Saturday, July 21, 2007

THE TRUMAN SHOW NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

THE TRUMAN SHOW IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY OF THE MOVIE THE TRUMAN SHOW FROM IMDB

In this movie, Jim Carrey is Truman, a man whose life is a fake one... The place he lives is in fact a big studio with hidden cameras everywhere, and all his friends and people around him, are actors who play their roles in the most popular tv-series in the world: The Truman Show. Truman thinks that he is an ordinary man with an ordinary life and has no idea about how he is exploited. Until one day... he finds out everything. Will he react? Written by Chris Makrozahopoulos {makzax@hotmail.com}

Truman Burbank lives a happy life. However, what he doesn't know is that his life is actually the focus of a reality TV show aired since his birth, that he's the star, his hometown is a giant set piece, and everyone around him is an actor going by a script. Written by Skip4591

Truman Burbank is a normal man, living in a normal town. He grew up to be a desk clerk for a insurance company, living an ordinary life, having an ordinary wife, an ordinary neighbour and an ordinary bud, who pops in from time to time with a sixpack. But Truman is not happy with his life. He wants to see the world. He wants to get away from his happy-happy, ever tidy, nice'n'shiny little island town at the seaside. In reality, Truman was an unwanted pregnancy. His "father", Christof, a reckless TV-Producer whom he never met, made up the Truman Show - the greatest show on earth - a show in which life is live. So, everyone around poor Truman is an actor with a little headphone in the ear. One day, Truman accidentally bumps into a catering area backstage and gets pretty suspicious. His plan now is: Pretend to be sleeping and steal away... Written by Julian Reischl {julianreischl@mac.com}

Truman Burbankis happy with his life. He is a successful business man, he has a nice wife and many friends. However, Truman finds his life is getting very repetitive. Actually every moment of his life is being filmed, being watched by millions, and that his world is limited in a small Hollywood film set. Truman decides to follow his discovery no matter how hard and how much it pains him. Written by Christian

He's the star of the show--but he doesn't know. Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank in this movie from director Peter Weir about a man whose life is a nonstop TV show. Truman doesn't realize that his quaint hometown is a giant studio set run by a visionary producer/director/creator (Ed Harris), that folks living and working there are Hollywood actors, that even his incessantly bubbly wife is a contract player. Gradually, Truman gets wise. And what he does about his discovery will have you laughing, crying and cheering. Written by Robert Lynch {docrlynch@yahoo.com}



HERE IS A REVIEW ON THE MOVIE THE TRUMAN SHOW FROM DVDTALK

As memorable now as it was upon its theatrical release, Peter Weir's The Truman Show (1998) took one ordinary life and made it something special. It was the first major dramatic role for Jim Carrey---then mostly known for his rubber-faced antics in Dumb and Dumber, The Mask and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective---but audiences didn't really seem to mind. The Truman Show enjoyed a successful $125M run at the domestic box office, critical acclaim, 3 Oscar nominations and a nice pile of awards, so it's safe to say that a lot of people liked it. The film hasn't aged a bit over the last 7 years, and it doesn't look like it'll start anytime soon. An intriguing premise makes it accessible, but the thought-provoking themes lurking underneath make it fun to get lost in; much like another personal favorite, Groundhog Day, it's a simple premise executed to absolute perfection.

The literal take on "reality TV" proved to be prophetic, yet The Truman Show only hints at the raw voyeurism that modern television is headed towards. We're introduced to Truman (Carrey), an affable insurance guy who just happens to be the star of the world's most popular TV show. Now in it's 30th year, The Truman Show is just that: it's broadcast 24 hours a day year-round, using more than 5,000 cameras inside a massive dome-shaped set that doubles as Truman's picturesque town of Seahaven. Everybody's in on it, including thousands of paid extras, his "TV wife" Meryl (played by Hannah Gill, in turn played by Laura Linney) and even his best friend Marlon (Noah Emmerich). Their job is to just act natural, to keep him in the dark while casually name-dropping the latest product placement. Truman has been on camera since birth, but he's remained oblivious...up until a strange series of events, that is.

His fear of water (brought upon by the drowning death of his "TV dad") has prevented him from leaving the island-like community, but the burned-in memory of a beautiful woman (Natascha McElhone) prompts him to pull up his roots. Soon, everyone's trying their best to keep Truman in Seahaven: the extras, the wife, the best friend, and especially Christof (Ed Harris), the television producer who created Truman's artificial world. Truman may even have to sacrifice his life for total freedom, but he's willing to risk everything for a taste of the real world.

Naturally, the viewers are glued to the television, and so are we.

