The Office: Season Four

A truncated, but great season
It's that time of year again - a magical time when television studios release their most successful shows from the previous season in deluxe and frequently expensive DVD sets. But this last seasons was, of course, different. The writers strike cut the season down to 16 episodes and, as expected, many are starting to complain that the price hasn't been discounted. Paying the same price for less product does seem unfair. That is, to everyone but the media industry. As for me, I'm not surprised in the slightest. I expect to be exploited by the media - it's nothing new. The real question is, with all Office season four episodes already available on NBC's website, will people feel cheated enough to forgo this collection altogether?

Season four seemed like something of a departure from the usual style. Earlier seasons featured many episodes with a more-or-less self-contained story that came to some sort of resolution within 21 minutes. Season four seemed to be mainly episodes...

Target version with 5th disc Q&A
Disappointing season compared to 1,3, and especially 2? Probably. Overpriced box set considering the shortened season due to the writer's strike? Definitely. Still one of the best shows on tv and still worth owning? Ye-esh. So should you buy it now or discounted later?

Well, i'm a fan of The Office and have all 4 seasons on dvd(recently addicted so i had to play catch-up). This was a day-1 purchase for me only because i love the show; and because i had a gift card and some discounts coming to me. I bought the special edition at Target with the bonus 5th disc being The Office Q&A convention in Scranton, PA with the supporting cast. If you don't know what to expect(i didn't), above all else don't expect professionalism or anything fancy. The convention looked huge and was packed with Office fans! The camera-work had a very "we coulda done this with a camcorder"-look to it. It has the standard host/audience's questions format. It lasts about an hour and is fun if...

Great Show! Terrible service!
First off, let me say I am completely in love with The Office, and it is one of my favorite TV shows in recent history. The plot is engaging, the story entertaining and the characters very memorable. Even people who have not seen the first few seasons would not miss much if they start with the fourth season.

However, my review is more of the Unbox Amazon player and service than the TV show itself.

I write episode recaps and review of the office for a small fan website and even though I watch the show on TV when it first airs, I like to have a copy of it to rewatch again while I am writing. Last season I used the iTunes season pass to accomplish this, but since the Office is not available on iTunes this year, I decided to download the video from Amazon instead.

My first impressions were very good! It was very easy to plug in my current account information into their one-click shopping and buy the episode. However, I then had to download their...

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The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Testosterone Overdrive
Lucas Black (the kid from the "American Gothic" TV series and the "X-Files" movie) has matured into a charismatic young actor with a brooding screen presence. He does a terrific job picking up the franchise torch from Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in this killer sequel, a well crafted guilty pleasure that delivers the Fast and Furious goods.

Sexy, colorful, edgy, expertly paced, with a great opening sequence and a knockout ending, "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" is formula genre filmmaking at its absolute finest. The movie has a beautiful female lead (Nathalie Kelley), cool sidekicks, wonderfully over the top villains, and a great setting (the filmmakers do a great job utilizing the Tokyo locations).

This movie is a real rush of adrenaline. A wicked guilty pleasure that lives up to its title.

won't win any awards, but quite entertaining and well put together
The cast in this movie was extremely well chosen, and they all acted very well. Sean is a reckless, charming, somewhat troubled teenager, but he doesn't come across as stupid and careless--despite his angst and frequent bungles, he is immediately likable. When a car race with a peer at his school results in two wrecked cars and extensive damage to a local construction site, the only alternative he has to jail is to move to Tokyo and live with a relative (his father, I thought, but maybe his uncle...).

In Tokyo, Sean quickly discovers the racing scene. After trashing a race car, he has no choice but to work for Han, the car's owner, as compensation. Han is by far the best character in this movie, to the point that he seems out of place--you just don't expect a character THAT good in this sort of action flick. Han is a whimsical, philosophical and intense character. He completely upstages Sean and almost from the first moment you see him, calmly eating his chips while...

Revved Up
Loud, Brash, Noisy, Sexy, Morally Murky, Bursting with Energy and Guts, Justin Lin's (the terrific "Better Luck Tomorrow") take on episode 3 of the "Fast and Furious" franchise is a great way to spend a hot Summer afternoon along with a gallon size soft drink and a tub of Popcorn.

Here Lin is in Tokyo with the stoic, deadpan line reading Lucas Black (as the booted out of the US to avoid Juvenile detention, Shane Boswell...a car nut addicted to driving fast and grinning like a Cheshire cat) who, of course finds the local car culture and its inhabitants by way of a school pal, Twinkie played by the appealing Bow-Wow. And he just as quickly falls in with the "wrong crowd" consisting of Han, a sort of Sensei to Shane (the enigmatic and excellent Sung Kang from "Face" and "Better Luck Tomorrow"), and the villain of the piece, Yamata played with his face crunched and a constant sneer by Sonny Chiba. Then there is the lovely Neela (Nathalie Kelley...a dead ringer for FFI's...

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Transformers: The Complete Series

What You Should Know Before You Buy!
Transformers: The Complete Series is a new 15-DVD collection featuring all 98 remastered original Transformers episodes (and respective special features) from the following:

Transformers: The Complete First Season (25th Anniversary Edition)
Transformers: Season Two, Volume One (25th Anniversary Edition)
Transformers: Season Two, Volume Two (25th Anniversary Edition)
Transformers: Seasons Three & Four (25th Anniversary Edition)

Touted as an "unlimited" general retail release to replace the limited Transformers: The Complete Series (25th Anniversary Matrix of Leadership Edition), this 15-disc...

The Original Transformers Generation One Series!
I can't say enough about this cartoon! If you remember the original Transformers : Generation One cartoon from the 1980s, This is must have animated DVD set! The Transformers The complete series dvd set (1984-1987) is the original version. This is not the Michael Bay/Steven Spielberg live-action movies. Peter Cullen is the voice of Optimus Prime and Ironhide. Frank Welker is the original voice of Megatron and many other Decepticons. This set includes all 98 episodes of the original Transformers series. Bonus features include:
Rare Public Service Announcements
Archival Toy Commercials
Art Galleries
Retrospective Features
From the Secret Files of Teletran 2
PSAs
Toy Commericals
Art Galleries and many more features
A++++++Buy the Transformers the complete series DVD set Today!

Autobots Transform And Roll Out
This is a awesome show probably one of the best i've seen in a long time. it's not called a classic for nothing. if you have not seen this show then i recommend you do. the best episodes in this show are the following

Season 1

1. More Than Meets The Eye Part 1
2. More Than Meets The Eye Part 2
3. More than Meets The Eye Part 3
4. Transport To Oblivion
5. Roll for It
6. Divide and Conquer
7. Fire In The Sky
8. S.O.S. Dinobots
9. Fire On The Mountain
10. War Of The Dinobots
11. The Ultimate Doom Part 1: Brianwash
12. The Ultimate Doom Part 2: Search
13. The Ultimate Doom Part 3: Revival
14. Countdown To Extinction
15. A Plague Of Insecitcons
16. Heavy Metal War

Season 2 vol 1

1. Autobot Spike
2. The Immobilizer
3. Dinobot Island Part 1
4. Dinobot Island Part 2
5. Traitor
6. Enter The Nightbird
7. Changing Gears
8. A Prime Problem...

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Futurama: Volume 7

Here Are the Bonus Features!
As of now, Amazon is not listing the many bonus features in this set. So here they are!
(1) Crazy commentary on all episodes (as usual)
(2) FUTURAMA KARAOKE: Sing along with numerous classic Futurama musical numbers, with or without the original vocals.
(3) ALTERNATE ENDING: View episode 7ACV05, "Zapp Dingbat", with either the as-broadcast ending, or the original, never-before-seen ending that was changed before broadcast.
(4) Christopher Tyng's Big Score: Meet Futurama's brilliant composer Chris Tyng in his Studio
(5) FUTURAMA INFINITE LOOPS - Turn your TV into a Futurama Aquarium or Terrarium with Futurama-inspired wildlife.
(6) "TOO GOOD FOR TV" - A Treasury of Deleted Scenes

"It's Tragedy on a Bun!"
I've been anticipating this set for a long time and it's great to finally have these episodes to watch over and over again. Each volume has been stronger than the last and this is arguably my favorite of the new seasons. This time around we get to see Bender become a father (with surprising results), Leela get involved in the political process, Bender exploring free will, Hermes replacing his body with robot parts, and the entire crew as wild animals. Like any season, some episodes are stronger than others but there are laughs to be found in every one. We really get to see Fry and Leela's relationship on a deeper level and we learn more about the Professor's upbringing, as well as Zoidberg's affection for Hermes, who hates him in return. It's sweet, it's hilarious, and it's creative, all trademarks of the show we've known and loved for years.

