Enchanted April
April 7, 2009 by Family Vacations · Leave a Comment
Stills from Enchanted April (Click for larger image)
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User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars It is truly enchanting!
I’ve had this movie on VHS for years and always pull it out to watch when I’m down in the dumps or feeling blue. It is magical in its ability to cheer me up. The story begins with two weary English women who are tired of the rain, cold and drudgery in their lives. While reading the newspaper they see an add for a castle in Italy that is for available for rent during the month of April. Despite the disapproval of their husbands and society in general, they decide to rent it. In order to pay the bills, they also invite two other women, a young, beautiful socialite and a dowager grand dame. They travel to Italy and the Enchantment begins. The movie is so beautifully shot. You feel immersed in the sights and sounds of a most glorious Italian countryside. You watch as the women begin to break from their cocoon and embrace their lives with joy. Don’t let the fact that movie is nearly 20 years old dissuade you from watching it. It is a classic that I believe will stand the test of many years.
5 Stars April/May SNAFU
Not a review per se, just a comment on the marketing of this long awaited title. What genius decide to release Enchanted April in MAY!
5 Stars I love this movie!
I watch this movie more often than any other. I am so glad it is finally on dvd as I have worn out one vhs copy and almost another. It is so beautiful in many ways. Every time I watch it I feel like I’m going on a little vacation with friends. It has a very mellow feel to it but also makes me laugh. And the scenery… Ahhh!! Heads up- the beginning takes place in a very gray and somber England, but that simply creates a contrast for what is to come once the ladies arrive in beautiful sunny Italy.
5 Stars DVD Region
I ordered ‘Enchanted April’ some years ago from Amazon. The shipper sent me a different video in the same genre because the movie I ordered was only available in Region 2 at the time. I and many others now have multi region players these days.
As I understand this movie is now available in Region 1, is it still a policy only region 1 DVD’s may be shipped to N America? I would like to order some Region 2’s (UK) but why should I bother if they will not be sent to me? Or has that changed now there are multi region players readily available or people who have hacked region codes?
Any advice?
5 Stars At last!
I’ve been waiting for years - literally -for this movie to come out on DVD! It’s lack of availability has left a tremendous hole in my collection. This is a gem of a film that deserves a wider audience and now it will get it. One of the finest ensembles of actors imaginable in a setting that will make you long to visit Italy. It will reaffirm your faith in the ability of the human heart to return to life regardless of how long it’s been lying dormant. Once you’ve seen “Enchanted Aprl”, it will become one of those comfort films to which you’ll return again and again.
Dirty Dancing 20th Anniversary Edition
April 7, 2009 by Family Vacations · Leave a Comment
Dirty Dancing 20th Anniversary Edition
As with Grease (1978) and Footloose (1984) before it, Dirty Dancing was a cultural phenomenon that now plays more like camp. That very campiness, though, is part of its biggest charm. And if the dancing in the movie doesn’t seem particularly “dirty” by today’s standards–or 1987’s–it does take place in an era (the early ’60s) when it would have. Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey, daughter of ageless hoofer Joel Grey) has been vacationing in the Catskills with her family for many years. Uneventfully. One summer, she falls under the sway (as it were) of dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). Baby is a pampered pup, but Johnny is a man of the world. Baby’s father, Jake (Law and Order’s Jerry Orbach), can’t see the basic decency in greaser Johnny that she can. It should come as no surprise to find that Baby, who can be as immature as her name, learns more about love and life–and dancing–from free-spirited Johnny than traditionalist Jake.
Dirty Dancing spawned two successful soundtracks, a short-lived TV series, and a stage musical. It may be predictable, but Grey and Swayze have chemistry, charisma, and all the right moves. It’s a sometimes silly movie with occasionally mind-boggling dialogue–”No one puts Baby in a corner!”–that nonetheless carries an underlying message about tolerance and is filled with the kind of exuberant spirit that’s hard for even the most cynical to resist. Not that they’d ever admit it. –Kathleen C. Fennessy
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star not what i ordered
i ordered the “dirty dancing” dvd, the description online said it was the fullscreen version. when it arrived it was the widescreen version. i do not care for movies in the widescreen. i have checked back since i got my order and it is still being advertised as the “fullscreen version. i love the movie and always have, that’s why i ordered it in dvd. i really think it should be advertised as it really is so other people don’t get the wrong product like i did
5 Stars DIRTY DANCING
ONE WORD GOES WITH THIS MOVIE AND THAT IS CLASSIC. IS THE BEST COMING OF AGE FILM.
4 Stars Still having the time of my life
At the Oscars, they were predicting that musicals were going to have a resurgence. It seemed like time to revisit some of my old favorites and see if they were as good as I remembered them to be. In the case of “Dirty Dancing,” I’m happy to report the answer is yes.
