Happy Times DVD

Advantages: Bittersweet comedy
Disadvantages: Not completely PC

...of a hotel called the Happy Times Hotel and she believes him. Zhao's fiancé has a son and step-daughter by previous marriages. The step-daughter, Wu Ying, is blind and is treated like a slave. Her father has left her with her step-mother while he goes to Shenzhen to earn his fortune - yet he has been gone a while and has still not come back for Wu Ying. Zhao's fiancé presses him to get a job in his hotel for Wu Ying and take her off his hands. To ...
...her sake to make her happy and so she goes along with it. I don't want to give away the rest of the story, but don't expect a happy one. Conclusion I loved this film. It is a great combination of comedy and tragedy and is very well-acted. My only criticism is the initial portrayal of Wu Ying as being blind and therefore stupid and not capable of realising that she is being tricked. However, this is a fairly accurate portrayal of how people with ... Read review

Advantages: Strong and funny characters
Disadvantages: None

Zhang Yimou, one of the most talented directors around at the moment, brings a heart-warming and often amusing tale of a 50-year old man looking for love. Zhao (played by Zhao Benshan) doesn't have much in the way of money so when he meets Big Momma, his last chance at getting married, he begins a web of lies to seduce her. Finding a disused bus in the middle of a park he has the start of a "business" that will raise him the 50'000 he needs for the ...
...Hotel" he invites young-couples to stay in the recently renovated bus for their own private "Happy Times". Things are going well until Big Momma decides that her blind step-daughter Wu (played by Dong Jie) should go and work at Zhao's illustrious and grand hotel as a masseuse. Not only does Zhao have to find employment for Wu but he must also find a new hotel, as his bus is taken away by the council! Zhao's search for happiness may not take him ... Read review

Advantages: suitable for everyone
Disadvantages: none

...I really like this film because it's different. It's a really good strory. I first saw this film at the pictures with my friend. I knew I liked it just by seeing the beginning, It's quite funny, well I thought it was. They were really clear animations, The colours were really bright. The story is about fairytale creatures and shrek the ogre. Shrek meets donkey and they become friends. My favourite character is donkey because he is so funny and confident, Princess Fiona is good too. It has a really happy, cheerful ending. For christmas my mum bought the DVD for me, since then I've seen it about 100 times! I think everyone should see it, it's really popular and suitable for anyone.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: really funny
Disadvantages: none

...Finding Nemo was very funny and had my attention throughout the entire movie. Finding Nemo is about a young fish called Nemo that gets separated from his over protective father and then the movie shows his father, together with a friend 'Darla' that he met along the way in their journey to find Nemo and be reunited. My favourite character was definately the sharks. I had tears from laughter when they showed the three sharks having a meeting and their absolute classic slogan was "fish are friends....not food!". It was great!. There are some wonderful characters in this film that both Nemo and Nemo's father meet along their journey and as usual a happy ending! I originally watched this movie at the cinema and now own it on DVD. From the time of purchasing this movie I have watched it time and time again, and for me the jokes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Very funny, good special features, entertaining
Disadvantages: A lot of cannibis references (say "No!" to drugs kids), story not that original

...I saw a review of this in a DVD magazine and ordered it from the States based on purely what they said. Surely the best gamble I've ever made. What a film! I watched it with five of my friends and we all loved it. I don't know why it didn't get a release in UK cinemas, because it is one of the best teen horror comedies I've seen. Seth Green (the Diet Coke of Evil) and Devon Sawa (Final Destination) are very good and although the idea is just plain silly, it all works if you treat it as just gorey fun. I've seen this film four times now and I'd still be happy to introduce even more people to its brilliance. The DVD (both Region One and Two) includes a very funny commentary track, an alternate ending explained by the director and a making-of featurette as well as talent files etc. Overall, I recommend this to be seen by everyone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful