Perry Mason: Season Four, Vol. 2

The Best of Television
Perry Mason is as much a part of American culture as apple pie and mom. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone of any age who doesn't at least recognize the name. Erle Stanley Gardner's books have millions of devoted fans. The television show it spawned was fabulous as entertainment, and today is widely regarded as one of the best shows television ever produced. Perry was the attorney you wanted on your side in a jam.

It was Gardner himself who picked Raymond Burr, even though the studio only agreed to let him test for Perry if he would test for Burger too! Barbara Hale was his pretty secretary, Della Street, who kept Perry human and was in love with him. William Hopper was the dapper detective, Paul Drake. He had a playful and flirtatious relationship with Della but every viewer knew that secretly her heart belonged to Perry. And we liked it that way.

William Talman as D.A. Hamilton Burger would almost be ready to gloat, Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) not far behind,...

Worth the wait
The second half of the fourth season suffers from the sporadic appearance of Bill Talman's masterful portrayal of Hamilton Burger, the unluckiest district attorney in history. Talman was exiled for a morals clause violation the previous season but brought back by popular demand. CBS seems to have looked for ways to keep the actor off the show. One of the few positive effects of this experimentation is found in an episode entitled "the Case of the Cowardly Lion" which is shot extensively on location at the San Diego Zoo and the Kona Kai resort. The zoo in 1961 was indeed a wondrous place, and quite unlike zoos of its era.

Another sixties wonder was the space race. "The Case of the Misguided Missile" was shot extensively at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Pacific missile launch site. Among the cast was William Schallert, later of the Patty Duke Show and the mayor in the Best Picture Oscar winning fim "In the Heat of the Night". Also in the cast of that episode was James B...

The Original Courtroom Drama
Perry Mason Season 4 Volume 2

These twelve TV films from 1961 are mostly stories based on the novels of Erle Stanley Gardner. The books are more complete and informative and tell stories about life that is not experienced by most people. The books can tell you why certain things are done, the films only show you what happened. The books tell you about "ropers", rough or smooth shadows, and how to evade surveillance and avoid leaving a back trail. Some may question the legality and ethics of Perry Mason's tactics but most stories were written before the modern legal rules of the 1960s. The backgrounds tell about life in Los Angeles. It is difficult to film a scene at night but easy to describe it in a book. Erle Stanley Gardner was the founder of the "Court of Last Resort" which sought to free many unjustly convicted persons. Gardner, among others, sought to use scientific means to find the guilty, rather than using hunches or guesses alone.

The seeming reality of...

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Clannad: After Story - Collection 2

An amazing conclusion to a great anime
Unfortunately, I cannot be too specific here; this second volume contains many plot events which I do not want to spoil for the viewer. Subtitles seemed fine this time.

To note, episodes 13-22 comprise the main story, while episode 23 is an episode occurring before the original series, 24 is an Another World episode for Kyou (similar to Tomoyo's in the first season), and 25 is a well-done recap that is actually occurs in-universe after the main story. The Kyou story is good, but really should have been at least 2-3 episodes. The prologue is amusing; it is not meant to be serious whatsoever, but is interesting.

As for the story itself... it entirely focuses on Tomoya and Nagisa, which makes the plot much more focused. As I think I mentioned in my review of the first DVD of After Story, what makes this show special in that it goes beyond the traditional high-school story. This DVD very much continues this trend.

This show is probably the most emotional...

I could sum this second collection of "Clannad ~After Story~" in one word.... Fantastic!
When it comes to the Japanese software company Key, many fans appreciate their work as the video games tend to be dating simulators for the PC and many other video game consoles. Known for two visual novels "Kanon" and "Air" (both were adapted to anime series), the objects of the video games tend to be the gamer controlling the main male protagonist and with a lot of female friends, answering questions correctly in order to score. The first two video games were adult-based but in 2004, the company released "Clannad", a series that would not show nudity or fan service and a game for all ages.

"Clannad" received an anime adaptation in 2007 with a total of 23-episodes and was released on DVD earlier this year in the US from Sentai Filmworks. The second season known "Clannad ~After Story~" (which takes place after the first season of Clannad and then ten years later) is now being released in the US. The anime series is directed by Tatsuya Ishihara ("Air", "Kanon",...

Great adaptation of a great story
This release concludes the CLANNAD story in the North America region. As such, it represents the culmination of everything that the show has been building up to thus far. The issue of Tomoya's view on family, an issue which was brought back into the spotlight at the end of the first After Story collection, is addressed directly, as is the truth behind the nature of the "Illusionary World" which he sees in his dreams. As these are the two most consistent themes throughout the story as a whole, the viewer should expect a powerful, emotional conclusion befitting the title.

As an adaptation of Visual Art's/Key's game CLANNAD, the show as a whole has been received quite well. This portion of the story in particular is portrayed similarly to the original in fine detail, while given the spin of powerful directing that this series is known for. Scenes with a memorable setting, such as the beach on a chilly, windy day or a summer's train ride in the countryside, are given colors,...

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The Fugitive: Season Three, Vol. 2

CBS has cut corners again, don't waste your money
The music in Season 3 Volume 2 seems to be a mixed bag. Some episodes are nearly free of the awful Heyes replacement music, while others have much more.

NOT WITH A WHIMPER has quite a bit of Heyes replacement music. I noted soft Heyes cues at 18:00, 25:52, 29:32, and loud Heyes at 18:21, 28:40, 36:10. But I gave up taking notes in Act 4 when my hand started to cramp from jotting down all of the Heyes cues that I heard.

WIFE KILLER is a pleasant surprise. Yes, there are a few Heyes cues, but just a few. Overall, this episode's original music is mostly intact. I wonder if we'll ever get an explanation from CBS as to how one episode can be awash in Heyes, while the next is almost Heyes-free? Go figure.

THIS'LL KILL YOU lands somewhere in the middle. It's about 50% original and 50% Heyes. The more prominent Heyes cues are at 15:29, 29:32, 35:25, 42:15, and the one at 47:07 was so loud that it nearly blasted me out of my chair. Most of the too-loud...

From an original Fugitive fan
This is the first time I've written a review of DVDs for Amazon that I can recall and probably never will again. But I have to express my opinion on the controversy of replacement music for the classic series "The Fugitive".

I've watched this show since it aired in 1963. I've seen all the episodes dozens of times over the years. For those of you who don't care if the music has changed, good for you. You are seeing the best TV show ever broadcast. Enjoy it. The pictures are beautiful and the episodes superbly produced, written, directed and acted. Simply the best.

However, for those of us who watched many times, the "new" music is unacceptable. It's the same as listening to "new" rerecordings of the music of the 50s and 60s that I cherish. It's not what I remember and love and I don't enjoy it. It's that simple. I have pre-ordered all six volumes so far. But for Season Four I will wait till the reviews come in before purchasing any more. I'll just...

GREAT COLLECTION OF EPISODES .... STILL TOO MUCH SUBSTITUTE MUSIC, BUT COULD BE MUCH WORSE .... OVERALL: A RECOMMENDED PURCHASE
"THE FUGITIVE: SEASON THREE, VOLUME TWO" arrived on DVD from CBS/Paramount on December 8, 2009, just six weeks after the first half of Season 3 was released.

This 4-Disc set contains a great selection of episodes from what is (in my opinion) the very best television drama series that ever aired on American TV screens: "The Fugitive", starring David Janssen as falsely-convicted Dr. Richard Kimble and co-starring London-born actor Barry Morse, who seemingly was born to play the part of Kimble's chief adversary, Indiana Police Lieutenant Philip Gerard.

When I first received this volume and started looking over the episode descriptions on the inside cover of the DVD case, I kept saying to myself over and over: "Oh, that's right, THAT great episode is included in this set too! Excellent!" (or something similar to those thoughts anyway).

And while I consider myself to be a (very) big fan of "The Fugitive" and also fairly well-schooled in the episodes and...

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Cuidado Con El Angel

An Important Year for Spanish Language Soap Operas (Telenovelas)
Yeah, there's a few telenovelas out there. But they don't seem to be very well packaged or distributed. This year, it looks like that's going to change. I don't know why or how, but Cuidado Con El Angel has taken off like a rocket. It's talked about in the same breath as shows like Desperate Houswives or Lost. Think about it. It's not marketed to the general public. It's a household name in Hispanic/latin-american communities, but it went rogue and caught the attention of an audience who had never before paid attention to those sorts of shows before. Just like back in 1999 when Latin-American music artists came into vogue, I think 2010 will bring us another Latin explosion -- this time of soap opera stars. Something fun to watch out for.