The story’s been told before. A young girl, Baby Houseman (Jennifer Grey) goes to a summer resort and falls for Johnny Castle, the dance instructor (Patrick Swayze). There’s a complication, John’s partner Penny (Cynthia Rhodes) is pregnant by one of the college boys. Baby helps and ends up getting in trouble with her own dad, Dr. Jake Houseman. Johnny accepts responsibility, since the ‘cad dad’ won’t. Johnny’s from the bad side of town and the doctor just doesn’t want his little girl messing around with a tough guy like him, particularly one who got his dance partner pregnant.
The music’s fabulous, including numbers by The Righteous Brothers, Mickey and Sylvia, etc. The dancing is even better. This is Swayze at his best.
Well worth the time to watch and they’ve done a great job bringing this film to DVD, too.
Rebecca Kyle, March 2009
5 Stars Dirty Dancing (20th Anniversary Edition)
It is very sexy and nice drama , I think. But I like very very much a Dirty Dancing ( Havana Night ) more.
5 Stars This is one of the best movies from the late ’80s
It’s been close to twenty years since I watched this film. At first, it looks like an 80’s attempt at a date movie, but this one goes much further than that. It has a captivating plot, likable characters, and one of the greatest soundtracks of all time. Even though I’m not a fan of musicals or dancing, I still found myself enjoying this story. If you are a fan of Saturday Night Fever, you will most likely appreciate Dirty Dancing as well.
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3 D
April 7, 2009 by Family Vacations · Leave a Comment
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3 D
Writer/director/editor/special-effects-supervisor Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids, Desperado) continues to storm the movie world with The Adventures of SharkBoy and LavaGirl in 3-D. A young boy named Max (Cayden Boyd) finds the real world crashing into his dreams: His parents fight, bullies harrass him at school, and his teacher advises him to get a grip on reality. But Max’s faith in his fantasies is so strong that his superheroic creations SharkBoy (Taylor Lautner) and LavaGirl (Taylor Dooley) crash into Max’s classroom and take him off to rescue the fantastic planet he dreamed up. Towards the end, SharkBoy and LavaGirl crumbles with clumsy story gaps and bland moral advice, but most of the movie explodes with visual invention. A clockwork villain with electrical limbs commands an army of extension-cord snakes; SharkBoy uses his claws to engrave a diagram of the solar system into a chalkboard; LavaGirl’s burning feet melt an ice bridge as she runs across it. It’s disappointing that Rodriguez’s storytelling flounders, but sections of deliciously fluid movie-making make The Adventures of SharkBoy and LavaGirl in 3-D worth seeing nonetheless. Also featuring David Arquette (Eight Legged Freaks), Kristin Davis (Sex in the City), and George Lopez (Real Women Have Curves). –Bret Fetzer
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Excellent
My son loves loves loves this movie !! Now if they would only come out with a shark boy costume that would be awesome !!!! MY SON CHANGED HIS NAME TO SHARK BOY LOL LOL
NICE doing buisness with ya ! thanks
1 Star Too scary for under 7 yr olds with nightmares
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I do NOT recommend this movie if your child is under 7 years of age. Developmentally, they are unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality and this movie really confuses the issue if you have a kid already struggling with nightmares/bad dreams. Probably an ok pick for a slighly older child.
Also - you REALLY need the 3D glasses if you’re going to watch the movie properly. We weren’t able to play it in 2D mode and the picture quality is very poor without 3D glasses.
2 Stars No Adventure
Just like home made movie with a little bit 3 D here and there. The story is so weak, I wonder why they bother to made this.
5 Stars My daughter’s favorite movie
My four year old loves this movie. Of course we as adults could get very tired of the dreams are your dreams way of dreaming your true dreams wish, bologna. So we have decided instead just to go with the flow down the stream of consciousness and enjoy our daughter’s excitement and each time she watches and acts out the scenes with shark boy and lava girl.
5 Stars Great Fun!!!
I bought this for my Grandson and he absolutely loves it! The 3D version is very exciting. Good, clean, fun!
Dirty Dancing 20th Anniversary Edition Blu ray
April 7, 2009 by Family Vacations · Leave a Comment
Dirty Dancing 20th Anniversary Edition Blu ray
As with Grease (1978) and Footloose (1984) before it, Dirty Dancing was a cultural phenomenon that now plays more like camp. That very campiness, though, is part of its biggest charm. And if the dancing in the movie doesn’t seem particularly “dirty” by today’s standards–or 1987’s–it does take place in an era (the early ’60s) when it would have. Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey, daughter of ageless hoofer Joel Grey) has been vacationing in the Catskills with her family for many years. Uneventfully. One summer, she falls under the sway (as it were) of dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). Baby is a pampered pup, but Johnny is a man of the world. Baby’s father, Jake (Law and Order’s Jerry Orbach), can’t see the basic decency in greaser Johnny that she can. It should come as no surprise to find that Baby, who can be as immature as her name, learns more about love and life–and dancing–from free-spirited Johnny than traditionalist Jake.
