| # | Title | Director | Writer | Rated | Year | Studio | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Alfonso Cuarón | PG | 2004 | Warner Home Video | Action & Adventure | |
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Alfonso CuarónRated: PG Date Added: 10 Aug 2008 Languages: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: Spanish, French Sound: AC-3 Picture Format: Widescreen Summary: Some movie-loving wizards must have cast a magic spell on "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", because it's another grand slam for the Harry Potter franchise. Demonstrating remarkable versatility after the arthouse success of "Y Tu Mamá También", director Alfonso Cuarón proves a perfect choice to guide Harry, Hermione, and Ron into treacherous puberty as the now 13-year-old students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry face a new and daunting challenge: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison, and for reasons yet unknown (unless, of course, you've read J.K. Rowling's book, considered by many to be the best in the series), he's after Harry in a bid for revenge. This dark and dangerous mystery drives the action while Harry (the fast-growing Daniel Radcliffe) and his third-year Hogwarts classmates discover the flying hippogriff Buckbeak (a marvelous CGI creature), the benevolent but enigmatic Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), horrifying black-robed Dementors, sneaky Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), and the wonderful advantage of having a Time-Turner just when you need one. The familiar Hogwarts staff returns in fine form (including the delightful Michael Gambon, replacing the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and Emma Thompson as the goggle-eyed Sybil Trelawney), and even Julie Christie joins this prestigious production for a brief but welcome cameo. Technically dazzling, fast-paced, and chock-full of Rowling's boundless imagination (loyally adapted by ace screenwriter Steve Kloves), "The Prisoner of Azkaban" is a Potter-movie classic. "--Jeff Shannon"
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| 62 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | Chris Columbus | PG | 2001 | Warner Bros. Pictures | Action & Adventure | |
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Chris ColumbusRated: PG Date Added: 10 Aug 2008 Languages: English, Spanish Subtitles: English, Spanish Sound: Dolby Picture Format: Widescreen Summary: Here's an event movie that holds up to being an event. This filmed version of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", adapted from the wildly popular book by J.K. Rowling, stunningly brings to life Harry Potter's world of Hogwarts, the school for young witches and wizards. The greatest strength of the film comes from its faithfulness to the novel, and this new cinematic world is filled with all the details of Rowling's imagination, thanks to exuberant sets, elaborate costumes, clever makeup and visual effects, and a crème de la crème cast, including Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, and more. Especially fine is the interplay between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his schoolmates Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), as well as his protector, the looming Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). The second-half adventure--involving the titular sorcerer's stone--doesn't translate perfectly from page to screen, ultimately because of the film's fidelity to the novel; this is a case of making a movie for the book's fans, as opposed to a transcending film. Writer Steve Kloves and director Chris Columbus keep the spooks in check, making this a true family film, and with its resourceful hero wide-eyed and ready, one can't wait for Harry's return. Ages 8 and up. "--Doug Thomas"
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| 63 | Harvey | Henry Koster | NR | 1950 | Universal Studios | Classics | |
Harvey Henry KosterRated: NR Date Added: 10 Aug 2008 Languages: English, Spanish Subtitles: French Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Picture Format: Pan & Scan Summary: It's always a small surprise to revisit this movie and realize what a subtly dark performance James Stewart gives as an alcoholic who claims he keeps company with a six-foot-tall, invisible rabbit. As Elwood P. Dowd, the actor emits a faint whiff of decay and spirits, yet Stewart also embraces Dowd's romanticism and grace with splendid ease. Based on a hit play and directed by Henry Koster, the film is terribly funny at times, especially whenever Elwood decides it's only polite to introduce Harvey to complete strangers. The supporting cast can't be beat. "--Tom Keogh"
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| 64 | Hellboy | Guillermo Del Toro | Guillermo Del Toro | PG-13 | Revolution | Science Fiction & Fantasy | |
| 65 | The Hitchcock Collection | NR | St Clair Vision | Action & Adventure | |||
The Hitchcock CollectionRated: NR Date Added: 10 Aug 2008 Summary: I flipped out when I saw this recently in a store, and knew immediately that it would be going home with me. NINE old and hard to find Hitchcock movies for TEN bucks?? HELL YEAH!
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| 66 | House, M.D. - Season One | 2004 | Fox Network | Television | |||
House, M.D. - Season OneRated: Date Added: 10 Aug 2008 Languages: English Subtitles: Spanish Sound: AC-3 Picture Format: Widescreen Summary: He pops pills, watches soaps, and always, always says what's on his mind. He's Dr. Gregory House (Emmy nominee Hugh Laurie, "Blackadder"). Producers David Shore, Bryan Singer, Katie Jacobs, and Paul Attanasio haven't rewritten the hospital drama--at heart, it's a cross between "St. Elsewhere", "ER", and "C.S.I."--but they've infused a moribund genre with new life and created one of TV's most compelling characters. More than any previous medical procedural, it resembles Attanasio’s underrated "Gideon's Crossing", but "House" is lighter on its feet. As fascinating as he is, the show wouldn't work as well if it were all House all the time (that would be like Sherlock Holmes without Watson or Moriarty). Fortunately, he's joined by an intriguing cast of characters, portrayed by a combination of experienced vets (Omar Epps, Lisa Edelstein, Tony winner Robert Sean Leonard) and new faces (Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer). Aside from the complicated cases they tackle each week, the sparks really fly when House's brilliant, if naïve charges are put to the test--and as the head of a teaching hospital, it's his job to test them (although his tough love approach is constantly landing him in hot water with Edelstein's administrator). From the first episode, "House" attracted a talented array of guests, including Robin Tunney ("Pilot"), Joe Morton ("Role Model"), and Patrick Bauchau ("Cursed") as Spencer’s father. In addition, Chi McBride and Sela Ward appear frequently (with Ward returning for the second season). Viewers who first watched these 22 episodes on Fox will be gratified to note that the music has survived the transition to disc, such as the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want," as featured in both the pilot and season finale ("Honeymoon"). The only apparent omission is the credit theme (Massive Attack's "Teardrop") from the pilot. "--Kathleen C. Fennessy"
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| 67 | How to Irritate People | Ian Fordyce | NR | 1969 | White Star | Comedy | |
How to Irritate People Ian FordyceRated: NR Date Added: 26 Jan 2009 Sound: Analog Summary: And now for something completely rare. This 1968 television special is essential for connoisseurs of British humor and, of course, Monty Python completists. A pre-Python John Cleese teams up with Michael Palin and Graham Chapman (with invaluable assistance from co-"Fawlty Towers" creator Connie Booth and Tim Brooke-Taylor) for sketches that serve as a master class in demonstrating insincerity, inefficiency, and all-around rude behavior "to help people become more neurotic." The tricky bit, Cleese teaches, "is to never push the unsuspecting victim too far. With skill and tact, we can keep tensions bottled up for weeks, months, eventually you may induce a nervous breakdown, or better still, actual damage to the brain cells." Cleese and company portray very irritating parents, moviegoers, waiters, and partygoers. Of special interest to Python fans will be an auto mechanic sketch that anticipates the classic "Dead Parrot" sketch, as well as the job interview sketch that later found its way into the Python repertoire. This time capsule gem is, as Cleese observes at one point, "effective, but not very subtle." "--Donald Liebenson"
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| 68 | The Hudsucker Proxy | Joel Coen, Ethan Coen | PG | 1994 | Warner Home Video | Comedy | |
The Hudsucker Proxy Joel Coen, Ethan CoenRated: PG Date Added: 10 Aug 2008 Languages: English, French Subtitles: English, French Sound: Dolby Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen Summary: The Coen brothers ("Raising Arizona", "Fargo") have become the most consistently original filmmakers in the land. In a salute/reworking of the fast-talking comedies of the '40s, we follow Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) and his amazing rise to the top. But he's only a puppet for the evil Sidney J. Mussburger (Paul Newman), who wants the company for himself. The Coens' design is the real star, and their first big-budget film will stimulate movie fans. The story weakens in the middle, but you will find very few films that move with this much imagination. As a Kate Hepburn hybrid, Jennifer Jason Leigh is wonderful in an almost unplayable role. The less you know about the film, the better it plays, so just think of it as "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" mixed with "Brazil" and every journalistic drama made before 1960. Cowritten by Sam Raimi. "--Doug Thomas"
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