3 January 2010 (after having watched the DVDs)

CAVEAT EMPTOR: UTTERLY DISEMBOWELED SERIES
Disemboweled. Dessicated. Dissembled. Deteriorated. Disintegrated. Disjointed. Disfigured. Discordant.
Joyless...

Very romantic
The movie itself was great but very disappointed on the DVD. They cut off a lot of the parts in the movie out and was not happy about it because it didn't make sense in some parts. They should of made it four disc instead of three and maybe they could of fit the movie in it.

Cut to pieces
I was really impressed by the quality of the videos, but this novela was cut to shreds! All of the best parts, the ones that were the most real, were cut out. These scenes were the whole reason why the novela was so incredibly popular. Shame on whomever is responsible for the editing.

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Mystery Science Theater 3000, Vol. XVI (The Corpse Vanishes / Warrior of the Lost World / Santa Claus / Night of the Blood Beast)[Limited Edition]

Four more strong episodes of MST3K, seasons 1, 5, and 7
This set features two episodes hosted by show creator Joel Hodgson and two hosted by series head writer Mike Nelson. All are from the Comedy Central era of the show.

105- THE CORPSE VANISHES with short: COMMANDO CODY PT 3

This 1942 black and white thriller features Bela Lugosi as, surprise, a mad scientist who kills young women for glandular fluid that he uses to keep his own aging wife young and alive. He has two evil assistants, again surprise, a malevolent dwarf and a huge oaf. Commando Cody (Radar Men From The Moon) Part 3 is also riffed by the crew of the SOL. Tom Servo's head explodes for the first of many times in one of the host segments. Commando Cody and Bela Lugosi in the same episode equals much fun.

501- WARRIOR OF THE LOST WORLD

A color film from 1983 by David Worth and starring Robert Ginty ("The Paper Chase Guy"), Persis Khambatta and Donald Pleasance. This "High Plains Drifter" knock-off with motorcycles and post-apocalyptic...

Another great set with a Tom Servo figure - Shout Factory continues to impress
Shout Factory delivers us another tremendous volume of MST3K experiments. Not only do we get 5 (that's right FIVE) episodes (sort of) we also get a Tom Servo figure. Looking at this set ...

MST3K EPISODE 105 THE CORPSE VANISHES W/ ANOTHER CHAPTER FROM THE COMMANDO CODY SERIAL
Bela Lugosi stars in this low budget (aka cheap) effort capturing young females with a special perfume and using the females to make his wife beautiful & young again. Believe it or not the serial is more entertaining - as serials tended to be non stop action - Cody continues to fight evils from the moon. - This marks the 3rd set in a row with a Season 1 episode. Some fans really dislike these episodes,but if you look at why it is being done, it actually makes sense. First off, sooner or later there will be a lack of easy to license Joel titles - having Season 1 titles extends the 2 Joel and 2 Mike variety for those that like the combination of both hosts in their volumes. 2nd, this is a public...

MST3K Set with 2 Joel and 2 Mike, Plus a Tom Servo Figurine
In this "Limited Edition" set, there are two movies hosted by Joel and two from Mike Nelson, so if you're strictly a Joel or Mike fan, check this out.

#105 - "The Corpse Vanishes." Joel Hodgson hosts this cheap and cheesy movie with Bela Lugosi. After making "Dracula," lugosi sadly declined into silly movies like this one. Before BOTOX, you had to kill young Brides to make a youth serum for vain women, like Lugosi's wife (why are only young Women always killed??) Joel and the Bots do a decent job of riffing this silly movie about a mad scientist, youthful wife and killer orchids.

#501 - "Warrior of the Lost World" - Joel hosts this movie about a dusty hero with a talking motorcycle and evil dictator. There are more explosions than you can count, with some even in slow-motion. Dummies, are thrown off buildings in an attempt to make them look like the bad humans. Stars Robert Ginty and Donald Pleasance.

#521 - "Santa Claus" - Mike Nelson and the...

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Mental: The Complete First Season

Mental season 01-Video On Demand--Shows Promise
This is a review of the whole season, not just one episode.

This series shows promise. In its present incarnation it is roughly 3 stars but with work could make it to 4. The premise is psychiatry as practiced by a psychiatrist who is willing to try new and controversial methods in order to make a breakthrough with the seriously ill mental patient. For example, with a patient who thinks he is a werewolf, Gallagher has him bite him and then the two lie side by side waiting for the moon to come up. Gallagher has told the patient they will not change to werewolves and he is now in it with him to show him it is in his mind.

Dr. Jack Gallagher, the psychiatrist, is the whole show. Everyone else could be recast. In fact, you could put the whole show into an entirely different hospital and not miss a thing. When the show detoured into hospital politics and jockeying for position, it was not good. When it stuck with Gallagher, his methods and the patients, it was...

Great show
Mental is an excellent show. It is very reminiscent of House, but is much more positive. The main character is unorthodox and has a slight problem with authority and some rules. He is also extremely enthusiastic and joyful which is very refreshing in with how much sarcasm is on TV now.

One of the Best Summer Shows
It is completely ridiculous when people compare this show to House because there is absolutely no comparison. Jack Gallagher is a psychologist who uses any unconventional method to try to heal a patient, even when he has his own demons.
I definitely recommend this show. Chris Vance gives an amazing performance as Dr. Gallagher, the cast has enough chemistry and the cases are very interesting to keep you watching and enjoying the craziness, and I'm not mocking.
Too bad the season was short. I really hope FOX brings it back. There is so much more to be explored.

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My Christmas

One of the BEST Christmas performances ever!
I saw this when PBS aired it on television and was blown away! This is something I will watch every year at Christmas. The DVD contains performances of all the songs on his CD, My Christmas. This definitely gets you in the mood for the holiday season! Buy it!

Wonderful Bocelli
This Christmas DVD is incomparable. It has a superb Christmas feel good factor.

Andrea's singing is so versatile throughout and there is something for everyone here. Fun and humour with the muppets, majestic singing with the Mormon Choir, modern renditions of old carols, A Child is This is absolutely beautiful with Andrea and Mary J Blige, Ave Maria stately and sung with such brevity by Andrea, Blue Christmas, with Reba McEntire and Andrea gives a haunting quality, not to be missed.

In conclusion anyone who loves Christmas and tradition will love this DVD and I would recommend this to lovers of good music. This DVD will be enjoyed for many years to come by me and my family.

MY CHRISTMAS WISH HAS COME TRUE.
Being an Aussie fan of David Foster's music (since the "St. Elmo's Fire" days) I have followed his career as a musician, writer, producer, and arranger for nearly 25 years. Following his knockout "Hitman" Concert, PBS Special, and ultimate CD/DVD release, I was so much hoping for a Christmas 2009 DVD release of a "David Foster and Friends" Concert Tour which has been underway since May this year. Well, my wish has been granted with this soon to be released "Andrea Bocelli and David Foster - My Christmas" Concert from the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, CA. This concert dvd features the absolutely astounding David Foster and Andrea Bocelli (who always work beautifully together), along with extraordinarily special performances with Natalie Cole on the intimately arranged "The Christmas Song" and Reba McEntire on "Blue Christmas"; Mary J. Blige on the hauntingly beautiful arrangement of "What Child Is This"; and Katherine Jenkins on the operatically spellbinding "I Believe", all under...

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Public Enemies (Blu-ray + Digital Copy)

Another Michael Mann Masterpiece
"Public Enemies" proves that Michael Mann is right up there with Martin Scorsese at directing compelling crime dramas. This film, based on a book detailing the nexus of John Dillinger, J. Edgar Hoover, and Melvin Purvis, covers the last year and a half in the life of the famed bank robber, who was branded "Public Enemy Number 1" by Hoover, who was building what would become the FBI. Chasing Dillinger for Hoover was Purvis, who relentlessly pursued Dillinger until the fateful night outside the Biography Theater in Chicago.

Johnny Depp plays Dillinger as a fun-loving but dangerous criminal whose only plan seems to be to live life on the edge until he falls off. As usual, his performance is engaging and utterly believable. Billy Crudup wonderfully plays Hoover as a man obsessed with growing the Bureau, obsessed with public relations, and obsessed with capturing John Dilliger, and Christian Bale plays Purvis as an intelligent, capable, and caught in the difficult position of...

