Monday, September 30, 2013

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe [Blu-ray]



Watch It For The Entertainment Value
Young Lucy Pevenise, along with her older brothers Edmund and Peter, and her older sister, Susan, are in London during the initial bombing raids of WW II. And like many families of the time, the parents decide to send them to the country for safer keeping. Peter, the oldest, is told by their mother to "watch over them" and make sure they stay safe. And although this seems like a fairly simple request, Peter's ability to protect his siblings will be put to the ultimate test. But not by WW II, but by an amazing secret discovered by young Lucy.

Soon after being spirited into the company of a hermit-like professor's care (Jim Broadbent), they decide to play hide-and-seek, and it's during this game which Lucy discovers a mysterious wardrobe. She tucks herself inside and backs to the rear of the cabinet ...only to discover herself in an entirely different world. Here she meets up with Mr. Tumnus, a strange half-stag, half-human creature who explains much about the wintry...

Excellent but Minor Changes will Irritate Avid Fans of the Novel
I just went to see this movie last night and WOW, it is really breathtaking and superbly done. The most important thing that was achieved is that the producers of this film captured the essence of Narnia. You really feel like you've been to Narnia and to me that makes the film tremendously powerful. The death and resurrection of Aslan were really fantastic, and I also especially liked the Lucy/Tumnus meeting and also when the children grew up in Narnia and were looking for the White Stag. How did they get adult actors who looked SO much like the children, I'd like to know?! Well done! Georgie Henley was terrific in this movie and really stole the show. She was the perfect Lucy. The casting for this film was really well done. The only character I did not care for was The White Witch. In other movie versions, perhaps the role is "over-played" and so because of that the role seemed to be "under-played" in this case. I don't know if a happy medium exists to be truthful. The...

A magical adaptation of an even more magical story
If you're going to bring a beloved classic to life, you had better do it right - and director Andrew Adamson did just that, largely because of his own special memories of reading the book as a child. The timing for this film was also right - not only because it follows in the wake of the masterful Lord of the Rings series (and there will always be comparisons between Narnia and LOTR, despite their vast differences) but, more importantly, because this film really could not have been made any earlier. I wasn't a big fan of CGI when the technology emerged; I thought it took away from the purity of the medium and, of course, it was oftentimes obviously not real in those early days. When you watch The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, though, you see the undeniable magic that CGI has now opened up. This film is heavy with computer animation, and its integration with real actors and sets is virtually seamless. Aslan, by way of example, may well be CGI's...

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The Magnificent Seven: The Complete Series



Amazing show, picture quality could be better.
First, a review of the series itself: 5 gigantic gold, gleaming stars. I caught a few re-run episodes on Encore Westerns and fell in love instantly. Amazing cast, phenomenal acting, great sets, and no gore. It achieves that delicate balance of drama and adventure of the genre without the violence and sex that plagues most modern movies/show today. I really credit whoever cast the series because each actor shines in his role and their personalities play off each other perfectly. I am saddened that the series was cut off after two (all too short) seasons and was floored when I heard that it only came back a second year after an intense fan campaign. Once again primtime networks don't know a truly good show when they see it.

So why 4 stars? I was very disappointed at the picture quality of the DVDs. In the age of digital media when consumers are seeking crystal clear imaging, this set has the graininess of a VHS. Acceptable for an old show of the 60's or 70's, but one...

"Magnificent !" 7
If you love westerns; you'll love this series. Seven men, with backstories of their own, who tame a town and gain the respect of it's citizens. The casting was great and each character played well off each other. You could see the brotherhood even though each man had his own cross to bear. The stories were well written, and I found myelf loving the way the 7 garnered respect and fear from those who simply heard of their reputation. They weren't always hard men, and they weren't always right; the show gives you the gritty look of the old west, the hardships and what it took to make it through a day sometimes.

You want to sit back and watch a good series; another series that should have had a longer shelf life, then buy this series and enjoy. There are so many little things to see, as one character is checking his gun and he flips it over his hands several times before slipping into his gun belt. Not a big scene, just something you catch and it's way cool. The Western...

Worth every penny
How did I miss this when it was on tv?
This is a wonderful western. I have loved every minute of it.
First, there is the eye candy that is very lovely to look at. Wouldn't it be great to live in a west with men who looked and acted like this LOL?
Second, it has little bad language and the gore factor is nil. I realize that a real-life cowboy in a gunfight would not say, "Oh dang!!", but I get the idea. I know that in a real gunfight, knifefight or fistfight there will be blood, guts and broken bones, but I don't really want to watch it happen. I realize that in real life the "ladies of the night" wouldn't be beautiful and sweet, but I don't really want to see the real thing.
My tv shows are my escape FROM life. And this one has succeeded wonderfully.
It is worth every penny plus more.
This is a show that I will be rewatching.

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You - Steps for Extending Your Warranty with Dr. Michael Roizen



Saw it on PBS...awesome.....
This show was on PBS recently and, as usual, Dr. Roisen came through
with another winnner. The YOU docs are the best. They really tell it like it is and give you great information to take with you to improve your life and extend your life. Everyone should give their approach a try and you'll find that your life is so much better when you feel better.

Dr.Roizen - My Mentor
You - Steps for Extending Your Warranty is a very easy to follow video.
And of course, Dr Roizen doesn't use complicated medical language. I
really am changing more of my (bad) habits, and now acquiring some
new ones (more beneficial to me).

Practical, clear advice in layman's terms
Dr. Roizen provides clear layman explanations for body functionality and how eating and exercise affect it. I also like the simple exercises provided by a Certified personal trainer.

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John Wayne: The Fox Westerns Collection (The Big Trail / North to Alaska / The Comancheros / The Undefeated)



"We're blazing a trail that started in England."
John Wayne didn't really tame the wild, wild west; it just seems like he did. The man is larger than life and about as iconic as it gets. JOHN WAYNE - THE FOX WESTERNS doesn't come close to showcasing his best films, with two of the four - THE COMANCHEROS and THE UNDEFEATED - being merely passable fare. However, a third entry NORTH TO ALASKA is a good-natured, rollicking film, while THE BIG TRAIL is a little known but historically momentous cinematic gem.

Plenty to say about THE BIG TRAIL. Back in 1930, Marion Morrison was 23 years old and working as prop man on the movie lot when legendary director Raoul Walsh saw him and took an enormous chance. Marion's name was changed to John Wayne, and he was given the lead in Walsh's ambitious, sweeping western epic THE BIG TRAIL. Note that even though director John Ford had already planted Wayne in several films, it was as an extra. Wayne was very raw here, in his first starring role; but that doesn't mean he wasn't good...

A very good set for the price....real Wayne bookends...from 1930 to 1960+
This set contains an absolute GEM...which is the 2 disc THE BIG TRAIL from 1930(the 2008 Widescreen edition) and three lesser 1960's era Wayne colour widescreen films. The Big Trail is a must have for western, film or wayne fans and the three others are certainly fun later Wayne films that don't add much price to the package. I should add that earlier editions of these three films had nice / fun featurettes that have been elminated from this offering ..so if you have them I'd get the new BIG TRAIL on its own.

4 favorite Duke westerns
Not a collection of his greatest, but that are a lot of fun. The Commancheros is certainly an old favorite, Big Trail is a collector's item, North to Alaska is very funny, and the Undefeated is worthwhile. Nice to have them all in one set.

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Love's Enduring Promise



Heart-warming & inspiring family-friendly movie!
I saw this film recently on the Hallmark Channel, and TIVO'd it to watch again and again (at least, until it hits DVD, and I buy it from Amazon): I am definitely going to buy the DVD when it comes out! Based on a novel by best-selling Christian fiction write Janette Oke, "Love's Enduring Promise," is a heart-warming continuation of the story of Marty and Clark Davis...

By now, Clark's daughter Missy is all grown up and teaching at the local schoolhouse: she meets two very different men through circumstance, a young surveyor named Grant Thomas and a mysterious stranger named Nate; when a family accident forces her to accept the help of this mysterious stranger...

For those of you worried about content, this is a clean film! There is no language that I can recall; there is an arguement between father and son, some blood when a man accidentally hurts himself, and little else.

This is a wonderful, family-friendly story that promotes good values of love,...

Missie Grows Up
Though "Love's Enduring Promise" doesn't measure up to its predecessor, "Love Comes Softy," it is nevertheless lovely to follow up on Clark Davis and his family, who share their joys and sorrows, and their faith, strength, and commitment with one another. Missie is now a young lady, with serious choices to make. She is a schoolteacher, and is being pursued by a wealthy surveyor, but when Clark suffers an accident and can no longer work the farm, a young man comes to their aid, and the viewer knows long before Missie does, that he is a better match for her.

The dialog and scene progression don't flow as well in this 2nd film, but I wouldn't mind seeing a 3rd and even 4th installment, as it is refreshing to see this type of family entertainment, where people speak without cursing, and keep their clothes on. It would make an excellent TV series, as it is full of wonderful characters, and themes of hope and redemption. Directed by Michael Landon Jr. for Hallmark, it is a little...

another great romance
Like its predecessor, Love Comes Softly, Love's Enduring Promise is a successfully produced romance that is clean, with morals and Christian values. Michael Landon, Jr. needs to be applauded once again for his work. He has accomplished making quality films such as this, that are inspiring and uplifting, and that can be watched by every member of the family without embarrassment!

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The Daydreamer



A little-known gem from the makers of Rudolph and Frosty!
Award-winning animation producers Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass, fresh from the success of the now-classic TV special RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, aimed extremely high for this ambitious live-action/animated musical fantasy. The story is a fictionalized account of the young life of Hans Christian Andersen, with Paul O'Keefe (Patty Lane's brother on the PATTY DUKE SHOW) as "Chris" and Jack Gilford (COCOON) as his Papa. Chris enters the animated stories of THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES and THUMBELINA. There are also references to other Andersen tales like "The Garden of Paradise," "Big Claus" and "The Ugly Duckling." Even though some of the production values betray the fact that Executive Producer Joe Levine expected Mary Poppins but only provided a Tom Terrific budget, there is a lot to like in THE DAYDREAMER: a star-studded, perfectly selected voice cast, impressive AniMagic stop-motion art direction, and a knockout score by Maury Laws (check out "The Cartoon...

Fascinating! Not your typical animated kiddie fare
This film was produced by the wonderful Rankin/Bass team - best known for their holiday masterpieces "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Frosty the Snowman" and "Mad Monster Party", just to name a few. The wraparound story (which is live-action) deals with a young Hans Christian Anderson struggling to find The Garden of Paradise. On his journey, we are treated to four haunting stories, each filmed in Rankin/Bass's trademark stop-motion "Animagic". The stories are unusual in that they all end on a low note rather than a typical "Disney happy ending" - keeping true to Anderson's original tales. Included here are "The Little Mermaid", "The Emperor's New Clothes", "Thumbelina" and "The Garden of Paradise". Once again Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass have created a fantasyland of wonder and imagination filled to the brim with beautiful tunes.

Addition to my previous review
With the DVD now in hand....Wanted to add that I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of 3 Black and White 1966 TV SPOTS for the film! These are really something! One is 60 seconds and the other two are 30 second commercials. The DVD was beautifully executed by ANCHOR BAY...my hat is off to them! This is definitely RANKIN/BASS Eye candy! MOTHER GOOSE looks sharp too...THE WACKY WORLD OF MOTHER GOOSE DVD that is.

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The Master



Finally...
I remember first seeing this in the mid-80s as a kid on Channel 5's now-defunct "Drive-In Movie" under the title "3 Evil Masters". Under any title, this is a classic from the latter-days of the Shaw Brothers. This is arguably the best movie director Lu Chun-Ku has done. Hsu "King of Sticks" Hsia's choreography, along with his "Five Superfighters", is absolutely amazing. Not only are Chen Kuan-Tai & Wang Lung-Wei in top form (their fight near the end of the movie is a definite highlight for me), but Yuan Tak (a.k.a. Chiang Lin) is amazing. He ought to be though, he was one of the "Seven Little Fortunes" along with Jackie Chan, Samo Hung & Yuan Biao. His climatic end fights with each of the "3 Evils" are incredible.

Great supporting performances by Candy Wen Hsueh-Erh, Lin Hui-Huang, Liu Hok-Nien, Wang Ching-Ho & Ching "knife-thrower" Chu; look for him in a crazy, "jiggly" brothel scene (cut from TV prints, 'natch). There's also great music here; I know it's stock...

Chen Kuan Tai Shines Very Brightly Here...
It's a shame Chen Kuan Tai wasn't the main star of this film, but what scenes he does grace are superb. As morgoth alludes to in regards to the opening scene fighting, he's dead on. Simply outstanding choreographing in the beginning of this film. Chen Kuan Tai (Iron Monkey 77 The Killer Constable and Shaolin King Boxer)was in reality King Boxer of South East Asia (monkey style and deflecting elbow were his specialties) when he was discovered by Shaws Brothers and this film showcases some of his abilities. Great film. A must own for any Chen Kuan Tai fan.

a blade in the braid and a pile of tile
The great Chen Kuan Tai ("Heroes Two", "Executioners From Shaolin") plays Chin Tien Yun, the title character in this nifty little Shaw Brothers classic. After he is injured by 3 nefarious fighters, he comes into the care of young kung fu student Kao Chien (Yuen Tak). After he feels better, he realizes that the boy's master (Lau Hok Nin) isn't doing a very good job at martial instruction and teaches the lad a thing or two. Meanwhile, the bad guys are searching the nearby town for clues to his whereabouts.

Though some of the fights are a little slow, most of them are excellent. I don't know that Chen Kuan Tai's kung fu has ever looked this solid. Johnny Wang Lung Wei ("Return of the Master Killer", "Instructors of Death") is great as the main bad guy who sports the obligatory white wig. I didn't recognize his two cohorts, but they both do a great job. Yuen Tak is also more than capable of handling his role, even when it requires a little cross-dressing. Which reminds...

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Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Special Edition)



Always My Favorite
This has been my favorite of the Indiana Jones movies since I was a child, and it continues to be so. The visual splendor is amazing. From the streets to Shanghai to the forbidding Indian Palace... it's all very surreal. The soundtrack has all of the charm from Raiders with new, more intense, and emotional themes. A great adventure from start to finish.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The second installment in the Indiana Jones, set 2 years before Raiders, finds Indy going after the Shonkara stones and trying to rescue children enslaved by the Thagee Cult. He is joined by young Short Round (Key He Quan) and nighclub vocalist Willie Scott, played very well by Kate Capshaw, the current Mrs.Spielberg. While Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood was a two-fisted hellraiser, Scott is a pampered indoor brat, and in turn is brilliant, plus her character is quite funny also, as is Short Round. Amrish Puri is a chilling as the villainous cult leader.

Though Temple of Doom lacks Sallah, Marcus Brody, and the Nazis, it is an improvement over Raiders in more than a few ways. To start, Ford is even better as Indy for his character is tested more. Douglas Slocombe's photography is more effective, and John Williams' music score is even more diverse and genius. Temple of Doom is also more creative, emotionally effective, and imaginative. However, it lacks the spectacle of the first...

A more darker, complex Indy Jones tale!
"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" is a great departure from the first Indy movie. While still being filled with over-the-top acting, effects, and stunts, the violence is much more intense. This was the movie that caused the MPAA to create the "PG-13" rating.

That's not to say that the story shouldn't be viewed by most kids. Like anything else, it should be viewed first by the parents who should make the final decision. The strong violence, most of which is still in the comic-book style of "Raiders," goes down a darker road with much of it being directed at the children who are victims of the evil in this story. The most intense scene though (when a human heart is literally dug by hand out of a man's chest who sacrifices himself to the Hindu god Kali) is completely impossible but one that must be explained to the innocent mind of children.

Despite the extreme script, it's still a Spielberg, Lucas creation that's filled with...

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The Three Stooges Collection, Vol 2: 1937-1939



Stooges in their prime
THIS DVD HAS BEEN VIEWED IN FULL FROM AN ADVANCED COPY I RECEIVED FROM SONY PICTURES ON 5/16/08:

Either you get the Three Stooges or you don't. There is no middle ground.
It seems that everyone from Jay Leno to University of Arizona Professor Jon Solomon have chimed in on the subject. Essays, numerous books and college lectures have addressed the topic. There are two distinct classes of people. Those that love the classic comedy team and others who scratch their head and wonder why.

During their impressive career, The Three Stooges made 190 short subjects for Columbia Pictures. Add to that their 6 full length features; film cameos; television appearances and 156 cartoons with live wraparounds and their output is staggering.

With last year's Three Stooges Collection Volume One 1934-1936, Sony/Columbia Pictures finally began releasing the Stooges' crown jeweled two-reelers fully restored and in chronological order.
Fans rejoiced! Naysayers...

The title says it all!
We Three Stooges fans will be looking forward to another great collection of adventures of Moe and Curly Howard and Larry Fine. This set is an even two dozen instead of just 19 shorts like the first set contained. In GRIPS,GRUNTS & GROANS,Curly(real name Jerome Lester Horwitz) is elected to sub for an ill wrestler who bears physical resemblance to Curly. In DIZZY DOCTORS,the boys are ordered by their wives to go to work instead of just eating and sleeping all the time. They sell a potion called Brighto which they think is an all-purpose cleaner but is actually an internal medicine. In GOOFS AND SADDLES,the boys are out west and Curly is playing cards with a few other guys(not Moe or Larry). In BACK TO THE WOODS,the boys are pilgrims hunting for food. In THREE DUMB CLUCKS,The boys,in jail,receive a note from their mother saying the boys' father has divorced her and is engaged to a younger woman(Curly plays a dual role in this film as himself and the father). The boys do all they can to...

Sony speedily releases volume two of The Three Stooges
I was happy to see volume two of The Three Stooges released so quickly after the first volume. Here we get more of Moe, Larry, and Curly in the late-Depression pre-war years. Once again the individual episodes are being released chronologically, which is good. Not so good, though, is that once again it appears we will get no commentary or extra features. The first volume had first rate video and audio - far superior to anything I had seen on any other DVD set featuring the trio - so I expect this set will also be excellent in that regard. The following is the listing of the episodes that will be available in this set:

Disc 1:
Back to the Woods
Cash and Carry
Dizzy Doctors
Goofs and Saddles
Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb
Playing the Ponies
The Sitter-Downers
Tassels in the Air
Three Dumb Clucks
Violent is the Word For Curly
Wee Wee Monsieur
Grips, Grunts and Groans
Termites of 1938

Disc 2:
A Ducking...

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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Holocaust



One of the best depictions of the Holocaust on screen!
I used to teach Holocaust history for about 8 years at the high school level, and have not only read many books on the subject but also watched numerous films on the genre. This 1978 mini-series is in my opinion, one of the best depictions of the Holocaust on screen.

The series is set in Germany right about the time Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party are in power [the period covered is about 1935-45]. The series focusses on the trials of the Weiss family, a prominent Jewish family with the patriarch being a decorated war veteran, a grandmother, two sons, Dr Josef Weiss [Fritz Weaver] and his wife Berta [Rosemary Harris], a pharmacist Moses Weiss [Sam Wanamaker], and three grandchildren, an artist Karl [James Woods], a rebel Rudi [Joseph Bottoms], and young Anna.

The series begins with the celebration of the marriage between Karl [James Woods] and his Aryan wife Inga [Meryl Streep]. The Weiss portray the assimilated Jewish family, they are not particularly religious...

GLAD IT'S ON DVD... BUT COULD BE BETTER
I PRE-ORDERED THIS SET AS SOON AS IT WAS ANNOUNCED.I SAW THIS MINISERIES
BACK IN 1978 WHEN IT AIRED ON NBC OVER 4 NIGHTS.THE AMAZON PRICE FOR THIS
ITEM IS GREAT AT ONLY $19.95 - BUT THE CONTENT IS NOT SO GREAT.PICTURE
AND SOUND IS O.K.-NO MORE.PRINTED IN SMALL LETTERS ON THE BACK OF THE
BOX IS THE DISCLAIMER "MAY BE EDITED FROM THE ORIGINAL NETWORK BROADCAST"
MAYBE IS RIGHT..THIS SET CLOCKS IN AT ABOUT 449 MINUTES WHICH IS 26-34
MINUTES LESS THE FULL RUNNING TIME.WHATS MORE THERE ARE NO FEATURES ON
THIS 3 DISC SET-NOT A SINGLE ONE.CBS VIDEO AND PARAMOUNT SHOULD BE ASHAMED
OF THEMSELVES..THE 30 YEAR "ANNIVERSARY EDITION" OF THIS MINISERIES WHICH
WAS TRULY A TELEVISION LANDMARK DESERVED MUCH,MUCH BETTER..

Harrowing, Disturbing,Real.
*(If anyone knows when this DVD will be released please say so i would very much like to know)

I have only recently come across this mini-series after renting it from my videostore and only even heard of this when researching more on Meryl Streep after viewing her incredible performnce in "Sophie's Choice".

Admirers of Ms.Streep won't be dissapointed in her performance nor will they with the rest.

Spanning over a decade (1935-1945), "Holocaust" focuses on the Weiss Family of Berlin and all the terror that each individual faces during their darkest days.

The characters are endearing and audiences will easily empathise with the strife they face.

This docu-drama is an accurate and on several occasions, highly disturbing account of man's inhumanity to mankind.

It's won 8 out of 16 emmy awards (1 Emmy which Meryl Streep won) and deserves each one.

I believe that every jewish man and woman should see this film and anyone else who is interested in History's blackest decade.

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Bomb It



World Tour of Graffiti Art, Its Purpose, and Its Controversies.
Director Jon Reiss and producer Tracy Wares take us on a world tour of graffiti in "Bomb It". The film is more supportive of graffiti art than against it, but it does interview individuals who make it their mission to rid neighborhoods of graffiti as well as graffiti artists on 4 continents. There is an undercurrent that questions who should decide what we look at in public spaces, a provocative question but not really the focus of the film. "Bomb It" covers a lot of ground in the history and scope of graffiti art, but to good effect, as we are able to see that graffiti artists are not all alike. Graffiti has evolved over time, and its purpose is different in different cultures and sub-cultures.

"Bomb It" starts by interviewing Cornbread, a Philadelphian whose campaign to tag everything with his moniker in 1967 might make him the first modern graffiti artist. The film avoids the who-did-what-first debate but follows the progression from simple tagging to more elaborate...

Provocative and Entertaining!
Great movie! I saw it with a live audience and everyone in the theatre loved it and was cheering at all the right places. Most people, no matter what their background or status, can identify with the right to self expression and the need to make some kind of a mark on the world.

The format of going around the world from city to city, showing commonalities and differences, works really well in illuminating the scope and significance of graffiti art. The discussion of who owns public spaces and who has the right to express themselves in such places is excellent, and in fact I wish this segment were expanded. The comment of the kid in Barcelona feeling raped by the commercial billboards of semi-naked female and male models is poignant and priceless.

Highly recommended.

damn good
Nice bio about graff. Breaks all different styles down from all around the world. Very well done, they spent some money on producing this one. Well worth my hard earn coin..True graff heads will like it...

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Teknoman Complete Collection



The whole series english dubbed for a real economical price!
I bought this set yesterday. This is the saban version. The english dub is quite good. The intro and ending credits are in japanese. There's no subtitles or original japanese soundtrack. No other extras of the show. Just all 43 episodes. The first disc works fine. It plays all the episodes in that disc and all the other discs. Looks like I either got the corrected disc replacement one or one of the rare ones that doesn't skip episodes. But there is a very minor flaw for instance when there is a dialogue the lips of the animated characters pause a bit while the audio track is playing. Which occurs very little to even notice. There's also some nudity. Like Blade's, Shara's, etc. tekno power transformation. I thought this version was censored. Guess I was wrong. The boxset is very nice. It has nice artwork. It is the previous separate three collector cases with the same art work. A total of 6 discs. Being 2 discs inside each case. With the addition of a cardboard collectors box with the...

Teknoman with a Tekkaman touch
Ok, what we get here is a new edition of Teknoman. It has the Japanese intro, but the episodes are Saban's Teknoman english dub. Also, this version is uncensored, and there are some scenes from Tekkaman wich are included, for example the final fight with Sabre is an extended version, just like Tekkaman Blade is.

I grew up with the Spanish versión, which aired in Latin America. That's why Teknoman is one of my favorite anime. This collection is highly recommended to anyone who watched Teknoman years ago. Enjoy!

Almost excelent
I really loved the DVDs though I haven't finished them yet. When I bought it I feared that my first disc would freeze as some one star reviews here said but it didn't happened. I know a friend who bought it later too and didn't suffered from that either.
I think this is a really great treat, if you saw Teknoman you'll love it and it will be totally worthy of the money. The only reason why I don't consider it excelent is because I would have liked the discs to have subtitles, japanese/latin spanish audio and perhaps some extras as opposed to only english audio, but this doesn't keep it from being a 5 star product. This are a lot of episodes for such a few bucks. I would appreciate if some time in the future there is a release with the latter adittions.

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The Grand - Complete Collection



ANOTHER GRAND BRITISH EPIC STORY IN FILM.
This is 15 hours (18 episodes) of delightful English storytelling that takes place just after WWI. You will be glad you have the complete series with no need to wait a week between each episode. Each segment builds upon the next drawing you into the story as though you are part of the family of The Grand hotel.

It ranks along side series giants like The Pallisers, The Barchester Chronicles, and Monarch of the Glen. Part of the reason might be that Susan Hampshire (3-Emmy winner) stars in all of those. She is outstanding in The Grand, playing Miss Harkness, a resident of the Grand, a prostitute, and proud of it. It takes a bit of acceptance, at first, seeing her as a lady of the evening,, instead of someone like Lady Glencora Palliser. Hampshire scores a perfect 10 for this performance.

Mrs. Harvey, played by Christine Mackie, is the Grand's head housekeeper. She acts and sounds quite like Gemma Jones in The Duchess of Duke Street. In my opinion, Mackie...