As if the cover artwork and title weren't enough proof, this is Carrey's show from start to finish. Even so, a number of excellent supporting performances really stand out, including Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich and Ed Harris (as Cristof). The first two do a fantastic job of playing believable "characters within characters", but it's Harris who really does the best balancing act; as Truman's mother, father, God and Satan, he's the most complex character in a world of people doing their best to simply look normal. It was also nice to see a few familiar faces pop up here and there, including Peter Krause (Six Feet Under), Paul Giamatti (American Splendor) and composer Philip Glass (who provided music for the film as well). As an aside---or ham-handed segue, if you prefer---the film's additional music also deserves special mention: from Mozart to Burkhard von Dallwitz, every note fits like a glove.

Still, it's the deceptively simple story that keeps me coming back to The Truman Show. The original concept by writer/producer Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, S1m0ne) favored a darker sci-fi atmosphere over the sterile streets of Seahaven, but director Peter Weir opted for the lighter side of things. The "dream world" provided by Christof is seemingly a win-win situation: Truman gets to live a life virtually free of fear, while viewing audiences worldwide can tune in for comfort and familiarity...so why do we know it's wrong? As seen in films like The Great Escape and THX-1138, people always find a way out. History offers proof that boundaries, like rules, were made to be broken.

As one of my favorite films of 1998---topped only by Wes Anderson's Rushmore, for those keeping score at home---The Truman Show is a perfect example of modern films showing that there's still plenty of great ideas to be unearthed. It's not often that every part of a film seems to fit together so naturally, but this one should have no problem standing the test of time. The simple and complex layers scattered throughout ensure that The Truman Show is a film worth watching again and again, with each viewing more detailed than the last. My only complaint is that the film could've been a little longer, but you know what they say: if something's great and short, it's even better.

Originally presented in 1999-era bare bones DVD fashion, The Truman Show has deserved the Special Edition treatment for years. Paramount offers a single-disc upgrade that's packed with goodies, including a brand-new anamorphic transfer and a decent assortment of interesting bonus features. It's not quite the fully-loaded extravaganza that we've become accustomed to, but it's strangely fitting for the film itself: simple, entertaining, and to the point. Below, you'll find a comparison review between the original 1999 release and this new Special Edition...so let's get moving, shall we?

Quality Control Department

Video Quality - Special Edition: 4.5 | Original Release: 3.5

Screen Comparisons - 1 2 3 (SE = Top, OR = Bottom)

Don't you love it when great films get great visual treatments? The 1.85:1 widescreen transfer for The Truman Show has been anamorphically enhanced for this new Special Edition, and the difference in quality is noticeable. The original release wasn't bad, but this new transfer really showcases the film's squeaky-clean cinematography: colors pop, the image is well defined and black levels are solid. The only red flag is a bit of cropping near the top of the image (see the screen comparisons), but it doesn't seem to cause any major problems. Overall, Paramount has done an excellent job; for those with decent setups, the visual improvements alone should be reason enough to upgrade.

Audio Quality - Special Edition: 4.0 | Original Release: 4.0

Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 or 2.0 Surround, The Truman Show's audio remains the same as the first release…but that's certainly not a bad thing. While the film is mainly dialogue-driven, there's a decent amount of ambience and LFE that really adds to the atmosphere during several scenes (especially those with bad weather). Dialogue is clean and clear, but it's also balanced nicely so you won't have to reach for your remote every five minutes. A full-blown DTS track might've been an interesting addition, but this 5.1 mix is no slouch. English, Spanish and French subtitles have been provided for the deaf, hard of hearing and English impaired.

Presentation & Packaging - Special Edition: 3.5 | Original Release: 3.5

I actually preferred the original menu design (seen here) over the new one (above), but they're still attractive and easy to navigate. This 103-minute film is still divided into 24 chapters, while no apparent layer switch was detected during playback. The cover art looks especially nice: I liked the original, but the Special Edition's photo-mosaic design is a bit more eye-catching and appropriate. The actual packaging was not on hand at the time of this review, so I'm not certain if any inserts have been included with this release (though judging by Paramount's history, probably not).

Bonus Material - Special Edition: 4.0 | Original Release: 0.5

The original bare-bones release included nothing more than the film's Theatrical Trailer and a TV Spot (presented in fullscreen and non-anamorphic widescreen, respectively), but they've returned in the same fashion for this Special Edition. A number of new bonus features also make their television debut here: while they might not be as plentiful as we spoiled consumers have been hoping for, they're clear, concise, and extremely interesting. Let's take it from the top, shall we?

First up is an excellent two-part Behind the Scenes Documentary entitled "How's It Going To End?" (43 minutes total, below left), which covers a bit more than your average pat-on-the-back featurette. The majority of the cast and crew are on hand for this documentary---even Carrey, though his interview footage appears to have been shot a few years back----and everyone does a fantastic job of sharing the highs, lows and in-betweens during the film's original production. Director Peter Weir is also in good spirits here, covering everything from the film's unusual location shooting to the original story by Andrew Niccol. As an added bonus, this documentary---and the rest of the extras, save for the trailer and TV spot---has been presented in anamorphic widescreen with optional English, French, or Spanish subtitles when applicable. This was a wise move by Paramount, so here's hoping that more studios follow the lead of those who value consistent DVD presentation.