The set itself is designed just the like the others, with the fold-out design and colorful images of the characters. I prefer to have...

THE GREATEST SHOW IN THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!
Futurama is my favorite show, I cannot believe they are cancelling it. That is why I am posting this review, so I can be a supporter of the show and say "KEEP THE SHOW GOING!"

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Great Adaptation
Milos Forman has always had a knack for assembling great ensemble casts. This is particularly true in his most critically acclaimed releases (Taking Off, Amadeus and this film). It would be difficult indeed to come up with actors and actresses who were better suited to fill the roles in OFOTCN. This is true in terms of both the stars, Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher, and the secondary characters. Who could have been a better Harding than William Redfield? A better Billy Bibbit than Brad Dourif? A better Cheswick than Sydney Lassick? And most especially, a better Chief Bromden than Will Sampson?

I rank this movie as the best of the best of what I consider to be American Cinema's golden decade, the 70s. It certainly won the widest acclaim, with its sweep of the major Oscars for 1975 (Nicholson also won best actor from the New York Film Critics voters that year).

Not to be overlooked is the fantastic job performed by the film's adaptors, Bo Goldman and Lawrence Hauben, who...

Sights, Sounds and Images in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

The film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is adapted from a novel of the same name written by Ken Kesey. The movie carries with it symbolism through color, sounds, and images and the casting could not have been more proper. Jack Nicholson is cast in the lead role as Randle Patrick McMurphy, a ne'er-do-well who goes into a mental institution to finish off his jail sentence. He figures it will be more slack than the work farm. His nemesis is Nurse Ratched, cast and played extraordinarily by Louise Fletcher. The movie does well in incorporating feelings and colors that surround the viewer with the mental institution's atmosphere. And the sounds and images put forth by director Milos Forman add to that ambiance. One of the film's biggest successes lies in the cinematography (or lack thereof). Virtually all the scenes, even when the inmates go outside, are bleak and dreary. The lighting in the institution is the fluorescent,...

BAD HAIR, GREAT FILM
It has taken me nearly 30 years to get round to watching this film, and I genuinely think I appreciate it more for being that much older. It has had accolades for everything -- plot, direction, filming, casting, acting. It deserves them all. It is nothing short of compulsive. The bad guy who has not lost his soul (much less his spirit) is pitted against the embodiment of sanctimonious righteousness who never had a soul to lose.

I wonder whether Nicholson has even yet had full recognition for the truly great actor he is (how many people have even seen The King of Marvin Gardens, for instance?) His screen presence is enormous, magnetic and menacing. He combines outsize testosteronic individuality with the ability to get inside a character, and an electric sense of threat with a real power to tug at the heart-strings. Bad he may be, but unsympathetic never. He is a very big little guy, but he is still the little guy against the system. It must be impossible, surely, to upstage that...

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FIREPLACE: CLASSIC

The Star of this Movie Blazes on the Screen
This movie is a quiet tale of burning passion and smoldering longing. The star of this movie is just on fire! His dramatic flare does a great job of communicating the all consuming conflagation of his character's glowing existence. Not only does this flick's star set the screen ablaze with his talent, but he is also smokin' hot.

I know I may get some flames for this review, but if you don't get this on your Kindle Fire, you're really missing out.

THE BEST & MOST REALISTIC FIREPLACE DVD
Fast shipping for an excellent quality dvd that arrived
in great shape. The Fireplace for your Home - Classic Edition
looks and sounds like a real fireplace AND plays continously if
you choose, so you can have the fireplace playing for as long as you like, without having to fuss with your dvd player. This dvd is of a better quality than the other brand of fireplace dvd which I purchased. This one's a really good buy & a pleasure to use.

Finally, a Clean, Smoke Free Fireplace in my home
I love this video. What a wonderful idea. It looks and sounds like the real thing and the best part -it is without the work, smoke or soot. Now I want to build a fireplace around my TV!

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Whisper of the Heart

An unforgetable, heartwarming, coming of age film from Studio Ghibli
Whisper of the heart is one of the most sensitive, heartwarming and beautiful films ever made. Based on a shojo manga by Aoi Hiiragi, Written and produced by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Yoshifumi Kondo, whisper of the heart is a tale of self discovery and coming of age of a high school girl Shizuku who is not sure what she wants in life. A series of dramatic events bring her closer to a guy Seiji from her own school. Together they embark on a journey which will help them find their inner potentials, realize their dreams and also love for each other. Also featured in the movie is an old man who runs an antique shop stocked with amazing treasures, including a magnificient porcelain figurine "the baron" (also featured in "The cat returns). Both of these characters play an important role in the film. Though "The cat returns" is kind of follow up to "whisper" yet for some reason it was released on dvd before "whisper".

Rarely is a film as honest and realistic as whisper of...

A Gem
This movie, produced by Studio Ghibli (the same company that produces Miyazaki's movies) is a gem. Unlike all of Miyazaki's movies, this one tells in a very poetic way a story about credible young people, their coming of age, and their growing awareness on their dreams and aspirations. It is also a beatiful love story between two children who are discovering that they seem to be made for each other.

This is also one of those movies that will remind you of your school years, and I find amazing the accuracy with which children's emotions are depicted. Indeed, this is something I really appreciate about most of these Japanese directors: the ability of depicting children for what they are, rather than as cute mature and witty "little" adults, as much of Hollywood instead does.

As in virtually all of Studio Ghibli's movies, the drawings are beautiful, some of them breathtaking, and the characters are lovable and well constructed. One of the major "characters" is a cat...

An inspirational, beautiful coming-of-age film
I am so glad that this Studio Ghibli gem is finally getting a U.S. release, so that it can get an even wider audience.

Unlike some better known Ghibli productions such as Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, Whisper of the Heart has very few fantasy elements; it's a story that is very 'real'. The setting of Whisper Of The Heart (original title: Mimi wo Sumaseba) is a typical Tokyo suburb, and the main protagonists are Suzuka and Seiji, a girl and a boy in junior high school. Suzuka is not quite sure yet what she wants to do with her life, but Seiji on the other hand has already found his lifes work. The themes this movie cover are universal, such as:

What does it mean to have, and pursue a dream? What is the use of education? What does it mean to love someone? And so on.

This is a perfect family movie also, for kids over age 10 or so and up. The pace may be a bit too leisurely for younger kids and they may not quite get the themes of ambition, etc as...

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Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu - Season 1

Missing 1st 2 episodes!
My 5 1/2yo son loves Ninjago and was so excited to get this DVD! We've been recording the episodes on tv, but I wanted something to take in the car when we travel. The episodes are great and appropriate for his age (my 3yo also likes watching them) but the 1st two episodes are not on the DVD! I supposed that's why it's not described as "The COMPLETE 1st season." Somewhat frustrating. Now I need to purchase the original DVD, Masters of Spinjitzu, which I did not realize until I looked it up on amazon. I think a little bit of misleading advertising.

A Must-Have for any Ninjago Fan!
Before I get on with the review, I must point out that I am the son of Screaming Viking.
Ninjago: Season 1 is an awesome set of episodes. It is somewhat kid-friendly, though there is some kicking and punching in it (against the bad-guys). Even though I am over 13 years of age, this season was a load of fun for me. There is a lot of character developement and story besides the martial arts, if you are worried that this is just going to be another Power Rangers-like series. Do you like Lego Ninjago? If the answer is yes, then this product is definately for you. Also, check out the Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitsu DVD. I have watched every single episode of Ninjago, and I must say that these TV specials are worth seeing over and over again.

I wish I would have seen them first...
My kids love Lego Ninjago. We have bought almost all of the books and they have read them over and over. They have several sets and they spend hours playing with them (and eyeing new sets!).

When my son was about to turn eight, I saw this this product online and was really excited to get it for him for his birthday; I knew he would love it. We had never seen any of the episodes, and I wish I would have watched some first. My kids - they love them. As a mom, I don't like some of the humor and overtones. There are things that are rude or mean used as humor. There is disrespect and complaining to their sensei. Jay whines about losing the high scores on his video games like it is the end of the world.

The first time we watched it I was just cringing in parts and feeling like I wanted it to be the first time and last time they watched it. It isn't over the top terrible, just has enough things that I do not want my children adopting to concern me. Kids are so...

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2 Fast 2 Furious

Hot guys and Hot cars
2 fast 2 furious lives up to its title- somewhat. it isn't the fastest or the most furious, but it's airheaded and fluffy enough to move quickly without being attatched to the strings of an actual plot.

But its lack of an intriguing storyline doesn't destroy its fun factor. the souped up hot rods polished to a fine sheen speeding down the streets of miami make for some rather satisfying guilty pleasures.

