Collection ID 1599
Director: Theodore Melfi
Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Studio: Fox 2000 Pictures   Release date: 2016   Rated: PG   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: As the United States raced against Russia to put a man in space, NASA found untapped talent in a group of African-American female mathematicians that served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history. Based on the unbelievably true life stories of three of these women, known as "human computers", we follow these women as they quickly rose the ranks of NASA alongside many of history's greatest minds specifically tasked with calculating the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and guaranteeing his safe return. Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson crossed all gender, race, and professional lines while their brilliance and desire to dream big, beyond anything ever accomplished before by the human race, firmly cemented them in U.S. history as true American heroes.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 413
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Studio: Touchstone Pictures   Release date: 2000   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: Rob, a record store owner and compulsive list maker, recounts his top five breakups, including the one in progress.
My Rating:
My Review: As pleasing as a newly pressed piece of vinyl. This movie was a tragic comedic love story. The kind that cast John Cusack in the role of romantic lead. A tribute to the music of the 80's. This movie hit a soft spot in my heart. The characters are quirky but real. Todd Louiso and Jack Black were both fantastic in two completely different ways. In an odd approach, the movie is Narrated to the audience by the main character as he attempts to unravel the romance mistakes that led him to his sad state of affairs. In the end we're left with a happy ending despite the lack of a conclusive closer. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 1133
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Studio: Touchstone Pictures   Release date: 2000   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: Rob, a record store owner and compulsive list maker, recounts his top five breakups, including the one in progress.
My Rating:
My Review: As pleasing as a newly pressed piece of vinyl. This movie was a tragic comedic love story. The kind that cast John Cusack in the role of romantic lead. A tribute to the music of the 80's. This movie hit a soft spot in my heart. The characters are quirky but real. Todd Louiso and Jack Black were both fantastic in two completely different ways. In an odd approach, the movie is Narrated to the audience by the main character as he attempts to unravel the romance mistakes that led him to his sad state of affairs. In the end we're left with a happy ending despite the lack of a conclusive closer. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 643
Director: Rod Hardy
Starring: Tom Skerritt, Susanna Thompson, Reed Diamond, David LeReaney, Maria Conchita Alonso
Genre: Drama, Western, TV Movie
Studio: TBS Superstation   Release date: 2000   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, Spanish (USA)
Summary: High Noon tells the story of a lawman named Will Kane (Skerritt) who has just married a young bride, Amy (Thompson), promising to leave his dangerous career and settle down for a quiet life. Just as they are about to leave, word comes that a vicious killer Kane had sent to prison years earlier, is coming to town on the noon train seeking vengeance. Kane attempts to rally the town to fight the gunman, but not even his former deputy Harvey (Diamond) is willing to help. Harvey's cowardice infuriates his girlfriend, Helen (Alonso), whose romantic past with both Kane and with the arriving gunman convinces her to pack up and leave town. As the dreaded noon hour approaches, Kane realizes he must stand alone against the coming storm.
My Rating:
My Review: A poor substitute for the original. I bought this movie, thinking it was the original 1952 version. Bummer! Despite the fact that this TBS 'Made for Television' remake started with a fantastic tale, they managed to bungle the job. The characters here lack the conviction of the originals, and the treatment felt modern, despite the setting. The music was forgettable, and the casting was second rate. Tom Skerritt is not Gary Cooper. I enjoyed the story enough to give this pretender a 3 out of 5.

