's legendary atelier during the creation of his final Spring line. Together they form "a timeless portrait of an artist at work - a celebration of human endeavor." (Los Angeles Times)

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The Scarlet Pimpernel Boxed Set (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)Having read most of the reviews here and on other websites, there seems to be 3 main groups of people checking out this DVD set.
1. Those who love the books and want to see an adaptation of the books.
2. Those who loved the 1982 version (with Andrews and Seymour) and want to see more of that.
3. Those interested in seeing the work of Grant, Shaw, Vibert or McGovern.
Group 1 is generally sorely disappointed. This version changes the main character of Percy in ways that will be highly discomforting: he uses minimal disquises, he kills people willy-nilly, he uses Bond-esque gadgets instead of wit and cunning, small things like that. Not to mention, some well loved league members are killed off for no reason. To see a hilarious list of grievances from Group 1 go to: http://www.blakeneymanor.com/grievances.html
Group 2 is generally disappointed too. That whole love affair/courtship thing between Percy and Marguerite is missing here. #1 of this DVD starts right off with Percy giving Marguerite the cold shoulder after their marriage. Group 2 is also upset by the change in Percy (that no disguises and murdering bit). And then Elizabeth McGovern is not as beautiful (or animated or witty) as Jane Seymour and many in Group 2 are bothered by that. Group 2 absolutely ADORES Anthony Andrews as Percy, and Grant isn't Andrews.
Group 3 generally really like this DVD set -- especially if they are not burdened by preconceptions of this famous literary story. However, Group 3 is likely to be a little lost in the beginning. Note: Percy and Marguerite were madly in love with each other before getting married (you won't believe this when you see the first DVD, but it's true). On the wedding night, he receives information that she has betrayed some aristocrats. But he doesn't talk with her to find out what really happened. That's why their marriage is in need of counseling at the beginning of DVD #1.
When you read the reviews (many from folks in Group 1 and 2), you'll get the impression the acting drags and the screenplay is boring. This is NOT the case (well, not in #1 and #3). Personnally I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek take on the Scarlet Pimpernel; the fact that this Pimpernel kills loads of people(!) and walks around in English clothing(!) is hilarious. Richard Grant has a lot of fun with his role; I like him more and more each time I see these DVDs. Also Shaw and Vibert plus numerous supporting cast give excellent performances (Shaw in particular is my favorite), the costumes and settings are GREAT, and the script is well-moving and entertaining (especially in #1 and #3 at least).

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Like a Brother (Unrated) (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)Sebastian is a 19 year old French boy living in a small town, who has unrequitted longings for Romain, who has been "Like A Brother (Comme un frère)" (2005) to him for many years. Jealous of Romain's developing relationship with a girl, Sebastian is torn between comforting his friend and jumping for joy when she goes off with someone else. While Romain is outwardly affectionate toward Sebastian, he senses his friend is gay and isn't surprised when Sebastian leaves their province to go to Paris, where he lives with his father (after coming out to him) and begins to explore his gay feelings in the club scene there. Those first few months are tough for Sebastian (who now calls himself Zack, after a character on an American TV show), who keeps thinking back to his best times with Romain. After a disappointing first sexual experience with someone who was just looking for a one night stand, Zack eventually meets Bruno, with whom he begins a tentative relationship. Then he gets a call: Romain is in town and wants to see him.
Beautifully photographed, with excellent production quality, and very attractive twink-ish actors in the two lead roles. It's short (only 55 minutes) and a little confusing, with most of the story told in abrupt flashbacks that alternate between a year ago and just a few weeks ago. In French with English subtitles (which cannot be turned off), DVD includes "making of" feature with writer, director and actors. I give it 4 stars out of 5.


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Sebastien dreams of being someone else. someone more outgoing more outrageous and more sexual. When the 18 year old leaves his small French town and moves to Paris to become an actor, he reinvents himself and changes his name to Zack. The City Of Lights cast a captivating glow for young Zack. Every night he cruises the city's most fashionable gay bars, dressed to kill and hoping to find a guy who swill love him. He moves from encounter to encounter, unable to find sexual or emotional fulfillment with anyone. Alone is his bedroom at night, Zack relives memories from happier times back in his home town and the close relationship he had with his best friend Roman. When Roman calls and announces that he is coming to Paris, Zack begins to rekindle the unrequited feelings he has for his best friend and is forced to make some big decisions about his life and how to live it honestly.

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Amelie (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have seen thousands of films in my life, and thought nothing could surprise me anymore on a screen. Amelie proved me I was wrong. Instead of writing another "best film ever" comment, I would like to give some indications for non-french speaking viewers, as the translation might have made some lines a bit obscure.
Amelie says to Colignon "Meme les artichauds ont du coeur" (Even artichokes have a heart). In french, "un coeur d'artichaud" (an artichoke heart) is a person that falls very often and easily in love.
Colignon calls Amelie "Amelie-melo" (pronounce "ah-may-LEE-may-low") which sounds like "un meli-melo", a muddle or mix-up.
In the cafe, people discuss about time and weather, as the same word "temps" means both "le temps qui passe" (time that passes) and "le temps qu'il fait" (the weather). So goes Hippolito's theory : they speak about the weather because they are afraid of the passing time.
Collignon says about his mother : "Elle a une memoire d'elephant, un elephant de mer" (literally: she has memory like an elephant, a sea elephant). A "sea elephant" is a sort of walrus, and "mer" (sea) and "mere" (mother) are pronounced the same.
When Amelie is in a theater, she watches "Jules & Jim", a movie by Francois Truffaut. There are many references to Truffaut in the movie : Claire Maurier plays the mother in "the 400 blows" and many scenes refer to "Bed and Board", which itself refers to Hitchcock's "Rear window". I still have to figure which was the movie whith Spencer Tracy driving without watching...
When Amelie watches her projected life on TV, a scene that refers to Woody Allen's "Zelig", the voice over is from Frederic Mitterand, nephew of his uncle, who is famous for commenting weddings or funerals of aristocrats on french TV.
The "likes/dislikes" narration was experimented by Jeunet in a short movie "Foutaise" with Dominique Pinon, that will be included in the collector edition of the DVD. It also refers to "La vie, mode d'emploi" (Life: a user's manual) from Georges Perec, although Jeunet admits he could never finish the book.
Most TV scenes are stock shots. The story about the horse running in the Tour de France is true. Most stories told in the film are true, including the one about collecting discarded pictures.
There are numerous references in the movie, including to other Jeunet films. The scene in the mystery train is almost a copy of a similar scene in Alien : Resurrection where Ripley has an almost tender behaviour with the alien.
Finally, "Amelie" comes from "Emily", as Emily Watson was supposed to play the role, and "Poulain" is both a young untrained horse and a chocolate brand. And this is not a coincidence.

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Nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay, this magical comedy earned overwhelming acclaim nationwide! A painfully shy waitress working at a tiny Paris cafe, Amélie makes a surprising discovery and sees her life drastically changed for the better! From then on, Amélie dedicates herself to helping others find happiness ... in the most delightfully unexpected way! But will she have the courage to do for herself what she has done for others?

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