Accountant

The Accountant Adds Up
There is a reason this movie won the Oscar: it is simply a great movie. It takes place on a farm in the South. And unlike nearly all other TV shows or movies set in the south, the accents and characters are authentic and multi-dimensional. You definitely have 30 minutes to see this movie. But I bet you spend a couple of hours, as you will want to watch it several times.

Amazing short film!
How can two struggling brothers save their family farm? By calling in an "accountant". Enter an almost cartoonish-looking Ray McKinnon (who also wrote and directed the film). What follows is a moving, hilarious and sometimes sad look at how drastically life has changed in the South and wonders whether we are better off for the change. Watch this movie. Seriously good short film.

Excellent, ahead of its time
What is almost an extended comedy skit is surprisingly prescient in it vision and analysis of the economic disaster being unleashed upon the American people. While the trappings presented are those of rural farmers and a backwoods accountant, the explores the core issues cancerous corporatism, self-determination, and the media created nightmare of the American Dream.

I saw this after the housing bubble burst in 2008 and the American economy started swirling down the toilet. It is at once both satiric and sobering, and should shame anyone with a credit card or a home mortgage with an unpaid balance. And yet for as much moral instruction as the movie provides, I can most heartily recommend it for its humor and compassion.

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It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas

Hilarious, but I admit may be expensive
I am a huge fan of Always Sunny and would definitely reckomend(Charlie spelling) this DVD. Yes, it is expensive. I was lucky enough to get it discounted with Seasons 1-4 on the deal of the day(Thanks Amazon!) so it didn't really effect me. The added violence and cursing definitely made me wish every episode could have it! They use the cursing efficiently and always to great effect. If you like Always Sunny you can't really go wrong with this DVD. I was excited to see Mac and Charlie paired together again(Lately the dynamic has been Frank/Charlie and Mac/Dennis) for some great, hilarious moments. Loved it and think you will love it too!

Spectacular
There seems to be two main groups of people giving this reviews - people who haven't seen it, but love the show, so they give it a 5, and people who hate the price, so they give it a 1. Ignore them both.

I just got this in the mail today, watched it, it's hilarious, as good as any episode. It's 40 minutes, the length of two episodes. The ending is a little weak, the rest is spectacular. That's really all there is to it. If you're willing to pay a standard DVD price for two episodes, go for it, I promise you won't be disappointed. If you don't think it's worth it, no one's twisting your arm, you have no right to complain.

I think I know what happened here...
I am a fan of Always Sunny and own all the seasons on DVD. I am NOT a hater. This DVD is basically a double episode of Always Sunny with a Christmas theme. There are some funny bits, but it is not an outstanding episode. DVD Extras are weak and not worth the time.

What I think happened is this: The Always Sunny gang wanted to make a Christmas episode for broadcast, but when the suits saw this episode they balked and said "no way" to airing it. I mean, this thing pushes more boundaries than ever! So the gang added some minimal dvd extras (very minimal) and packaged it for a DVD release. (Possibly this was prompted by the suits at the network to recoup production costs, but maybe not.) Anyway it is an attempted cash grab and not worth the $20.

The clay-mation scene near the end was a GREAT idea, but I feel, a missed opportunity. It started well, but they went for gross and violent instead of just being Always Sunny. It was the one part I was really hoping to see,...

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BLUE, JOSH - 7 MORE DAYS IN THE TANK

non stop fun
Josh Blue is hilarious and i would love to see more. i can't seem to find enough of his acts. When watching "7 more days in the tank" you will laugh the entire time. It is great that he can take a negative(his condition) and turn it into something positive. If you enjoy comedy I definitely recommend Josh Blue.

Last Comic Standing
This is a lot of the same material that Josh won Last Comic Standing with. Hilarious stuff and his delivery is perfect.

Gotta Love This Guy
I saw Josh on Last Comic Standing and was fascinated at his ability to poke fun at his handycap, making the best of a bad situation. It was refreshing to see a handycapped person overcome his disability in a fashion that makes the rest of us look at them as another person. I hope we see more from this new commedian, he is truly worth watching.

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Wild Child

LIGHTHEARTED TEEN FLICK THAT WORKS
This film is full of cheesy goodness. If you are looking for a young chick flick with with a dash of romance, this one is a great choice.

This movie has been done before... A LOT. What sets this film apart is the stellar cast. It is the last movie made by Natasha Richardson and casting Alex Pettyfer as the love interest doesn't hurt. The lead is played by Emma Roberts (the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and Julia Robert's niece), who obviously has taken some pointers from family members. She shines in this role as a snotty rich kid who transforms into the young woman she was meant to be. She got caught up in the fast lane of California living after her mother passed and when her dad has had enough, she gets carted off to her mom's old boarding school - in England! There is an obvious clash of cultures as she has to find her way in a foreign school with it's own caste system. Enter the mean girls and a handsome son of a headmistress and there's your plot. You know...

Hilarious Fun
I first rented this movie to see what it was all about and right after I watched it I knew that I had to own it. It is entertaining from the very first scene!

Great Movie!
I saw this movie when I was in Britain last summer. Emma's character wasn't as wild as the title may suggest but there were a lot unexpected twists in this movie that made it more than your regular romcom. I highly recommend this movie and I will definitely buy this.

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Keeping Up with the Kardashians: The Complete Second Season

Doing it with class, cause I got a big ass.
So I'll be the first to admit that season 1 is more entertaining than season 2...but I'll be completely honest here, this show could become the worst show on television and I'd still watch it. Luckily though, it's not the worst show on television. Season 2 is still great. The dvd however is lacking. Just as the first season on dvd, it is censored and lacking in extras. But for the price, I'd say it's worth the purchase.

A guilty pleasure season 2 but lacking DVD package
A guilty pleasure show to watch on E!. Aired spring of 2008.
Season 2.
Well, we get more episodes in the 2cd season. The 1 that will tug at the heart strings is the last episode when they go to New Orleans & help a family out who lost their home in the 2005 Katrina storm.

No special extras. A few deleted scenes & a video segment with Rob.

Now, here are the problems with it 1. EPISODES ARE NOT UNCUT. Come on. The Girls Next Door DVD's are uncut they have nudity & language. Why is this show NOT shown uncut? I am very disappointed in that. 2. This HORRIBLE & CHEAP DVD case/holder. It has intentional HOLES IN IT ON BOTH FRONT & BACK Cheap, stupid & THOUGHTLESS 3. No commentary as well on the episodes

At lease it does have a chapter/episode list. BUT, the 1st season DVD said the original air dates for the episodes Season 2 does NOT

Let us hope the DVD for season 3 is better than this

KUWTK: Season 2
Great DVD season I bought to watch since I didn't have E! When the 1st & 2nd seasons were showing on TV. Glad that I could catch up by watching the complete season DVD.

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Beverly Hills, 90210: The Eighth Season

Another Solid Season of a 90's Favourite
Maybe it's the nostalgia... or maybe it's the beauty of the boxset where you can become really engrossed in a t.v. show, watching episode after episode like reading chapter after chapter of a really good book you can't put down...
But I had quite low expectations of season 8 of 90210 on dvd and it turned out to be much better than I remembered.

I remembered this as the season that the show started to wane but actually this season was another fine run of the show.

It starts off a little rocky with the silly daytime- soap- type amnesia storyline for Kelly. But once the show got going, it was another solid year of ups and downs for the gang of friends we've grown to know and love over the years.

This year actually starts off a lot quicker then previous school/ college based seasons. The gang are thrown into the real world at last...

So this season sees Kelly and Brandon slowly tire of each other , Brandon's infidelity, the show continues...

Wear and tear.
Beverly Hills, 90210: Season Eight is when this groundbreaking drama started losing steam. The storylines became bizarre and lifeless and Hilary Swank was suddenly cut from the show without warning. I believe this was Jason Priestley's last year with the show and Season 9 and 10 were not the same without him - he was the heart and soul of this '90s hit. Jennie Garth is one of my favorites but even her character, Kelly Taylor started getting annoying especially with that whole amnesia storyline, blah! Donna (Tori Spelling) and David (Brian Austin Green) finally seal the deal and the gang graduates from College. Pretty much a safe, bland season but not as horrible when other shows jump the shark.