Dirty Dancing spawned two successful soundtracks, a short-lived TV series, and a stage musical. It may be predictable, but Grey and Swayze have chemistry, charisma, and all the right moves. It’s a sometimes silly movie with occasionally mind-boggling dialogue–”No one puts Baby in a corner!”–that nonetheless carries an underlying message about tolerance and is filled with the kind of exuberant spirit that’s hard for even the most cynical to resist. Not that they’d ever admit it. –Kathleen C. Fennessy
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star not what i ordered
i ordered the “dirty dancing” dvd, the description online said it was the fullscreen version. when it arrived it was the widescreen version. i do not care for movies in the widescreen. i have checked back since i got my order and it is still being advertised as the “fullscreen version. i love the movie and always have, that’s why i ordered it in dvd. i really think it should be advertised as it really is so other people don’t get the wrong product like i did
5 Stars DIRTY DANCING
ONE WORD GOES WITH THIS MOVIE AND THAT IS CLASSIC. IS THE BEST COMING OF AGE FILM.
4 Stars Still having the time of my life
At the Oscars, they were predicting that musicals were going to have a resurgence. It seemed like time to revisit some of my old favorites and see if they were as good as I remembered them to be. In the case of “Dirty Dancing,” I’m happy to report the answer is yes.
The story’s been told before. A young girl, Baby Houseman (Jennifer Grey) goes to a summer resort and falls for Johnny Castle, the dance instructor (Patrick Swayze). There’s a complication, John’s partner Penny (Cynthia Rhodes) is pregnant by one of the college boys. Baby helps and ends up getting in trouble with her own dad, Dr. Jake Houseman. Johnny accepts responsibility, since the ‘cad dad’ won’t. Johnny’s from the bad side of town and the doctor just doesn’t want his little girl messing around with a tough guy like him, particularly one who got his dance partner pregnant.
The music’s fabulous, including numbers by The Righteous Brothers, Mickey and Sylvia, etc. The dancing is even better. This is Swayze at his best.
Well worth the time to watch and they’ve done a great job bringing this film to DVD, too.
Rebecca Kyle, March 2009
5 Stars Dirty Dancing (20th Anniversary Edition)
It is very sexy and nice drama , I think. But I like very very much a Dirty Dancing ( Havana Night ) more.
5 Stars This is one of the best movies from the late ’80s
It’s been close to twenty years since I watched this film. At first, it looks like an 80’s attempt at a date movie, but this one goes much further than that. It has a captivating plot, likable characters, and one of the greatest soundtracks of all time. Even though I’m not a fan of musicals or dancing, I still found myself enjoying this story. If you are a fan of Saturday Night Fever, you will most likely appreciate Dirty Dancing as well.
The Brave Little Toaster
April 7, 2009 by Family Vacations · Leave a Comment
THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER is the award-winning animated tale of friendship, loyalty, and courage that has become a huge favorite with young and old alike! Five electrical appliances suddenly feel dumped when their young master mysteriously disappears! The dejected toaster rounds up the vacuum cleaner, electric blanket, and bedside lamp and radio, and together, they set off for the big city in search of their beloved owner! Featuring the voices of “Saturday Night Live’s” Phil Hartman and Jon Lovitz, and catchy original songs — you’re on the high road to a humorous and heartwarming adventure you’ll never forget. END
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars My son’s favorite
This was my son’s (now 22) favorite movie when he was little. it has cute songs and action to keep a child entertained. I am so happy I found it again to play for my granddaughter
5 Stars Another Childhood Favorite!!!
As a child, I loved this movie! Now that I’m 18, I still love it! Some people may think I’m too old to watch this, but I say they’re wrong. I love the plot and characters. Toaster, Blanket, Lamp, Radio, and Kirby go on an adventure to New York City to find their master. They have a lot of troubles along the way. If you love comedy, and a child at heart, you’ll love THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER!!!
5 Stars First Class
This video is awesome. I recommend this for grandparents to have in their bag of tricks for weekend sleepovers with the little ones.
5 Stars Simply magical!
Your little ones will not tire of this magical story about The Brave Little Toaster! Its vintage animation is perfect, and the storyline allows children to feel a range of age-appropriate emotions as these lovable electric appliances try to find their missing owner. It has a happy ending, with plenty of wonder, silliness, and excitement along the way. A timeless movie that your family will watch again and again.
3 Stars Brave Little Toaster case cracked
I was pretty disappointed that the case was cheap and cracked. It appeared to have just been thrown in to the box.