"What keeps you up at night, Mr. Dillinger?" "Coffee."
"Public Enemies", helmed by famed director Michael Mann, is a thriller of the most testosterone fueled variety. It's a fast paced actioner brimming at the seams with intense shootouts and a well-stocked cast of steely-eyed, square-jawed men harboring classic narcissistic complexes. Johnny Depp makes a suave, calculating Dillinger. It's more of a manufactured character than an interpretation of the real life Dillinger, but this is of little consequence because Depp achieves grand theatrics with his sullen glare and devil-may-care attitude. He plays it much as I imagine Steve McQueen would've in his heyday, plowing through his world with a sort of darkly cool, apathetic demeanor that suggests he doesn't care one way or the other about anything.

The supporting characters are superlative as well, particularly Stephen Dorff as Homer Van Meter. There's an intensity to his character that Dorff really brings out. In fact, I didn't even recognize him at first (interestingly, he...

Disappointing
I was really expecting a bit more from this movie. The plot was rather hollow, the dialogue was hard to follow at times, and the characters were very one dimensional and uninteresting. Halfway through the movie, I found myself asking "is it over yet?" If you really want to see this, I suggest you rent it.

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Gremlins [Blu-ray]

The best Horror/Comedy of all time!
It follows a somewhat conventional monster movie plot. An ordinary guy witnesses his unusual but cute cuddly pet spawn a horde of evil Gremlins. He tries to warn the authorities, but they don't believe him until the creatures show up and go on a rampage throughout the town. Like in many monster movies, a plan is devised to destroy them, which works, but then there's still one left which needs to be defeated.

Every monster movie convention in the book is used, including all the famous shocks such as something jumping out in the foreground and something jumping out in the background, but what makes this film original is the Gremlins' silly personalities. They don't eat people or kill them in order to survive in any way. They just want to have fun and cause chaos! Their personalities are almost human and seem to represent a side of us that has no morals and just wants to let loose in a world without regulations. At times, you are cheering for the monsters, which makes this...

timeless fun
How can something so sweet and cuddly as a Gremlin become so mean and angry like your own kids when they don't get what they want. The ideas behind this hilarious transformation are so marvellous you'd want to watch this one again and again - with or without your own kids present (who knows, they might get ideas). Gremlins is one of the funniest movies ever. A cult-classic.

A comical horror christmas classic!
Inventor Randy Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) has bought a special gift for his son Billy (Zack Gallaghan) and it's a furry Chinese creature called a Mogwai (voiced by Howie Mandall). But there are three important rules that must be followed if he wants to keep the creature such as number 1 which means to keep him away from bright light especially sunlight cause it will kill him, number 2 is to never get him wet and number 3 which is the most important rule of them all which is never feed them after midnight. But Billy does what he can but he accidently gets him wet one day and it makes him mutiply other Mogwaii like him and he accidently feed the Mogwaii except Gizmo after midnight as it makes them into ghastly reptilian ghouls that cause havok in the town of Kingston Falls.

Brilliant and highly original Horror fantasy comedy from executive producer Steven Spielburg, director Joe Dante ("The Howling") and writer Chris Columbus. This movie became one of the biggest box-office hits of...

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Julie & Julia [Blu-ray]

Five Stars for Film, No Stars for DVD Special Features Manipulation
Well, I guess it's finally happened...the consumer and film buff who does not own a Blue-Ray compatible DVD player is now officially SOL. The standard DVD release of Julie and Julia contains as special features only a commentary track and behind-the-scenes featurette. To get the full array of special features, one must purchase the Blue-Ray version of the film, AND of course, a Blue-Ray dvd player. Here are the features NOT available on the standard dvd: tour of Julia Child's kitchen in the Smithsonian; featurette "Friends and Family Remember Julia Child;" and "Cooking Lessons," with Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, and other renowned chefs preparing several of Julia Child's best-loved dishes. Why can't the studio release a two-disc special edition in the standard format for consumers like me who don't own the latest home entertainment equipment? I loved the film (especially The Divine Ms. Streep), loved Julia Child's book "My Life in France," very much liked Julie Powell's book "J &...

Behind Every Great Woman There Stands a Great Man . . .
What in the world does television and concocting-French-food-in-America pioneer Julia Child have in common with just 30-something government employee turned food blogger, Julie Powell?

Other than the love of food, oodles of butter and a big project to fill the need for purpose, the two main characters in Nora Ephron's biopic, "Julie and Julia" share great marriages with men that are not put off by their mate's desire for self-identity defined by more than a few little bouts of self-absorption. Like a good soufflé, Ephron folds the stories told in two books, Powell's "Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously" and Child's "My Life in France" without deflating the overall mixture, although this reviewer would have enjoyed more scenes with the wonderfully talented Meryl Streep who redeems herself quite well (all...

A far better film than a book.
All too often when a well loved book is turned into a film, fans of the book bemoan how the director or the screen writer got it wrong and all the wonderful things the book had that got lost on the way to the screen. And then you get the rare case when the film is so much better than the book that you wonder if you'll ever bother to look at the book again. "Julie & Julia" with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams is one of those films.

Based on Julie Powell's blog, a New York office drone, dreading the approach of the Big 3-0, breaks out of her life by attempting to go through every recipe in the first volume of Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year. While the book focuses almost exclusively on Julie Powell in her Queens apartment, the film splits time equally between Amy Adams' Julie on her epic food quest and Meryl Streep as Julia Child in post war France, who takes cooking lessons as a way to break up the boredom of her day waiting for her husband to come...

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The Widow's Might

Amazing Movie!!
Personally, I LOVE The Widow's Might. I think it is incredible! 100% family friendly. The music in the movie has become my top MP3 playlist. (The songs are always stuck in my head!) The morals and character traits taught in the movie are exactly what we have been needing in movies: standing up for justice, men leading their families, homeschool families making a difference, and Christians taking a stance in politics. I am buying multiple copies for Christmas gifts!

Excellent Family Film
This is an excellent film for all ages. It is one of those film that captivates and makes you really think. The music is great, it is squeeky clean, the comedy works, an it has several powerful lessons. It is a must have for every family's library. It is a film we have watched and will continue to watch over and over again.

SACFF #1 rated film!
I had the opportunity to attend the San Antonio Christian Film Festival this past January, and this film won Best of festival! It is an excellent, completely family friendly film with a stellar message! John Moore has produced yet another excellent film! I would suggest this to any and all! .

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Naruto: Shippuden, Vol. 4

Rides on The Peak of Vol 3! Excellent!
This volume of Naruto features 4 episodes of Shippuden on 1 disc. As detailed below are the episode titles and their associated chapters in the Naruto Manga. Before we begin the disc features BOTH English subtitles BOTH English Audio and Japanese Audio.

Episode 14: Naruto's Growth (Scenes from Vol 29 Chapter 257,258,259)
Episode 15: The Secret Weapon is Called... (Scenes from Vol 29 Chapter 258, 259, 260)
Episode 16: The Secret of the Jinchuriki (Scenes from Vol 29 Chapter 260, 261)
Episode 17: The Death of Gaara (Scenes from Vol 29 Chapter 261, 262)

Bonus features include trailers for Naruto Shippuden (once again, a trailer for Shippuden on the Shippuden disc?, oh well its nice to see a textless 'Heroes Comeback' Opening for it), Naruto Shippuden the Movie Trailer, Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4(DS) Trailer, Bleach Movie 2: DiamondDust Rebellion trailer. There is also the New from Viz Media area with an ad for Shonen Jump, Naruto...

Great dvd
"Great dvd". Great dvd for the price. Also love the cover art with all the akatsuki members on each dvd work fine and happy to add them to my collection

Naruto: Shippuden, Vol. 4
I bought this for my 12 year old because he loves the Naruto show on the Disney XD cable channel. If your kid likes that show he will like this because it is the same (just earlier episodes).

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Bulldog Jack

Sapper he ain't.
Bulldog Jack (Walter Forde, 1935)

While Bulldog Drummond has faded into obscurity over the years, back in the day he was a sensation roughly akin to the X-Men today. Herman C. McNeile's original play not only spawned two film adaptations, one in 1922 and one in 1929 (a third is currently in development as I wirte this in 2013), but a series of novels (penned by McNeile), a number of which were also adapted into movies in the thirties and forties, all of which were immensely popular. Needless to say, there were the inevitable spinoffs as well. Probably the only one still remembered today is Alias Bulldog Drummond, also released as Bulldog Jack, for which McNeile was listed as a "screenplay collaborator". It was actually written by Gerard Fairlie, who would make one of the final Drummond films (1951's Calling Bulldog Drummond), as well as other series work, in collaboration with stage actor Jack Hulbert, the film's star. It's remembered for its female lead, the inimitable Fay...