And if you'd rather feast your eyes on something more than oversized hot wheels in a rainbow of colors, you won't be disappointed. the men have the pleasures of drooling a little puddle over shapely women, but we girls definately aren't left out in the cold.

Studly Paul walker with his charmingly innocent grin, and his accomplis Tyrese with his toned body (and urge to constantly rip his shirt off) would make any girl faint (if they weren't sitting in a chair)

if you want something quick, that doesn't require too much thought, is loaded with eye candy, light hearted, fun,...

Rev 'er Up!
Fueled by the libidinous gas of Tyrese and Paul Walker, John Singleton's sequel to "The Fast and the Furious," "2 Fast 2 Furious" proves that Fast Cars, Fast Guys and Fast Women can still equal a pretty good movie. We're not talking "The Hours" or "Talk to Her" here, but I can think of several more expensive to make and/or bigger star vehicles that don't have this movie's charisma and charm.
"2F2F" is shot in Caribbean, super bright primary colors and the Car race and chase scenes are as outstanding as those in "Ronin" and that is saying a lot. And even though some of the line readings are dull and non-ironic, Tyrese definitely emerges as a genuine talent.
If there are any Drive-ins left in the world (and I hope there are)...this is the perfect drive-in movie: take a date, buys some dogs, popcorn, good-and-plenty and a vat of Soda and enjoy.

2 much 2 excitement
Just as good as the first one, to bad Vin Diesel did not stay on. But Paul Walker, that handsome man, was great. I would recommend everyone to look at that movie also.

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Parks and Recreation: Season Four

One of the Best Comedies on Television
Who would have thought 3 years ago that Parks and Recreation would one day be better than The Office? To anyone who has seen Seasons 2 or 3 of Parks and Recreation, this shouldn't be a surprise; this show is one of the best comedies on air right now.

And Season 4 does not disappoint.

At the end of Season 3, Leslie Knope is asked to run for public office with city council elections on the horizon. The first episode of Season 4 picks this thread up directly: the crux of this season centers around Leslie running for office. Unlike previous seasons, this one has a very real and cogent through-line; every episode advances this storyline to some degree. While some of these episodes are serialized in nature, they also do stand alone as fantastic episodes of television. The writing on this show involves a great mixture of wit, awkwardness, absurdity, and sentiment. While many of us were worried that the budding romance between Leslie and Ben would be cheesy and...

BURT MACKLIN, FBI!
Parks and Rec is always hilarious, everyone knows that. Between the great Ron Swanson, Leslie, Andy, and every other character on the show, Parks is one of the finest comedies currently on television. Season four showed no drop in quality whatsoever. And on top of all of the brilliant comedy, it also had some very touching emotional moments that are hard to forget. I love this show!!

And how can I forget to mention Paul Rudd's fantastic performance as Bobby Newport Jr! The guy was hilarious and I predict a best guest actor in a comedy Emmy nod for him!

Always fun!
I'm hooked on this show. Always funny, clever and quick. I look forward to Season Five! 4 more words required.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Two-Disc Limited Edition)

Dead Men Tell New Tales
The very end of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" was more like the end of a play's first act, after which the audience had to endure a nine month intermission. The second act--"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"--begins practically where the last film left off, in which Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) made an unexpected return after Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) was swallowed by the kraken. Not surprisingly, such a surprise ending got me all revved up for yet another round of swashbuckling fun, and I spent the year on pins and needles. If only this new film lived up to my expectations: while it is very entertaining, and while it is still worth recommending for sheer escapism, I'd be lying if I said that it matches the quality of the first two films.

Part of the problem is that everything about this film is simply too big. The number of new characters alone is quite distracting, especially since they all make important contributions to the story. The...

Don't waste money on the 2-disc Edition
Unless you are a die-hard PotC fan, don't waste extra money on the 2-disc Special Edition thinking it will have hours of extras, behind the scenes, and other extraneous material. It doesn't. With all the features combined, it doesn't even amount to an hour's worth of material. Just buy the standard Pirates 3 DVD, and save $15.00

Unlike the Pirates 2 DVD, there is NO Making-Of Documentary, which was a major letdown. The featurettes on the Pirates 3 DVD are short, and moderately interesting. "The Making of Sao Feng's Map" ?? Yeaah.. greaaat.

How about some background on the many visual effects (Davy Jones, the Black Pearl flipping underwater, Callypso's transformation, the meeting of the two fleets in battle, etc). Instead we get featurettes that are lacking, somewhat boring, and utterly short.

I don't know if it was a budget thing, or what, but most movies with the production scale of Pirates 3 put a camera crew behind the scenes for a...

Incredible Epic brought to you in Dazzling Detail
The Pirates of the Caribbean series has been enjoyable from the very beginning. With the incredible non-stop action and good acting. The third in the series is an epic of a movie running over two and a half hours long. If you have not watched the previous two in the series don't bother watching this movie until you have seen those.

The movie starts off with a rather grim intro. Just when you think a hero will get involved they don't. It seems as though the world is doing everything to get rid of pirates. As the journey begins we are then reintroduced to all the wonderful actors that have been involved in this series.

For the pirates to continue on they need their ultimate hero, Captain Jack Sparrow. Although this movie is filled with an all star cast that can't just rely on the heroic antics of Sparrow. I would have to say this movie is filled with action and a lot of violence although not a lot of gore. The movie probably would not be good for small...

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Promotional Featurette: Wolverine and the X-Men: A Look Back and Foward [HD]

Hugh Jackman!!!!
Xmen Wolverine was great! this new one out, I don't think so but this was a cute featurette, will watch again.

GOOD PREVIEW
Liked it a lot. Loved Wolverine in theaters now. Gives Hints of Xmen Days of future past 2014 as well.

Good movie - intense and through plot.
This is a movie that will make you "look" for the sequel. Overall, a great film with an intense and satisfying plot line. Highly recommend viewing this film.

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All Creatures Great & Small: The Complete Series 1 Collection (Repackage)

A meaningful life is a happy one
This DVD presents in a simple straightforward package the first TV season (13 episodes of approx 55 mins each)of the classic "All Creatures Great and Small" series based on the books of the Veterinary Surgeon James Herriot.

An aditional one hour documentary interview with the real James Herriot is also included.

The original series was a weekly "must see" event and I found myself drawn back to watch just one more episode on this DVD despite serious attempts to make it last.

The picture quality is what you would expect for a 25 year old British TV show however this in no way detracts from its enjoyment. The happy flowing music that rolls with the beautiful Yorkshire Dales scenery puts you right in the mood to get to know and experience the trials and tribulations of James Herriot and the people and animals he meets.

Although the books were written by Herriot the main characters that stand out in this series are his new employer Siegfried Farnon and...

A Warm Household of Eccentrics
In the early 1980's, when I was in law school, my wife and I recorded many of the episodes in this collection on our old Betamax video recorder. At night, after a long and trying day, we would watch them over and over with our then little girls curled up on the couch in their blanket sleepers. This is one of the handful of television series I have EVER watched as an adult. There was an overwhelming comfort in entering into this warm household of eccentrics -- James, Siegfried and Tristan, with Mrs. Hall hovering in the kitchen. Of course, the animal stories and the forays into the landscape and characters of the Yorkshire Dales are fascinating, but isn't it really the inexplicable hominess of Skeldale House that draws us back again and again?

For years my wife and I searched unsuccessfully for copies of these episodes. Our Betamax machine is, alas, long gone and our little girls are in college. But what a joy to see the series afresh after nearly twenty years. The music has a...

All Creatures Great and Small. Series 1
"The best of the best" The original set of six boxed videos. There are 12 episodes in all, begining with James' arrival at Skeldale House and the start of his career as a vet under Seigfried. Filled with all kinds of English characters, the series is a delightful peek at England and the English, before WWII. This classic series cannot be beaten for true value. Marooned on a deserted isle?... make sure you have this set with you. You'll never tire of watching these brilliant videos.

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Bells of St. Mary's [Blu-ray]

Bing's Tones, Ingrid's Charms,Remastered on DVD....Heavenly!
This review refers to the Silver Screen Classics Edition(Republic Pictures)DVD.......

A beautiful sequel to "Going My Way", is now a beautifully transfered to DVD. "The Bells of St.Mary's" is funny, poignant and will tug at your heartstrings.Father O'Malley(Bing Crosby) has now been assigned to a parochial school that is in dire need of repairs. The school has no money and O'Malley's job is to assess the possibilites, of perhaps sending the children to another school.He meets with some tough oppostion though, in the form of one Sister Benedict(Ingrid Bergman). She is the no nonsense type,and right away the two have some very different ideas on what's good for the kids.There is also the problem of a businesman(Henry Travers) who wants the building condemned so he can put up a parking lot for his own employees.Sister Benedict prays for miracle, will she get it?

