When it was announced that Tom Cruise would play the vampire Lestat in this adaptation of Anne Rice's bestselling novel, even Rice chimed in with a highly publicized objection. The author wisely and justifiably recanted her negative opinion when she saw Cruise's excellent performance, which perceptively addresses the pain and chronic melancholy that plagues anyone cursed with immortal bloodlust.

Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst are equally good at maintaining the dark and brooding tone of Rice's novel. And in this rare mainstream project for a major studio, director Neil Jordan compensates for a lumbering plot by honoring the literate, Romantic qualities of Rice's screenplay. Considered a disappointment while being embraced by Rice's loyal followers, the movie is too slow to be a satisfying thriller, but it is definitely one of the most lavish, intelligent horror films ever made. --Jeff Shannon
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td><img src="http://dvdsonsale.net/images/B001AQR3E4/51Iq20M7vRL._SL75_.jpg" /><td></tr><tr><td>When it was announced that Tom Cruise would play the vampire Lestat in this adaptation of Anne Rice's bestselling novel, even Rice chimed in with a highly publicized objection. The author wisely and justifiably recanted her negative opinion when she saw Cruise's excellent performance, which perceptively addresses the pain and chronic melancholy that plagues anyone cursed with immortal bloodlust. Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst are equally good at maintaining the dark and brooding tone of Rice's novel. And in this rare mainstream project for a major studio, director Neil Jordan compensates for a lumbering plot by honoring the literate, Romantic qualities of Rice's screenplay. Considered a disappointment while being embraced by Rice's loyal followers, the movie is too slow to be a satisfying thriller, but it is definitely one of the most lavish, intelligent horror films ever made. --Jeff Shannon<td></tr></table>

Jerry soon has his hands full with bandits, bloodshed, and a grizzly hound dog that vanishes and reappears with amusing regularity. En route to Vegas, Samantha's taken hostage by a burly assassin (James Gandolfini) who's attached to the gun-fetching scheme and is, in more ways than one, not who he seems to be.

Like a good magic act, J.H. Wyman's original screenplay distracts you from its gaps of logic, using unexpected revelations to fuel its strategic vitality. It also provides a wealth of character development, and director Gore Verbinski (Mouse Hunt) gives his stellar cast equal time to shine. It hardly matters that Pitt and Roberts spend most of the film apart; their time together is worth waiting for, and the machinations that separate them play out like a cross between vintage Peckinpah and Romancing the Stone. And why is the accursed pistola so valuable? That's just another surprise, setting the stage for the arrival of yet another big-name star, whose motivations are pure in a film full of double-crosses and darkly shaded humor. With a giddy plot like this, star power is just icing on the cake.

-- Review originally from Jeff Shannon

A San Diego nanny (Adriana Barraza), her employers absent, makes the disastrous decision to take their kids with her to a wedding in Mexico. And a deaf-mute Japanese teen (the extraordinary Rinko Kikuchi) deals with a relationship with her father (Koji Yakusho) and the world in general that's been upended by the death of her mother. It is perhaps not surprising, or particularly original, that a gun is the device that ties these people together. Yet Babel isn't merely about violence and its tragic consequences. It's about communication, and especially the lack of it--both intercultural, raising issues like terrorism and immigration, and intracultural, as basic as husbands talking to their wives and parents understanding their children.

Iñárritu's command of his medium, sound and visual alike, is extraordinary; the camera work is by turns kinetic and restrained, the music always well matched to the scenes, the editing deft but not confusing, and the film (which clocks in at a lengthy 143 minutes) is filled with indelible moments. Many of those moments are also pretty stark and grim, and no will claim that all of this leads to a "happy" ending, but there is a sense of reconciliation, perhaps even resolution. "If You Want to be Understood... Listen," goes the tagline. And if you want a movie that will leave you thinking, Babel is it. --Review originally from Sam Graham
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td><img src="http://dvdsonsale.net/images/B000MCH5P4/51poif023LL._SL75_.jpg" /><td></tr><tr><td>Brilliantly conceived, superbly directed, and beautifully acted, Babel is inarguably one of the best films of 2006. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu and his co-writer, Guillermo Arriaga (the two also collaborated on Amores Perros and 21 Grams) weave together the disparate strands of their story into a finely hewn fabric by focusing on what appear to be several equally incongruent characters: an American (Brad Pitt) touring Morocco with his wife (Cate Blanchett) become the focus of an international incident also involving a hardscrabble Moroccan farmer (Mustapha Rachidi) struggling to keep his two young sons in line and his family together. A San Diego nanny (Adriana Barraza), her employers absent, makes the disastrous decision to take their kids with her to a wedding in Mexico. And a deaf-mute Japanese teen (the extraordinary Rinko Kikuchi) deals with a relationship with her father (Koji Yakusho) and the world in general that's been upended by the death of her mother. It is perhaps not surprising, or particularly original, that a gun is the device that ties these people together. Yet Babel isn't merely about violence and its tragic consequences. It's about communication, and especially the lack of it--both intercultural, raising issues like terrorism and immigration, and intracultural, as basic as husbands talking to their wives and parents understanding their children. Iñárritu's command of his medium, sound and visual alike, is extraordinary; the camera work is by turns kinetic and restrained, the music always well matched to the scenes, the editing deft but not confusing, and the film (which clocks in at a lengthy 143 minutes) is filled with indelible moments. Many of those moments are also pretty stark and grim, and no will claim that all of this leads to a "happy" ending, but there is a sense of reconciliation, perhaps even resolution. "If You Want to be Understood... Listen," goes the tagline. And if you want a movie that will leave you thinking, Babel is it. --Sam Graham Beyond Babel Other Interweaving Storylines on DVD Other DVDs by Director Alejandro González Iñárritu Why We Love Cate Blanchett Stills from Babel (click for larger image) <td></tr></table>

Having survived a treacherous climb on the challenging peak of Nanga Parbat and a stint in a British POW camp, Harrer and climbing guide Peter Aufschnaiter (nicely played by David Thewlis) arrive at the Tibetan city of Lhasa, where the 14-year-old Dalai Lama lives as ruler of Tibet. Their stay is longer than either could have expected (the "seven years" of the title), and their lives are forever transformed by their proximity to the Tibetan leader and the peaceful ways of the Buddhist people. China looms over the land as a constant invasive threat, but Seven Years in Tibet is more concerned with viewing Tibetan history through the eyes of a visitor.

The film is filled with stunning images and delightful moments of discovery and soothing, lighthearted spirituality, and although he is somewhat miscast, Pitt brings the requisite integrity to his central role. What's missing here is a greater understanding of the young Dalai Lama and the culture of Tibet.

Whereas Kundun tells its story purely from the Dalai Lama's point of view, Seven Years in Tibet is essentially an outsider's tale. The result is the feeling that only part of the story's been told here--or maybe just the wrong story. But Harrer's memoir is moving and heartfelt, and director Jean-Jacques Annaud has effectively captured both sincerity and splendor in this flawed but worthwhile film.

-- Review originally from Jeff Shannon

Top 5 Brad Pitt DVDs for Your Collection

1. Fight Club 10^th Anniversary: The 10^th anniversary of Fight Club marks a decade of this film reigning as one of the most beloved cult classics of all-time. Based on the Chuck Palahniuk novel, this is one Brad Pitt DVD that any true fan has to have. Pitt puts on a tour de force acting performance, and the movie is extremely intriguing as well, pairing dark humor with edgy violence and mysterious plot twists.

2. Ocean's Trilogy Boxed Set: The Ocean's Eleven movies are all fun, engaging movies to watch and with this boxed set you'll be able to scoop them all up at once for a great, low price. Watch the entire saga, including Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen. As a collection you'll be hard pressed to find more entertainment and a better value in one spot.

3. Troy Director's Cut Blu-Ray: Well the list is titled the best 5 Brad Pitt DVDs to own, but this is one movie that was made for high definition Blu-Ray quality. Troy is absolutely sensational with the enhanced visual and audio quality. The Director's Cut addition adds more wonderful scenes that help to enhance the film, rather than just make it longer. If you don't have a Blu-Ray player you can still pick up the DVD, but the superior quality really translates with a movie like this.

4. Snatch on DVD or Blu-ray: Snatch is one of those films that still flies under the radar, but is beloved by everybody who sees it. This is another Brad Pitt DVD where he absolutely steals the show. He's a bare knuckle boxing champion "pikey" and he speaks in a hardly understandable English/Irish/who knows what dialect. It's a wild story with some great, memorable characters and a close up view of the underground crime scene in the U.K.

5. Seven Platinum Series DVD: Seven is a classic, and it's another Brad Pitt movie directed by David Fincher. In this movie Pitt plays a new-on-the-beat detective who must pair with Morgan Freeman to stop a crazed serial killer that's motivated by the seven deadly series. It's a great film from top to bottom with a shocking ending, and it may be one of the creepiest and darkest Brad Pitt DVDs that's available.

So there you have it! If you don't know where to turn to boost your own collection or to purchase that perfect gift for a friend or family member, you can choose any Brad Pitt DVD from the above list and you know you won't be going wrong. Hopefully you can put this list of the 5 best Brad Pitt DVDs (and Blu-Rays!) to good use.