Wonderful program!
This series has everything one could want: love, hate, war vets, lust, deceit, betrayal, money, and power. You will love some of the characters and hate others, but will definitely be drawn to the compelling storylines. The sets and period dress serve to transport one directly to the twenties, and give one a taste of what life was like for not only the privileged but the not-so-privileged as well. The only complaint I would have is that there are not MORE episodes!

Overwrought soap opera
I think my negative reaction to this series was a result of my unrealistic expectations. I had just finished watching Upstairs Downstairs and thought The Grand was along those lines, or at least more like The Duchess of Duke Street.

Instead, this was a seamy (and at times steamy) and trashed up soap opera. I failed to like or even feel sympathetic for the majority of the characters and, in real life, I would NOT have cared to stay an hour at a time with any of them. Why, then, would I sacrifice an hour of my time watching them?

Within the first two episodes, we're "treated" to someone blowing his brains out (focus on all that blood on the wall, please), a masochistic pervert being serviced by a former whore, and a swarmy villain who might as well have had a handlebar moustache to twirl.

Another reviewer noted, "This series has everything one could want: love, hate, war vets, lust, deceit, betrayal, money, and power." The problem for me was that it...

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The Thief of Bagdad (The Criterion Collection)



CRITERION VS MGM = THE EXACT SAME PRINT
Yep that's right, I own both the MGM and now the Criterion versions of, The Thief Of Bagdad, and after comparing the opening sequence (with the boats and the cityscape), the scene where the blind man is telling his story so far, to the harem girls (where there's slight blurring in the long shots as well as a slight over enhancement shimmer on the blind man's face) and the registration problem area (where Sabu meets the spider in the temple) the print used is exactly the same one, as both versions have the exact same problems in exactly the same areas.

As for the purported colour saturation differences between the two discs, from my close scrutiny of the movies, I'd have to say that there isn't any difference at all.

The reds look over saturated to the point where the Grand Vizier's turban bleeds slightly, the blues are sky blue bright, and the skin tones are coppery, which is true to the skin tones of the people populating this movie.

The real question...

One of the great fantasy film in cinema history
Few classic films demands or can benefit more from transfer to DVD than Alexander Korda's magnificent THE THIEF OF BAGDAD. At a time when British cinema lagged desperately behind Hollywood in technical proficiency, Korda was nothing short of a miracle worker. Although lacking the resources that Hollywood had to offer, Korda was able to produce a movie that stood up to the best of Hollywood in beauty, creativity, color, and fantasy. Two of the greatest fantasy films ever made appeared in 1939 and 1940: THE WIZARD OF OZ and THE THIEF OF BAGDAD.

There are two reasons that THE THIEF OF BAGDAD is a great film and has stood the test of time. The first is the tremendous art direction. The movie is a function of Korda's vision. French auteur criticism holds that the "author" of a film is the director, but this is clearly an exception to that. Korda, the producer, was the creative force behind this film, and, in fact, employed as many as a half dozen directors during the course of...

"I want to be a bandit, can't you understand it?"
What's that old saying? Too many cooks spoil the broth? In figurative terms it means if there are too many people working on a project, the result will be inferior...given the fact The Thief of Bagdad (1940) sports six directors, three credited, three uncredited, you'd think the film would be a mess, but it's actually the very opposite. The credited directors include Ludwig Berger (The Vagabond King), Michael Powell (Black Narcissus), and Tim Whelan (The Mad Doctor), while on the uncredited side there's three individuals, all whom share producing credits for the film in Alexander Korda (Storm Over the Nile), his brother Zoltan Korda (Jungle Book), and William Cameron Menzies (The Whip Hand). Starring in the film is Conrad Veidt (Casablanca), Sabu (Elephant Boy, Jungle Book), and John Justin (King of the Khyber Rifles). Also appearing is June Duprez (Little Tokyo, U.S.A.) and Rex Ingram (God's Little Acre) as the Genie, or Djinn,

As the film begins, we're introduced to...

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F-Troop: The Complete Seasons 1 and 2



Review of F-Troop Seasons 1 & 2
My husband and I, with friends, recently rode on motorbikes from Albany Western Australia to Tasmania and back. We saw so many places and covered over 10200 kilometres and often couldn't remember just where we had been or where we were. Trudy, one of our fellow riders joked and said we were like the 'Heckarwe' American indian tribe from F-Troop who took their name from being similarly lost and saying to each other "Where the heck are we". Of course, we all fell about laughing, and from that moment on, the Heckarwe featured frequently in our travels.
We reminisced about enjoying F-Troop nearly 40 years ago. On our return, I investigated buying some DVD's of the show. Couldn't find any available in Australia, so tried Amazon, and voila! there they were. Being impulsive I ordered the complete First Two Seasons package. I then had some reservations about my actions as I had found that shows much enjoyed when I was younger somehow, never lived up to the memories and seemed...

Fun on the frontier
SEASON 1

Episode 1: Scourge of the West. Air Date: 14 September 1965 Hapless "war hero" Captain Wilton Parmenter takes command.

Episode 2: Don't Look Now But One of Our Cannon Is Missing. Air Date: 21 September 1965
A surprise visit by General Grant.

Episode 3: The Phantom Major---Original Air Date: 28 September 1965. It's pay call at Fort Courage when a top secret letter from Washington arrives.

Episode 4: Corporal Agarn's Farewell to the Troops. Air Date: 5 October 1965
Episode 5: The Return of Bald Eagle
Original Air Date: 12 October 1965
Renegade Indian Bald Eagle attacks the fort singlehandedly.

Episode 6: Dirge for the Scourge
Original Air Date: 19 October 1965
Gunfighter Sam Urp is in town.

Episode 7: The Girl from Philadelphia. Air Date: 26 October 1965
Episode 8: Old Iron Pants. Air Date: 2 November 1965
Episode 9: Me Heap Big Injun. Air Date: 9 November 1965...

Excellent
F-Troop is one of the most hilarious shows i have ever watched! I watched the entire first season in one night. I almost laughed myself silly! If you love a good laugh, F-troop the first two seasons is a must have for comedy lovers and for people who want to relive their youth. This show is suitable for all ages.

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Intervention Season 1: Then and Now



Exellent!
I teach addictions as part of my class on Mental Health Nursing. This product was well worth adding to my teaching materials. The bonus updates are great as well.

Do Not Buy This!!!
This DVD is only FOUR episodes from the first season. First I must say, I love the show... but I am so disappointed in this release. All the great drama, all the struggling and the good and bad of addiction are lost. This is a "money maker" release. I am sure that A&E will soon see the errors of their ways, and release the entire season.
There are Thirteen episodes in the first season. This release is a very sad attempt to show the episodes they (A&E) think are a successes... and a poor attempt to get your money. The episodes that are NOT on this DVD are the ones that truly help (us) "the addicts".
This review and my only true hope is that this excellent channel will soon get it right and release all the episodes, in a season, as was aired. There is so much more to this show than these... measly FOUR... episodes allow you to see. The true struggles, failures and success, are only briefly glimpsed in this release.
The show is great! So... I will wait!!! for...

Intervention- then and now
The DVD has excellent content for any Intervention fan... however, be forwarned... it only has 4 episodes.

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The Invaders - The First Season



THE Nightmare Continues!!!
When I was a kid, this show truly terrified me and DID give me nightmares - but I loved it anyway! Now, at long last, the original, iconic Sci-Fi TV Classic "The Invaders" is being released on DVD in boxed season sets. The first 17 episodes have been gathered in the initial DVD release.

The Invaders, which premiered on ABC in 1967, starred Roy Thinnes. It was a mid-season replacement show that was an hour-long, full-color science fiction thriller that sadly lasted only 43 episodes. Families across the country truly gathered around their TV sets when the series aired on Tuesday's at 8:30 p.m. to see what happened next.

The show opened with an unforgettable and chilling narration: "The Invaders, a Quinn Martin Production starring Roy Thinnes as architect David Vincent. The Invaders - alien beings from a dying planet. Their destination - the Earth. Their purpose: to make it `their' world. David Vincent has seen them. For him, it began one lost night on a lonely...

Vincents Crusade.
(Act 1) Sci-Fi thriller with a coldwar background.
Most shows in the sci-fi genre are either pure science fiction, science fantasy or sci-Fi/horror.
But this show takes the less used path of sci-fi/thriller.
I find it's blend of science-fiction/thriller elements are done very well indeed.
The format has a vein of cold war paranoia running through it, (at the time it was made, 1960's, that's not surprising.) it could have worked equally well with east European enemy agents instead of alien invaders, but I prefer the sci-fi element in it. (The Invaders even glow RED before they disappear.)
A clever device used by the writers to emphasize Vincents apparent paranoia, was the fact that whenever an Invader was killed, the body glowed then disappered, leaving nothing remaining as evidence.
But one element of the show I will criticize is, if these aliens were capable of making spacecraft that can traverse galaxies, why could they not make a mutated free little...