The story and Ingrid Bergman are charming and delightful and will have you praying with her for that...

An often underrated classic
Don't believe the Amazon reviewer, whoever she is. Crosby's performance in this picture is astonishing; the fact that he holds the screen with the great Ingrid scene after scene, as he did with Barry Fitzgerald in Going My Way, tells you that; very often he steals their scenes, not with any two-bit mugging but with the forcefulness he brings to the character. Also, that's nonsense about it being an ode to sentimentality; there is a difference between sentimentality and sentiment, and the latter is what makes this film to compelling no matter how many times you watch it. Leo McCarey and Bing Crosby were both schooled by the Jesuits and they incorporate incidents and characters they knew in their youths. Also, McCarey was THE master of improvisation before John Casavetes and some of the finest sequences--Bergman teaching a boy to box; the children's pageant; Bing and the cat in the hat--have the timeless enchantment of spontaneous invention. And if there is a musical scene in...

ESSENTIAL in any collection!
The first time I saw Leo McCarey's THE BELLS OF ST MARY'S was on Christmas Day of 2002 when it aired on TCM. I was blown away from the moment the Main Title rolled across the screen. I've always been a sucker for sentimental movies of the 40s and BELLS fits the bill to the "t". I picked up a copy of the DVD this past holiday season. I've seen the movie complete a number of times and never tire of watching it. This is the epitome of 40's motion picture entertainment.
An excellent cast turn in equally excellent performances. Bing Crosby is Father O'Malley. Crosby is the only actor ever to have been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar twice for the same role, having also played Father O'Malley in GOING MY WAY the previous year. Ingrid Bergman plays Sister Benedict, the Sister Superior of St. Mary's. Henry Travers plays Mr. Horace P. Bogardus... you will recognize him as Clarence from IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

The film earned eight Oscar nominations in the following categories:...

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The Judge

Welcome to the DVD Generation, Mr. Matlock!
Finally, the first Season of 'Matlock' is arriving on DVD! Here is a list of the episodes that will be included on the set:

1. (Pilot Movie) Diary of a Perfect Murder (Originally aired - March 3, 1986)

NOTE: In this episode, Charlene Matlock is played by Lori Lethin. Between this movie, and the next episode, the role of Charlene was re-cast.

2. The Judge (Originally aired - September 23, 1986)

Special Guest Stars: Dick Van Dyke as Judge Carter Addison and Piper Laurie as Claire Leigh

NOTE: This is the first episode to feature actress, Linda Purl, as the role of Charlene Matlock. She continued to play the role for the rest of Charlene's appearances.

3. The Stripper (Originally aired - September 30, 1986)

NOTE: Richard Newton usually played the role of Judge Richard Cooksey in his many appearances on `Matlock', but, in this episode, he plays the role of another Judge named Alvin Roundtree.

4. The...

Season One Was Excellent
Here it is, almost 1200 minutes of the mystery series "Matlock", 24 episodes (including the pilot) that were broadcast during NBC's 1986-1987 season. So let's forget all we know about the long run of this series and just talk about its premiere season.

Years after his run as Sheriff Andy Taylor, Andy Griffith finally got another regular job. This time he is playing Ben Matlock, an Atlanta lawyer who talks like Sheriff Andy. It's a comfortable role in a tried and true format; a mix of "Perry Mason" and "Columbo". "Columbo" veteran Dean Hargrove dreamed up the series and shared executive producer duties with Fred Silverman.

The focus is on the title character and Griffith is great fun to watch. He charms and sweet talks his way through each case, getting everyone to let down their guard because they underestimate this good old boy as much as they did the seemingly scatterbrained "Columbo". Both series revolved around the main character's ability discern...

Second Best Criminal Defense Attorney - Benjamin Matlock, Esq.
Finally, after so many years of waiting and wondering whether Matlock would ever come to DVD, here it is. In my opinion, this is the second best criminal defense show (Perry Mason is #1) that I have ever seen. Matlock could not have survived without the help of his private investigator Tyler Hudson and associate daughter Charlene Matlock. Matlock hardly ever lost a case - although in later seasons that would change. What was great about this show was that there was enough suspense in each episode to keep you watching until the very end. Thanks for making this series available.

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The Aristocats (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Special Edition in Blu-ray Packaging)

The approach Disney seems to have forgotten
Considering Disney's recent track record, it would appear that they think the average kid is maturing faster than before. Thus, they seem to put out movies that are dark and inappropriate for the average kid. The only exceptions to this trend are the wonderful Toy Story movies and A Bug's Life. Flash back a decade or two, and you'll find a different Disney, a Disney that made movies everybody could enjoy. Aristocats comes from that era. True the animation from this decade is weak, and the story loses a few points in some areas. The villain is also quite tame. All of that, however, disappears under the movie's charm, upbeat attitude, and general fun. It's certainly more fun than Hercules. People looking for something intense should avoid this. Families with small children and those who love adorable cats will love this movie. From this era, I also recommend Robin Hood. As I've said before, you just can't beat old school Disney.

Wonderful film!
I'm so glad that Disney made this film. I much prefer the more innocent Disney movies of the past. Movies like Lady and the Tramp and The Aristocats are truly fun, wholesome entertainment. Don't get me started on the new Disney films which are way too interested in pushing hit pop songs and attracting adults with more action, violence, and suggestive dialogue. I know things can't stay the same so I'm glad we have this film from a more innocent era. I particularly like the fact that the pacing is relaxed and the villain is not very scary. I'm always looking for what I call "calm" movies and videos for my 2 and a half year old. I don't want him seeing frightening or fast-paced images. Lady and the Tramp and Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas are other great shows for young viewers. Unlike the sterile environment of the Teletubbies, these movies are full of wonderful images and interesting music. I find the backdrop drawings extremely interesting and stylized...

Fine Family Fun, but: All Reviews for Previous Editions Lumped Together
There are over a hundred reviews for The Aristocats as of this date. They all refer to the previous edition (Disney Gold Classic Edition or whatever they called it years ago when it first came out on dvd).
So now we will have those reviews mixed up with new reviews for the Feb 5, 2008 version which offers more extras and a different aspect ratio. This may make things a bit confusing.

Moving on...
People compare this film to 101 Dalmations. This is Disney's "cat" movie, they say. You can't compare them; they're too similiar somehow.
But they are both decent, cute family films.
Yes, Cruella is scary compared to the bumbling butler Edgar. There is a sense of jeopardy but Dalmations is much stronger in that sense.
Both films were made using the 1960's Xerox method where the resulting animation is more sketchy looking and more close to the original animator's drawings.
The Aristocats is more of a musical, definitely. A few forgettable songs, but...

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A World Without Zero

Meh. It's ok.
Cyberchase is an American/Canadian television series for children ages 7-13. The series takes place in Cyberspace, a virtual world, and chronicles the adventures of three children, Jackie, Inez, and Matt, as they use math and problem solving skills to save Cyberspace and its leader, Motherboard, from The Hacker, the villain.

very engaging
It keeps my son and daughter engaged for hours. It sneaks science into a genuinely entertaining format for today's kids.

Good and Educational Show
My kids love this show! It is very educational and it gives them a better understanding of subjects that may have been difficult in the past.

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True Grit

Re-imagine
This movie is a very ambitious undertaking by the Coens who are perhaps the best ambitious project writers & directors around. That this would be compared to the original TRUE GRIT & that Jeff Bridges would face comparison with John Wayne's Rooster Cogburn was inevitable.

Yet this is a different TRUE GRIT. Not in major story line but rather in the personalities as displayed in the book. Truth be told, the original, which I love, was much more John Wayne does John Wayne in TRUE GRIT than it was John Wayne becomes Rooster Cogburn in TRUE GRIT. The Coens set out to make a movie truer to its literary source & in that they have succeeded.

I heard one complaint that Jeff Bridges would never be anything but Lloyd Bridge's son to a reviewer. How prejudicially blind. For one thing Jeff Bridges is a far better actor (able to change personality to fit a role) than his father & most certainly exceeds John Wayne who was a TOWERING screen presence but had to be cast as John...

