Collection ID 219
Director: John Sturges
Starring: Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Horst Buchholz, Charles Bronson
Genre: Western
Studio: Mirisch Company, The   Release date: 1960   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English, German, Spanish (USA)
Summary: An oppressed Mexican peasant village assembles seven gunfighters to help defend their homes.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 937
Director: John Sturges
Starring: Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Horst Buchholz, Charles Bronson
Genre: Western
Studio: Mirisch Company, The   Release date: 1960   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English, German, Spanish (USA)
Summary: An oppressed Mexican peasant village assembles seven gunfighters to help defend their homes.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 432.1
Director:
Starring: Martin Sheen, Ron Maxwell, Moctesuma Esparza, Robert Katz, Jeff Daniels
Genre: Documentary
Studio:   Release date: 1993   Rated:   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary:
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 1162
Director:
Starring: Martin Sheen, Ron Maxwell, Moctesuma Esparza, Robert Katz, Jeff Daniels
Genre: Documentary
Studio:   Release date: 1993   Rated:   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary:
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 90
Director: John Huston
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Barton MacLane
Genre: Film-Noir
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures   Release date: 1941   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: Sam Spade, a private detective, gets involved in a murderous hunt for a valuable statuette.
My Rating:
My Review: The Maltese Falcon was nominated for three academy awards in 1942. It's a classic film-noir detective story starring Humphrey Bogart as private eye Sam Spade, Mary Astor as Miss Wonderly, and an outstanding supporting cast. The story: Ms. Wonderly comes to Sam Spade seeking protection from a man named Thursby, but that's just the tip of the iceberg in this twisted story of deception and double-crosses. While I love this movie, the story requires far more attention than one should have to spend on a movie. The characters are well developed and the acting is quite good. Sam Spade is a fast talking detective with a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to the ladies. His office becomes crime central in this twisted tale of the missing idol. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 879
Director: John Huston
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Barton MacLane
Genre: Film-Noir
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures   Release date: 1941   Rated: Not Rated   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: Sam Spade, a private detective, gets involved in a murderous hunt for a valuable statuette.
My Rating:
My Review: The Maltese Falcon was nominated for three academy awards in 1942. It's a classic film-noir detective story starring Humphrey Bogart as private eye Sam Spade, Mary Astor as Miss Wonderly, and an outstanding supporting cast. The story: Ms. Wonderly comes to Sam Spade seeking protection from a man named Thursby, but that's just the tip of the iceberg in this twisted story of deception and double-crosses. While I love this movie, the story requires far more attention than one should have to spend on a movie. The characters are well developed and the acting is quite good. Sam Spade is a fast talking detective with a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to the ladies. His office becomes crime central in this twisted tale of the missing idol. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1061
Director: Randall Wallace
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gérard Depardieu, Gabriel Byrne
Genre: Action
Studio: United Artists Corporation   Release date: 1998   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French (UK)
Summary: The cruel King Louis XIV of France has a secret twin brother who he keeps imprisoned. Can the twin be substituted for the real king?
My Rating:
My Review: I wasn't very happy with this movie. The Man in the Iron Mask is one of many movies (at least 14 movies) based upon the novels of Alexandre Dumas. The books/The final section of the novel 'The Vicomte de Bragelonne' was based upon 18th century tales about the 'Man in the Iron Mask'. The story - King Louis the XIV is a cruel man. His subjects are suffering and starving under his rule, his wars are draining away the country's resources, and the Musketeers fed up with the unjust state of affairs. The country is on the brink of revolution when the Musketeers decide to act. In order to avert bloodshed and more suffering, they conspire to overthrow their king. Their bold audacious plan would replace the corrupt king with a political prisoner, a man imprisoned for the crime of being born. The secret of the Man in the Iron Mask is a terrible and powerful tragedy. A drama of royal proportions. The story is excellent. Unfortunately, this 131 minute movie doesn't allow for an adequate retelling of the tale. That wasn't the worst part of the movie. While the production was a fair effort, the casting was less than satisfactory. Leonardo DiCaprio as King Louis the XIV/Phillipe was not the best of choices. His acting was terrible (in my opinion). Gerard Depardieu as Porthos was another mistake. Even John Malkovich as Athos felt wrong. The attempts to work humor into the movie were laughable and ill advised in such a dramatic tale. Given the uneven performances, one can understand that the humor might have been meant as a distraction from this critical error. The direction was poor and the character development suffered greatly under the abbreviated telling of this royal tale of tragedy and triumph. Hopefully this won't be the only version I've ever seen. I give it a 3 of 5 based on the story.

Collection ID 315
Director: Randall Wallace
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gérard Depardieu, Gabriel Byrne
Genre: Action
Studio: United Artists Corporation   Release date: 1998   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French (UK)
Summary: The cruel King Louis XIV of France has a secret twin brother who he keeps imprisoned. Can the twin be substituted for the real king?
My Rating:
My Review: I wasn't very happy with this movie. The Man in the Iron Mask is one of many movies (at least 14 movies) based upon the novels of Alexandre Dumas. The books/The final section of the novel 'The Vicomte de Bragelonne' was based upon 18th century tales about the 'Man in the Iron Mask'. The story - King Louis the XIV is a cruel man. His subjects are suffering and starving under his rule, his wars are draining away the country's resources, and the Musketeers fed up with the unjust state of affairs. The country is on the brink of revolution when the Musketeers decide to act. In order to avert bloodshed and more suffering, they conspire to overthrow their king. Their bold audacious plan would replace the corrupt king with a political prisoner, a man imprisoned for the crime of being born. The secret of the Man in the Iron Mask is a terrible and powerful tragedy. A drama of royal proportions. The story is excellent. Unfortunately, this 131 minute movie doesn't allow for an adequate retelling of the tale. That wasn't the worst part of the movie. While the production was a fair effort, the casting was less than satisfactory. Leonardo DiCaprio as King Louis the XIV/Phillipe was not the best of choices. His acting was terrible (in my opinion). Gerard Depardieu as Porthos was another mistake. Even John Malkovich as Athos felt wrong. The attempts to work humor into the movie were laughable and ill advised in such a dramatic tale. Given the uneven performances, one can understand that the humor might have been meant as a distraction from this critical error. The direction was poor and the character development suffered greatly under the abbreviated telling of this royal tale of tragedy and triumph. Hopefully this won't be the only version I've ever seen. I give it a 3 of 5 based on the story.

Collection ID 1636
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe
Genre: Action, Adventure
Studio: Warner Bros.   Release date: 2013   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA, UK)
Summary: A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
My Rating:
My Review: Man of Steel - 2013 (Adventure, action, fantasy) Starring Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Russel Crowe as Jor-El, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, and many others. It’s another take on the classic story of Krypton’s favorite child. This particular release attempts to once again re-boot the franchise using a Zack Snyder directed movie as the basis of another make-over for the Man of Steel. This particular take focuses on the Man in the ‘Man of Steel’ there’s a lot more background and teen years than I expected, and that was a good thing. Zack Snyder does a good job of bringing some ‘graphic novel’ aspects to the screen. The CGI and effects were extremely well done, well blended and complimentary to the film. The imagery and camera work are outstanding, and the music is excellent. Focusing on Clark Kent as a young boy and young man helps the viewer understand his journey and the sense of discovery from the character’s point of view. He doesn’t feel as if he’s a hero; he doesn’t feel as if he’s worthy of his gifts; he’s uncertain how to use them and what he should and should do with his powers. When General Zod begins his plot to destroy the Earth, Clark can no longer hide behind his facade of normalcy. He must act. I give this movie a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1641
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe
Genre: Action, Adventure
Studio: Warner Bros.   Release date: 2013   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA, UK)
Summary: A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
My Rating:
My Review: Man of Steel - 2013 (Adventure, action, fantasy) Starring Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Russel Crowe as Jor-El, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, and many others. It’s another take on the classic story of Krypton’s favorite child. This particular release attempts to once again re-boot the franchise using a Zack Snyder directed movie as the basis of another make-over for the Man of Steel. This particular take focuses on the Man in the ‘Man of Steel’ there’s a lot more background and teen years than I expected, and that was a good thing. Zack Snyder does a good job of bringing some ‘graphic novel’ aspects to the screen. The CGI and effects were extremely well done, well blended and complimentary to the film. The imagery and camera work are outstanding, and the music is excellent. Focusing on Clark Kent as a young boy and young man helps the viewer understand his journey and the sense of discovery from the character’s point of view. He doesn’t feel as if he’s a hero; he doesn’t feel as if he’s worthy of his gifts; he’s uncertain how to use them and what he should and should do with his powers. When General Zod begins his plot to destroy the Earth, Clark can no longer hide behind his facade of normalcy. He must act. I give this movie a 4 out of 5.