Classic British Art Deco cinema
I have not seen this issue but this film is desperately needed on DVD. It is one of the best films of the thirties, a funny breeze of a thriller with Fay Wray and the superb Hulberts (Jack and Claude) who provide the laughs. The Art Deco atmosphere and black and white photography are top-notch. The film ends with a much admired chase through the London Underground. This rates alongside Genevieve as one of Britain's most valuable historic films.

cheesy classic
i saw this movie many years ago and have recently aquired it in my collection purley for the characters involved.jack hulbert along with his brother claude truley make this film. ok so the sound quality is poor and so is some of the acting you carn't knock the old classic. vintage london undergrond is great and a treat to see but that's not all, the chivarly of hulbert evan though his a fake is great. ubove all the reviews and comments you'll only watch this movie if your into british vintage comedy if your not don't bother watching it you'll only end up criticising it and your comment wont be worth a carrot to the true die hard fan.

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Better Off Ted: Season One

Funny, original, smart and biting
Veridian Dynamics is a large corporatation that invents, tests and markets everything from deadly pumpkins to beef that tastes like despair. Ted works there as a manager. He's a good and sane man in a heartless--and often insane--corporate environment. The comedy in this series comes from seeing just how insane work at Veridian can be and the hoops Ted jumps through to keep the insanity in check.

Each episode begins with a commercial for Veridian Dynamics, parodies of commercials put out by real world corporations. These commercials are so biting--and funny--one wonders who would dare advertise on a show like this. Portia De Rodsi steals the show as Ted's boss, Veronica, who embodies all that is beautiful, perfect, devious and heartless at Veridian. Veronica is the kind of woman who likes having Ted's young daughter around, because her presense makes it easier for Veronica to fire people.

The show never lets you get too comfortable, and that's a good thing. It is...

Funniest show I wasn't watching...
What a great ensemble cast, snappy writing, and pure fun... I didn't even know this show existed until Hulu brought it to my attention... First show I've felt like buying...

loved the show but the DVD is meh
This is really a two-part review. The first is for the show itself.
There is something wrong with the taste of the TV-viewing public if BETTER OFF TED cannot survive in prime time. It's a funny show and deserved better. Portia deRossi-- who knew she was so funny?! The woman is hysterical and needs a show of her own. Jay Harrington, as the titular Ted, was a perfect straight man for the bizarre shenanigans and outright evil of Veridian, the fictional corp for which he slaved, and he also deserves a second life on TV.
I could go on and on, but this is supposed to be about the DVD as well.
The DVD is a disappointment. Honestly, rating ONLY the DVD, I would give it one star. It seems the company had no interest in spending a nickel beyond the absolute minimum, reusing a publicity photo for the art and adding ZERO bonus material. Really-- zero. No commentary, no behind the scenes, no liner notes, not even a commercial or trailer from ABC. Like I said, disappointing. It's the...

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Gakuen Heaven: Complete Collection

Gakuen Heaven: Complete Collection
Gakuen Heaven: Complete Collection: I really liked this series! It had a really nice story line. There is, I thing one Boy on boy kiss and if that is a problem for you, don't get it. But there is intrigure, mystery, and tales of loyality. The characters are defined and the plot is great! I recommend it!

A nice, common story.
This is one or my more favored yaoi stories just because I like the characters and their personalities as well as the fun humor that brings it all together. The story is a bit generic but the artwork is great. There isn't much special with a story about a boy that was accepted into a school filled with beautiful boys and it tends to lack something to make it unique, but I do like the story's simplicity. I won't give any details about the story because I want others to watch and experience this story themselves.

It's what you would expect
This series is what you would expect in a PG13 Shonen-ai. It was pretty funny in the yell-at-your-tv sort of way. It made me laugh a lot.

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The Appeared

VERY SCARY & HAUNTING WITH MINOR FLAWS
This movie was quite a pleasant and horrifying surprise! It was well directed with a pervasive sense of dread, nail-biting suspense, and delivers several jolting shocks of terror. The only problem I had with it were a few instances where characters suddenly do stupid things that go against all rational judgement under the circumstances. Aside from a few of these flaws (sure to be exploited by the haters) the movie overall is very tight and some scenes of suspense are VERY INTENSE. There are some stunning revelations as well, which makes it more interesting than your average horror movie. The political aspect of the story isn't overpowering and is only briefly discussed, providing a suitable backdrop for the horror. There are really no boring scenes and there is an abundance of stark terror that will surely satisfy those looking for real scares. Yes, this is a Spanish language movie with subtitles but those who won't watch movies just because they have subtitles will be missing a great...

Worth putting up with subtitles!
This is a horror movie with the sub genre of haunting or ghost story and let me tell you, good ghost stories are hard to come by. It had at least one or two "jump out of your seat" moments. It was eery, intense with it's share of action, but what surprised me the most was that it was a very emotionally moving picture.

I like to multitask so for me to sit and watch a movie with subtitles the movie has to be well worth it and this one was! I know just enough Spanish to know that at least some of the subtitles were way off, but the visuals told such a good story I didn't care. I couldn't fold clothes or sort through my mail or Ebay or shop, but I am glad because it was well worth my full attention and I didn't lose interest. I usually don't want to watch horror before bed, but the ending didn't leave me too afraid to go down into my dungeon to sleep. :) That is not to say I won't have nightmares, but that's part of the fun!

A total success!
A thinking man's horror film that will chill your bones. Brilliant and spine-tingling. If you're a fan of supernatural thrillers, this is the film for you. Best I've seen in years.

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Taxi: The Final Season

A True TAXI Celebration
TAXI is one of the classic ensemble comedies ever to surface on the small screen. The writing, directing and acting were always superb! The great cast introduced us to Danny DeVito, Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd, Marilu Henner, Andy Kaufman, Carol Kane and brought us another great series with Judd Hirsch. Season five has always been special to me because of its poignancy. Who can forget episodes like: "Louie and the Blind Girl", "Alex's Old Buddy"' and "Jim's Inheritance"? The only reason that I am not giving this five stars is because it is slightly edited. Seems CBS/Paramount does not like to pay for music rights. We really saw this in season 4 where "Vienna Waits" had a completely different score. Season 5 is not as bad: I only noticed one cut: The Piano bar scene in episode "JIM'S MARIO'S". Believe it or not, all of the other original music (including "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" from JIM'S INHERITANCE and "Cheek to Cheek" from ELAINE AND THE MONK) is still intact. All in...

Kudos for Releasing All Seasons
Taxi is a great show with both humor and heart, and the fifth season may be the best example of this. One of the best sitcoms ever. Kudos to CBS/Paramount for releasing all 5 seasons and not leaving Taxi fans hanging.

The final may be the best
Although this is an aborted season due to the two retrospective episodes, this season - the final season, and the one which aired on NBC after it was cancelled after four seasons on ABC, pairs a whole lot of funny moments with many poignant ones as well. The episode in which Alex tries to give his dog a great send off before his imminent demise will put a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes. The episode where Louie's blind girlfriend is about to regain her sight looks into the soul of the scoundrel Louie as he ponders his deepest insecurities about his appearance. This may be one of Danny DeVito's finest moments. Plenty of brilliant moments abound making season 5 a real winner, and definitely worth the wait.

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Rossini: La Cenerentola - Metropolitan Opera

Musically satisfying
I saw this production live onstage in 1997 with Cecilia Bartoli in the title role (Alessandro Corbelli was the Dandini, Ramon Vargas the prince, Michele Pertusi the Alidoro, with Levine conducting), and have to say that I'd rather have had that cast on DVD. That said, there is some wonderful singing and music-making among this cast. Corbelli, one of operatic history's greatest Dandinis, is now very much in demand as Don Magnifico, as is Lawrence Brownlee as Prince Ramiro. Garanca is a physically lovely and vocally elegant Cenerentola; her heroine is both touching and strong. Brownlee possesses considerable musicality and a formidable technique, despite his tendency to sing with his head a bit sideways; and Corbelli displays his usual undisputed mastery with character and text, creating a more "human" and less farcical Magnifico than is more often seen. The Alidoro and Dandini are quite serviceable, if unremarkable.

Soundwise, there seem to be some problems with the mics...

A marvelous production of one of Rossini's greatest operas
I first saw this production broadcast on television, and was instantly captivated. I have been waiting impatiently for it to come out on dvd ever since. Cenerentola has long been one of my very favorite operas, and I tend to be a very critical viewer. I have seen some wonderful interpretations of this beloved classic, but this production, for me, remains at the very top of the list.

