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Frankenweenie

starring: Shelley Duvall, Daniel Stern, Barret Oliver, Joseph Maher, Roz Braverman
directed by: Tim Burton

April 14, 1994
Set in contemporary suburbia, young Victor Frankenstein happily plays with his aptly named bull terrier "Sparky", when the tragic happens... the spunky pooch is hit and killed by a car. Crushed, Victor struggles to acclimate to life without him, when he receives the bright Promethian idea to re-animate Sparky after watching the science teacher demonstrate electrical muscle spasms with an "ex-frog".

He rushes home to bring his beloved canine partner back to life. Under the suspicious gaze of a neighbor, he gathers the necessary equipment from the garage, and sneaks out to the pet cemetery to disinterr the pup, anxiously awaiting the next storm to arrive, which is fortunately within a couple night's time.

Predictably, ... Read More:

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Secret Garden (1987)

starring: Gennie James, Barret Oliver, Jadrien Steele, Michael Hordern, Billie Whitelaw
directed by: Alan Grint

May 21, 2002
I guess I didn't miss much by not reading this book as a child. I don't really understand why it became a classic. It starts out interestingly enough with a very gothic setting. A little British girl named Mary survives a cholera epidemic in India and is sent to Yorkshire to live with her distant relatives. The author gives a vivid description of the beauty of the moors and the mysterious mansion that the girl goes to live in. The only other interesting part is really when Mary discovers the boy...more I guess I didn't miss much by not reading this book as a child. I don't really understand why it became a classic. It starts out interestingly enough with a very gothic setting. A little British girl named Mary survives a cholera epidemic in India ... Read More:

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The NeverEnding Story

starring: Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach, Gerald McRaney, Drum Garrett
directed by: Wolfgang Petersen

February 06, 1995
While I do appreciate this film for at least having some very grand and unique visuals, I can't say the same for the actual plot. Well, maybe not the plot itself, but the pacing. This movie goes by WAY too fast. I don't feel any real connection to Atreyu because the plot moves along to fast and doesn't pose any real threat to him until the very end. First, after the horse that I didn't care about and is INCAPABLE of emotion died after sinking into the swamp of SADNESS, Atreyu looks pretty depressed, but does he, a human CAPABLE of emotion not sink to his death, well eventually he starts to sink, but why doesn't it happen right away? Second, why did the film introduce us to the goblin, the rock-biter, and the...other guy, and spend so long establishing them ... Read More:

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Scenes From Class Struggle in Beverly Hills

starring: Debra Babos, Ed Begley Jr., Robert Beltran, Jacqueline Bisset, Edith Diaz

October 06, 1997
It's too bad this film is not on DVD, even so, you should find a VHS and buy it. It is wonderfully funny, not in a laugh out loud way, but very subtle.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas - Special Edition (Widescreen)

starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Shelley Duvall
directed by: Henry Selick, Tim Burton

October 03, 2000
Best movie ever! I loved this movie when I was younger and now my daughter loves to watch it too

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Cocoon - The Return

starring: Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Courteney Cox, Hume Cronyn, Jack Gilford
directed by: Daniel Petrie

April 01, 1997
I was disappointed in this film, it's basically a movie about old folks who come from another palnet to visit earth and act like kids. I suppose a movie about old folks acting young is one thing but what does that have to do with outer space. I guess the point is that earths old folks need space aliens to start acting and feeling young?

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Never Ending Story

starring: Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach, Gerald McRaney, Drum Garrett
directed by: Wolfgang Petersen

December 04, 1992
While I do appreciate this film for at least having some very grand and unique visuals, I can't say the same for the actual plot. Well, maybe not the plot itself, but the pacing. This movie goes by WAY too fast. I don't feel any real connection to Atreyu because the plot moves along to fast and doesn't pose any real threat to him until the very end. First, after the horse that I didn't care about and is INCAPABLE of emotion died after sinking into the swamp of SADNESS, Atreyu looks pretty depressed, but does he, a human CAPABLE of emotion not sink to his death, well eventually he starts to sink, but why doesn't it happen right away? Second, why did the film introduce us to the goblin, the rock-biter, and the...other guy, and spend so long establishing them if ... Read More:

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The Nightmare Before Christmas/James and the Giant Peach (Special Widescreen Editions Two Pak)

starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Paul Terry
directed by: Henry Selick, Tim Burton

October 03, 2000
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
An enchanting film that can be enjoyed at ANY time of the year. The movie is at once bizarre, funny, creative and even surprisingly touching.
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH
A delightful movie that preserves the magic of the book on which it was based.

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The Secret Garden

starring: Gennie James, Barret Oliver, Jadrien Steele, Michael Holdern, Billie Whitelaw
directed by: Alan Grint

March 21, 1995
I guess I didn't miss much by not reading this book as a child. I don't really understand why it became a classic. It starts out interestingly enough with a very gothic setting. A little British girl named Mary survives a cholera epidemic in India and is sent to Yorkshire to live with her distant relatives. The author gives a vivid description of the beauty of the moors and the mysterious mansion that the girl goes to live in. The only other interesting part is really when Mary discovers the boy...more I guess I didn't miss much by not reading this book as a child. I don't really understand why it became a classic. It starts out interestingly enough with a very gothic setting. A little British girl named Mary survives a cholera epidemic in India and is sent to Yorkshire to live ... Read More:

Average Rating:

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Cocoon

starring: Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Brian Dennehy, Jack Gilford
directed by: Ron Howard

January 07, 1997
My favorite character was the old Jewish guy...the one dissenter who refused to enter the fountain of youth. As he said, "nature dealt us our cards and we played them". I believe that old age, sickness and death are a natural and necessary part of life.

I also think that by-and-large elderly people in America are treated pretty good. At least it seemed that the elderly people in this movie were living and relaxing pretty well in a sunny Florida assisted living complex.

It says a lot about human nature that the elderly people who discover the "fountain of youth" would selfishly use it to become young again and show off, even after they have all lived and enjoyed their lives. They probably could have used the biotechnology to help make some handicapped or ... Read More: