Collection ID 1039
Director: Simon West
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Iain Glen, Noah Taylor, Daniel Craig
Genre: Action
Studio: Paramount Pictures   Release date: 2001   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French (UK)
Summary: Video game adventurer Lara Croft comes to life in a movie where she races against time and villains to recover powerful ancient artifacts.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 379
Director: Stefan Avalos, Lance Weiler
Starring: David Beard, Jim Seward, Stefan Avalos, Lance Weiler, Rein Clabbers
Genre: Documentary
Studio: FFM Productions   Release date: 1998   Rated:   
Language (Country): German, German (Last Broadcast, The) (USA)
Summary: Bristling with equipment, two enthusiastic local access cable TV producers recruit an assistant and venture into a forest in search of the mythical and horrifying Jersey Devil. Days later, only one of the trio emerges. He becomes the prime suspect in the disappearances of the other two. However, a local filmmaker examines extensive footage found at the scene and arrives at a different conclusion.
My Rating:
My Review: The Last Broadcast: 1998 (horror, mystery) Written, directed and starring a cast and crew of complete amateurs. Here’s an attempt to cash in on the ‘found footage’ phenomena of the Blair Witch Project. In a found footage/documentary style we have a little horror mystery that didn’t hit it quite right. The most impressive part of this movie is the budget. The people who produced this movie did so on a shoestring budget of approximately $900.00 (according to IMDb). The movie starts out as a documentary about the ‘Jersey Devil’ in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. The local cable access trio sets out with all their gear in an effort to document the search for this mythical beast. The acting is amateur but enthusiastic. The technical work with this digital only production shows promise. The plot is interesting but there are a few holes. As the movie progresses, it becomes more of a narrated drama about the characters. Only one of the trio makes his way out of the Pine Barrens. When the bodies are found the questions turn to the lone survivor, until the missing footage is found… The ending is intriguing even if it breaks the ‘found footage’ premise of the plot. All in all it’s an interesting film, but it doesn’t quite deliver in terms of entertainment. FYI: This movie was actually made before the Blair Witch Project. I give it a 2 out of 5.

Collection ID 1103
Director: Stefan Avalos, Lance Weiler
Starring: David Beard, Jim Seward, Stefan Avalos, Lance Weiler, Rein Clabbers
Genre: Documentary
Studio: FFM Productions   Release date: 1998   Rated:   
Language (Country): German, German (Last Broadcast, The) (USA)
Summary: Bristling with equipment, two enthusiastic local access cable TV producers recruit an assistant and venture into a forest in search of the mythical and horrifying Jersey Devil. Days later, only one of the trio emerges. He becomes the prime suspect in the disappearances of the other two. However, a local filmmaker examines extensive footage found at the scene and arrives at a different conclusion.
My Rating:
My Review: The Last Broadcast: 1998 (horror, mystery) Written, directed and starring a cast and crew of complete amateurs. Here’s an attempt to cash in on the ‘found footage’ phenomena of the Blair Witch Project. In a found footage/documentary style we have a little horror mystery that didn’t hit it quite right. The most impressive part of this movie is the budget. The people who produced this movie did so on a shoestring budget of approximately $900.00 (according to IMDb). The movie starts out as a documentary about the ‘Jersey Devil’ in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. The local cable access trio sets out with all their gear in an effort to document the search for this mythical beast. The acting is amateur but enthusiastic. The technical work with this digital only production shows promise. The plot is interesting but there are a few holes. As the movie progresses, it becomes more of a narrated drama about the characters. Only one of the trio makes his way out of the Pine Barrens. When the bodies are found the questions turn to the lone survivor, until the missing footage is found… The ending is intriguing even if it breaks the ‘found footage’ premise of the plot. All in all it’s an interesting film, but it doesn’t quite deliver in terms of entertainment. FYI: This movie was actually made before the Blair Witch Project. I give it a 2 out of 5.