Episodes are complete! Region 1 case is better and set has bonus material.
I have updated my review of THE INVADERS.

The film transfers appear to be from 35mm positive prints, rather than the original negatives. There is some grain & too much film dust.
The episodes have been slightly sped up to run 49 minutes instead of 51 minutes. The theory is that these are from the European PAL transfers where their projectors run at 25 frames per second (as opposed to our 24 frames stretched to 30). Roy Thinnes says this show is very popular in France where it is in syndication. This is probably the source material.

Still, these look better than they originally did on first airing.

The 27:25 long interview with Roy Thinnes is very informative, giving us insight on how he got involved with the series & some of his memories with the other actors.
BUT I would suggest not watching the individual show intros that he does as he talks about the plot of the episode, and gives no insight about its production. I think it is better...

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NASCAR: Full Throttle Adrenaline- Volume One and Two



Disappointing rebrand of another DVD
I received this two disc set as a Christmas gift and just got a chance to watch it. Unfortunately disc one seemed overly familiar to me. This is because it is also sold as "Ultimate Nascar DVD Collection - Nascar Thrills". Disc two may be a "repeat too, but I'm not familiar with it. I wish companies would stop reissuing product under different names. It is dishonest and disaapointing.

Birthday Gift
Grandchild present as he is an over the top sport fan. Another great gift for grandson. He has been a NASCAR fan from a very very young child.

Nascar -Full Throttle
I enjoyed every minute of this two DVD set. This is definitely an awesome gift for all you Nascar Fans

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Train On The Brain - The Ultimate Railroad Movie



Train on the Brain
I really enjoyed this film, having an interest in railroading generally, and in particular the almost-vanished hobo culture. It provides a gritty close-up look at the hardships of "riding the rails", while also highlighting the scenic joys of crossing North America in this unique way. It's not for everyone, but if you've ever dreamed of "catching out" on the next westbound freight, you'll like it.

it was ok, but too short and sometimes cheesy
wish the trip was longer, more footage, more people featured, could've been better but its good. pay no more than $15 total though.

Wanderlust
If you've ever had the urge to hop a freight train and escape your mundane reality, you can vicariously live out the adventure with Alison Murray's captivating film!

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Gunsmoke: The Second Season, Vol. 2



Gunsmoke Season 2 Vol @
This is classic TV at its best. The transfers are beautiful, the sound is excellent and show, what can I say. This is television the way it was meant to be. I only hope they continue to produce this series until the end. I see so many vintage TV shows start off only to be pulled after one or two seasons. I for one will continue to buy these releases regardless of cost of how they are split up. Lets face it, the studios do not have to release these wonderful shows on DVD. It is just a little extra cash for them. So they can pull the plug anytime they wish. So fans, lets keep supporting the release of this and other great TV from the 50's and 60's.

It Keeps Getting Better
This show keeps getting better. I now have the complete set for season two and although I am not happy about the pricing, I refuse to protest the business practices of the company that packaged the best drama/adventure series ever created.
This season continues to depict the dark side of human nature and the unpredictability of life in the most honest manner I have ever seen on television. Matt Dillon, Chester Goode, Kitty Russell, and Doc Adams form a tight circle of friendship and battle against those who refuse to obey the laws of Dodge and not adhere to basic laws of decency. The brutality and depravity of human nature is on full display. Many of the episodes do not contain the traditional "feel good" endings, which I like because I think it adds to the shows intensity. Most importantly, Marshall Dillon, who is portrayed as a larger then life character, also exhibits weaknesses, doubts, and emotions like all of us. He is not perfect but you know he is doing his best to...

Rejoice! At least we have them on DVD!
I have to say I am happy to see another season volume of Gunsmoke being released on DVD. Yes, I agree with almost everyone: I wish that the studios would release these in complete season sets instead of vol. 1 and vol. 2 but I also think that we should be grateful to have these in complete seasons at all.

Gunsmoke is a great show that keeps you entertained for hours on end. I like to see the old shows where there is still right and wrong.

My only gripe with this set is that it is only a half of a season. If the studio has to release the series like this, why can't they release several sets at a time. At this rate, I probably won't get to see all of the seasons until I am retired! (And I'm not even out of college yet!)

Due to our economy right now, prices on everything are going up. I think the studios are trying to make everything they can off the fans of the old TV shows. It's true I don't like paying the price of 2 seasons for 1 but in the end, if...

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The New York Mets Essential Games Of Shea Stadium



Looking Forward To It
Since the picture on the box was too small for me to read and the product description didn't tell me anything I wanted to know, I contacted A&E to find out which games are included in this collection. Here is their response:

DISC 1: 1969 World Series Game 4 vs Baltimore Orioles--Tom Seaver's 10-inning win was a decisive point of the '69 World Series as the Mets upset the heavily favored Orioles.

DISC 2: 1986: National League Championship Series Game 3 vs Houston Astros--This come-from-behind bottom-of-the-ninth victory ended with Lenny Dykstra's famous walk-off home run.

DISC 3: 1986: World Series Game 6 vs Boston Red Sox--Considered "Baseball's greatest game", this improbable 10th-inning, miracle two-out comeback reached its climax with Mookie Wilson's swing and "...here comes Knight and the Mets win it!"

DISC 4: 1999: National League Championship Series Game 5 vs Atlanta Braves--Robin Ventura's "grand slam single" won this 15-inning game...

A must have for any Mets' fan...
Simply put, it is a must have for any New York Mets fan. While I wish there was more drama and build up to some of the excerpts - Todd Pratt's walk-off homerun against the Diamondbacks as an example - I couldn't be more pleased with the purchase. It will be something I can use to look back on the past and remember with fondness, as well as something to get me through the rough times when the present isn't going so well...

NY METS THE ESSENTIAL GAMES OF SHEA STADIUM
A lot to watch. Any fan interested in Mets or baseball history will enjoy watching. The game has changed over the years. You decide if it is for the better.

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Saturday, September 28, 2013

The Poseidon Adventure [Blu-ray]



Ever get this SINKING feeling
Ever felt you been here before and yet not...Deja vu, right? NO, it's a bad remake of a classic disaster film.

32 years later, Hallmark Entertainment tries to do a mini series of the Poseidon with modern day updates. Instead of a tidal wave, it is a bomb that inverts the ship upside down. The cop character is now a homeland security agent (Adam Baldwin) dragging a terrorist through the wreckage of the ship to justice. The priest is now a Bishop (Rutger Hauer). The Red Button character from the first movie, now played by Bryan Brown, is now married to singer, an International Idol pop star. The smart kid from the first film is now a junior Speilburg with a video cam that never runs out of battery life. The young girl (Pamela Sue Martin character in the first film) is now the daughter of Steve Guttenberg, a cheating family man who is headed for divorce. Peter Weller is the Captain who character name is the same as the original book's author (Paul Gallico)...a nice touch...

Mediocrity upside down
...but a long way from Hell, last year's mini-series version of The Poseidon Adventure doesn't live down to its reputation. Aside from Peter Weller's every other line being "I'm Captain Paul Gallico" or "This is your captain, Paul Gallico" just in case anyone doesn't get the joke or Steve Guttenberg (looking increasingly like a failed attempt at cloning Albert Brooks) constantly endangering everyone's life to stop them to tell him how much he likes them with what he thinks is his best sincere voice but which really sounds like someone trying to have a conversation while having a particularly difficult bowel movement, there aren't many unintentional laughs to be had.

Rutger Hauer simply looks bewildered, as if he wandered onto the wrong set by mistake and somebody gave him a hat and a dog collar, Sylvia Syms looks alarmingly like Shelley Winters, C. Thomas Howell is starting to look even more alarmingly like an ageing 80s porn star and only Bryan Brown and Adam Baldwin look...

I'll give it TWO STARS for the BEDROOM SCENE
This tepid remake of the Irwin Allen original features only one thing worth mentioning: the topsy-turvy rollover scene between Steve Guttenberg's character and his shipboard mistress as the two are in the midst of a "secret rendezvous." The sight of the tumbling pair, along with the cabin's furniture and other appointments, is good for a snicker or two.

The computer imagery of the overturning ship, as well as the other "special effects," is about as wooden as a deck chair from the Titanic.

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The Optimists



The role of Sam, which might have genuinely said to Sellers, I AM YOUR FATE
Though arguably Peter Sellers felt that Being There was his finest performance and that the role of Chance the Gardener spoke to him as no other had done, in my opinion, it is The Optimists that captures a deeply personal note and ultimately outshines the indeed transcendental Sellers swan song. For one familiar with the scope of Peter's films, in Being There you very much sense that Sellers knew he was not long for this world--that he was a man living on borrowed time who had too often accepted roles that did not manifest the wonder of his talents as Dr. Strangelove had done. He recognized in Chance the opportunity to revisit the quiet subtleties that were drowned in movies like What's New, Pussycat? and After the Fox and that marked his best work.