Collection ID 650
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Starring: Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly
Genre: Westerns
Studio: Republic Pictures   Release date: 1952   Rated: NR   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: One of the greatest Westerns ever made gets the deluxe treatment on this superior disc from Republic Home Video's Silver Screen Classics line of special-edition DVDs. Written by Carl Foreman (who was later blacklisted during the anticommunist hearings of the '50s) and superbly directed by Fred Zinnemann, this 1952 classic stars Gary Cooper as just-married lawman Will Kane, who is about to retire as a small-town sheriff and begin a new life with his bride (Grace Kelly) when he learns that gunslinger Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald) is due to arrive at high noon to settle an old score. Kane seeks assistance from deputies and townsfolk, but soon realizes he'll have to stand alone in his showdown with Miller and his henchmen. Innovative for its time, the suspenseful story unfolds in approximate real time (from 10:40 a.m. to high noon in an 84-minute film), and many interpreted Foreman's drama as an allegorical reflection of apathy and passive acceptance of Senator Joseph McCarthy's anticommunist campaign. Political underpinnings aside, this remains a milestone of its genre (often referred to as the first "adult" Western), and Cooper is flawless in his Oscar-winning role. The first-rate DVD gives this landmark film all the respect it deserves, beginning with a digitally remastered transfer from the original film negative. Additional features include the exclusive documentary "The Making of High Noon", hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin and featuring interviews with the late Lloyd Bridges (who played Cooper's rival ex-deputy), director Fred Zinnemann, and producer Stanley Kramer. Also included is the original theatrical trailer and a special chapter stop highlighting the Oscar-winning song "Do Not Forsake Me." Offered in English and dubbed French and Spanish, with English closed-captioning or Spanish and French subtitles. "--Jeff Shannon"
My Rating:
My Review: Masterful movie work by Fred Zinnemann. This movie featured brilliant casting - Starring Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly, Otto Kruger, Lon Chaney Jr, Lee Van Cleef, Robert J. Wilke and many others. The story of a lawman about to retire with his new wife. As he's about to leave town and settle down, he learns that his arch-nemesis has been released from prison. Due in on the noon train, he's looking to settle an old square. The Marshall decides to stick around for the final show-down. Knowing that it may spell certain doom, he sticks to his gun for what he know's is right. If he high-tails it the town will pay dearly. He attempts to recruit some help, but in the end it's him against the gang. This is a fabulous movie. The pacing is absolutely fantastic. A real-time drama that unfolds in a little under 90 minutes. As the clock counts down, the tensions rise and the outlook gets dimmer. The ending is fantastic, and I've got to get a copy of this movie. The writing was simple, tight, taught and thoroughly enjoyable. The camera work was great and the music was truly exceptional. Especially the Tex Ritter ballad.

Collection ID 1339
Director: Rod Hardy
Starring: Tom Skerritt, Susanna Thompson, Reed Diamond, David LeReaney, Maria Conchita Alonso
Genre: Drama, Western, TV Movie
Studio: TBS Superstation   Release date: 2000   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, Spanish (USA)
Summary: High Noon tells the story of a lawman named Will Kane (Skerritt) who has just married a young bride, Amy (Thompson), promising to leave his dangerous career and settle down for a quiet life. Just as they are about to leave, word comes that a vicious killer Kane had sent to prison years earlier, is coming to town on the noon train seeking vengeance. Kane attempts to rally the town to fight the gunman, but not even his former deputy Harvey (Diamond) is willing to help. Harvey's cowardice infuriates his girlfriend, Helen (Alonso), whose romantic past with both Kane and with the arriving gunman convinces her to pack up and leave town. As the dreaded noon hour approaches, Kane realizes he must stand alone against the coming storm.
My Rating:
My Review: A poor substitute for the original. I bought this movie, thinking it was the original 1952 version. Bummer! Despite the fact that this TBS 'Made for Television' remake started with a fantastic tale, they managed to bungle the job. The characters here lack the conviction of the originals, and the treatment felt modern, despite the setting. The music was forgettable, and the casting was second rate. Tom Skerritt is not Gary Cooper. I enjoyed the story enough to give this pretender a 3 out of 5.

Collection ID 1346
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Starring: Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly
Genre: Westerns
Studio: Republic Pictures   Release date: 1952   Rated: NR   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: One of the greatest Westerns ever made gets the deluxe treatment on this superior disc from Republic Home Video's Silver Screen Classics line of special-edition DVDs. Written by Carl Foreman (who was later blacklisted during the anticommunist hearings of the '50s) and superbly directed by Fred Zinnemann, this 1952 classic stars Gary Cooper as just-married lawman Will Kane, who is about to retire as a small-town sheriff and begin a new life with his bride (Grace Kelly) when he learns that gunslinger Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald) is due to arrive at high noon to settle an old score. Kane seeks assistance from deputies and townsfolk, but soon realizes he'll have to stand alone in his showdown with Miller and his henchmen. Innovative for its time, the suspenseful story unfolds in approximate real time (from 10:40 a.m. to high noon in an 84-minute film), and many interpreted Foreman's drama as an allegorical reflection of apathy and passive acceptance of Senator Joseph McCarthy's anticommunist campaign. Political underpinnings aside, this remains a milestone of its genre (often referred to as the first "adult" Western), and Cooper is flawless in his Oscar-winning role. The first-rate DVD gives this landmark film all the respect it deserves, beginning with a digitally remastered transfer from the original film negative. Additional features include the exclusive documentary "The Making of High Noon", hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin and featuring interviews with the late Lloyd Bridges (who played Cooper's rival ex-deputy), director Fred Zinnemann, and producer Stanley Kramer. Also included is the original theatrical trailer and a special chapter stop highlighting the Oscar-winning song "Do Not Forsake Me." Offered in English and dubbed French and Spanish, with English closed-captioning or Spanish and French subtitles. "--Jeff Shannon"
My Rating:
My Review: Masterful movie work by Fred Zinnemann. This movie featured brilliant casting - Starring Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly, Otto Kruger, Lon Chaney Jr, Lee Van Cleef, Robert J. Wilke and many others. The story of a lawman about to retire with his new wife. As he's about to leave town and settle down, he learns that his arch-nemesis has been released from prison. Due in on the noon train, he's looking to settle an old square. The Marshall decides to stick around for the final show-down. Knowing that it may spell certain doom, he sticks to his gun for what he know's is right. If he high-tails it the town will pay dearly. He attempts to recruit some help, but in the end it's him against the gang. This is a fabulous movie. The pacing is absolutely fantastic. A real-time drama that unfolds in a little under 90 minutes. As the clock counts down, the tensions rise and the outlook gets dimmer. The ending is fantastic, and I've got to get a copy of this movie. The writing was simple, tight, taught and thoroughly enjoyable. The camera work was great and the music was truly exceptional. Especially the Tex Ritter ballad.