More Season Sets, Please!
Beverly Hills 90210 is one of the BEST drama series, I have ever watched! So far, CBS/Paramount has released the first 7 seasons, which I have collected.

CBS/Paramount should keep up the good work releasing Beverly Hills 90210 in season sets.

Season 8 is where Brandon, Kelly, Steve, David, Donna, and Valerie enter the real world. They also meet Carly Reynolds, Noah Hunter, and Steve's future wife Janet Sosna, in season Eight.

Beverly Hills 90210 The 8th Season should be released in 7-disc set containing all 30 episodes.

Please keep releasing Bevely Hills 90210 in Seasons sets!

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Four Christmases

Four Christmases
Brad (Vaughn) and Kate (Witherspoon) are heading to Figi for Christmas so they do not have to spend time with their family. A dense fogbank grounds all flights out of San Francisco and destroys their plans. A local television report from the airport seals their fate, and soon they are off to see their families - Brad's divorced mom and dad and Kate's divorced mom and dad. Brad's dad (Duvall) and brothers (Favreau and McGraw) are hell on Brad, but Kate finds amusement in his discomfort. Kate's mom (Steenburgen) is a bit of a cougar, making things uncomfortable for everyone. By the time they have survived Brad's mom (Spacek), their relationship is hanging by a thread. Kate's dad is not so bad, but by then it may just be too late.

"Four Christmases" is a pretty funny holiday film. Vaughn and Witherspoon are two likeable, funny leads. A star-studded supporting cast keeps the humor coming as well. The humor is of the squirmy, uncomfortable kind. You feel bad for these...

It's Funny but Definately not a must see!
I would not call this a Christmas movie. You could take away the holiday aspect and the movie would still be funny. Both Vince and Reese are true veterans. They no how to take an ok script and turn it into a decent movie. The biggest problem with the film is that it really holds back. These are the same people that created the movie Stepbrothers which was hilarious because it was so over the top. This movie seems afraid to just let everything hang out. I would definately not buy this one. Just download it off the net. It's funny but definately nothing to run over anyone to see.

Hilarious Christmas Movie... Instant Classic!
As some of the reviews reflect, this movie is not for everyone. If you're hoping to watch a traditional Christmas movie (e.g., Miracle on 34th Street), Four Christmases is not for you. Some of the reviewers wrote that this movie is not for children, which is a given. If you enjoyed Wedding Crashers or most anything Vince Vaughn is in, you'll enjoy this movie. Reese Witherspoon also delivers. In addition, the supporting cast is fantastic. If you've ever thought that family, although wonderful to have, can make the holidays more difficult than they need to be, you will relate to and enjoy Four Christmases. Highly recommended!

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Kobe Doin' Work: A Spike Lee Joint

Only True Basketball Fans Will Understand
"Kobe Doin' Work" is a short documentary with the goal of showing a part of the game that people have never seen before. Spike Lee chose Kobe Bryant because he is not only the greatest player in the game right now but because of the impact he has on his team. If you watch this film, you will understand why they call the Lakers "Kobe's Team." You will also gain a new respect for Kobe who has proven to be the reason for Laker success. Despite the game being a blowout for the Lakers, it is interesting to hear what exactly goes through Kobe's mind. Spike shot Kobe beautifully and succeeded in in getting his vision across. This film is not for everyone. Only the Laker faithfull and true basketball players can appreciate this insightfull documentary.

Kinda boring
I got a chance to watch this on ESPN and had high hopes that it would be very good. Not exactly what I was expecting. Basically you get Kobe with a hidden mic during a game and as the game (between L.A. and Spurs) goes on Kobe is watching the game and commenting on what he was thinking at that very moment. It's like watching a dvd with commentary option set to on. The game itself was boring as you sit there watching and thinking, "wow...is this going to get good?" I think of highlights from Jordan days and his films being like, "wow.....that was amazing...." Kobe has plenty of highlights they could have mixed in or at least on a bonus disc but this was as bland as a popcorn rice cake.

The nice part in the documentary is getting on the inside. Getting in the locker room and seeing what goes on was nice. The whole idea is good but it really just wasn't interesting. Kobe fumbled alot when in the game and the film crew was trying very hard to capture this awesome moment...

"This film is about one great player, one day, on the job."
There's a jokey, fun-loving side to Kobe Bryant's personality, and we've seen flashes of it in interviews and in behind-the-scenes locker room stuff. KOBE DOIN' WORK, in spots, does demonstrate this lightheartedness. But Kobe, who provides the commentary for this documentary, seems focused on informing the audience of his thought processes as he surveys the floor and on delving into the strategies behind the plays which unfold. For pure basketball fans, Kobe's articulate but dry assessments make for a fascinating listen. It's certainly enlightening stuff and you can't help but note his love for the game and the sheer competitive nature of the guy. But if you're a casual hoops person, you might yawn a few times.

The director here is Spike Lee and he sums up this documentary nicely: "This film is about one great player, one day, on the job." He also says, "We just wanted to capture how Kobe sees the game." and that also sums it up nicely. On April 13, 2008, during the 2007-08...

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The Sherlock Holmes Collection

Three Faces of Holmes
For some, Sherlock Holmes is a character open to interpretation, while to others there is The Canon and the "real" Sherlock Holmes. This three-DVD boxset collection is definitely those who don't mind a silly Sherlock and don't insist on staying close to Doyle's original stories.

The collection contains three films, each with a very different take on the Great Detective. Aside from the grim looking Holmes on the box cover, only one of the films is an adaptation of an actual Doyle story, and two of the films are actually quite light-hearted in nature with one being an out-and-out spoof. All three films are quite good on their own right for those who enjoy variety in their Holmes.

All three films are available individually. The three films are:

The Hound of the Baskervilles - This 1959 film is the first Holmes movie in color. This is the Hammer Horror version of the classic tale,...

hi
Be very careful this is not as advertised .this is not a collection of holmes movie by robert stephens .But is triple feature dvd set.the hound of the baskervilles starring peter cushing and andre morell. the private life of sherlock homes starring robert stephens and colin blakely. and without a clue starring michael caine and ben kingsley.all good in there own way but very different from a collection by robert stephens.

A Must for the Watson Fan
The three Sherlock Holmes films included here are a mixed bag. But they are all theatrical releases of a fairly high quality. And if, like me, you are more a connoisseur of Watson than Holmes, these films will be a treat. They have three different takes on Watson, two of them predating David Burke, and none of them fools.

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1959)
Peter Cushing is a fine Holmes, if a little too smug in his deducing. Cushing went on to play Holmes on television to better effect. This Hammer movie casts another horror favorite, Christopher Lee, as Sir Henry Baskerville. Andre Morell is a solid, if rather stodgy and dull, Watson. That may make him close to the way Doyle intended him. The story deviates from the true, and it's all rather stage-bound. Still, it's marginally preferable to Jeremy Brett's dreary version, even if it's nowhere near the quality of Basil Rathbone's. This is the only film in the set that is done without its tongue in its...

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Terminator Salvation (Full-Screen Edition)

Director's Cut Differences
The director's cut runs approximately 3 minutes longer, and inserts a few new scenes, but no major plot points. This is NOT the major unrated cut that McG has referred to in past interviews, where he suggested that 30-40 minutes of additional footage would be added. We'll probably see that in a future edition.

Here are the major differences between the theatrical version and the director's cut (spoilers follow).

1) In the opening action scene, when John Connor is leading his unit into the flooded underground Skynet base, a T-1 terminator (nice touch from T3) suddenly appears behind them. His men destroy it before it can do any damage. I'm glad this scene was cut; it inadvertently breaks the tension too quickly.