Next up is a short Visual Effects Featurette entitled "Faux Finishing" (14 minutes, above right) that covers the film's tasteful and clever use of CGI---many viewers will be surprised to find out what was real and what was just an illusion. There's also a selection of four rough Deleted & Extended Scenes ("Product Placement", "Truman Suspicious", "The Future Cast Meeting" and "Truman Missing", 13 minutes total); these don't add much to the story but they're still interesting enough. Winding down the bonus features is a non-captioned Photo Gallery and the aforementioned promo material.

While it would've been nice to hear a commentary track as well, it's no surprise that one wasn't included; after all, past films by Peter Weir on DVD---including Master and Commander and the recent Witness Special Edition---didn't have commentaries either. In any case, fans are still treated to a satisfying mix of extras that really adds to the film's charm and staying power.

Final Thoughts

Average Scores - Special Edition: 4.0 | Original Release: 2.875

It's taken a few years to reach us, but The Truman Show has finally been given a release that does the film justice. While the audio never needed much improvement, this new Special Edition does everything it should have: improving upon the first transfer while adding a handful of fascinating bonus features. The film itself was one of the best of 1998---and even stands tall with the best of the decade, in this reviewer's opinion---so it's no surprise that this modestly priced upgrade is worth every penny. Those who own the first disc should have no problem picking this up again, while those new to The Truman Show should consider it an essential blind buy. Highly Recommended.


HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE THE TRUMAN SHOW 1 OF 4

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE THE TRUMAN SHOW 2 OF 4

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE THE TRUMAN SHOW 3 OF 4

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE THE TRUMAN SHOW 4 OF 4

LICENSE TO WED BETTER QUALITY NOW AVAILABLE


LICENSE TO WED (BETTER QUALITY) NOW AVAILABLE FOR DIRECT DOWNLOAD

JUST IN IS THE NEW MOVIE LICENSE TO WED STARING ROBIN WILLIAMS AND MANDY MOORE. IT SEEMS LIKE A FUNNY MOVIE IF IT HAS ROBIN WILLIAMS IN IT THEN IT SHOULD BE VERY FUNNY.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FROM IMDB.

A reverend (Williams) puts an engaged couple (Moore and Krasinski) through a grueling marriage preparation course to see if they are meant to be married in his church.

HERE IS A REVIEW OF THE MOVIE FROM DVDTALK.

I know "License to Wed" is supposed to be celebrating the miracle of love and devotion, but there's something mean-spirited about this production that turns my stomach.

Ben (John Krasinski, "The Office") and Sadie (Mandy Moore) are a young couple itching to be wed. When their wish is granted by the strict Reverend Frank (Robin Williams), he puts them on an accelerated marriage counseling schedule to meet their wedding date. Promising he's only looking out for their best interests, it doesn't take long for Ben to lose his patience with Reverend Frank, who resorts to spying and scheming to test the boundaries of their love, pushing Ben and Sadie to cancel the big day and break up.

"Wed" is intended to be one of those comedies that can embrace its silly side, yet tug at a few heartstrings with a lightening-fast portrait of pre-martial planning madness. It's simple to say the film fails both endeavors, but why it fails is difficult to explain. The picture is garbage, but the stink is sometimes beyond description.

Television directing vet Ken Kwapis is no help here, gamely aiding the screenplay with its sitcom intentions while trying to sneak in some of the sly, improvisational wit he was taught during his years directing "The Office." Hell, the guy even has four actors from the show in the film just in case all else fails. Of course, all else does fail, but the picture is useless in the laugh department, depressingly relying on the cast and their creaky sense of timing to extract every diseased laugh out.

Sold as a Robin Williams comedy, "Wed" actually sedates the manic comedian for a good portion of the film. While hardly the straight man, Williams cools his jets, permitting the rest of the cast to have their fun in the leading roles while he makes Reverend Frank a bizarre object of antagonism; a characteristic that never seems to pay off. As the happy couple, Mandy Moore and John "I've got one reaction" Krasinski are handsome enough, but funny people they sure ain't. Watching Krasinski and Williams trapped in a joke Mexican standoff (a common situation in the film) has got to be some level of torment the bible neglected to mention.

Running a distressingly long 90 minutes, "Wed" also has the misfortune of being sheared down considerably in the editing room. It seems Sadie has a dashing childhood friend named Carlisle (Eric Christian Olsen, another comedic wet spot) she confides in about everything, driving Ben to seething jealousy. The subplot factors intricately into the ending of the film, but we never see it play out. The rest of the feature feels similarly mowed down for breezy mass consumption (the theme of wedded communication also bites the dust), leaving plenty of room for strange marriage scenarios featuring robot baby twins (they poop blue paste) and a moment where Reverend Frank and Sadie discuss sexual preferences. Ick. Where's the old steamrolling Robin Williams when you need him?