Collection ID 540
Director: Edward Zwick
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, William Atherton, Chad Lindberg, Ray Godshall Sr.
Genre: Action
Studio: Warner Bros.   Release date: 2003   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: An American military advisor embraces the Samurai culture he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle.
My Rating:
My Review: A magnificent masterpiece. A tribute to a culture overwhelmed by change. Superbly directed by Edward Zwick, this movie was an epic drama filled with action, nuance and substance. Starring Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto (Samurai lord) and Tom Cruise as Nathan Algren (Captain in US Army). Cruise's character is fed up with the heavy handed imoral tactics practiced in campaigns against the American Indians. Working on a lifetime of despair and alcoholism, he takes the first job that gets him the hell out of Job. He's sent to Japan to train the Japanese military. He's captured during a skirmish, and learns the way of the Samurai. Soon he is ally not foe. This is an absolutely must see movie. I'm sure I'll watch it over and over. The acting was sublime, everything in this movie was worth watching.

Collection ID 1245
Director: Edward Zwick
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, William Atherton, Chad Lindberg, Ray Godshall Sr.
Genre: Action
Studio: Warner Bros.   Release date: 2003   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: An American military advisor embraces the Samurai culture he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle.
My Rating:
My Review: A magnificent masterpiece. A tribute to a culture overwhelmed by change. Superbly directed by Edward Zwick, this movie was an epic drama filled with action, nuance and substance. Starring Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto (Samurai lord) and Tom Cruise as Nathan Algren (Captain in US Army). Cruise's character is fed up with the heavy handed imoral tactics practiced in campaigns against the American Indians. Working on a lifetime of despair and alcoholism, he takes the first job that gets him the hell out of Job. He's sent to Japan to train the Japanese military. He's captured during a skirmish, and learns the way of the Samurai. Soon he is ally not foe. This is an absolutely must see movie. I'm sure I'll watch it over and over. The acting was sublime, everything in this movie was worth watching.

Collection ID 743
Director: Roger Corman
Starring: Betsy Jones-Moreland, Antony Carbone, Robert Towne
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi
Studio:   Release date: 1960   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Ev, along with her husband, Harold, and their lawyer friend Martin, are swimming while on vacation in Puerto Rico. When they resurface, they gradually conclude that an unexplained, temporary interruption of oxygen has killed everyone on the island... maybe even the world!
My Rating:
My Review: The Last Woman on Earth was one of the films (15 movies total) included on a DVD horror collection (Night of Horror - Do not watch alone) that I picked up from Wal-Mart. Thankfully there were several more movies in the collection. Directed by Roger Corman (a favorite director), starring the stunning beauty Betsy Jones-Moreland (as Evelyn Gern), Antony Carbone (as the arrogant Harold Gern) and Robert Towne (as Martin Joyce). The story is a low-budget sci-fi 'end of the world' scenario, filmed in Peurto Rico, the scenery must have been beautiful, but I couldn't tell with the horrible transfer in this collection. The film transfer was so bad it became laughable at times; with the colors constantly shifting between black, gray, white and a washed out excuse for color. Numerous artifacts, pixelization, sound and frame drops, spots, you name it, this transfer was an excellent of a bad transfer. The story - Self made millionaire Harold Gern is vacationing in Peurto Rico with his trophy Wife, Evelyn. While they're there, they're visited by Martin Joyce. Harold's lawyer. Martin's there to give Harold some bad news about an investigation into some shady business dealings. While he's there, Harold talks him into a brief scuba outing with him and Evy. While they're cavorting down below, the world above is suffocating. For some reason the worlds oxygen supply was completely eliminated while they were breathing canned air. From that point on its a 'Last Woman on Earth' drama as the two men seemingly compete for the amazingly beautiful Evy (Betsy Jones-Moreland). The acting was actually quite good, as Corman had very little else to go on with this movie. No special effects (to speak of), no cgi, an extremely small cast, an extremely low budget and a weak script. Roger Corman saved money on this film by shooting two films in the same location, with the same film crew and the same actors. Oh yeah, he also convinced Robert Towne (the script writer) to act in the movie. I give it a 2 out of 5. The poor transfer ruined my viewing experience.