The role of Sam, the busker (The Optimists' main character--not Fred as another reviewer wrote) is one that director and co-writer Anthony Simmons had originally intended for Buster Keaton in the early 1960s, and later John...

A must-see for Sellers fans
I've read much about this rarely-vetted film but had given up hope of ever seeing it. Simply put, it's a treat. Sellers is subtle, funny, and sympathetic; the kids are real-to-life and the images of the English slums are unforgettable. If you enjoyed 'Henry Orient' and 'Being There,' 'The Optimists,' while perhaps a bit overlong, is essential viewing.

Ambitious Sellers Turn
I have made it my life's work to attempt to see every Peter Sellers film ever made-the good, the bad, "The Bobo". In the early seventies Sellers made some interesting career choices to distance himself from his comic persona. This wouldn't be the first time Sellers' film choices took a dramatic turn. In the early sixties he made a gangster film called "Never Let Go" that was laughable in an unintentional way. In the seventies, however, there were three film's that were intriguing and ambitious though could hardly be called commercial. The best of these is "Hoffman". In this film Sellers plays a seeming middle-aged lecher who blackmails a comely employee at his firm to spend the night with him. Less successful is "The Blockhouse", a dreary World War II exercise about a group of P.O.W.'s trapped in a bomb shelter. Some would say Sellers' performance here is low-key but I would say it's practically invisible. The success of "The Optimists" falls squarely in the middle of these...

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Maggie and the Ferocious Beast: Beach Party



Episode Guide
Episode Guide:

Walk The Walk
Sun spot
Hamilton's Box Car
The Beached Whale

Also Includes:
The Lemonade Stand
What's In A Laugh?
Say cheese
Sailing Away
Happy Birthday To All Of Us
The Really Big Show
A Flag For Nowhere Land
Desert Cactus

My granddaughter LOVES Maggie and The Roast Beef Show
It took my daughter and I a couple weeks to understand what my 2 year old granddaughter continually requested. She implored us to get or turn on the roast beef show ... turns out she meant Ferocious Beast ... We have tried to collect all of them. Now the 7 year old and 2 year are arguing over which one to watch first. They love them. The beast is gentle, Maggie is cute, the stories have lessons; a good, fun time with a lovely story each time. I highly recommend especially if you have child or grandchild afraid of monsters or unseen scary things. Lilli has been terrified about monsters. Now she says they're not really scary. She knows they're like Maggie and the "roast beef" and she's not frightened anymore. : )

Maggie and the Ferocious Beast: Beach Party
My 4 year old grand-daughter loves these cartoons. In the process of bonding with her, I got to watching them. They are fun, moralistic, and habit-forming (for me).

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The Boston Red Sox Essential Games of Fenway Park (Steelbook Packaging)



New material mixed with some previously released games
Since the picture on the box was too small for me to read and the product description didn't tell me anything I wanted to know, I contacted A&E to find out which games are included in this collection. Here is their response:

DISC 1: Sept. 30, 1967 Regular Season vs Minnesota Twins--Carl Yastrzemski hit his 44th home run as the Sox tied for the lead in a four-team American League pennant race.

DISC 2: 1975 World Series Game 6 vs the Cincinnati Reds--This see-saw battle of the Titans ended with Carlton Fisk and his 12th inning game-ending home run.

DISC 3: Apr. 29, 1986 Regular Season vs Seattle Mariners--23-year-old Roger Clemens set the Major League record with 20 strikeouts in this hallmark game.

DISC 4: 1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and MLB All-Century Team celebration--Fenway Park was selected to house the final Mid-Summer Classic of the 20th Century and the festivities riveted the world.

DISC 5: 1999 American League...

POOOOR selections!
As a Sox fan and an old baseball game junkie - I have about 30 dvds with old games on them, I figured it would be hard for me not to want this. BUT the game selection is uninspiring. I already have 2 of them (75 WS GM 6 & the game from 1967).

Why would they include the entire game from 2007 with the 4 homeruns in a row when that WAS the hi-lite of the game while only showing Bill Mueller's walk off HR from the game on 7/24/04? The 7/24/04 game with the A-Rod brawl and the great Red Sox comeback is the one that should be shown in its entirety - it is pretty much my favorite regular season game I've ever watched.

The only one I'd really pay to see again is Pedro in the '99 ALCS - so I may try to pick this up on the cheap on Ebay some day.

Disappointing Selections
Mlb certainly missed the boat on this collection. As two of the games on this set have already been released on other sets with the 1967 game on the impossible dream dvd and the game six on the 1975 World Series DVD. Their were certainly better choices overs the years for MLB to pick from that would've enhanced the experience for a Red Sox fan. Examples of this are The june 1977 Yankee game featuring Billy Martin pulling Reggie Jackson from the game and the altercation that soon followed. I understand why they wouldnt want to put the playoff on their from 1978. Another example of a game they could've put on their was the Derek Lowe no hitter or the Clay Buchholz no hitter from last year. Or for that matter any game except the 2004 ALCS featuring David Ortiz driving in a game winning run in their last at bat.

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NFL- New York Giants - The Road to Super Bowl XLII



Great set with some disappointments.
I could have easily given this 3 stars or 5 stars. I'm excited to own 5 great games of the greatest Giants' season ever, but the disks disappoint somewhat. If they're not going to put out a Blu-ray version, could they at least put out a widescreen version? It's 2008. How many people are still watching 4:3 TV? If you still are, then these DVD's are a 5. My favorite part of the collection is the Super Bowl DVD with Michael Strahan's commentary track. I just watched the whole thing and you get to hear his comments on every single play. This leads to one final disappointment. There is nothing of the post game on here. I mean zero. Manning takes the final snap, and the DVD goes to the credits. Are you kidding me? Bottom line, if you're a Giants' fan, you have to buy this. Just be prepared it will probably leave you wanting more from it.

WOW!
What a great move by the NFL. Finally! I have one problem with this. Everything is going digital in 2009 and the aspect ratio is 1.33 to 1? This should be in widescreen at least if not HD-- What is the NFL thinking? Are you listening? The games were broadcast in HD and the DVD being sold is in Standard? Talk about dropping the ball.

Also, this is listed on the Warner Home Video website at $29.95. Where are you getting a list price of $39.98, Amazon? Are you making up list prices?

Historic Posteason
This set is a must for Giants fans. It follows one of the most historic post-season Super Bowl runs in the NFL. Instead of some retrospective documentary where everybody remembers the days of wine and roses, you get every play of every post-season game including the Super Bowl and the final game of the regular season against New England, a preview of the eventual Super Bowl match up that went in a slightly different direction.

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Dario Argento Box Set



Great Collection of Modern Italian Gialli From Dario Argento
I've always loved a good mystery. Last year I became a diehard fan of Italian gialli. They usually involve an unknown assailant, dressed in black, who is killing his/her victims in uniquely gruesome manners while accompanied by a great soundtrack. Dario Argento revolutionized the giallo with his highly successful directorial debut, "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage." What followed was the Italian giallo craze where every popular film director such as Lucio Fulci, Umberto Lenzi, and Emilio P. Miraglia imitated Argento's work. Many of them went so far as to give their gialli animal titles such as "A Lizard in a Woman's Skin" and "The Bloodstained Butterfly."

In the mid to late seventies, Argento directed supernatural horror such as his masterpiece, "Suspiria." eventually, Argento returned to his giallo roots. (Praise the Lord!) What follows is a compilation of his more recent gialli. I will review them in the order of which they were released.

Tenebre...

Solid collection, thanks to Phenomena and Tenebre
These are not, by any means, the five essential Argento films; of them, the only ones that may make a top five list are Tenebre and Phenomena. However, all five are given first class treatment in terms of presentation, and Tenebre and Phenomena are both the special edition discs released individually at the same time as this collection. The features are acceptable, but the films speak for themselves: Argento is one of the essential progenitors of modern horror, speaking with a unique style and voice. His work is pulp, yes, but it's elegant pulp, placing him in league with Carpenter, Romero, and Craven. They're genre films, but they're good ones.

Special note: Phenomena is far and away the best of these five. It is notable as an Argento classic, as an early Jennifer Connelly film, as a non-Halloween Donald Pleasence picture, and as one of the most delightfully (and most twisted) unpredictable thrillers I've ever seen. It's a slasher flick, a supernatural fantasy, and...