The Coens Are Back In The Saddle Again!
In my world, the arrival of any film by the estimable Coen brothers is a welcome sight. But I must admit, I was a little surprised when I heard they were taking on a new version of "True Grit." In a sly way, however, it made sense. I have always felt that the 1969 John Wayne film version underserved the subversively comic masterwork by Charles Portis. I thought that perhaps the Coens were, thus, the ideal pair to bring the cynicism, eccentricity and subtle humor of this fine novel (and underrated American classic) to the big screen. The Coens assembled a big-name cast including Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper and Josh Brolin for this incarnation that manages to be true to both the source novel and the previous film--but isn't really a definitive new vision. However, that said, this "True Grit" is a solidly constructed and very entertaining western that has a lot to recommend it.

Unfamiliar with the story? Probably not, but here's a quick run down. Fourteen year old...

I was Hoodoo-ed by a little girl
...much the same as Rooster.

Fortunate for me, the last time I saw the original I was just a small lads and therefore felt no guilt for insufficient reverence or fidelity to The Duke. My thought going in was that it would be a good time to revisit the original version. Half way through Bridges and Steinfeld were creating such compelling characters that reading the book came to mind. By the end of it however both notions dropped away. Not now; much too soon. The zen of True Grit 2010 is aging nicely and unblended in the oak-charred-whiskey-barrel of my psyche.

This is 5 stars if ever there was one. I am admittedly a Coen-head but the juxtaposition the Coens, setting, music, and a cast of superb players creating truly unforgettable characters make this the best movie of its kind I have ever seen. I am reluctant to declare it THE best movie I have ever seen in my life but in five weeks watching it every Saturday night I can recall none to surpass it. This is where...

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Call the Midwife: Season Three

Wonderful show!
"Call the Midwife" is one of THE best programs I have ever seen. The characters are engaging, the storylines compelling. I love period pieces. Hats off Ms. Worth for sharing these marvelous stories with us.

LOVE THIS SERIES, IT'S TERRIFIC
I AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR AND SEE THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER SEASON OF CALL THE MIDWIFE TO LOOK FORWARD TO, I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL OVER AT THE END OF SEASON TWO, I PURCHASED THEM BOTH AND THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL TOO, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS, YOU SHOULD TAKE TIME TO SEE IT, THE STORIES ARE GREAT, WARM, AMUSING AND POIGNANT, I LOVE THESE PERIOD PIECES, THIS PROGRAM IS WAY UP THERE WITH DOWNTON ABBEY, CHECK IT OUT, THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL WAS GREAT TOO, IF YOU MISSED IT, GET YOURSELF A COPY, YOU WON'T BE SORRY, MY FAVORITE EPISODE WAS THE ONE WITH JOE, THE MAN WITH HIS BAD LEGS, SO MOVING, IT ALMOST MAKES ME CHOKE UP JUST TO THINK OF IT.. IT IS WONDERFUL, LOOK FOR IT. THEN, TRY MR. SELFRIDGE, YOU WILL LIKE THAT TOO

Best Ever
Season 1 & 2 where awesome and I am so excited
to see Season 3.
I will be waiting for it to appear in my mail.
Once you begin with the 1st season you can't stop
watching to see what happens next.
I think it would of been great to live in that era.

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Wreckers [HD]

Quiet yet intense
The movie moves at a slow and delicate pace, but for some reason the story carries you through to the end rather quickly. There were several scenes that make you almost feel the emotion of the characters. I found myself feeling frustrated, loved, conflicted etc. as I watched the actors in this movie. Benedict Cumberbatch is, of course, fantastic in this movie and I thought Claire Foy's acting was fantastic and very appropriate for the feel of the story. I'm no professional movie critic, but I do appreciate when a story exposes me to a range of circumstances I'm not totally comfortable with and helps me to empathize and even understand them.

I recommend this movie to anyone that likes independent film and modern drama.

Bought it for Benedict...
I originally bought this movie for my celebrity crush Benedict Cumberbatch. It is a highly disturbing meditation on small town interactions with a lot to chew on. I didn't think I'd watch it more than once, but I had questions about the storyline so I watched it a second time. No doubt I will watch it a third time as well. There is a lot of subtlety in this movie and much to absorb. I recommend finding the interview with the writer/director as well. Her insights on the genesis of this movie make it even more interesting. This is not an "easy" movie for many reasons, but if you like excellent acting and a story which lingers forever in ethical shades of grey, you will find this a gem.

Very realistic characters
Some reviews have said that this movie was slow moving and choppy. I found neither of these things to be true. I thought that this was a very well done movie about the complexities of relationships and life and how those relationships are strained and changed when someone from the past comes back into their lives. I thought that each of the main characters were wonderfully portrayed as real people with their quirks, insecurities and fears.
Though one review said that this is a portrait of small town life, I prefer to think that this is life within groups of friends. We have all known people in our circle of friends and acquaintances who have been unfaithful to their partners with some else in that same circle. It isn't right, but in today's world it seems to be much more common.
What really shined through for me was the love between the brothers, the love between the main couple and the sacrifices each person made in their search for happiness.
That being said, it was...

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Leverage: The Third Season

Why No Subtitles???
I love this show. The main characters are always interesting and funny and they mesh together well. The plots are intricate and creative, and there's comedy (sometimes in the most unexpected places) to offset the drama and tragedy. I love that each character is more than simply a "hitter, hacker, grifter, thief" -- the "hitter" has a sensitive side and sings beautifully; the "hacker" played violin and such other incongruous details that really flesh out the characters.

But I miss the subtitles most DVDs now come with. I'm hearing-impaired, and I think the only one on the show who doesn't slur words is Timothy Hutton. Him, I can usually understand, but I'm constantly asking my husband what Parker, Elliot, Sophie, and Hardison are saying.

Hopefully subtitles will be included in future sets?

Let's go steal Season 3
- Nate Ford: "Let's go steal the Department of Defense."
- Parker: "Isn't that... treason?"
- Nate Ford: "We'll give it back."

These well-meaning crooks must go thru a lot of ear wigs; maybe Costco sells them in bulk. LEVERAGE has made it thru three seasons, which bodes well for those TNT viewers aspiring to be career criminals. Shows like this one and WHITE COLLAR and even BURN NOTICE go a ways in gratifying your inner grifter. Me, I've been taking notes, just in case my day job doesn't pan out. I'm this close to mastering the "Fiddle Game" and the "Vegas Wakeup Call" scam.

The end of Season 2 found incarceration beckoning for Nate Ford, the mastermind who made sure everyone else on his team got away clean. Season 3 finds him still behind bars, but he seems to be okay with serving out his sentence. It took learning that a fellow inmate had been framed for Nate to call in the cavalry and to turn the tables on the shady warden. But, once out of stir,...

Several Delightful Comic Escapades Stand Out In A Solid Season Of Mischief And Mayhem
When the whimsical "Leverage" arrived on the television scene in 2008, I had just finished watching the delightful British crime caper series "Hustle." Needless to say, if you've sampled both programs--they share more than a passing similarity. I know every "Leverage" fan was instantly enchanted by our merry band of mischievous do-gooders, but I just couldn't get the comparison out of my mind and the program lacked a bit of the easiness and subtlety of its like minded cousin from across the pond. Subtlety is certainly never a word I will associate with "Leverage," in fact, which usually plays so broadly and comically that it is often bordering on slapstick. But, that's okay. The erratic tone of the show soon steadied itself and the attractive cast stepped up with nimble comic performances. A show about clever cons soon gave way to a show about clever con artists. To me, "Leverage" works most successfully as a sly and humorous ensemble piece.

Sure, there is often...

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The Breakfast Club (25th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]

"Sweets, you couldn't ignore me if you tried..."
Just when you couldn't bare being in school during the week, imagine having to be forced to spend a Saturday there. That's what happens to five high school students who are forced to spend a Saturday detention together. None of them have anything in common and none of them are friends. Each is an opposite from the other. The group consists of a brain, a prom queen, a jock, a basket case and a trouble-maker. A unique and unexpected bond is formed by the five teens as the day goes on, with all sorts of different states of emotion going on for each of them. No matter happens on Monday, all five of them will always that one Saturday together; therefore, forever labeling them "The Breakfast Club."

Not only is this a classic film, it's one of my personal favorites. I loved it when I was little and I love it now as I am in my twenties. It's so refreshing to have a brutally honest film that plays on all of your emotions as this movie does. And even though this was shot in...

Review of the DVD transfer
There are plenty of reviews here about the movie, so there is no sense in writing another.

This review is about the DVD. I will tell you up front that this DVD looks like a direct copy off VHS. I have seen the VHS version about 2 times this year and when the title song comes on, the audio fades in and out. Not bad, but you can definitely see some age in it. The DVD is EXACTLY the same. The sound is of no higher quality.

There is no widescreen, just a full screen with the same picture quality as VHS. It's not horrible, but if you are the type of person who buys DVDs for the superior picture quality, you are definitely going to be unhappy with this.

The movie itself is EXCELLENT, I love it, but the DVD transfer from VHS isn't the best.

As for bonus features, you get bios for all of the actors. The trouble is, the information included is the same as you can find on the internet movie database (imdb) as well as fan sites. If you have read a fair amount on any of the actors and...

THE Definitive Gen X Movie of All Time
If you graduated from high school in the 1980s and haven't seen this film, you must have been locked in a cave.

John Hughes delivers the definitive nostalgic teen movie of the Generation X crowd. The cast made up the '80s "brat pack" with Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall. It's hard to believe while seeing this film that Ringwald and Hall were the only real high school aged performers... the others were in their mid to late 20s during filming.

While modern teens may not find this as "sophisticated" as over-sexed comedies like "American Pie," anyone can appreciate true feelings, teen angst, self doubt and relationships with parents portrayed in this film.

A group of kids sitting for 8 hours in detention on a Saturday none of them will ever forget. While there is foul language, it's about the same speed as what you can hear on "NYPD Blue" on TV. There is no nudity or sex, just raw,...

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Doc Martin: Series 1

Brilliant! A must-watch!
I absolutely LOVED this series. I had heard Martin compared with House, and I think that's a bit unfair, albeit understandable. However, I prefer to think of him as a strange cross between House and James Harriot. Although James was just nice, nice, nice (ad nauseum), the situations in which they find themselves are really very similar - close-knit countryside full of bizarre natives with bizarre rituals. In personality he is much more like House, with one huge difference: House is a rude, insensitive jerk simply because he enjoys it, while Martin, not a jerk at all, frequently acts like one because he doesn't seem to know any better. Like House, Martin's dry, deadpan comebacks are hilarious.

Each episode of Season 1 is better than the one before, culminating in an ending so funny I think I had tears in my eyes. He just never learns, does he?

I still can't quite put my finger on what makes Martin so charming, since I'm not sure I would enjoy knowing him in...

"That's Dr. Ellingham, if you please, and what's all this moaning about a little diarrhea?"
Curmudgeons, if blessed with good writers, can be satisfying house guests. They're irascible, oblivious, often insulting (sometimes unintentionally), but usually with a hint of endearing rehabilitation. Dr. Martin Ellingham, formerly a top-rank London surgeon who now practices general medicine in the Cornish town of Portwenn, not only has first-rate writers, he's blessed by having as his impersonator the actor Martin Clunes.

Dr. Ellingham ("Martin or Dr. Ellingham, please. Not `Doc Martin!'"), during one simple operation, found himself overwhelmed and unable to continue. The sight of blood suddenly sickened him, not a good thing for a surgeon. It stopped his career cold. He retrained and accepted the job of Portwenn's GP, far away from London and from the people who'd learned of his phobia.

But Doc Mar...Dr. Ellingham...seems to have a gene missing in his make-up. He is all too frank, oblivious to human courtesies, awkward, means well but has one of the worst...

a sparkling escape
Quirky characters, idealized village life ...city sophisticates escaping the rat race. A welcome series in the tradition of Monarch of the Glen and Northern Exposure...more oddball comedy than soap like the latter.

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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street [Blu-ray]

Sondheim's Masterpiece Finally on Film
Although critics have been almost unanimous in their praise of this film, many fans of the show are quite harsh in their appraisal, chiefly for two reasons - one, that the principals are not great singers, and two, the deletion of roughly 50% of the score. I surprised myself in that, having purchased the soundtrack and seen the movie, I am in neither camp, as either of these factors might heretofore have caused me to pronounce most film adaptations of almost any Broadway musical a failure. Instead, I am thrilled far beyond my expectations with this production.

It might not have been so, had I not had so much respect for Stephen Sondheim. As part of the pre-release publicity, he has granted an unusual (for him) number of interviews, and says that he is unequivocally satisfied with Tim Burton's vision. As anyone who appreciates his high level of artistic integrity will agree, Mr. Sondheim would not give praise to this project if he were not satisfied with it. At 77,...

The Many Facets of Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD
When it comes to a work of the musical stage it is difficult to imagine a finer one than Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. For those who saw the original 1979 Hal Prince extravagant production starring Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou/George Hearn, and then the 2005 revival as condensed so creatively by John Doyle and re-orchestrated by Sarah Travis who placed the orchestral instruments in the hands of the 10 actors who tell the story of the strange Todd, the Tim Burton (screenplay reduction by Josh Logan) film will only enhance the pleasures of seeing SWEENEY TODD resurrected in yet another form. Each of these incarnations has its riches and together they establish Sondheim's work as a masterpiece.

Johnny Depp makes a convincing Sweeney Todd, in looks and demeanor as well as in singing voice, and Helena Bonham Carter's Mrs. Lovett fits right into Tim Burton's vision of the dark, squalid and seedy London. Timothy Spall is perfect as the oily...

Special Collector's Edition Loaded with Extras!
An R rated musical about a vengeful barber who kills his victims only to serve them up as meat pies must've made the studio a little nervous to bankroll a big budget adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's award-winning Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Although, they must've been reassured that Tim Burton would be helming the project with his long-time collaborator Johnny Depp stepping in to play Todd. Burton, with his affinity for all things dark and gothic (see The Nightmare Before Christmas (Special Edition) and Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (Widescreen Edition)), seems like an obvious choice to take on such dark subject matter and Sondheim agreed, giving the filmmaker his blessing.

The first disc has a featurette entitled, "Burton + Depp + Carter = Todd." Tim Burton had always been a fan of Stephen Sondheim's musical and had...

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Barbie in a Mermaid Tale

Sweet movie with good message
Our three and a half year old daughter wanted to see this movie after seeing a preview on the Nick Jr website. The only other Barbie movie we have watched was the Nutcracker, and while it was a cute movie with beautiful ballet sequences, it had too many scary parts for her. We watched A Mermaid's Tale tonight as a special treat after a particularly traumatic day involving blood testing for allergies. I was pleasantly surprised in this movie. The animation is fantastic, beautiful and lifelike. The characters are sweet. And the story line (you must realize we are talking it's for small children who love Barbie and fantasy) is easy to follow and fun. My daughter loved it. The "scary" parts weren't too scary, some sharks, a few jelly fish, and the mean Queen. And while she is mean, it's nothing like the Queen in Sleeping Beauty that can give very young children nightmares for weeks. The movie's message is that it is okay to be different. We are very particular about what we...

A Mermaid Tale: Fin-tastic or one big wipe-out?
I bought this the day it came out, and watched it with some of my younger little friends, ages 5-8. If I went by them, it'd be a 'Fish-A-Licious' 5 stars. However, I don't completely agree.
The storyline is a bit of a twist on the same old Kingdom-owning-craze that Barbie movies have become infamous for. This time, evil in the form of Eris, the good queen's sister, reigns. Eris stole the throne from Calissa, and it's the good guys (er, girls) trying to restore peace and happiness. Merliah Summers is ex-Queen Calissa's daughter, and a champion surfer. When she 'comes of age' and discovers she's part mermaid, she dives into the sea to try and find the mother she's never known, help Calissa, and hopefully get back her 'normal' self.
This one is decidedly more modern, the conversations are a little more mature, and yet some parts are even more juvenile. There is talk of Merliah's dad, who died in an accident, and Calissa's pregnacy and the oddity of mermaids marrying humans...

The Other Little Mermaid
Okay, everybody knows we're not dealing with Pixar here. I suspect Barbie movies are churned out of some nondescript factory in New Jersey (though I have yet to confirm those suspicions). But be that as it may, we accept Barbie movies for what they are: pleasant and relatively wholesome vehicles for selling products and offering parents a 1 and a 1/2 hour reprieve from the bedlam created by young girls. With that intro, here is my eight year old's review (as dictated to me):

"This movie is an enjoyable, unforgettable adventure. It is one of the best movies with fantasy. It has a great story and animation. This movie is a delightful film to watch."

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Pilot [HD]

ANOTHER GREAT COP SHOW FROM JERRY BRUCKHEIMER!
Jerry Bruckheimer doesn't seem to run out of good ideas when it comes to cop shows...CSI trilogy, Cold Case, Without a Trace. And now comes Dark Blue, a special task force in the LAPD composed of specially-trained police officers whose job are to go undercover, infiltrate criminal organizations and bring them to justice. The team is composed of 4 police officers with unique personalities headed by Lt. Carter Shaw (Dylan McDermott), a grizzled, battle-scarred LAPD officer who is tasked with heading the task force and coming up with plans to bring down hardened criminals; Dean Bendis (Logan Marshall-Green), a no-nonsense guy who "absorbs" his role being an undercover cop and sometimes has a hard-time detaching himself from the roles his job demands; Ty Curtis (Omari Hardwick), the only married member of the team who tries to balance the demanding expectations from his job and his personal life and Jaimie Allen (Nicki Aycox) who was recruited by Lt. Carter to the team based on her past...

Great variation on the crime drama
I thoroughly enjoyed this show. The characters are interesting, and I never know quite where an episode will go. It's a great dark and gritty crime drama that focuses on getting to know and then manipulating criminals.

Ditto on the GREAT SHOW review ... problematic DVD
It just doesn't get any better than this for TV crime drama. I actually started watching this year (Season 2) with the addition of Tricia Helfer to the already very impressive cast. I loved the show so much I wanted to catch up on its origins with the purchase of Season 1 on DVD. Suffice to say, the content is great. However, the quality of this DVD box set is not so perfect. Forget that it is not presented in 5.1 DD sound ... the sound is acceptable. And, generally speaking, the overall quality of video reproduction is very acceptable. The problem is with the DVD-R recordable media disc and the fact that it is not compatible with some DVD players ... resulting in occasional freezing of video and skipping issues. I have a Sony 9000 ES player and the only time I have had similar problems is when the "borrowed" disc was severely scratched. To be absolutely fair, perhaps I just received a bad copy. That being said, Disc #2 had so many errors, it was simply not watchable. It has been my...

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Kevin Hart: Laugh at my Pain

Best Comedian Out Right Now!
Kevin Hart is too funny! Saw this one at the theater twice (the first time people were laughing so loud/long, I missed some parts! lol). Definitely worth buying as he never gets old. I have been a fan for years and have his other dvds (I'm A Grown Little Man & Seriously Funny) and watch them all the time. Each time, it just gets funnier. You won't be disappointed with this purchase!

I couldnt stop laughing!
I can honestly say this is one of the funniest stand ups I have seen in a long time. I couldn't stop laughing when Kevin was talking about his dad. "alright, alright, alllllllright". Hahahaha..........definitely not something to watch with the kids. My 6 year old over heard it and he wont stop saying "alright, alright, alllllllright". He thought it was so funny. Glad I watched it on Comedy Central so some of it was edited. I am definitely buying the DVD to watch when the kids are sleeping. :)

I don't understand it at all...
I don't understand why people don't love this!! My friend, who's a Kevin Hart fan, told me that he didn't like it as much as his previous stand-up routines. I thought this was hilarious! I don't normally buy these things, but it was so funny, that I'll buy it.

I also wanna support "Chocolate Drop", cuz he's a hard worker. He has been doing commercials, movies, comedy stand-up routines, etc. eBay has commercials with him on YouTube. Xbox has an add with him promoting Forza 4. I wanna support his hard work.

He used to be my #2 fav Comedian behind Louis CK. Now he's my first.

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First Steps

Collects thee episodes of the acclaimed documentary series NOVA
Becoming Human: Unearthing Our Earliest Ancestors collects thee episodes of the acclaimed documentary series NOVA exploring what the latest scientific discoveries tell us about the earliest human ancestors - and what makes us human today. The first episode, "Selam", shows how clues from the remains of a 3 million year-old child suggest why and how humanity first came down from the trees and started walking upright. The second episode applies forensics to the mystery of "Turkana Boy", a fossil of Home erectus, the first human ancestor to leave Africa and begin colonization of the globe. What caused this African exodus? The final episode, "Becoming Human", examines how human capacities for art, invention, and survival developed, and the mystery of humanity's interaction with the early Neanderthals. Did humans interbreed with Neanderthals, or cause their extermination? Why did "we" survive when other ancestral cousins died out? An extraordinary collection, and a choice pick especially...

Outstanding documentary
I love this DVD. Great visuals, great narration and fairly up-to-date. It's the sort of documentary one can watch many times.

I highly recommend "Becomming Human". Nova does great work and this is one of their best, in my view. This is a brilliant overview of the human story and as humans we should all know that story!

In addition to "Becoming Human," I also recommend the following DVDs:

Walking With Cavemen

Evolution Boxed Set

National Geographic - Search for the Ultimate Survivor

--Guy P. Harrison, author of "Race and Reality: What Everyone Should Know About Our Biological Diversity" and "50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God" (a skeptical analysis of common justifications for religious belief)

Odyssey in Our Hominoid Past to Meet Our Earliest Ancestors
NOVA does a great job of explaining to its audience how Homo Sapiens ultimately became the "winner-take-all" hominoid species. On location photography, interviews with renowned experts, and computer-generated animation allow viewers to better understand how Homo Sapiens became the final (read current) outcome of a long evolution spread over millions of years. Viewers should not be surprised that this investigation of our ancestors will be the subject of an updated documentary. For example, the researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology recently revised their initial conclusions that there was no interbreeding at all between Homo Sapiens and Homo Neanderthalis based on their further study of their respective ADN. In summary, NOVA makes a noteworthy contribution to vulgarizing the science of evolutionary anthropology to the attention of a wide audience.

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Rent (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)

There's Only Yes
I saw the movie in a beautiful theater in downtown San Francisco on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and was surprised to find so few people in the movie theater--maybe 75 of us, and the theater could have fit 500. I wonder if some of the lukewarm reviews haven't influenced people's decisions to go to RENT. Hope not, for I'm here to tell you, this movie is dynamite and IMHO much, much better than the play. For one thing, in the movie you can hear every word, even with the increased rock instrumentation, for hundreds of sound experts have worked their magic and made sure that even people underwater could hear every single syllable; whereas on stage, it depended from night to night what percentage of the lyrics were going to be coming across the temperamental sound system of the Nederlander (NYC).

I did miss Daphne Rubin-Vega who was incomparably sexy and chilling as Mimi, but I never believed her being in love, and Rosario Dawson looked like she was just 'playing' at being...

La Vie Boheme!
I was born to love "Rent." Having grown up listening to my mother's record of "La Boheme" playing as she did her housework, I anxiously anticipated seeing the Broadway production when I was in New York in 1999. Although, it was superb, the movie version was so much more enjoyable to me, mainly because the words to the beautiful songs were clear and much more understandable. I realize Broadway is a one-shot deal and a movie can have countless takes on a scene, so I'm not putting down the play I loved in any way, just saying the movie was an easier and more enjoyable viewing experience.

From the spectacular opening scene where the full cast sings the beautiful "Seasons of Love," the stage is set for a glorious celebration of life, living it to the fullest, and enjoying every moment. Yes, there is heartbreak on the screen and many moist eyes in the theater, but this is mainly a joyful story of friendship, love, and reaching out to your fellow man.

The acting is...

Rent the movie meets and surpasses expectations
I have seen both the movie and the stage version of Rent. I love both of them. But, we're here to talk about the movie. I love the fact that most of the original cast is back for this. Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp are perfect as Roger and Mark. Adam shows the tortured soul that is Roger. Finding out he has HIV and dealing with his girlfriend's death puts him in a place he never thought he would be. Mark, Collins, Angel, and Mimi help him realize that he isn't dead yet. Adam takes you through that journey with all the emotions that entails. Anthony shows Mark's emotions throughout the piece. The look on his face when he sees that Roger has come out of the house, and come to the Life Support meeting shows you just how much he cares for his best friend, and how worried he was, and still is for him. Having them in two sepereate locations for "What You Own" also helps the characters and gives the actors a new way of playing the scene. When they come together on the roof and you...

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The Beatles: Help! [Blu-ray]

HELP! DVD Review
OK, I'm sure there will be 100's of reviews of the film itself, so I'll just skip to the tech review of the disc:

Video:

Full marks to the restoration team; as this is the best you're ever going to see this colourful 1965 classic. Nearly every scratch and dirt speck is gone and the colours look fantastic on DVD.

Sound:

A full 5.1 DTS remix (not much help if you still only have Dolby Digital). Very similar to the Anthology/Love mixes of their mid 60's stuff; not many flashy rear effects (just a bit of reverb to fill it out) but for the modernists - the drums are in the centre and the new mix is a beefy one.

Extras:

A Missing Scene: Just to save you the same disappointment I had - THIS SCENE IS STILL MISSING! However, we do get Wendy Richard, Richard Lester and other insiders; giving an in-depth rundown on the lost SAM AHAB scene.

The Beatles in Help!: A great documentary featuring period interviews of the...

Great film, questionable DVD package
Everyone knows the film and loves it, that's why we're here checking it out on this page. But what about this DVD package? If you look at the price, you have to question is it really worth it.