Of course, one of the truly great elements of the entire Ocean's Trilogy is the epic cast that is involved in all of the films. You have huge stars such as Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts. Then you have a slew of other great actors such as Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan and many more recognizable names and faces. Just like in the crazy heists themselves, in the films all of the bit characters play their roles to perfection, enabling great films to be put together that will keep you guessing and keep you engaged as well.

Ocean's Eleven was of course the first in the series, and it was actually the remake of a 1960 film featuring the Rat Pack. The other two films, Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen followed. The stories are fantastic, as they involve such an intricate level of planning, twisting and turning. You'll see things happen, have no clue why or how it's being done, and then get to watch it all unravel and make sense afterward. There are plenty of "oh!" and maybe even "oh $***!" moments as you watch these movies, and they will always keep you coming back for more.

That's what's so great about buying the entire Ocean's Trilogy boxed set on Blu-ray at once. You can move seamlessly between all three of the movies, or you can watch them all as standalone films, and you won't lose anything either way. Of course, there are also plenty of special features and bonuses with the Ocean's Trilogy Blu-Ray boxed set. Plus, the quality of the Blu-ray really adds a whole new element to all of the movies. The dramatic capers will unfold with a whole new level of excellence and brilliance.

For fans of the Ocean's Eleven franchise, the Ocean's Eleven boxed set blu-ray edition is a must own. The Ocean's Trilogy boxed set is now available for sale on Blu-ray at a discounted sale price, so take advantage of the savings and pick up your copy today.

Seven stars Brad Pitt as a detective that's changed locales. He moved with his wife to a seemingly bad part of town, and he gets teamed up with Morgan Freeman, an aged detective who is finishing out his rounds on the force before retiring. Except a sadistic serial killer begins striking around the city, making kills based upon the 7 deadly sins.

Pitt and Freeman have to team up together and figure out a way to unlock the intricate secrets of this killer so they can stop him before he continues his spree. Gwyneth Paltrow stars as Pitt's wife, and Kevin Spacey also makes an appearance in the film.

Even if you've seen Seven before, you may want to pick it up for yourself. The Seven Platinum Series DVD has even more special features and bonuses to ensure that you'll have plenty to keep you occupied for hours and hours.

Seven is a classic, and now you can own it as part of the New Line Platinum Series on DVD. Add it to your collection and you'll always have this enjoyable, dark thriller to turn to. You can pick it up right here for a great, discount sale price.

Snatch is directed by Guy Ritchie and it brings all of his usual elements into play. A crazy, twisting storyline involving dozens of different characters. A peak at the underworld of the British crime scene. Engaging - if hard to understand - dialogue, with fascinating characters, dark humor, loads of action and plenty more to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Snatch Blu-Ray edition will really bring some of those characters and some of those crazy scenes to life like never before. The movie is fast paced and you'll want to watch it over and over again. It's a winner for everyone, and you'll get to enjoy another stellar performance by Brad Pitt. The ensemble cast also has Jason Statham in his first big screen leading role, and many other notable actors such as Benicio Del Toro.

Pick up your discount edition of Snatch on Blu-Ray right here and enjoy the entire experience. Don't forget to take out your cockney dictionary and pay attention for all of the hidden gems and hard to catch details along the way.

Redford is a longtime CIA spy who eventually takes Pitt under his wing. He teaches him the ropes and Pitt manages to become exactly like him - while not wanting to be anything like him at all. As Redford gets ready to retire from his perch and enjoy a relaxing retirement, Pitt finds himelf in dire trouble after becoming involved with a woman who was supposed to just be an "asset".

Now Redford has to put it all on the line to save his friend and former pupil, breaking some of his most hardened rules along the way in order to get the job done. But is it too late to save his job, his retirement and his buddy's life and security? What will have to be compromised?

Purchasing Spy Game on DVD is a move you'll never regret, especially considering the amazingly cheap price that it's available for. Enjoy one of the terribly underrated films of our times by picking up your own copy of the Spy Game DVD. You can find it for sale below, and Spy Game is a movie you'll want to watch again and again.

The movie stars Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, both in divergent roles than what they usually play, and both putting on stellar performances. Willis has been sent from the future to figure out a cause and a solution to the worldwide epidemic that hits the Earth and forces humanity to live underground. Pitt is the son of a powerful and wealthy man, and also happens to be more than a bit insane. The two characters meet in the psych ward, setting off a sequence of events that will cause everything to come full circle.

What's so great about the 12 Monkeys Special Edition DVD is that you get the great, epic film with all of the special features. It will keep you busy for quite some time, and you better believe that seeing the movie just once isn't going to cut it. There's far too much going on, far too many angles at play. So pick up your copy of the special edition 12 Monkeys DVD and get to work unraveling the truth behind the mayhem and madness.