All the singers are phenomenal, both the leads and the supporting cast, and the acting is first class, all around. Elina Garanca looks the part of Cinderella perfectly. The Prince has some peculiar facial expressions at times, but really, his singing is utterly superb. I cannot say I have had the pleasure of hearing a better tenor leggiero than this, not even in Juan Diego Flores, who is likewise fabulous. The entire cast and crew had a blast with this production, and it shows. The image of the tall, broad-shouldered Alidoro sporting his tiny little angel wings during his first act aria never...

Mixed bag
This is a beatifully sung, but, on the whole, unremarkable performance.

Elina Garanca is the highlight in the title role. She exhibits a lovely voice, excellent technique and beguiling acting. Indeed, she's the best part of this persentation. Lawrence Brownlee sings beautifully, but it's hard to overlook the disadvantages of his stature. His Dandini towers over him and even Cenerentola is much taller than he. I'm sure I'll return to this DVD to HEAR him, but I think I'll just play the music and not watch the video. Alberghini, Reylea and Cobelli are fine in their respective roles.

The production is inoffensive, if just a bit silly. Like another reivewer, I didn't like Alidoro's angel wings, espcially as Rossini intentionally left the supernatural out of this opera. I also thought the oversized wedding cake in the final scene was over-the-top rather than entertaining.

On the whole, the DVDs with von Stade (my personal favourite) and Bartoli...

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March On!... and More Stories About African American History

Beautiful Biographical Picture Books Adapted for DVD
Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Henry Box Brown -- these are names that bring tears to our eyes, make our hearts swell in appreciation for courageous sacrifice, and make us incredibly grateful for the freedom we've been blessed with here in North America. March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World is a new release in the Scholastic Storybook Treasures collection which presents beloved modern classic picture books in DVD adaptations complete with narration.

Four picture book adaptations are included on the DVD with 15 awards between them. March On! is written by King's sister, Christine King Farris, and focuses tightly upon King's unforgettable "I Have a Dream" speech. Martin's Big Words places the passionate defender of equal rights in the larger setting of the civil rights movement and draws more of his childhood upbringing into his adult character. Rosa shares the story of Rosa Parks, the bus incident, and the ensuing protests in a warmly personal way that...

Keep the Dream Alive
Martin Luther King, Jr. Had a dream. I wonder if it has been fulfilled. His four little children have grown into adults (R.I.P. Yolanda) and they have lived up to his example. But as a nation we are still being judged by the color of our skin, not the content of our character. We are judged by our sex, sexual orientation, economical status, educational status, the place where we were born, the list is endless. The blessing for me is that I have lived to see the first truly African-American President,

A Great Educational Tool
Start a new tradition with your family....watch this with your kids on MLK day! More educational than Spongebob but not as funny

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(500) Days of Summer

He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
"(500) Days of Summer" is a wonderfully refreshing experience, a romantic comedy that doesn't follow the rules of a romantic comedy. It's inventive, intelligent, and engaging, a story of the dualities a young man lives with on a daily basis. On the one hand, there's the duality between falling in love and believing that love doesn't exist; Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) grew up believing in fate bringing soul mates together whereas Summer (Zooey Deschanel) grew up not believing in much of anything, least of all lasting relationships. On the other hand, there's the duality between what one would like to happen and what actually does happen; we often go through life with expectations, even though we know deep down that most will never be met. Tom is in a tug-of-war between his romantic fantasies and the reality that Summer doesn't believe in true love.

Levitt's performance is a revelation. He plays Tom with sincerity. Tom is approachable and good natured, highly confident yet not...

500 Days of Summer
The film's opening makes it clear: This is not a love story. It is a story about love. Told in a non chronological fashion, we see 500 days in the relationship of Tom (Joseph Gordon- Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel). For those who have seen 10 Things I Hate About You, this is an evolution of that story told in a more realistic fashion. While Joseph Gordon-Levitt pretty much plays the same character, he adds gravitas to the ups and downs of relationships which all men go through at some point. Zooey Deschanel brings her playful carefree attitude to Summer, which the movie itself is quick to point out has a very strong effect over men. While most people expect this to be a love story, it's not. It's a carefully crafted story about relationships and the highs and lows we all experience and how we focus on the highs more than the lows. The quirky humor and the wittiness brought out in the film covers the very introspective dissection of a relationship. While the ending is somewhat...

Still thinking about this movie a month later
I hate romantic comedies. If they actually have some comedy in there, they are watchable but the relationships are often based some some kind of ridiculous premise that doesn't resonate at all with me. To call this a romantic comedy seems quite misleading. This movie was funny at times. Well directed, at times...A little gimmicky at others. Very well acted by the two leads. The thing that I loved about this movie is that it is completely true to life. It wasn't like "The Break-up" where you have to suffer through the couple arguing through the entire movie. They show (in a very clever way) the highs and the lows of Tom and Summer's relationship. I find myself still thinking about the two leads as if I was in their shoes (We probably all have been on one side or the other in our lives). What do I think of them? What do I wish she would have done differently? What could he have done differently? I don't know. One of those movies that I can't stop thinking about.

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Guyver: The Complete Series (Viridian Collection)

...this is the guyver series you are looking for
Well folks,

There really is a red pill or blue issue going on with the older series as opposed to this bioboosted series. You should ask yourself a few questions first;

1) Am I turned off by the gore that has made asian film famous?
2) Do I enjoy teenage romance?
3) Have I recently fantasied about making out with a vampire?

If you answered yes to any of these then I would suggest the first series. However, if the above made you laugh at my logic and snark you will enjoy the better drawn,well formed plot. It also demonstrates much more violence than it's predecessor coupled with the class and elegance of the frequently used british or irish accent. If you are still unsure which is the series for you, I suggest sampling them on youtube first. See for yourself.

Great set, not the 'censored' version, but with action left intact!
Background you can skip
I was, as a teen, captured by the Guyver Manga comics which, back then, were really hard to get (I lived in Holland and it was the 80's). Somehow my older brother was able to get them and shared them with me. Then, a few years after, I got Guyver on video (the first anime of this series). It really brought Guyver to life for me and I became a big fan. Naturally I also got the Guyver feature movies on video but that is a whole other story and I will not go into that here.To make a long story short: this is a remake of the original Anime of Guyver that, I believe, stems back to the mid 80's. This remake was done in 2005.
The story is brutal and intriguing as it progresses through increasing levels of attack and opponents that get stronger by the episode. It's never clear upfront whether Guyver will or will not win and the story does not get repetitive. There are a few 'quiet' episodes but overall this series deserves the large fan base and the...

Not quite the amazing masterpiece it used to be, but that doesn't make it bad
Most people who come into this most recent Guyver series, has probably been witness to the glory of the classic Guyver ovas and movies from the early 90s. Though, nothing made has really caught up with the original manga. All 3 guyver movies had mostly conclusions in them, but only the OAV movie even resembled the manga at all.

Well here comes the new series, hoping either to catch up or even conclude the guyver series. Though....does it succeed? Kindof, but not really. As of now, there are 26 manga books out for the guyver, and this series only goes up to the 10th. Anybody who has watched the original series from the 90s will figure out, this series doesn't go much farther than it honestly. While yes sure, this does very much so follow the manga, but thats ultimately its downfall as well. Think of a normal shonen like a dbz, sailor moon, or inuyasha where you can just about predict everything. If a battle can't be won, some new technique has to be used. There just really...

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Tyler Perry's House of Payne, Vol. 5

Tyler Perry's House of Payne 5
I love Tyler Perry's House of Payne 5. We keep it in the DVD player and watch it over and over again. It is so funny, and the whole family enjoys it.

More of Tyler's brilliant work.
There are only two really Christian comedy series on TV and both are the products of Tyler Perry. Both House of Payne and Meet the Browns are unafraid to talk about God, about redemption and forgiveness and Jesus Christ remains the theme though hidden at times for the laugh effect. Thank you Tyler. Can't wait for the next season on DVD which is on order now.

Freezing Disc
I love House of Payne. It makes me laugh however, I bought Season 5 and I'm a little disappointed because, I am only able to watch the first 2 episodes and the last one on disc 1. When I get to the 3rd episode, it freezes up from that episode until the next 2. I've tried viewing it on my DVD, laptop and even my work computer with no success.