Collection ID 737
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Verna Bloom, Marianna Hill, Mitch Ryan, Jack Ging
Genre: Western
Studio: Universal Pictures   Release date: 1973   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: A stranger rides out of the hot desert into a small town in the wild west. The towns people are scared of him, and 3 gunmen try, unsuccessfully, to kill him. He takes a room and decides to stay. Meanwhile, a group of outlaws are about to return to the town and take their revenge - will the towns leaders convince the mysterious man to help ?
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by, and starring, Clint Eastwood. A very good movie. It's evident that Clint Eastwood learned a lot from working with Sergio Leonne, and it comes out in this movie. I can even see connections to Akira Kurosawa movies in this one. A great tale of good and evil. Well, mostly evil. A corrupt town hires a complete stranger in an attempt to cleanse it's soul and save their lives. The stranger (who is never named), turns out to be a catalyst for evil, drawing it out into the open on a blood red day of reckoning. A great movie. One of Eastwood's early directing roles. Showed his true potential. This one gets a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1423
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Verna Bloom, Marianna Hill, Mitch Ryan, Jack Ging
Genre: Western
Studio: Universal Pictures   Release date: 1973   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: A stranger rides out of the hot desert into a small town in the wild west. The towns people are scared of him, and 3 gunmen try, unsuccessfully, to kill him. He takes a room and decides to stay. Meanwhile, a group of outlaws are about to return to the town and take their revenge - will the towns leaders convince the mysterious man to help ?
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by, and starring, Clint Eastwood. A very good movie. It's evident that Clint Eastwood learned a lot from working with Sergio Leonne, and it comes out in this movie. I can even see connections to Akira Kurosawa movies in this one. A great tale of good and evil. Well, mostly evil. A corrupt town hires a complete stranger in an attempt to cleanse it's soul and save their lives. The stranger (who is never named), turns out to be a catalyst for evil, drawing it out into the open on a blood red day of reckoning. A great movie. One of Eastwood's early directing roles. Showed his true potential. This one gets a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 730
Director: Stewart Raffill
Starring: James Brolin, Anthony Quinn, Lindsay Wagner, James Coburn, Ernest Borgnine
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Studio: City Enterprise   Release date: 1981   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA, Mexico, UK)
Summary: Four American friends, badly needing money, decide to make a commando-like raid into a South American country and steal $5 million from the hacienda of an American-born drug dealer who lives there. The four Americans then succeed rather easily in stealing the money, but soon run into trouble trying to get back out of the country, as both the drug dealer and a small army of bandits each hunt them down trying to get the money.
My Rating:
My Review: A $1.00 Wal-Mart bargain-bin selection. Not bad for a low budget b-roll production. In this early 80s movie, four American's with dead-end jobs, and a keen sense of adventure decide to try their hand at a high-stakes heist south of the border. Cashing in on their welfare checks, they payroll a plan to fly to South America and rip off a big time drug lord. Armed with an infinite supply of bullets (hollywood style), a safe combination and they're trusty pet poodle, they make their way through the jungle to the drug lords heavily guarded hacienda. What follows is a hollywood heist and chase movie starring a fair cast of actors. The script was poor but the performances fair. A good amount of action and a few laughs. The scenery was great, but a 4:3 aspect ratio and poor focus/transfer spoiled the setting. 3 out of 5.