Collection ID 1429
Director: Roger Corman
Starring: Betsy Jones-Moreland, Antony Carbone, Robert Towne
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi
Studio:   Release date: 1960   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Ev, along with her husband, Harold, and their lawyer friend Martin, are swimming while on vacation in Puerto Rico. When they resurface, they gradually conclude that an unexplained, temporary interruption of oxygen has killed everyone on the island... maybe even the world!
My Rating:
My Review: The Last Woman on Earth was one of the films (15 movies total) included on a DVD horror collection (Night of Horror - Do not watch alone) that I picked up from Wal-Mart. Thankfully there were several more movies in the collection. Directed by Roger Corman (a favorite director), starring the stunning beauty Betsy Jones-Moreland (as Evelyn Gern), Antony Carbone (as the arrogant Harold Gern) and Robert Towne (as Martin Joyce). The story is a low-budget sci-fi 'end of the world' scenario, filmed in Peurto Rico, the scenery must have been beautiful, but I couldn't tell with the horrible transfer in this collection. The film transfer was so bad it became laughable at times; with the colors constantly shifting between black, gray, white and a washed out excuse for color. Numerous artifacts, pixelization, sound and frame drops, spots, you name it, this transfer was an excellent of a bad transfer. The story - Self made millionaire Harold Gern is vacationing in Peurto Rico with his trophy Wife, Evelyn. While they're there, they're visited by Martin Joyce. Harold's lawyer. Martin's there to give Harold some bad news about an investigation into some shady business dealings. While he's there, Harold talks him into a brief scuba outing with him and Evy. While they're cavorting down below, the world above is suffocating. For some reason the worlds oxygen supply was completely eliminated while they were breathing canned air. From that point on its a 'Last Woman on Earth' drama as the two men seemingly compete for the amazingly beautiful Evy (Betsy Jones-Moreland). The acting was actually quite good, as Corman had very little else to go on with this movie. No special effects (to speak of), no cgi, an extremely small cast, an extremely low budget and a weak script. Roger Corman saved money on this film by shooting two films in the same location, with the same film crew and the same actors. Oh yeah, he also convinced Robert Towne (the script writer) to act in the movie. I give it a 2 out of 5. The poor transfer ruined my viewing experience.

Collection ID 673
Director: Brad Silberling
Starring: Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Kara Hoffman, Shelby Hoffman
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Paramount   Release date: 2004   Rated: PG   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: If you spliced Charles Addams, Dr. Seuss, Charles Dickens, Edward Gorey, and Roald Dahl into a Tim Burtonesque landscape, you'd surely come up with something like "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events". Many critics (in mostly mixed reviews) wondered why Burton didn't direct this comically morbid adaptation of the first three books in the popular series by Daniel Handler (a.k.a. "Lemony Snicket," played here by Jude Law and seen only in silhouette) instead of TV and "Casper" veteran Brad Silberling, but there's still plenty to recommend the playfully bleak scenario, in which three resourceful orphans thwart their wicked, maliciously greedy relative Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), who subjects them to... well, a series of unfortunate events. Along the way they encounter a herpetologist uncle (Billy Connolly), an anxious aunt (Meryl Streep) who's afraid of "everything", and a variety of fantastical hazards and mysterious clues, some of which remain unresolved. Given endless wonders of art direction, costume design, and cinematography, Silberling's direction is surprisingly uninspired (in other words, the books are better), but when you add a throwaway cameo by Dustin Hoffman, Law's amusing narration, and Carrey's over-the-top antics, the first "Lemony" movie suggests a promising franchise in the making. "--Jeff Shannon"
A Message from Count Olaf

Dear Adoring Fan of Count Olaf,
Perhaps once every thousand years, a talent emerges that completely changes the way movies are made, orphans are orphaned, and heartthrobs throb. Often this talent has only one eyebrow, as is the case with one of the most cherished and admired actors scheming today. Surely you can you guess of whom I think.
No, you fool! I am referring to the One...the Only...the Unbelievably Handsome Count Olaf!
Or, as I like to call him, Me.
If you've already seen my performance in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, you must still be speechless. But if you haven't, you are in serious danger. Just teasing. But you could be after I send one of my gifted henchpersons to your home!
So why not get my movie on DVD? This major motion spectacle has everything. Me, acting! Leeches, attacking! Orphans, almost falling off a cliff! Of course, if you are familiar with books by Lemony Snicket, you know that they include all of these things too, but most of what he says is lies, and the rest is completely boring.
There's never been a film that demands repeated viewing in quite the same way, with a diabolical genius writing you a letter that says, "I DEMAND REPEATED VIEWING!!!" Plus with DVD extras, you'll get at least 20% more Olaf for your money. And... just for you, for an unlimited time only, I'll throw in Aunt Josephine free with purchase.*
So, noble Amazonians, put down your hunting spears and exotic headdresses, and prepare to bask in True Greatness. Or, as I like to call it, Me.