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I Can Do Bad All By Myself (Widescreen Edition)

I Can Do Bad All By Myself (Full Screen Edition)
When Madea catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have: their aunt April. A heavy-drinking nightclub singer who lives off of Raymond, her married boyfriend, April wants nothing to do with the kids. But her attitude begins to change when Sandino, a handsome Mexican immigrant looking for work, moves into April's basement room. Making amends for his own troubled past, Sandino challenges April to open her heart. And April soon realizes she must make the biggest choice of her life: between her old ways with Raymond and the new possibilities of family, faith and even true love. I have all of Tyler Perry's movies and plays, and this movie is very entertaining. No one does it better but Tyler Perry.

Loved It
Once again Tyler Perry has blessed us with another screen banger. I love Tyler Perry because he is always able to bring it home. I can't even began to put in words how much I love this move.
Twisted Obsession

Good Story, Same Perry
This is another excellent movie in the Tyler Perry collection. While it keeps you pulled in, you can't help but to realize that the story is similar to most of the other Perry movies. There's always the abused woman who finally realizes how bad her life is, takes action and ultimately finds true love. The rest of the intense moments and story are just padding for the rest of the movie.
Don't get me wrong, they're great movies, but they're starting to become predictable due to the same direction they always seem to go. It's definitely worth a watch and is way better than some of the other trash out there in the movie store.

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A Few Good Men/Jerry Maguire

You can't handle the money!
Aaron Sorkin's A FEW GOOD MEN had a 497 performance Broadway run between 11/15/89 and 1/26/91. Tom Hulce (AMADEUS) portrayed Lt. j.g. Daniel Kaffee and Stephen Lang (GETTYSBURG) was Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep.

In Rob Reiner's screen version (adapted by the playwright), an inexperienced Navy lawyer is assigned the defense of two Gitmo Marines who appear to have murdered a comrade while administering a "Code Red," a disciplinary action they claim was ordered by their own lieutenant. Scene-chewing catchphrase "You can't handle the truth" aside, this is a top shelf courtroom drama.

Cameron Crowe's JERRY MAGUIRE is a rarity: a romantic film with an NFL setting. Another Tom Cruise picture where a co-star utters its most memorable line (Miss Zellweger's immortal "You had me at 'hello' "), this is a near-perfect blend of comedy and...

CUBA GOODING, JR. & TOM CRUISE 'NUFF SAID
I'am thrilled that this two great films could be purchased as one. Academy Award - winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. was a childhood friend and actor Tom Cruise has been a fav of mine since the film RISKY BUSINESS. These two play compelling roles in two great motion pictures. Jerry Maguire brought tears to my eyes!

Tom Cruise at his best.
I had seen this movie several times so I jumped on the chance to own it. I cannot rate Jerry Maguire as I have not yet viewed it, but A Few Good Men was well worth the cost.

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Chuck: The Complete Second Season

He's the Secret; She's the Agent...
In its superb second season, NBC's "Chuck" offers a more fully developed and unique blend of comedy, action, and romance. Chuck Bartkowski continues his double life: slacker computer nerd at an LA big box electronics store by day and inept government agent by night, thanks to the secret government database called the Intersect emplanted in his brain. Beautiful CIA agent Sarah Walker is Chuck's handler and bodyguard, with a cover as his girlfriend. Hardnosed NSA assassin Major John Casey teams with Walker to track Chuck's safety 24 hours a day and to pursue the bad guys the Intersect enables Chuck to identify.

This second season advances several themes over the course of the year. The impromptu team of Walker, Casey, and Bartkowski get increasingly difficult assignments to stop various villains and foil their nefarious plots, in which the untrained Chuck begins to demonstrate, often hilariously, the potential to muddle through as an agent.

A second theme is...

Easily one of the most delightful shows on TV
For me watching CHUCK at the beginning of each week increasingly became one of the high points of my TV watching week. If you can get past the rather silly premise for the show (and if you can, you have a real treat in store), that someone was able to have the entire contents of the CIA mainframe downloaded in his brain, you will discover one of the most entertaining and likable casts on TV. If you don't know CHUCK but are familiar with Josh Schwartz's previous series THE O.C., CHUCK is what that show would have been if you had isolated the Seth/Summer part of the show and made Seth a spy (I've read that Adam Brody, who played Seth, was originally asked to play Chuck, and Summer herself made an appearance in Season One as a potential love interest for our hero). Schwartz saved the Ryan/Marissa/Taylor part for GOSSIP GIRL. If the latter is all about the cool and hip, CHUCK is all about nerds and their universe. If the girls on wear their Jimmy Choos, Chuck wears Chuck T's...

My Favorite Show on the Air
Chuck is easily my favorite show on the air right now (and I love my television). Every episode leaves me desperate for more, and the second season has been especially excellent. They haven't been afraid of breaking the formula and actually letting things develop and change. That's one of the things that annoys me most about other shows -- writers show you what they want you to want and then draw that out for seasons and seasons on end. Bleh. But the writers of Chuck haven't and as such it is superb.

So, check it out. If you like comedy, romance, action, spies, great writing, and great acting, then you'll love Chuck.

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CockHammer

Excellent on every level
Before I am booed off the proverbial stage, I will get it out of the way in stating I am in the movie. There, happy now? I played Perander and I had a dang good time doing it!

Fearless leader Kevin Strange is better at what he does than anyone currently making low budget, underground, or independent film of this nature. Hack Movies has never been afraid to make fun of itself and go completely over the edge with the material they produce and CockHammer is no different. Every title released under the label has always been top-notch including loads of special features, heaps of gore, indecent behavior, insane characters, and hilarious comedy. CockHammer has it all.

To start with, you get a fully-packaged DVD with great cover art on the front and an amazing array on the back including great photos, a special features listing, and an arrangement no different than what you expect from a commercial DVD. Upon opening the jewel case, you will find not only an introduction...

A MUST SEE FOR HORROR COMEDY FANS!
What can be said about Cockhammer? Is it Crude? YES. Is it Offensive? YES. Is it Entertaining? YES. Cockhammer does not disappoint! I just watched it and have to say I was pleasantly pleased. The film is a lot of fun. It left me with a whole new idea about the horror comedy genre. This is the latest film from Hack Movies. Each film they do gets better and better and this film is very entertaining. So if you want to see a film that will blow your mind and leave you in a state of "WTF WAS THAT?" then check out COCKHAMMER!

Its strange in strangeville
Kevin and the entire family at hack movies,continue to improve on all aspects of there films. They go where many would never dare to go,its got everything youve been warned about and then some, its an all in your face how much can you take.Many indie films are in one day out the next but hack movies continues to gain momentum.I wish them the best and anxiously wait to see whats the next venture from them.

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Big Fan

Marx was wrong, religion is NOT the opiate of the masses..
The NFL is.

This is a chilling depiction of how obsession with a sports team morphs into a genuine psychological pathology. This uber-Giants fan loses all perspective in his identification with his favorite team and player, despite the fact that the latter beats him to within an inch of his life. Sad commentary on modern life and how devoid of meaning it can be that people develop unhealthy attachments to a sports team.

At times the movie was hard to watch, but it was well done in depicting the dark underbelly of sports obsession.

As to this movie, it made me a big fan...

This is near Pefection
From the first time I saw this movie, I've been comparing it to Taxi Driver, which I thought was one of the Darkest Films I've seen, but Big Fan is Darker, because I believe there are more Pauls than Travis's in the World around us, people who are wound up so tight due to the way their lives have turned out that they resort to drastic measures. The key to a good Psychotic Study such as this is the belief it could happen (I know about the comparison of Travis and John Hinckley and Jodie Foster) The other thing I enjoyed was the brilliant permormance by the entire Cast, Patton Oswalt should have won an Oscar for this Performance, The woman who played his Mother did not Utter one false word in her entire performance, and the rest of the cast was equally impressive, including Paul's Sister-in-Law with the distracting Boob-Job (they were perfect for the part)

My bias against spectator sports ...
My bias against spectator sports means I don't watch sports, don't watch movies about sports. But this movie tweaked my interest and I'm glad it did. It isn't about sports ... not even so much about sports fans, though that is the backdrop of the movie. For me, it was about people who don't "fit in" finding a place of their own, a place to feel not alone. This sweet, sad, and funny movie is incredibly well done. Paul and Sal are unforgettable.

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4 Film Favorites: Weddings (The Bachelor, The In-Laws, Monster-in-Law, The Wedding Singer: Special Edition)

Wonderfully funny and utterly romantic
I fell in love with this movie; the romance and comedy are done very well and the characters have chemistry and charisma.