"License to Wed" is forgettable, dreary, incomprehensible at important moments, and worst of all, wildly unfunny. It makes marriage look like the biggest mistake of all time, and the multiplex a prison from which there is no escape.


HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD TO THE MOVIE LICENSE TO WED PART 1 OF 4.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD TO THE MOVIE LICENSE TO WED PART 2 OF 4.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD TO THE MOVIE LICENSE TO WED PART 3 OF 4.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD TO THE MOVIE LICENSE TO WED PART 4 OF 4.



UPDATE: HERE IS A NEWER VERSION THAT IS A LOT BETTER QUALITY

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR LICENSE TO WED 1 OF 6 BETTER QUALITY

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR LICENSE TO WED 2 OF 6 BETTER QUALITY

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR LICENSE TO WED 3 OF 6 BETTER QUALITY

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR LICENSE TO WED 4 OF 6 BETTER QUALITY


HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR LICENSE TO WED 5 OF 6 BETTER QUALITY

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR LICENSE TO WED 6 OF 6 BETTER QUALITY

THE INVISIBLE NOW AVAILABLE

THE MOVIE THE INVISIBLE IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE


HERE IS THE SUMMARY OF THE INVISIBLE THE MOVIE FROM IMDB

Two young teens' real selves are invisible to others, one due to his untimely death and the other due to the neglect she's endured since the death of her mother.



HERE IS A REVIEW OF THE MOVIE THE INVISIBLE FROM DVD TALK


It's no surprise that "The Invisible" is a remake of a Swedish film. There's enough brooding and angst to fill 10 somber Scandinavian pictures. And these kids aren't moping about falling in love or finding a date for the prom, either. It's Death itself that haunts them!

The American version is set in Seattle, which has appropriately gray skies and a high incidence of disaffected youth. (Seattle is the American version of Sweden, I guess.) Nick Powell (Justin Chatwin) is a sensitive and sober high school senior who writes poetry in his spare time and sells essays for cash. He is scorned by his peers, ignored by his imperious mother (Marcia Gay Harden), and admired by his loser best friend Pete (Chris Marquette). His grades are high enough that it won't matter if he blows off finals for a writing workshop in London, which he plans to attend without Mom's consent.

Meanwhile, also working her fellow students for cash is Annie Newton (Margarita Levieva), a thuggish girl who provides cell phones and other necessaries at marked-up prices. She spends her evenings with her too-old-for-her boyfriend, Marcus (Alex O'Loughlin), acting as his lookout while he steals cars and commits other acts of thievery. Her dad (Mark Houghton) is a former cop who's now an overworked security guard; her stepmother (Desiree Zurowski) is lazy and useless. Her little brother (Alex Ferris) is her only solace in this harsh, cruel world.

Through a tragic sequence of unfortunate events and misunderstandings, Nick winds up dead, his body discarded in the woods near his home. To his surprise, Nick finds himself awake the next morning, going about his school day as usual except that no one can see or hear him. He quickly ascertains that he's a ghost (or something), and he watches in frustration as the local police search for him, unable to hear his directions as he tells them where his body is and who killed him.

The film has been mis-marketed as a thriller when it's actually just a supernatural drama, directed by frequent writer and occasional director David S. Goyer (who scripted "Dark City" and the "Blade" movies). Goyer yanks the teen-angst chords like a pro, filling the soundtrack with guitar-laden emo anthems and positioning Nick and Annie both as forlorn, misunderstood anti-heroes. They're the sort of characters you'd expect to see cutting themselves. How can the teen audience fail to identify with them?

The teen audience will have to ignore certain things about the screenplay (adapted by Mick Davis and Christine Roum from Mats Wahl's novel "Den Osynlige"). The detective investigating Nick's disappearance stumbles quite accidentally onto the crime scene, and turns out to be a lifelong friend of Annie's family, too, which is not only an astounding coincidence but completely irrelevant. The fact that he knows Annie and her dad never proves to be useful, nor does Annie's dad's past career as a cop. Those extraneous plot threads ought to have been cut.

I'm confused by some of Pete's actions, too, with regard to Nick's disappearance. I don't want to give anything away, but he seems very easily convinced that he ought to be quiet about what he knows, even though he has no reason not to go to the police.

Screenplay ineptitude and general mediocrity aside, it's not bad as far as teen-crisis dramas go. It straddles the line between appealing to young audiences and flat-out pandering to them, and it sometimes falls onto the wrong side of that line. Yet it deserves credit for focusing on young people without being gratuitously violent or sexual.



HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE THE INVISIBLE