Thunderpants

• An 11-year-old boy's amazing ability to break wind leads him to fame as he fulfills his ambition of becoming an astronaut. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN Rating: R Age: 796019803458 UPC: 796019803458 Manufacturer No: 80345

Oscar® nominee Laura Linney (Kinsey) stars as Laura Marshall, an overzealous, evangelical Christian do-gooder who fills her home with down-and-out boarders, including a senile, cross-dressing murderous mute. Desperate to expand his horizons, Laura’s shy teenage son Ben (Rupert Grint, of Harry Potter fame) lands a job tending to self-proclaimed "Dame" Evie Walton (Oscar® nominee Julie Walters, Billy Elliot), an over-the-hill actress with the mouth of a drunken sailer and an insatiable lust for life. The battle for Ben’s soul begins as Evie shanghais Ben away from his repressive roots and takes him on an adventure that transforms him from boy to ma! n. A winning entry at the 2006 Moscow International Film Festival, Driving Lessons is an experience Stephen Farber of Movieline calls "a delightful coming-of-age story."More down-to-earth than Auntie Mame, Driving Lessons imparts the same simple, but enduring messageâ€"be yourself. In the directorial debut from screenwriter Jeremy Brock (Mrs. Brown), 17-year-old Ben (Harry Potter's Rupert Grint, sluggish yet sympathetic) lives with his vicar father, Robert (Nicholas Farrell), and pious mother, Laura (Laura Linney doing a passable, but inconsistent British accent), in a tree-shaded London suburb. Soft-spoken Ben writes poems and looks forward to passing his driver's test. When his mother encourages him to get a job, he becomes an assistant to retired actress Evie Walton (Billy Elliot's Julie Walters, hunched up to look elderly). He finds her overbearing at first. Still, Evie is preferable to Laura, who may do volunteer work with her husband! 's parishioners, including bizarre boarder Mr. Fincham (Jim No! rton), b ut also cheats on him with Reverend Peter (Oliver Milburn) and engages her resentful son in the subterfuge. Then Evie tricks Ben into driving her to Edinburgh for a poetry reading, where he learns to assert himself and she learns to put the dramatics on holdâ€"at least for a few minutes. Ben also loses his virginity to a woman he just met, sending a secondary message some parents might not appreciate (the film's sprinklings of profanity earned it a PG-13). Driving Lessons itself seems stranded between coming-of-age story and character study. Ironically, Farrell gives the most convincing performance as Ben's bird-loving father. Engaging if uneven, this parable about hypocrisy and self-expression might have been more interesting if presented from his perspective. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Stills from Driving Lessons (click for larger image)

Beyond Driving Lessons at Amazon.com

More Films about Coming of Age

The Films o! f Julie Walters

Learn to Drive

They share the same birth month, so the orphanage calls them December Boys. But these teens â€" Maps, Spit, Spark and Misty â€" have much more in common. With no hopes of ever joining a family, they form their own familial bonds. Then the unexpected news comes that a young couple may adopt one of them, and the long-time pals suddenly share something else: a rivalry to be the chosen one.Take dead aim at action-packed laughs with this killer comedy featuring an all-star cast. Emily Blunt steals the show as Rose, a free-spirited thief who finds herself in the cross hairs of a world-class assassin named Victor (Bill Nighy). But when Victor spares Rose’s life, the lonely hearted hitman sets off an outrageous chain of events that turn both their worlds upside down. Joined by a gun-toting! apprentice (Rupert Grint), the unlikely trio teams up to thwart the murderous intentions of Victor’s unhappy client.

When Steve Friedman was a child growing up in the suburbs of St. Louis, the game of golf was, to him, mysterious and dark. His father’s passion for it caused friction in his marriage and eluded the interest of his youngest son, who was devoted instead to basketball. For that and many other reasons, the two failed to bond, ultimately leading to an awkward and unhappy relationship.

 

But Friedman never forgot the love his father had for golf, and after many years, when he was in his
forties, he reached out and asked his dad to teach him the game. He thought that perhaps he could
learn something about his old man’s view of life and thereby find a way to communicate with him.

This small volume is the sweet yet unsentimental story of that experienceâ€"the tale of two men using
the game of golf t! o find a way to connect with each other across decades of disa! greement and misunderstanding. For anyone who is a golfer, a father, or a son, this book will be a treasure.

An 11-year-old boy's amazing ability to break wind leads him to fame as he fulfills his ambition of becoming an astronaut.

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The Beautiful Truth: The World's Simplest Cure for Cancer

• After the unexpected and tragic death of his mother, 15-year old Garrett, who is an animal-loving teenager, was spiraling downward and fast. His father withdrew Garrett to be home-schooled to avoid flunking out. Growing up on an Alaskan animal reserve, Garrett's father recognized his son's interest in the dietary habits of their animals. That prompted him to assign a book written by Dr. Max Gerson

Raised on a wildlife reserve in Alaska, 15-year old Garrett was interested in the dietary habits of their animals. After the tragic death of his mother, Garrett s father decided to home-school his son and assigned a book written by Dr. Max Gerson that proposes a direct link between diet and a cure for cancer. Fascinated, Garrett embarks on a cross-country road trip to investigate The Gerson Therapy. He meets with scientists, doctors and cancer survivors who reveal how it is in the best interest of t! he multi-billion dollar medical industry to dismiss the notion of alternative and natural cures.

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Ghost Town (Beacon Street Girls)

• ISBN13: 9781416964414
• Condition: Used - Very Good
• Notes: 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 12/26/2008Ricky Gervais is brilliant in Ghost Town, playing an unnervingly rude dentist, Bertram, who dies for a few minutes during surgery and acquires the unwanted ability to see ghosts. Chased throughout Manhattan by a gaggle of restless spirits begging him to take care of their unfinished business on Earth, Bertram turns them all away except Frank (Greg Kinnear). The latter, a rogue who cheated on his archaeologist widow, Gwen (Téa Leoni), wants Bertram to intervene in a romance between Gwen and a starchy activist (Bill Campbell). Misanthropic Bertram has to polish his relationship patter, but ends up sounding a lot like Gervais' infamous character in the orig! inal The Office, unable to complete a sentence without making others uncomfortable. In time, of course, Bertram falls for the wonderful Gwen, setting up a bunch of overlapping conflicts. Cowritten and directed by David Koepp (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Ghost Town walks a fine line between comic freshness and a story idea with elements that have become overly familiar in movies and on television. Kinnear and Leoni have never been better on screen, but Ghost Town is well worth seeing because no one like Gervais has previously played the hapless hero in a high-concept film such as this one. With Gervais doing his familiar, hilariously discomfiting thing, it really doesn't matter what kind of movie Ghost Town is. Happily, it's a pretty good film in every respect. --Tom Keogh




Stills from Ghost Town (Click for larger image)

Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 12/26/2008Ricky Gervais is brilliant in Ghost Town, playing an unnervingly rude dentist, Bertram, who dies for a few minutes during surgery and acquires the unwanted ability to see ghosts. Chased throughout Manhattan by a gaggle of restless spirits begging him to take care of their unfinished business on Earth, Bertram turns them all away except Frank (Greg Kinnea! r). The latter, a rogue who cheated on his archaeologist widow! , Gwen ( Téa Leoni), wants Bertram to intervene in a romance between Gwen and a starchy activist (Bill Campbell). Misanthropic Bertram has to polish his relationship patter, but ends up sounding a lot like Gervais' infamous character in the original The Office, unable to complete a sentence without making others uncomfortable. In time, of course, Bertram falls for the wonderful Gwen, setting up a bunch of overlapping conflicts. Cowritten and directed by David Koepp (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Ghost Town walks a fine line between comic freshness and a story idea with elements that have become overly familiar in movies and on television. Kinnear and Leoni have never been better on screen, but Ghost Town is well worth seeing because no one like Gervais has previously played the hapless hero in a high-concept film such as this one. With Gervais doing his familiar, hilariously discomfiting thing, it really doesn't matter what kind of ! movie Ghost Town is. Happily, it's a pretty good film in every respect. --Tom Keogh




Stills from Ghost Town (Click for larger image)

Since moving to California from his native Germany, photographer Stephan Würth has been fascinated with the mythical vistas of the American West and the isolation and freedom of va! st desert expanses. Würth culminates this geographical romance with the new series Ghost Town. These photographs narrate the tale of three women as they journey through Nevada, where they soon find themselves stranded with a broken-down car on the side of a desolate road. Shot over seven days on black-and-white Kodak Tri-X film, the images were scanned for the book from 16 x 20 inch hand-developed prints and never retouched. The book also features an epilogue by fashion and culture critic Lesley M. M. Blume.While developing a new system to maintain the town's defenses, genius student Claire Danvers discovers a way to use the vampires' powers to keep outsiders from spreading news of Morganville's "unique" situation.

But when people in town start forgetting who they are-including the vampires-Claire has to figure out how to pull the plug on her experiment before she forgets how to save herself...and Morganville.While developing a new system to maintain the t! own's defenses, genius student Claire Danvers discovers a way ! to use t he vampires' powers to keep outsiders from spreading news of Morganville's "unique" situation.

But when people in town start forgetting who they are-including the vampires-Claire has to figure out how to pull the plug on her experiment before she forgets how to save herself...and Morganville.Love, hate, family, forgiveness, redemption and sacrifice rock this small western town. Family honor is defended while the gold rush surges forward."A spooky and thrilling ride! Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town will have you on the edge of your seat." - Lauren Barnholdt, best-selling author of THE SECRET IDENTITY OF DEVON DELANEY and RULES FOR SECRET KEEPING

"Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town will captivate everyone from middle grade readers to adults who never forgot the thrill of a good ghost story." - Eileen Cook, author of THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK and GETTING REVENGE ON LAUREN WOOD

"This spooky tale is told with Scott Neumyer's trademark wit and insight. Ghost t! owns are fraught with danger, but Neumyer makes them irresistibly appealing with the help of Jimmy Stone." - Lara Zielin, author of DONUT DAYS and THE IMPLOSION OF AGGIE WINCHESTER

"Scott Neumyer's debut novel, 'Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town,' is rife with the gifts of a natural storyteller, one who pulls the reader in seamlessly--and, more critical, without ever showing his hand. The book is a best-seller for a reason--it's beautifully written, you connect with the complex characters, you're charged by the imagination, fueled by the energy. That the book is poised for a sequel is just another reason to get excited for the world this 'Town' is only on the cusp of exploring." - Christopher Smith, author of the best-selling thriller, FIFTH AVENUE

Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town
* A Fantastical Mystery for Young Readers *

For Jimmy Stone, life in "Boredsylvania" has been pretty tough. His mom's died, his dad's completely checked out, and he spends ! his days running from the Coogan Boys, the local bullies. It i! sn't lon g, however, before "Boredsylvania" gets a lot more exciting. With his new friend, David and his dog, Trex, by his side, Jimmy discovers that the woods beyond his backyard hold the key to a world he could never even imagine. Soon, he ends up in Ghost Town, where he’s greeted by his ghost guide, Gasp, and receives an ominous prophecy.

“Seven things you must find.
One thing for each day.
Seven things you must find.
Or else they all will pay!

Suddenly Ghost Town becomes as scary as it sounds, and Jimmy Stone realizes that he's in way over his head."A spooky and thrilling ride! Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town will have you on the edge of your seat." - Lauren Barnholdt, best-selling author of THE SECRET IDENTITY OF DEVON DELANEY and RULES FOR SECRET KEEPING

"Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town will captivate everyone from middle grade readers to adults who never forgot the thrill of a good ghost story." - Eileen Cook, author of THE EDUCATION OF H! AILEY KENDRICK and GETTING REVENGE ON LAUREN WOOD

"This spooky tale is told with Scott Neumyer's trademark wit and insight. Ghost towns are fraught with danger, but Neumyer makes them irresistibly appealing with the help of Jimmy Stone." - Lara Zielin, author of DONUT DAYS and THE IMPLOSION OF AGGIE WINCHESTER

"Scott Neumyer's debut novel, 'Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town,' is rife with the gifts of a natural storyteller, one who pulls the reader in seamlessly--and, more critical, without ever showing his hand. The book is a best-seller for a reason--it's beautifully written, you connect with the complex characters, you're charged by the imagination, fueled by the energy. That the book is poised for a sequel is just another reason to get excited for the world this 'Town' is only on the cusp of exploring." - Christopher Smith, author of the best-selling thriller, FIFTH AVENUE

Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town
* A Fantastical Mystery for Young Readers *

For ! Jimmy Stone, life in "Boredsylvania" has been pretty tough. Hi! s mom's died, his dad's completely checked out, and he spends his days running from the Coogan Boys, the local bullies. It isn't long, however, before "Boredsylvania" gets a lot more exciting. With his new friend, David and his dog, Trex, by his side, Jimmy discovers that the woods beyond his backyard hold the key to a world he could never even imagine. Soon, he ends up in Ghost Town, where he’s greeted by his ghost guide, Gasp, and receives an ominous prophecy.

“Seven things you must find.
One thing for each day.
Seven things you must find.
Or else they all will pay!

Suddenly Ghost Town becomes as scary as it sounds, and Jimmy Stone realizes that he's in way over his head.A stage headed West with a group of passengers is attacked by Cheyenne Indians, and takes refuge in a nearby ghost town.

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

This disc is expected to pl! ay back in DVD Video \"play only\" devices, and may not play in other DVD devices, including recorders and PC drives.

Thanks to Charlotte's travel-writer dad, the Beacon Street Girls are headed to a luxe resort in Montana. But when their dream vacation turns into a snowy nightmare, the BFFs are split up. While Katani and Isabel enjoy room service and hanging out with country music superstar twins Nik and Sam, Charlotte, Maeve, and Avery are stranded with Mr. Ramsey in a haunted old ghost town.

Whether snowboarding and chilling with celebrities or solving an old-fashioned mystery with ghosts, wolves, and romance, the BSG find fun and adventure in the Wild West.

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Fay Grim

• Fay Grim (Parker Posey) is afraid her son Ned (Liam Aiken) will turn out like his father, Henry, who has been a fugitive for seven years. Fay s brother, Simon, is serving a prison sentence for helping Henry escape the country. Adding to her trials, Fay is approached by a CIA agent (Jeff Goldblum) to help find Henry s missing notebooks in exchange for Simon s freedom. The mission escalates into a g

HENRY FOOL - DVD MovieSimon (James Urbaniak), a shy garbage man, lives with his sister (Parker Posey of Party Girl and Waiting for Guffman, among dozens of other movies) and mother, who both treat him with minimal respect. Into Simon's life comes Henry Fool (Thomas Jay Ryan), a heavy-drinking self-proclaimed great writer who goads Simon into writing an enormous poem. The poem becomes the source of great controversy, proclaimed by some as a great work of art, denounced by others as pe! rverse trash. As Simon's star rises, he tries to draw attention to Henry's work as well, to little avail. Though the premise seems simple, Henry Fool takes on something of an epic sweep as it follows the effects of fame on Simon's and Henry's lives. This rumination on art and inspiration was hailed by some critics as the best film yet by writer-director Hal Hartley (Trust, Simple Men, Amateur), while others felt it brought out his worst self-indulgences. All of Hartley's movies defy easy interpretation, and Henry Fool is no exception. Still, it's a rare film that even tries to tackle such subjects, let alone does so with a combination of intelligence and humor (ranging from verbal quirkiness to scatological embarrassment). Hartley's films, surprisingly enough, feel warmer and more accessible on video; perhaps watching them in one's home makes them seem more intimate and less abstract. --Bret FetzerFAY GRIM - DVD MovieFay Grim is Hal Hartley's version of the espionage thriller. Conseq! uently, it's more peculiar than pulse-pounding, but that's what makes his films appealing--to those who appreciate their off-kilter rhythms, that is. In Hartley's world, dialogue is often delivered with a straight face, no matter how funny the line or farcical the situation. In Fay Grim, he picks up seven years after Henry Fool left off, but this time the writer/director shifts focus from novelist Henry (Thomas Jay Ryan) to his seemingly scattered wife, Fay (Parker Posey). Their son, Ned (Liam Aiken), is now in his teens, but Henry remains at large, and Fay's "garbage man poet" brother, Simon (James Urbaniak), remains in prison for aiding in his escape. Then two CIA operatives, Fulbright (Jeff Goldblum) and Fogg (Leo Fitzpatrick), inform her that Henry is dead, so Fay agrees to track down his complete set of diaries in exchange for Simon's freedom. Apparently, Henry's incoherent ramblings contain state secrets. Joining forces with stewardess Bebe (Elina Löwensohn), Fa! y travels from Queens to Paris to Istanbul to fulfill her mission. In the end, Fay Grim resembles Hartley's noir parody Amateur, which featured Löwensohn, more than Henry Fool. It has less to say about talent and celebrity and more about mystery and intrigue. For the filmmaker, it also represents an opportunity to reunite a strong ensemble and to recover, at least for the time being, from a string of disappointments, like No Such Thing and The Girl From Monday. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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Cairo Time

• CAIRO TIME (DVD MOVIE)

A married magazine editor falls for one of her husband's old acquaintances while vacationing in Cairo in this romantic drama from writer/director Ruba Nadda. Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) is a magazine editor who is happily married to Mark (Tom McCamus), a Canadian diplomat. Their kids are all grown up, and they've planned a three-week vacation in Cairo together when Mark gets delayed in the Palestinian territories and Juliette is left to navigate the Egyptian capitol alone. In order to ensure his wife's safety until he arrives, Mark asks his former security officer and longtime friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) to be her guide though the city. He never imagined that they would fall in love, but the more time Tareq and Juliette spend together the more difficult is becomes for them to deny their intense attraction to one another.Patricia Clarkson, who brightens just about a! ny movie she's in, is positively luminous in Cairo Time. The plot of the movie barely exists: Juliette Grant (Clarkson, The Station Agent, Pieces of April) goes to Cairo to meet with her husband, a U.N. diplomat held up in Israel. At loose ends, she wanders the city and spends time with a friend of her husband's, Tareq (Alexander Siddig, Syriana, Deep Space Nine), with whom an understated but undeniable attraction forms. But Cairo Time isn't about plot--it's a wonderfully delicate examination of cultural differences and human connection across them. Both Clarkson and Siddig are superb; both are thoroughly grounded actors, and their firm grasp of their characters allows them to capture very quiet emotions that have a surprising impact. Director Ruba Nadda, who is a Canadian of Arab descent, has a skillful sense of rhythm and a keen eye for both human detail and magnificent landscapes. Cairo Time is a beautiful movie, romantic ! and melancholy, gentle and tart, subtle but deeply satisfying.! --Br et Fetzer

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Evita

• Directed by award-winning filmmaker Alan Parker, Evita is the riveting true-life story of Eva Peron, who rose above childhood poverty and a scandalous past to achieve unimaginable fortune and fame. Despite widespread controversy- her passion changed a nation forever! Winner of the coveted Academy Award for Best Song (1996) and 3 Golden Globe Awards (Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Song)- criti

Few times in the history of Hollywood has a film been released with the scope and daring of EVITA! Now, experience this landmark achievement as entertainment megastar Madonna -- in the role of a lifetime -- joins Antonio Banderas (ASSASSINS, DESPERADO) for the year's most talked about motion picture event! Directed by award-winning filmmaker Alan Parker (MISSISSIPPI BURNING), EVITA is the riveting true-life story of Eva Peron (MADONNA), who rose above childhood poverty and a scandalous past to achie! ve unimaginable fortune and fame. Despite widespread controversy, her passion changed a nation forever! Winner of the coveted Academy Award(R) for Best Song (1996) and 3 Golden Globe Awards (Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Song) -- critics nationwide hailed EVITA as a triumphant must-see masterpiece -- and so will you!After more than a decade of false starts and several potential directors, the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical finally made it to the big screen with Alan Parker (The Commitments) at the helm and Madonna in the coveted title role of Argentina's first lady, Eva Perón. A triumph of production design, costuming, cinematography, and epic-scale pageantry, the film follows the rise of Eva Perón to the level of supreme social and political celebrity in the 1940s. Like Madonna, Perón was a material girl (she was only 33 when she died); she was instrumental in the political success of her husband, Juan Perón (Jonathan Pryce). But Eva was al! so a supremely tragic figure whose life was essentially hollow! at its core despite the lavish benefits of her nearly goddess-like status. The film has a similar quality--it's visually astonishing but emotionally distant, and benefits greatly from the singing commentary of Ché (Antonio Banderas), who serves as a passionate chorus to guide the viewer through the elaborate parade of history. --Jeff Shannon

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