Must have for Argento Fans!!
This is a great 5 dvd collection of Dario Argento's films. It comes in a very nice slim tin holder. This could be a primer for new Argento fans. If you love Italian cinema Argento films are a must!! Tenebre and Phenomena are the headliners here. Tenebre was unavailable on dvd for quite a few years and demanded top dollar on eBay ( I paid $35.00). Tenebre and Phenomena are my favorite films in this collection and Tenebre is my favorite Argento film next to Suspiria. Trauma is decent and boasts some great performances. The Card Player is tense and well-made. Do You Like Hitchcock? is very good considering it was made for Italian TV. All have been remastered and cool extras. Oh and I have to mention Argento has a penchant for having some of the best soundtrack music too!! Pick this set up you will not be disappointed. Then pick up all of his other films too!!!
Can't wait for his newer one to hit dvd, Mother Of Tears! I get to see it in the theatres late June : )

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The Night They Raided Minsky's



See it for the atmosphere - and the turns
Jason Robardes shines as the well-meaning if manipulative comedian and Britt Ekland is slightly miscast as an innocent Amish girl. The story is however subsidiary to the beautifully created setting of a burlesque night club. The music in particular enhances the atmosphere as do the claustrophobic sets and authentic performances.
The film loses focus because of its length and the sheer number of stars. Sometimes it seems Elliot Gould is the star, sometimes, Robardes. But the nominal stars of the film are upstaged by both Norman Wisdom who throws everything into his performance, and the great Bert Lahr, more well-known as the cowardly lion from the Wizard Of Oz, who died during filming. This is not a deep film, but an affectionate (and reportedly accurate) portrait of a time gone by.

This is comedy and nostalgia at its best! Genuine Good Time!
Seeing Britt Ekland step off the subway and observe the sights of the Lower East Side as the picture slips from color to black & white in the opening scene is great to see again after many years is refreshing! I have to admit that this is one of my favorite films and William Friedkin's zestful direction and Bert Lahr's splendid appearance as Professor Spats is truly a great thing to see. Allthough the subject of the early days of striptease isn't the best subject for families, this could work out to be a good family film (!!) and for people willing to find out what burlesque and vaudeville was actually like, this Norman Lear ("The Jeffersons") production is a visual treat. This is funny, vibrant, and highly nostalgic! See it and I can guarantee that you'll enjoy it. Take my word for it.

Robards and Wisdom, jiggles and bumps, great songs...and how the strip tease was born
The lights dim. The curtain goes up. The girls are on stage. The spot hits the tux-wearing tenor, silver haired and a little plump.
"I have a secret recipe
Concocted with much skill
And once you've tried my special dish
You'll never get your fill...

"Take ten terrific girls, but only nine costumes, and you're cooking up something grand..."

The Night They Raided Minsky's is a valentine to the long-gone burlesque houses of the Twenties. Naughty, bawdy and surprisingly innocent, filled with chorus girls who might generously be called a little past their prime, with plenty of belly work, with comedians and their second bananas, with pratfalls, seltzer bottles and song and dance acts. This Norman Lear/William Friedkin/Ralph Rosenblum movie has it all. It even has a story. Most of all, it has some great songs by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, wonderful performances by Jason Robards and Norman Wisdom, and a collection of pungent characters played by...

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Diary of a Spider... and More Cute Critter Stories (Scholastic Storybook Treasures)



Great Story
I used this video after reading the story to my preschoolers. They love the chance to expreince the book come to life.





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Rawhide: Season Three, Vol. 1



The greatest western series of all time!
The greatest western there has ever been or will ever be is Rawhide!
Outstanding western series! Keep them coming Paramount! We are loving it! It's true that Gil and Rowdy rule and Rawhide is #1!

episodes from the first half of Season 3
Season 3, Episode 1: Incident at Rojo Canyon
Season 3, Episode 2: Incident of the Challenge
Season 3, Episode 3: Incident at Dragoon Crossing
Season 3, Episode 4: Incident of the Night Visitor
Season 3, Episode 5: Incident of the Slavemaster
Season 3, Episode 6: Incident on the Road to Yesterday
Season 3, Episode 7: Incident at Superstition Prairie
Season 3, Episode 8: Incident at Poco Tiempo
Season 3, Episode 9: Incident of the Captive
Season 3, Episode 10: Incident of the Buffalo Soldier
Season 3, Episode 11: Incident of the Broken Word
Season 3, Episode 12: Incident at the Top of the World
Season 3, Episode 13: Incident Near the Promised Land
Season 3, Episode 14:...

More Rolling, rolling
Great news, Rawhide keeps rolling on despite the moaners attempting to stop us buying the sets. We appreciate full seasons are great, but any Rawhide is fantastic. Season 3 is excellent and Eric Fleming really gets under the skin of the Trail Boss, Gil Favor. Some great sombre episodes here. Charles Marquis Warren's last year as producer and it features some of the finest episodes. And yes, the drive really does reach Sedalia. Plus one of the greatest episodes ever- Incident of the Fish out of Water featuring Gil Favor returning to the home of his two daughters. A wonderfully, poignant episode. One tip search out a few other sites. You will find this set a few dollars cheaper.Get out there and ride again with the drovers of Rawhide.

Rawhide season 3 volume 1
Rawhide: Season Three, Vol. 1
In my opinion Rawhide was one of the three greatest westerns of all time right ahead of Bonanza but behind Gunsmoke. I got hooked on it when it used to be shown on the Hallmark Channel. The stories basically revolve around the cattle drive, the drovers, and their interactions with the different people they meet along the trail. The stories are very interesting and take us back to a time I wished I had lived in. Very well written show and the only one of its kind.

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Friday, September 27, 2013

Blessed! Still, We Believe 2



A Must-See for Red Sox and Baseball Fans
Granted I'm a Sox fan, so I'm biased, but I think any baseball fan would enjoy this movie (except maybe Yankees fans). You get to experience the highlights of a great baseball season and the beauty of Fenway Park, but most importantly the excitement, camaraderie, and sheer joy of the fans. Also has player interviews, lots of cameos, and a really great follow-up appearance from one of the fans from the first Still We Believe movie.

Nothing like the original
This movie is nothing like the original. It's just random interviews with people watching the game. Almost like a corporate commercial for the Red Sox. I can't believe they pass this off as a sequel. I couldn't even finish the movie. It was horrible.

The Red Sox: Still, We Believe 2
If you want a really good laugh and you love baseball, this DVD is for you. Funny, smart and easy to follow, no true Sox fan should be without this DVD. Mike Barnacle interviews several Sox fans during games. Having worked at Fenway Park for a summer, watching these scenes brought back fond memories.

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World's Fairs



World's Fairs DVD -- A Rip-Off
Don't buy this unless you like being disappointed. Looks like the producers got hold of marginal vintage films with a slight relation to world's fairs and threw them together without bothering to edit. For example, the Chicago 1933 footage starts out fairly well but becomes more and more amateurish until suddenly you see the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, a family, the Manhattan skyline -- somebody's home movie of their vacation, both boring and irrelevant. The New York 1939 section consists mainly of industrial films that (possibly) were shown at the fair (the DVD producers don't bother identifying them) but have nothing to show of the fair itself. The Seattle World's Fair section is one - ONE - Bell Telephone corporate film mainly hawking the telephone services of tomorrow. That's it. Whoever produced this DVD is shameless --it's mostly junk, and even I, one of the hardest-core of world's fair enthusiasts, gave up trying to watch it. Worth the price? Not even...

All's FAIR
ST. CLAIR's WORLD'S FAIRS is a three DVD set that features vintage highlights of several 20th Century expositions. These short films (dating as far back as 1915) were originally used for promotional purposes. Visitors to the fairs often saw displays of the latest dazzling technologies, and were given glimpses into a future that even now has never been fully realized.

ALSO RECOMMENDED:
The two-hour PBS documentary, THE WORLD'S GREATEST FAIR is a fascinating in-depth look at the 1904 St. Louis exposition where such novelties as the Ferris Wheel, Dr. Pepper, the ice cream cone, peanut butter, iced tea and cotton candy were introduced to the general public.

PROGRAM CONTENTS of "World's Fairs":

DISC ONE--
SAN FRANCISCO - 1915:
Panama-Pacific International Exposition Revisited
The Story of Jewel City
San Francisco World's Fair

CHICAGO - 1933:
A...

pittodrie
this is pretty good.at times roams randomly,but for the reviewer who complained about this,I say "what would you expect from 95 year old film"?all films this old that I have seen move along in triple time.I am personally grateful for this film,I love all old real time footage.3 hours of footage that I had never seen for about $8(used)is not a ripoff.I recommend this not because of the film organisation,but for it's intrinsic,nostalgic value.

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Rambo - The Complete Collector's Set (First Blood - Ultimate Edition / Rambo - First Blood Part II - Ultimate Edition / Rambo III - Ultimate Edition / John Rambo - Special Edition)



Straightening Out The Subterfuge
This review will not focus on critiques of the Rambo films, but rather on the details of the various digital home video releases. Since there have been three Rambo complete collection DVD sets and a blu-ray set so far, the contents of the various releases can be a quandary for fans. In 2002, Artisan originally released all 3 movies in a Rambo Trilogy Special Edition DVD Collection. This was an incredible set put together as nothing short of a labor of love. Not only were the movies digitally re-mastered, but the set came with an abundance of special features including commentaries, documentaries, and trailers, most of which were included in a bonus 4th disc. In 2004, Artisan released the Rambo Trilogy Ultimate Edition DVD Set after the Special Edition DVD set went out of print. The Ultimate set was primarily a waste of money for many...

Not nearly "COMPLETE".....
I love the Rambo movies but I have to address something about this new so called "Complete" set coming out on July 27. This new Rambo - The Complete Collector's Set on Blu-ray Disc appears to just be the 4 movies that are out now on blu-ray put into one package. You can actually go ahead and buy the four movies on blu-ray and get everything that is included in this set only in single cases instead of waiting for this green box or 4 disc case or whatever it is exactly. I really doubt it will be a metal tin case like the Complete Collector's Set that came out on DVD a few years back.

Also to be labeled as "Complete" there are a few very obvious things missing.

First off, the biggest and most obvious omission is the new Rambo - Extended Cut that is being released on Blu-ray on its own the exact same day as this set. That's right, a whole new version of the fourth movie with 90 minutes of new extra features and it's being left out. Why it was not included in this...

Explosive!
The Rambo series will forever be classics in film. Simply put, this boxed set is not only a must have for the Rambo fan, rather anyone who enjoys great flicks! This set includes all 4 installments in the Rambo series and packs quite the punch on each disk.

The Good: Includes First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III, and Rambo. All updated in HD and looking amazing. Sound is awesome in surround sound and seems cleaned up over the dvd boxed set. Plenty of bonus features to dive into as well. Awesome packaging keeps the case thin and compact unlike some other sets that feel the need to take up "book-sized" space on your shelf.

The Bad: Only thing I don't like is that the version of Rambo(2008) included is simply disc one of the collectors edition. If like me, you like your bonus features you may want to grab the Rambo Trilogy [Blu Ray] instead and opt for the 2 disc version of Rambo.

Other than that, this has been one of my favorite...

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Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition) [Blu-ray]



The Dream Continues...
For those of you who aren't familiar with DREAMGIRLS it was a hit Broadway musical, created in 1981, based "loosely" on the real monster girl group The Supremes, Berry Gordy and Motown. And although it took almost 25 years to make, the movie version is spectacular.

Following the meteoric rise of the fictitious "Dreams," the story takes place in Detroit in 1962 and ends in Los Angeles in 1975. In between you witness the joy, sorrow and bitterness--as some dreams die, while others live. And being a period movie, DREAMGIRLS doesn't feel dated or unrealistic. It captures the excitement and turbulence of the 60s or at least the romanticized ideal of it...perfectly.

Anyway enough about the movie and on to the DVD.

This dvd set contains two dvds:

***DVD #1 FEATURE FILM; 12 EXTENDED/ADDITIONAL MUSICAL NUMBERS

I won't list the 12 songs but the title track "Dreamgirls" and the show stopper "And I Am Telling You..." are not part of this 12...

Eddie Can Sing!
Musicals aren't really my thing. Many feel forced as the cast breaks out into song at the most bizarre of times. Cheesy is perhaps the best descriptor, but occasionally I enjoy a good toe-tapping flick if it's done right. And DREAMGIRLS is definitely done right. It certainly ranks up there with MOULIN ROUGE and CHICAGO as one of the more recently successful musical films, it too being a period piece (covering the late 50s through the early 70s).

Acting in these style of films tends to lend itself more to dance moves than actual roleplaying of characters, but there are two highly mentionable performances in Dreamgirls: first time actress Jennifer Hudson of American Idol fame, and a major comeback role for Eddie Murphy. Hudson took home Best Actress trophies from The Golden Globes, The BAFTAs, The Screen Actors Guild and The Oscars for her portrayal of Effie White, the powerful and ultimately embittered lead singer for The Dreamettes. Eddie Murphy as James "Thunder" Early is...

It's Wonderful Entertainment
"Dreamgirls," originally a hit Broadway production in the 1980s, is a lavish musical inspired by the history of Motown and its super group The Supremes. Like the songs in "Grace of My Heart" which is clearly based on the career of Carole King, the soundtrack music of "Dreamgirls," good as it is, can't match the power of the real Motown sound. Actually the film's musical numbers hardly sound like Motown Sound, but still some of them are real showstoppers thanks to the film's gifted stars, especially the dynamic singing voice of Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson.

In "Dreamgirls" you should not expect much from the story, which runs a familiar course of superstars or celebrities, with the meteoric rise of three R&B singers (played by Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni Rose) to the fame and their subsequent troubles and ego-clashing within the members and their shrewd, business-minded producer/manager (Jamie Foxx). It is a same old story you have heard somewhere...

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Voltron: Beast King Go Lion Volume 1



Not your daddy's Voltron
From days of long ago. From uncharted regions of the universe....you know the rest. Or do you?....

In this day and age, it's nice to go down memory lane. DVDs has paved the way to relive moments through lots of restoration and remastering. We're also in an age where certain shows and movies are being released unrated, uncut and uncensored. Beast King Golion is one of those examples.

Golion, originally released in the early 1980's, wasn't one of Japan's most popular shows, but it proved to be a smash hit in the United States and internationally when it was redubbed and edited to create the universe of Voltron-Defender of the Universe. Created by the legendary and world-famous Toei Animation Co., the entire mythos of Golion's rise and fall of power is explained a whole lot better in Golion than Voltron.

Some questions are definitely answered with this release:
(1) Do people evacuate safely? Sometimes yes, but mostly no.
(2) Did a certain...

Go Lion Gattai!!!
King Beast Go Lion 1 is a collection of 18 episodes in their original japanese, uncut for the older anime fan. Though this show was translated into Voltron, defender of the middle galaxy, you get a tiny bit more of the story here with Golion. Without going through a boat load of spoilers and storyline differences, the feel of the two shows are the same and different at the same time.

With GoLion, it was obvious that toy makers wanted to market giant combination robots toys that had swords and interchangable pieces. Some of the screen shots showing the recycled footage of the robot combining can be so campy, you can almost physically see yourself snapping together and holding golion while you blast the deathblack beastman to smitereens.

Aside from the standard recycled footage, the decapitations, cannibalism, and ultra violence that anime is known for, there is something else. It was refreshing to see a super sentai series that actually allow the characters to...

1+1+1+1+1 GOLION!! :)
The cartoon I grew up on improved with all of the cutting room floor goodies added back in.

The names are all different, it's more graphic, and now you have to read subtitles, but it's so much fun..the camp value here is off the charts.

Throw in some Japanese cheese, mixed with some 70's disco funk and some 80's synth and you've got yourself a classic anime, with a FUN soundtrack/score.

Basically an unedited flashback from a Japanese perspective.

SUGOI!! :)

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Almost An Angel



Out of Print Video needing a DVD makeover
Most US audiences first tast of Paul Hogan was in the hugely succesful Crocodile Dundee, with Mr Hogan in the title role. Although this movie tries to ride on the shirt tails of that success, it is actually a very well made, and self standing production. Paul began his career many years earlier on Australian TV in his own show which was a series of sketches, observations, and almost a down under version of a one man Saturday night live. Anyone familiar with this early material will enjoy the mix of subtle antipodean humor, and at times slapstick sight gags in this picture. But this is NO Dundee style flick, despite the repeated pairing of Hogan and Kozlowski (as the love interest)and is a light, poignant and thought provoking storyline. Another great strength is the moral comment that is discreetly delivered, without being overly sentimental, or patronising. Hogan plays a reformed petty thief who is convinced he has died and been delivered back to Earth to make amends for his wayward...

Paul Hogan tries to play someone other than Mick Dundee
In 1986 Paul Hogan moved from being the spokesman for Australian tourism on the small screen to the surprise star of the surprise hit theatrical film, "Crocodile Dundee." Two years later he made "Crocodile Dundee II," and two years after that he made this comedy and married his constant co-star Linda Kozlowski. "Almost an Angel" is a better film than "Crocodile Dundee II," and certainly the most intimate of Hogan's first three films.

This time around he plays Terry Dean, an expert on security systems who was so good his criminal endeavors were easily recognizable who also took a turn at some creative attempts at bank robbery. The real story begins when Terry gets out of prison and becomes convinced that he has not only died but has been sent back to Earth by a heavenly being (who sure sounds and looks like Charlton Heston) with a chance to redeem himself. Since Hogan clearly believes this is what is going along, there is no reason for us...

Classic Paul Hogan Movie
As far as I am concerned this is a classic film that ranks up there with It's a Wonderful Life. It has it's sad moments but is for the most part upbeat and funny. It is Paul Hogan at his best. I just wish they would put it out on DVD. If you are a Paul Hogan fan you can't help but love this film.

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