Of course you may have my autograph!

Count Olaf
*Count Olaf will not be held liable or accept blame in any way for any and all liability, loss, damage, or personal injury (including death), without limit and without regard once Aunt Josephine is thrown in, due to the unpredictable behavior of hungry leeches.
Stills from "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Click to Enlarge)


Violet, Count Olaf, and Klaus


Aunt Josephine


Count Olaf and Aunt Josephine


Directing Jim Carrey


Klaus, Mr. Poe, Sunny, and Violet


Count Olaf


Olaf Ascending


The Baudelaire Orphans



All Things Snicket
See a complete list of all Lemony Snicket's creations, including books from the "Series of Unfortunate Events", calendars, and more.






The Essential Lemony Snicket Books

"A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ominous Omnibus, Books 1-3"

"The Situation Worsens: A Box of Unfortunate Events, Books 4-6"

"The Dilemma Deepens: A Box of Unfortunate Events, Books 7-9"

"The Slippery Slope: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 10"

"The Grim Grotto: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 11"

"A Library of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-10"

"Behind the Scenes with Count Olaf: A Series of Unfortunate Events Movie Book"

"Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography"

"The Puzzling Puzzles" Activity Book
More from the Movie

Original Movie Poster

Soundtrack

Wall Poster
"Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" Computer & Video Games

For PS2

For PC

For Xbox

For GameCube
My Rating:
My Review: Based on a series of novels by Daniel Handler, the screenplay was written by Robert Gordon, and the movie was directed by Brad Silberling. This movie weaves a wonderfully woeful tale, a fantastic fable, a splendid movie appropriate for the entire family. With a captivating cast, this movie was visually stunning, perfectly paced, and undepined with a masterful soundtrack. The set's, costumes, and characters created a world unlike any other. Jim Carrey out does himself. Playing three different villainous cads, he relentlessly pursues the three orphans and the fortune that they represent. Billy Connolly plays a benevolent but short lived uncle, and Meryl Streep plays the neurotic aunt Josphine. Rich with details and visually stunning, this cunning movie left me laughing, Kim crying, and the whole audience sated.

Collection ID 1367
Director: Brad Silberling
Starring: Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Kara Hoffman, Shelby Hoffman
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Paramount   Release date: 2004   Rated: PG   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: If you spliced Charles Addams, Dr. Seuss, Charles Dickens, Edward Gorey, and Roald Dahl into a Tim Burtonesque landscape, you'd surely come up with something like "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events". Many critics (in mostly mixed reviews) wondered why Burton didn't direct this comically morbid adaptation of the first three books in the popular series by Daniel Handler (a.k.a. "Lemony Snicket," played here by Jude Law and seen only in silhouette) instead of TV and "Casper" veteran Brad Silberling, but there's still plenty to recommend the playfully bleak scenario, in which three resourceful orphans thwart their wicked, maliciously greedy relative Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), who subjects them to... well, a series of unfortunate events. Along the way they encounter a herpetologist uncle (Billy Connolly), an anxious aunt (Meryl Streep) who's afraid of "everything", and a variety of fantastical hazards and mysterious clues, some of which remain unresolved. Given endless wonders of art direction, costume design, and cinematography, Silberling's direction is surprisingly uninspired (in other words, the books are better), but when you add a throwaway cameo by Dustin Hoffman, Law's amusing narration, and Carrey's over-the-top antics, the first "Lemony" movie suggests a promising franchise in the making. "--Jeff Shannon"
A Message from Count Olaf

Dear Adoring Fan of Count Olaf,
Perhaps once every thousand years, a talent emerges that completely changes the way movies are made, orphans are orphaned, and heartthrobs throb. Often this talent has only one eyebrow, as is the case with one of the most cherished and admired actors scheming today. Surely you can you guess of whom I think.
No, you fool! I am referring to the One...the Only...the Unbelievably Handsome Count Olaf!
Or, as I like to call him, Me.
If you've already seen my performance in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, you must still be speechless. But if you haven't, you are in serious danger. Just teasing. But you could be after I send one of my gifted henchpersons to your home!
So why not get my movie on DVD? This major motion spectacle has everything. Me, acting! Leeches, attacking! Orphans, almost falling off a cliff! Of course, if you are familiar with books by Lemony Snicket, you know that they include all of these things too, but most of what he says is lies, and the rest is completely boring.
There's never been a film that demands repeated viewing in quite the same way, with a diabolical genius writing you a letter that says, "I DEMAND REPEATED VIEWING!!!" Plus with DVD extras, you'll get at least 20% more Olaf for your money. And... just for you, for an unlimited time only, I'll throw in Aunt Josephine free with purchase.*
So, noble Amazonians, put down your hunting spears and exotic headdresses, and prepare to bask in True Greatness. Or, as I like to call it, Me.

Of course you may have my autograph!

Count Olaf
*Count Olaf will not be held liable or accept blame in any way for any and all liability, loss, damage, or personal injury (including death), without limit and without regard once Aunt Josephine is thrown in, due to the unpredictable behavior of hungry leeches.
Stills from "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Click to Enlarge)


Violet, Count Olaf, and Klaus


Aunt Josephine


Count Olaf and Aunt Josephine


Directing Jim Carrey


Klaus, Mr. Poe, Sunny, and Violet


Count Olaf


Olaf Ascending


The Baudelaire Orphans



All Things Snicket
See a complete list of all Lemony Snicket's creations, including books from the "Series of Unfortunate Events", calendars, and more.






The Essential Lemony Snicket Books

"A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ominous Omnibus, Books 1-3"

"The Situation Worsens: A Box of Unfortunate Events, Books 4-6"

"The Dilemma Deepens: A Box of Unfortunate Events, Books 7-9"

"The Slippery Slope: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 10"

"The Grim Grotto: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 11"

"A Library of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-10"

"Behind the Scenes with Count Olaf: A Series of Unfortunate Events Movie Book"

"Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography"

"The Puzzling Puzzles" Activity Book
More from the Movie

Original Movie Poster

Soundtrack

Wall Poster
"Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" Computer & Video Games

For PS2

For PC

For Xbox

For GameCube
My Rating:
My Review: Based on a series of novels by Daniel Handler, the screenplay was written by Robert Gordon, and the movie was directed by Brad Silberling. This movie weaves a wonderfully woeful tale, a fantastic fable, a splendid movie appropriate for the entire family. With a captivating cast, this movie was visually stunning, perfectly paced, and undepined with a masterful soundtrack. The set's, costumes, and characters created a world unlike any other. Jim Carrey out does himself. Playing three different villainous cads, he relentlessly pursues the three orphans and the fortune that they represent. Billy Connolly plays a benevolent but short lived uncle, and Meryl Streep plays the neurotic aunt Josphine. Rich with details and visually stunning, this cunning movie left me laughing, Kim crying, and the whole audience sated.

Collection ID 626
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Peter Appel
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Sony Pictures   Release date: 1994   Rated: Unrated   
Language (Country): English, Italian, French (France)
Summary: Luc Besson ("The Fifth Element") made his American directorial debut with this stylized thriller about a French hit man (Jean Reno) who takes in an American girl (Natalie Portman) being pursued by a corrupt killer cop (Gary Oldman). Oldman is a little more unhinged than he should be, but there is something genuinely irresistible about the story line and the relationship between Reno and Portman. Rather than cave in to the cookie-cutter look and feel of American action pictures, Besson brings a bit of his glossy style from French hits "La Femme Nikita" and "Subway" to the production, and the results are refreshing even if the bullets and explosions are awfully familiar. "--Tom Keogh"
My Rating:
My Review: Another great movie by Luc Besson. Starring Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman and Danny Aiello. Watch the uncut version if you can, if you're not 'disturbed' by the implications of the additional scenes. This movie is an action flick and comedic love story. Jean Reno stars as the steely hit man, Natalie Portman is an orphaned girl who's wreaked by the violence of her world. When Leon sees the damage inflicted on her, he breaks down and allows her into his heart. Oldman plays a truly despicable crooked cop who doesn't care about the little people that get in his way. The three together play great in this fantastically directed movie.