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Badlands [1973]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Action and Adventure
starring: Martin Sheen, Sissy Spacek, Ramon Bieri, Warren Oates
directed by: Terrence Malick

May 26, 2003
Great works of art are very much of their time, but have a relevance and impact long afterwards - and this is a great work of art. A simple story - disfunctional couple on the run, but told with great artistry and 'truth', with actors burdgeoning into great careers, and with much to say about US society, disaffection, and the cult of celebrity killers.

The cinematography is groundbreakingly beautiful, and surely the use of music has never been bettered - this movie sears itself into your brain.

Enthralling, gripping, funny, brutal (death is sad and real and pitiful), and simply a benchmark of US film-making that might never be bettered.

How many DVDs do you watch right through the end credits? I found ... Read More:

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Team America: World Police [2004]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Action and Adventure
starring: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller, Masasa, Daran Norris
directed by: Trey Parker

May 23, 2005
Having seen this several times, I still can't decide if the writers were afraid to offend people by telling us what they stand for, or if they genuinely have no political beliefs worth mentioning. The satire of US foreign policy is hugely funny, but the rather weak lampooning of politically-engaged actors seems pointless. Making Matt Damon to be some kind of limp, stupid weakling has dated the movie as being pre-Bourne series.

Would they prefer it if successful actors just took their inflated salaries and spent them on big cars, whilst paying no attention to the rest of the world? C'mon, at least give them a break for trying. I bet Tim Robbins understands more about the world outside the USA than his President does.

A second ... Read More:

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The Magnificent Seven (Special Edition) [1960]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Action and Adventure
starring: Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn
directed by: John Sturges

June 25, 2001
Whilst this probably isn't the best western ever made its certainly up there amongst the top flight. It was fortunately made a few years before 'A Fistful of Dollars', which changed westerns and what was expected from them.

Take the classic Kurosawa film 'Seven Samurai' (which is given its due in the opening credits) and reinvent it in the American west. Then add the staggeringly good cast of Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Eli Wallach, James Coburn and Robert Vaughan and what you have is a near perfect piece of Cinema. Some of these guys (like McQueen) were not the bigshots they would later become, but they are incredibly cool. Just a look is enough for these actors. For example, James Coburn hardly says a word throughout the film, ... Read More:

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The Neverending Story [1984]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Action and Adventure
starring: Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway
directed by: Wolfgang Petersen

August 18, 2008
On this occasion I found myself liking the movie more than the book. What stood out for me as a child was the wolf figure who stated at the end of the film this startling notion that people who forgot their dreams and lost their hopes were easy to control and who ever has the control has the power ... I wondered how that could come about. Now I see that behind the film was possibly a critique on our modern standard of living and the world of Fantasia, a world of the spirit, imagination and dreams does not want to allow it's self to be usurped by mans casual disregard for those qualities. The film asserts that real freedom is the freedom of the mind and to have self belief in the face of astonishing obstacles is the only way to move forward. This is a modern day ... Read More:

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Deja Vu [2006]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Action and Adventure
starring: Val Kilmer, Jim Caviezel, Denzel Washington
directed by: Tony Scott

May 14, 2007
i'm a big fan of denzel washington, so i was looking forward to this film after having read the blurb on the dvd cover. the tagline on the cover asks "What if you could change the past?". my first thought after i'd watched this film was if i could change the past, i would have saved the last 121 minutes by not watching this nonsensical drivel. sory denzel, not this time

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Hot Fuzz [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Action and Adventure
starring: Anne Reid, Simon Pegg, Martin Freeman, Edward Woodward, Paddy Considine
directed by: Edgar Wright

December 17, 2007
I have not read all the reviews on this but get the impression from a quick flick through that the majority of people have very impressive taste. What is not to enjoy about this? From Sgt Angel coming to the rescue on his white charger to Timothy Dalton impaled in a very un-Bond like manner this film may well require an investment in incontinence pads. It's slick, fast paced, funny, clever and should be on everyone's DVD shelf for those gloomy winter nights when you need cheering up. You'll never look at people in your village the same way.

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Shooter [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Action and Adventure
from: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK)

August 13, 2007
Not a bad movie, and is really thrilling at times, but its major let down is the fact it came out so close to the Bourne Series!

Everything about it from the feel, look, sound, etc... has the "Bourne" factor... if this had came out in 2000/2001, then maybe it would have been a lot better and more unique, but it didn't!

On the other hand, if you are in to the Bourne Series, then this movie is right up your street, as I found it rather enjoyable!

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Judge Dredd [1995]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Action and Adventure
starring: Sylvester Stallone, Diane Lane, Armand Assante, Rob Schneider, Jürgen Prochnow
directed by: Danny Cannon

December 06, 1999
This has some very entertaining moments but overall it's a mess. There are some great sequences and good special effects, but this is a very sloppy film.

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The Last Of The Mohicans [1992]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Action and Adventure
starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig, Jodhi May
directed by: Michael Mann

June 01, 2006
This is one of my all time favourite movies. Great mix of acting, action,drama,audio,and video all wrapped around a superb story.
Don't get the director's cut, the original is almost perfect.
I'm still of the belief that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
The theatrical release wasn't broke.
I just found out that the original was available in the UK and ordered it, because it is not available in North America. Review is from Canada.

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Die Hard 4.0 [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Action and Adventure
starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Maggie Q, Timothy Olyphant, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
directed by: Len Wiseman

October 29, 2007
As a staunch fan of each and every one of the original trilogy, I was excited to hear that a fourth was being being released. Sadly though, I was disappointed but not surprised.

I dislike sequels where little or no references are made to previous adventures, or worse still, when the only returning actors/actresses are the heroes themselves. An exception to this being Die Hard With a Vengeance, which managed to pull this off perfectly with a strong supporting cast.
This sequel though doesn't. The inclusion of Lucy Mcclane as his daughter just isn't enough. I found myself extremely bored whilst watching it and all this high tech nonsense doesn't fit in with the leading character.

There have been no positive contributions made to this film and as a stand alone ... Read More: