Rating: 
Summary: One Of The Best Thillers In Recent Years
Review: Sam Raimi'es brillest thiller is a very well made movie great acting,directing and writing. This film has many plot twist which keeps you guessing till the end. The DVD is good but know deleted scenes thats the only thing bad about the DVD. Other than that it is good DVD watch the film your love it.
Rating: 
Summary: A good one to while away the time
Review: This is not a bad thriller, will keep you entertained. Nothing special, though, but not a disappointment, either. Of course, it's not Hitchcock, so don't expect any complexity there...
Rating: 
Summary: Predictable Story, Great Performances
Review: The plot of "The Gift" is a curiously compelling mixture of human pathos and paranormality, albeit admittedly somewhat predictable. What makes this film interesting and noteworthy is: the beautiful southern backdrop, abrim with spanish moss and full moons and photogenic bayous; the quietly matter-of-fact handling of one woman's extrasensory abilities; a sterling cast rising to the occasion by instilling a level of truth and integrity to their performances. Cate Blanchett, at the helm of this remarkable ensemble, is soft-spoken and restrained as Annie, whose `gift' suddenly immerses her into the vortex of a dark and dangerous place, which she confronts with rectitude, compassion, and courage (arguably foolishly or not). Keanu Reeves is appropriately menacing and despicable as the villain of the piece (I'd be surprised if he didn't base his character on DeNiro in `Cape Fear'), unleashing his rage most frequently on his hapless wife, portrayed by Hillary Swank with wide-eyed, bayou-backward conviction. Greg Kinnear, quickly becoming one of my favorite actors of this era, professionally fleshes out a somewhat thankless role with warmth and sad-eyed sincerity. That the victim of the story (lustily played by Katie Holmes) is a debutante-harlot seems somewhat misogynistic (the implication being that she got what she deserved), and it is my only real qualm with the movie. Most astonishing, however, is Giovanni Ribisi's amazing portrayal of the psychologically disturbed Buddy, who seeks advice and redemption from Annie, and whose torment and anguish in the face of his inner demons is palpable. It is a richly textured and heartbreaking performance, and should have certainly earned Ribisi an Oscar nomination. Mostly because of the script, `The Gift' is not a great film, but earns high marks for sharp direction, superb acting, and lovely cinematography. And, oh yes . . . there are genuinely creepy moments that will chill and startle and leave your heart racing. But, significantly, those moments are not gratuitous, and are for the most part necessary to the story line. My rating--8 out of 10.
Rating: 
Summary: An good thriller helped by a terrific cast.
Review: An Widow & an Mother of Three (Cate Blanchett in a Terrific Performance) makes her living by foretelling their future. Since she touch the hand of a beautiful young woman (Kate Holmes) & she see her up & coming future and she could be in danger. A couple of days later, now missing. The widow turn out to be right what have been happining to her but she wasnt there to see it.DVD`s has an fine anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer & An good Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Written by Oscar-Winner:Billy Bob Thornton & Tom Epperson. Well Directed by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead Trilogy, Spiderman). This film has Strong Performances by Blanchett, Giovanni Ribisi (Who was Nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the Independent Spirit Awards), Kenau Reeves, Greg Kinnear & Oscar-Winner:Hilary Swank. This film is almost runied by a Weak Ending and guess Who`s the Killer Type Films. Not as Good or Great as Anothers:Sam Raimi Directed Films but One of His Best Work as a Filmmaker. Grade:B.
Rating:
Summary: The Gift
Review: A 5 star gift!!!Go buy it for some creepy scares...Sam Raimi is good director..I love this movie!!!Keanue Reeves isnt to bad of an actor.Hes good in this..The DVD is great too...Nice picture and sound.And good features..Buy this!Goodbye......
Rating:
Summary: Scooby Doo
Review: In a movie with a limited number of characters and a "bad guy"
to spot, it always ends up like an episode of Scooby Doo -
"It's Mr Jones, the caretaker!". Why? Because he is the ONLY
other person there except Shaggy, Fred, Wilma and Daphne! Just like in this movie. Three principal suspects just makes
this movie an episode of Scooby Doo - albeit with some swearing,
blood and naked people. Cate is wonderful, but the film is wholly lacking in suspense
of any kind. A little random violence and some "Boo!" type
scares does not make for a satisfying film - as a supernatural
thriller or indeed as any kind of a thriller. Oh and the direction by Mr Raimi? That would be with a trowel.
Rating:
Summary: Only bearable when mixed with alcohol
Review: I watched this with a roommate and a *TALL* glass of Beam & Coke. Whatever your poison, you're gonna need it.... This is a well-shot film, with some pretty cool effects in Blancett's "psychic" scenes, though the film's tendency for shots of tree branches waving above gets tedious. After a while, I began to theorize that how much the branches were waving were indicative of the degree of the gender role crisis at work on the main character (there's a thesis!). On the whole, even the good acting and semi-effective tension-builders can't salvage the utterly predictable and outright monotonous plot. The nice thing about the psychic schtick (or the 'blind psychic' found in some movies) is that it lets the writers get away with the tedium of knowledge progression so that they can instead "shock" the audience (more like "schlock"). My roommate called the badguy about 15 minutes into the thing, so you can understand why alcohol consumption is the only way to make the rest of it of any use. This movie shows why *scary* thrillers these days are only successful when they are SO obtuse as to be totally incomprehensible (*Wild Things*, *Bone Collector*, etc.). The whole genre has nothing more to offer except plot devices in between the litany of rote "shocks." It got to the point where: "Okay, it's been a couple scenes since anything weird has happened, so there will be something ... NOW!" Sure enough, the director made some poor guy stand out in the rain in an effort to spook us out. Then it's, "Wait, wait, her comfort level is too high, there's going to be a shadow behind her..." Sure enough the shadow happens, then she wanders outside and it turns out to be exactly the guy we expect to be waiting for her. The camera technique of forcing us to not be able to see what is going on is used to try and freak us out. In the end we only go, "Turn around, you twit, 'so and so' is waiting for you." Sure, enough, there he is. It begs satire and derision; consequently a whole industry of stupid satirical movies has been spawned. They individually gross more than the films they satirize. Hilarious. Basically, I took to gasping at significant points so that my roommate would freak out. It was hysterical. I love the end, where because of her "proximity" to the scene of the crime she discovers the truth. Yet she had been at the scene of the crime before and mainly stood around on the same dock without doing anything. Bottoms up.
Rating:
Summary: I own this disc for one reason....Cate!!!
Review: Im in love w/Cate Blanchett..their I said it. So thats why im foolish enough to purchase a film Im really not that fond of. She is gorgous in it and gives an amazing preformance. Those two things are about the only good things that can be said about this mediocre film.
One look at the discs cover art(wich by the way isnt nearly as good as the films theatrical poster)and you are bombarded with images of a stellar cast. But unfortunately even a cast of this callaber cant overcome a prredictable plot, and heavy handed uninspired direction. Good preformances all around (especialy Keanu and Giavani) make the film bearable. And Cate is stunning, she sells the movie.
So this is a rental most definately...I say that only because you really only need to view this once. That is unless your a Cate fanatic like yours truely :)
Rating:
Summary: Sam Raimi's Truimphant Return To The Occult
Review: Sam Raimi returns to his horror roots in "The Gift," his first horror film since 1993's "Army of Darkness." Raimi has come a long way since his "Evil Dead" days, but his obscure camera angles and tension building scenes still remain.
The film reunites Raimi with Billy Bob Thornton, as they had worked together on the acclaimed "A Simple Plan." Thornton's screenplay is excellent (as would be expected) and a welcome change of pace in the modern horror genre.
Although the directing and writing is good, the acting is what makes the film. The film's star, Cate Blanchett, plays a leading lady suprisingly well, but the supporting cast of Katie Holms, Greg Kennier, Hillary Swank, Giovanni Ribisi, and Keanu Reeves is amazing. Reeves and Ribisi are in top form, with over-the-top preformances as a wife-beating redneck and a slow-witted, ill-tempered mechanic.
The film is low on gore, and high on tension, which makes it appealing to anyone looking for a good scare. If you liked "What Lies Beneath" this movie should "knock your socks off!"
Rating:
Summary: Ok Movie, with 2 redeeming features!
Review: The movie was interesting,Cate Blanchett was good as always and Keanu was actually believeable for once!The story was good and suspenseful but I thought the last 20 minutes or so lost me and the murderer was pretty obvious by then and I was past caring anyway.What I really liked about the movie was seeing Katie Holmes breasts ,they are beautiful and while she has very little acting ability i did appreciate seeing them .
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