This is a story about Jimmie (Chris O'Donnell), a commitment-shy young man who's faced with his biggest fear: marriage. In order to inherit a fortune left by his grandfather, he has to find a bride within 24 hours. He proposes marriage to all of his ex-girlfriends, which by the way, is one of the highlights of the film. There are cameo appearances by Mariah Carey and Brooke Shields. But he doesn't want to marry these women; he wants to marry the woman he loves (Renee Zellweger). She had dumped him because he had refused to commit. Jimmie tries to win her back at all cost.

This is a sweet and charming movie that you wouldn't want to miss. The chemistry between O'Donnell and Zelleweger is great. Despite its banality, the story is funny and quite touching. Rent "The Bachelor," curl up on your couch and enjoy!

Madcap and entertaining romantic comedy
I found this to be a madcap and highly entertaining romantic comedy. This is a remake of the 1925 Buster Keaton classic, `Seven Chances' and this story has been trotted out a number of times since in various forms so the material is far from fresh. Jimmie Shannon (Chris O'Donnell) is a confirmed bachelor who finds himself in love with Anne (Rene Zellweger). As his friends begin dropping like flies to the marriage bug, Jimmie realizes that his time too has come. So he proposes to Anne, but he botches it, making it so unromantic that despite desperately wanting to accept, she runs from the room. When his grandfather dies, he discovers that he is the sole heir to a vast fortune of $100 million, but to get it, he needs to get married by 6:05 PM on his birthday, which as it happens is the following day. With his one true love gone, he must marry someone, so he begins a litany of successive proposals to all his old girlfriends.

The story is utterly predictable and overly zany...

Nothing to write home about, but fun and zany.
Ok, the premise of the movie is pretty canned, and some ideas/montages downright dumb or silly, but the overall

presentation is a bit out of the box and humorous. The movie

moves at a brisk pace, and uses and lambasts a lot of cliches about marriage. One would think the comedy would be predictable, but it manages to create an off-beat edge that tickles. Supporting characters, including the older actors,

keep things diverse or outright wacky. Zellweger brings a pouting charm while O'Donnell is pure naivety and his fat side-kick delivers some good laughs. Again, the movie is a success on it's own terms because of the brisk pace that stays consistently outrageous and doesn't get stuck in any plodding emotional exposition, sentimentality, or melodrama. Fun flick.

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4 Film Favorites: Wesley Snipes (The Art of War, Boiling Point, Murder at 1600, New Jack City - Disc 1)

An impressive, tantalizing thriller
Once again I find myself praising a movie that a majority of folks seem to view as average at best. Murder at 1600 is a serious movie that you can't take too seriously, not if you want to enjoy it. Wesley Snipes has a few humorous bits, and Dennis Miller is his normally wisecracking self, and I think the movie perhaps benefits from this remote air of unreality due to its subject matter - after all, the brutal murder of a young woman inside the White House is some pretty serious stuff. The other main aspect of the film, which supplies the motive for the murder in the first place, is - granted - a little bit out there, and that is where the subtle sense of unreality pays dividends; without it, it would really be hard to get from here to there.

Carla Towne is a young unknown White House staffer - until her body is found in a White House restroom sporting a number of deadly knife wounds. This is not good news for the President, who is already bottoming out in the polls for still...

CAPITOL PUNISHMENT
It's a dark and stormy night at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Under the eternally captured eyes of Washington and Jefferson, a lovely young blonde is having sex in one of the rooms in the White House. Soon a maid discovers her body in a stall in the restroom. She has been stabbed to death. Uh-oh, is this going to be a problem or what?

MURDER AT 1600 has a lot of incredible plot contrivances that don't work unless you go ahead, suspend your belief, and enjoy the ride. Dwight Little's competent direction allows us to do that. Remember, it's just a movie, and even though its plot seems a bit far-fetched at times, it works as an engrossing thriller. Wesley Snipes is convincing as a no-nonsense DC homicide detective who forces himself onto the investigation, which should have been federally handled since it took place on Federal property. But then we wouldn't have had a movie. Diane Lane in a rare "action" role is marvelous as Dena Chance, the secret service liaison who...

Just as good as Absolute Power.
This is the first murder mystery film to have the White House as the location of the crime. This is what makes the film more suspenseful and interesting. I have this DVD and I really like this movie. It's really worth watching.

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The Matrix [Blu-ray]

Blu-Ray Transfer Is Fantastic!
With over 2,000 reviews, there is no sense discussing the movie so I will just address this to readers wondering if the Blu-Ray transfer is as good as they, perhaps, have heard.

Yes, it is - it's incredble. I am not a particular fan of the film, especially the sequels, so I say these remarks with no bias. I just rented this first "Matrix" to see how it looked. Well, it Blu (pun intended) me away!! At this point, I've seen around 50 Blu-Ray DVDs and this is as good as it gets. I can't imagine how you could make it any better. It's so sharp, I just sat there mesmerized by it. The sound also is outstanding....another upgrade. I've seen this movie three times now and I swear I heard a lot of background talk and stuff I never heard before.

So....if you read that the audio and visuals are 5-star caliber - believe it; it's true.

Movie's Great...This Package, Not So
The Matrix is an excellent movie that combines science fiction, shoot-em-up action, and philosophical questions about the nature of Reality. If you are plugged in to a computer, and that computer presents you with a reality that is completely indistinguishable from your own, is it any less real?

This movie has exceptional special effects, beautiful cinematography, an excellent soundtrack, well-crafted dialogue, and respectable acting. Keanu Reeves may be a lousy actor, but I think that the Matrix is probably his best performance to date.

The Platinum Limited Edition isn't really worth the extra money unless you're an absolute, die-hard, take the red pill, freak. I wish I had known that before ordering this product. It comes in a box about as thick as an encyclopedia, and is fairly large, so it won't fit on the shelf with the rest of your DVDs. Opening it up, I was rather disappointed -- most of the volume is filled with a cheap plastic tray that contains a celluloid clip of...

Beyond Anything You've Seen Before
(What is the Matrix). In 1977, George Lucas changed the landscape of cinematic Science Fiction forever with "Star Wars," taking the genre light years ahead of all that preceded it. Such a momentous advancement would not be seen again for over twenty years, when, in 1999, the Wachowski Brothers raised the bar again, taking the genre at warp speed to an unprecedented level with their astoundingly innovative film, "The Matrix." Co-directed, written and produced by Larry and Andy Wachowski, it is an allegory of salvation and redemption filled with symbolism and metaphor (the Biblical references alone should keep theology students debating this one for years to come); a thinking man's action film, accentuated with moments that are no less than profound. In a world of the future, things are literally not what they seem, where it's Man versus Machine, Reality versus Fantasy, and few who know the truth; among those who do, is Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), who has long awaited the...

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Sesame Street: Guess That Shape and Color

seasame shape and color DVD
Sesame street DVD's are good for young learning children...My children have always benefited from sesame products..The puppets make learning fun for kids...





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Trucker

A thought-provoking and emotionally moving saga about the culmination of a turning point in one's life, highly recommended
Trucker is a DVD movie about an independent-minded truck driver Diane Ford, accustomed to enjoying a carefree life marked by one-night love affairs, hard drinking, and long haul days on the road. But her life changes dramatically when she suddenly has the responsibility of caring for her eleven-year-old son Peter - whom she has not seen since he was a baby. Peter's father is incapacitated in the hospital; now Diane's life is turned upside down, as she struggles with caring for a boy as distrustful of her as she is of him. Difficult choices lie ahead for her, and she must come to grips with a future that holds more challenges and pitfalls than she has ever imagined. A thought-provoking and emotionally moving saga about the culmination of a turning point in one's life, highly recommended. 93 minutes, closed captioned, rated R.

Tough (but worthy) watch, bare bones DVD
This can be one of those films where a reviewer can write paragraphs of material about the narrative, performances, nuances, subtlety of emotions, and loads of other wonderful stuff, but when the credits suddenly appeared I had to wait a day to scribe some thoughts.

A character/performance film all the way, with Michelle Monaghan being given her first chance at carrying a film - and without hesitation I think she did an outstanding job. The story follows our main gal as she trucks for a living, unburdened by any emotional or long term physical relationships. She is suddenly given the responsibility of having to take care of her estranged boy, last seen when he was an infant. The rest (and majority) of the film covers their new relationship and the pitfalls they both face with her road life. Very dry at times, but some genuine moments and strong showings make for a solid film. Would have liked to see more happen with certain roles (I liked Serenity so it was nice to see...

NO PANTS NO SERVICE
Diane Ford (Michelle Monaghan) is a female trucker. Like her male counterparts she gets paid by the mile, drinks, stays at cheap motels, has a tat, and pays for sex. Unlike her male counterparts she doesn't have spinal damage from being on the road or manages to secure a load for the return trip. When her ex-husband (Benjamin Bratt) gets "the big C" her 11 year old estranged son (Jimmy Bennett) is dumped on her doorstep....LET THE BONDING BEGIN!

Anyone who has ever watched a movie knows that the son is going to start out being rebellious and trouble and eventually they will bond. Diane has a friend Runner (Nathan Fillion) who helps her along the way and wants to take their friendship of 4 years to the next level. Add some lame music, a few gut wrenching tense moments, a couple of heart warming tear-jerker scenes and you have the formula for a successful indie.

F-bomb, sex, no nudity, attempted rape. 3 1/2 stars

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WordWorld: My Fuzzy Valentine

Only 30 min playing time, not 60!
I bought this DVD along with the Christmas DVD episode of Word World, because my son loves the series and i liked the idea of buying the holiday-oriented ones. But there is only 30 min of actual episode playing time on this - it is not 60 min. The other 30 min are commercials. In my opinion, 30 min of commercials, along with 2 15 min episodes, does not add up to '60 min playing time' and therefore this DVD is not worth the money i paid for it. I won't be purchasing any more of these 2-episode sets.

disappointed
I bought the Fuzzy Valentine DVD along with a different episode (DVD). I was very disappointed to discover there is only 30 min (two 15 min episodes) of actual episode playing time on this, and not the 60 min as advertised. This DVD is not worth the money I paid for it.

Adorable Valentine DVD!
Word World is one of my son's favorite shows and he just can't get enough of it. Not only is Word World on everyday but they also come out with great holiday specials. Well they have done it again and come out with Word World My Fuzzy Valentine.

If you have never watched Word World before, it is an adorable show for kids any ages. All the animals are comprised of the letters that spell them. For example, the ant is made of the letters A-N-T and the same for sheep, frog, duck, pig, and the rest of the gang. Even items in the show like a car, cloud, and more are also spelled out.

In My Fuzzy Valentine there are two episodes with a total running time of 60 minutes. There is even a bonus music video, "It's Time to Rhyme." The episodes focus on helping others out, learning to rhyme, working together, and other good values that PBS shows usually are built on. I admit I like the show too and the songs they sing usually stick in my head! I love though how the...

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The Widow's Might

Low budget 5 star movie
This film is not a huge Hollywood budget movie, but like "The Runner from Ravenshead" will leave you with a good feeling inside. Taking a line from "Ratatouille", "Anyone can cook", this movie shows that with a lot of work and a small budget, "anyone can make a movie". Sorry, no big budget sets, big car crashes, or other "Hollywood stuff" but it is worth your time.

widow's might
great move; well done; beautiful story; beautiful singing; kids were all wonderful actors; we homeschool; made us hopeful to do something as well someday



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1989 Daytona 500

After 17 tries D.W. finally wins the Daytona 500
This DVD is great. For 17 years Darrell Waltrip failed to win the Daytona 500. In 1989 it finally happened. Thumbs up.

good not great
For being over 20 years later, the broadcast has held up quite well. There's a couple if spots where you can tell that the master tape has shown some wear.

What a shame
NASCAR FANS SAVE YOUR MONEY! This as well as others i've bought from nascar super store are almost un-watchable. It's almost like some kid with a 8mm camera filmed these races. These are not what was televised. Had any TV station aired these NASCAR would never be where it is today. The cars are white and black most of the time they are on screen. They are just silhouettes from the sun glare. I have been watching NASCAR since 1984 and I know personally this is not what was televised. Even some of the newer races look this bad. How could NASCAR get the money to grow as they did if fans couldn't see the fancy color schemes or even the number on the cars. And the sound is also equally as bad. I can't suggest strongly enough how much of a waste these tapes are.

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The Final Destination

Is NOT Active Shutter 3D - Comes with Red/Green Glasses
I have a 3D TV and bought this Blu-Ray disc based on Amazon's product description that stated "To watch this movie in Blu-ray 3D, you will need a 3D-capable television that comes with active-shutter glasses and a 3D-capable Blu-ray player". When it arrived I was a bit concerned to see that it came with two pairs of red and green filtered glasses and there was no mention of 3D TVs on the box. There were two discs though, so I hoped one of them contained a proper 3D movie for 3D TVs - No such luck so I returned it, which to Amazon's credit, was a very simple experience actually. I just printed out a UPS return label from Amazon's website and dropped it off at my nearest UPS Store and hopefully they're paying for it. Amazon needs to change their product description otherwise they're going to get a lot of returns.

Death Gets All Up In Your Face
At heart, all horror movies operate on the human response to mortality. Your average horror fan gets a thrill from the films because they are a sort of spice for life, they are the seasoning that makes the mundane parts of life all the more richer. Watch a bunch of people get sliced and diced by a monster or madman, and that adrenaline rush makes you feel as if, on some level, you yourself have cheated death. For awhile or more, it's nice to be alive.

The FINAL DESTINATION films utilize the same premise, but instead of creating a defeatable or relatable villain, it makes the very act of dying the villain. Watching the movies, it's very much like they decided that the force of Death, after a millenia of ending lives, has grown bored and has decided to put some spice into his job. In all of the movies, Death awards a young soul with a premonition of a huge catastrophe, and when that soul saves him/herself (along with a handful of others), Death gleefully sets up...

out with a bang
You know, I tend to find the Final Destination series to be among the SCARIEST of all the horror films out there. This is because the actual horror comes in the way of REAL possibilities.

Alright, so they are real possibilities *greatly* exaggerated for the sake of creating a quality horror film, but when you stop and really think about it, the Final Destination series could really mess with your head, and perhaps even permanently screw up your mental state.

That is, if you choose to take it seriously and believe in this kind of stuff. You know, believing the death of every single person on the face of the planet is meant to happen for a reason, and we're all just ticking clocks waiting to die. For someone like me, it's hard *not* to take a film like this somewhat seriously. Death is just unbelievably fascinating to me, and this interpretation of it makes it even more exciting.

After all, the way people die in this film involve cars, fires, heavy...

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Popular: The Complete Second Season

This was really the golden age of the WB
I watched POPULAR when I was in high school, back in 2000-2001. It holds a special place in my heart and watching it really brings back memories. It was really one of the finest shows the WB ever produced. I'm a few years older now, but it's funny because life doesn't really change much. We are all still looking for popularity, love, friendship, family strength, confidence, and success. These were the major themes in the show, and rarely does a show present such intelligent and mature views of relationships. It was much, much more than a teen soap opera. It was a commentary on society in general, and our need to belong.

I really related to the characters in POPULAR. Sure, real life in high school during this time was never as glamorous or as fabulous as presented in this show--but I think we all wished it was, and POPULAR gave us dreams. I wasn't the only person who watched the show--a few of my friends also did, and we were all so surprised by its cancellation. We all...

It's hard to resist the cliques in Popular: Season 2
We all remember our days in high school. The moments that built our characters and the friends that defined who we were. So what crowd were you "in"? What clique established you? These questions might strike an emotional note with you, but not with the students of Kennedy High. Sam, Brooke, Josh, Sugar Daddy and the rest of the gang are back in the second season of the hit WB show, Popular.

The show centers around the life of two polar opposite high school girls: Sam, the outcast and Brooke, the teen queen. The world through their eyes is drastically different but they share one common demoninator. Their family. In the first season of the groundbreaking series, Brooke and Sam saw their single parents move in together and their worlds collide inside and outside of their high school walls. Their respected cliques began to blend and the barriers between what was cool and who was popular slowly fell apart. In the second, and final season, of the series the lead heroines begin...

Brilliant!
First, to E. Babcock, Harrison did choose Brooke, she ran off because Sam had started to cry. At tvtome.com/Popular/ , on the last page of the episode guide, there is all the information about season three that had been written prior to WB pulling the plug (as provided by series creator/writer/producer Ryan Murphy). I think it is difficult to compare season one to season two as season one was under much tighter constrictions for wackiness, but season two went all out (even though it definitely had more dramatic drama). I think by the end of season two, these characters have been fleshed out enough that a season three would have been extremely sour.

Gripes about the DVD:

Only two commentaries...one with Bryce, Leslie (Bibb), and Chris...the second one with just Bryce and Leslie, and Bryce leaves about twenty minutes into it. I cannot believe Ryan Murphy didn't lend his own thought to a commentary or two. Not to mention, the commentaries aren't even on big...

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