When I first read about the Deluxe Edition, I thought the price would be around $50 like most other Deluxe Edition DVDs out there. At $95, this is way too much for what they're offering. Yes, you get all this:

- a reproduction of Richard Lester s original annotated script

- 8 lobby cards

- poster

- 60-page book with rarely seen photographs and production notes from the movie

... but unless they are signed by at least one Beatle, I wouldn't pay that much. Yes, Richard Lester's annotated script is great, but wait awhile and you'll probably find a reproduction online sometime. The lobby cards and poster are great, but those are not the main reasons for the price inflation. The 60 page book would seem to be the main reason for...

Fab film from the Fab Four!

This was the first Beatles film I saw. From the first minutes of the film I was hooked! I became an instant Beatle fan.

A religious cult is after Ringo because he is in possession of thier sacrificial ring. There are several failed attempts to obtain the ring: stealing it at night as he sleeps, grabbing it when he posts a letter, the elevator scene, getting the ring at a restaurant and even sawing around his drum set so he will fall through to the basement as the Beatles record "You're Gonna Lose That Girl". Despite these failures, Clang (Leo McKern), the cult leader, is more determined than ever to get the ring from Ringo!

Ahme (wonderfully played by Eleanor Braun), a priestess of the cult is secretly working with the Beatles to keep them out of harms way.

Added to the mix are two bumbling scientists Professor Foot and Algernon (Victor Spinetti and Roy Kinnear respectively), and a Scotland Yard superintendent played by Patrick Cargill. To Cargill...

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Caillou: Caillou's Holiday Favorites

Too much of other scenes than caillou
I have only opened and viewed one cd out of the 3 but I can tell you that it has way too much other kinds of entertainment than the caillou cartoon. It has the stuff animals associated with caillou and a lot of other clips of children playing, etc. It might be ok for an older child but my 2 yr old only wants to watch caillou! If I had known there would be so much of other kinds of things mixed in I would have made a different choice.

GREAT 3 DVD PACK!
My almost 2 year old Granddaughter absolutely LOVES Caillou. This 3 DVD pack is wonderful. Two of the three DVD's have unterrupted cartoons. The third one does have those pesky puppets that I have to fast-forward through. All in all, the purchase was more than worth it. I also appreciate others who let us know if they have to contend with the puppets, as the children don't seem to care for them.

caillou holiday favorites
It has a lot of puppet parts that the kids don't like. I had to keep fast forwarding it to get to the caillou show.

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Dragon Ball: Season 5

Your Final Wish Has Been Granted.
Funimation is still getting these sets out for fans who don't already own the series uncut or fans who may have purchased their old sets but don't mind double dipping for these well done sets that line up so nicely on the shelf, especially alongside the orange Dragon Ball Z season sets. This 5-disc fifth 'season' set of Dragon Ball will contain the final 31 episodes of the series:

123 Lost and Found
124 Temple Above the Clouds
125 Earth's Guardian Emerges
126 Eternal Dragon Resurrected
127 Quicker Than Lightning
128 Secret of the Woods
129 The Time Room
130 Goku's Doll?
131 Walking Their own Ways
132 Hotter Than Lava
133 Changes
134 Preliminary Peril
135 Battle of Eight
136 Tien Shinhan vs Mercenary Tao
137 Anonymous Proposal
138 The Mysterious Hero
139 Rematch
140 Goku Gains Speed
141 The Four Faces of Tien
142 Kami vs Piccolo
143 Battle for the Future
144 Super...

As the finale says: The End Is The Begining (Pt. 5 of 5)
After the defeat of King Piccolo, Goku is still determined to get stronger. Now that evil has been vanquished he has one thing on his mind...to become the World Tournament Champion. After finding the most intense training possible he reunites with his friends...as a fully grown man. The tournament is going to be a challenge unlike any other because there is a mysterious yet familiar face signed up to fight and a strange girl that is furious because he never kept a promise he made long ago. It really does take a lot to be the best.

Now my journey is complete and I am so happy that I have now seen the whole phenomenal story of Dragon Ball. This season is a lot less intense, yet with some very tense moments. It was so great to finally see these characters become young men and women, even though I am so use to them being older it was nice to finally see them grow up and make important choices in their lives. The tournament was probably some of the most intense action I have...

One of the best
Dragon Ball Season 5 is a great item for any Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z fan who wants to complete their collection or see what happens before Goku's later adventures. Viewers of any anime or Dragon Ball enthusiasts will enjoy the season finale to Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama's masterpiece. The episodes were all great, especially the filler sequences, and my only complaint is that the DVD box set did NOT come with an episode guide.

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White Collar: The Complete Third Season

Just as good as S1 and S2
There have been some White Collar fans who have said they aren't happy with S3 of this wonderful series. I have loved this show since the beginning and find this season to be just as well thought out and written and produced with just as much care and love as the other two seasons. The producer has said this is Neal's chance to do the right thing, and in order to show that, there have been some changes of necessity. I fully believe all will be well and we will once again have our Bromance in full swing. Fans just must be patient and understanding of what the writers have in mind. Hang in there, this is the only really great series on TV and the wait is worth it.

White Collar series
I LOVE "White Collar" and can't wait for the season 3 DVD to come out. I own season one and two.

I'm buying the series for the episodes, not the extras, which I find lacking. The commentaries are basically a lot of chatter, with very little useful information given. The gag reels are fun, but I could have done without the F and S word in one scene in season two.

I love the writing and the wit of this series and Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay work so well off each other. Willie Garson is so much a part of the episodes, I hope there's no intention of writing his character out of the series. That would be disastrous.

Thank you for the steady camera work! I'm so tired of the hand-held camera effects and the MTV editing. If you're going to pay an actor to act, you should give him time to react!

I haven't seen this kind of male rapport since Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell in "Quantum Leap." The whole cast seems to work well together and it shows on...

USA has a winner in White Collar
White Collar has intrigued me since the first program. Even the use of windows and sliding doors was fascinating. Add Matt Bomer and Tim McKay and you've got a winner all the way. Love it! Can't wait for Jan 17 and to get the 3rd Season on DVD. I've watch S-1 and S-2 so many times I can say the dialogue before Mozzie does. Keep up the great show.

Adele Kaye

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Jillian Michaels Kickbox FastFix

3 fast workouts
This DVD contains 3 fast paced and high impact workouts. Jillian Michaels works with 6 other lean and toned ladies, doing boxing and kicking moves. The first two workouts are fairly easy to follow, with the third workout containing challenging and more complex moves. There is also a tutorial.

In all workouts, each exercise is done for about 30 seconds. Ms. Michael moves fast and you do need some space to move your body and kick your legs. The workouts got my heart pumping and my body sweating. Finally, as others have mentioned, both sides of the body are not always worked evenly, (but I think that's normal in regular kickboxing, where one side is more dominant than the other).

Here are the time outlines.

Workout 1 (20:59)
Workout 2 (20:47)
Workout 3 (21:57)
Tutorial (14:25)

Here are the breakdowns for the first two workouts.

Workout 1 is the only workout which uses a pair of 8 pound dumbbells. Each round is...

Another winner!
I bought this DVD at Target yesterday and did Level 1 (Upper Body) and Level 3 (Abs) this morning. I found them to be challenging but also kind of fun (and fun isn't usually a word I use when describing a Jillian Michael's workout lol). It was nice to see Anita and Natalie from 30-Day Shred again too. These workouts really are only 20 minutes each but as usual Jillian doesn't waste a single minute. You get a good blend of cardio (mostly kickboxing obviously but there are also things like butt-kicks and suicide runs) and sculpting (rows, flies, headbangers) and the time flies by. Some days I just don't have time to do a long workout but now with these I don't really have an excuse because they are only 20 minutes each! There were some exercises in the Ab workout that I've never done before which is always a nice surprise. I am a huge fan of Jillian's workouts and this one is no different. I highly recommend it!

Update 3/8/12: I did Level 2 (Lower Body) this morning...

It didn't disappoint!! Good kickboxing workout!
I've been waiting a while for this to come out, and I have to say, it didn't disappoint!

I love Jillian's Cardio Kickbox workout she did a while ago so I was excited to find out she was coming out with another one (I love to kickbox). I'm pretty picky when it comes to kickboxing because I want to sweat. A lot of the DVDs out there aren't bad for beginners, but I don't really sweat. I need a challenge.

I was very pleased with this workout. She has three 20-minute workouts. Level 1 works on upper body, Level 2 on lower body, and Level 3 works on abs.

Even though I did Levels 1 and 2 together, I was sweating already after Level 1.

Just a warning though; some of the moves are a little complicated. If you're just starting out, make sure you check out the tutorial on the DVD because I had some trouble following some moves/combos (although they weren't impossible or anything).

This video (compared to her Cardio Kickbox DVD) is more...

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