2) When John pulls his little "frogman stunt", he is seated before the Resistance Command generals, and General Ashdown (Michael Ironside) berates John. Ashdown says, "I don't believe in prophecy, not when one can re-write the future",...

good movie, but not much to Director's Cut
for the movie itself, i give it 5 stars. I loved Terminator Salvation. But overall, the Director's cut was kind of a let down.

the regular version is exactly 115 minutes, Director's Cut is 117 minutes. THe only real added shots in the Director's cut is a surprise terminator attack at the beginning of the film (when Connor leads his men down the water filled tunnel), a bit more Connor speach where he mentions his mom right before "then what is the point in winning" and the "nude" shot of Moon Bloodgood.

the 2nd disc features 2 Terminator Salvation features. the 1st one is solid, called "Refocusing on the future". This feature runs about 20 minutes and is pretty neat, but way too short. Clerks 2 for exampled had a feature that ran over 1 hour covering everything from pre-production to post production.

the 2nd feature has about 4 short (3-5 minutes each) features that talk about the moto-terminators, the return of Arnold, the use of the Air Force in...

A Realy Solid Action Film
I terminated 2.5 hours of my overcast afternoon to get to and wait in line for the sneak preview of Terminator Salvation, so I figured that I might as well try to get my review up tonight to help people make an informed, spoiler-free decision this weekend. I know I waited about the length of movie in line, but I did walk into it knowing what to expect and I got exactly that: a summer blockbuster action movie.

The plot is basically what you think it is given the plots of the first two movies (the third one doesn't really count in the continuum of this movie's timeline, from what I remember of it). In the future, the government contracts Skynet for defense technologies, which creates robots that end up becoming self-aware and decide that humanity is a threat on "Judgement Day" and start trying to destroy the entire human population. Unlike the first two movies, which take place because robots from the future travel back in time, this one takes place in the middle of the war...

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Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 3 [Blu-ray]

It may be a slightly sub-par season of Trek, but it's a real hum-dinger of a Blu-Ray
The Program:

Since the A/V quality of the episodes is quite similar to the previous two sets, I will spend a little more time on the episodes in this set. Season 3 is generally regarded as the weakest of the Original Series (TOS), and I won't offer much argument. Several episodes have rather silly premises. But that said, there are still several gems, the actors all still give it an earnest go, and the characters they have created carry the day. Season 3 is still entertaining and charming, if not as cerebral as the prior two seasons. Here are the episodes you get, with my own humble opinion and ratings (out of 5).

Disc 1
Spock's Brain - a decent SF premise marred by silly execution. Spock as a radio controlled automaton is just a bit hard to take seriously. 2/5
The Enterprise Incident - A classic show in which Kirk and Spock infiltrate a Romulan vessel to steal vital technology. 5/5
The Paradise Syndrome - Kirk loses his memory on a planet with a...

The Final Season on the Final Frontier
I reviewed most of The Original Series episodes during the initial DVD release which began in 1999. So, the comments here focus on this new, remastered, edition.

Doubtless, Paramount will eventually release these episodes on Blu-ray. But even at standard definition, the picture has never looked better. The colors pop off the screen, scratches have been removed, and grain, while noticeable, has been reduced to a bare minimum. Unfortunately, with the improved picture, flaws in the original production are also more noticeable: shadows from boom microphones are occasionally detectable, and the 3rd Season budget cuts show in some of the temporary sets. Still, the picture shows the obvious care taken with the lighting and composition of the original shots (very different from today's flatly-lit, smash & grab style of television filming).

Of course, the primary feature of this new release is the new CGI visual effects. Season Three had a number of effects heavy...

Weaker season, still amazing blu ray
Though I've never been a huge fan of the third season, I must say that watching them in beautiful blu ray really makes it an entertaining experience. The transfer, like the previous seasons, continues to impress. You can tell whoever worked on the show really loved what they were doing when they made the blu ray, as it looks spectacular. In fact, its so clear, little nuances can be notice that weren't seen before, details in aliens skin, or special effects that were little more than blurry are now easy to see, and so clear you'll never want to stop watching.

As to the season, it was pretty evident that budget cuts had severly limited certain episodes, but were still largely good. What makes up for the clunkers (spock's brain comes to mind) are the amazing special features, which include no less than three versions of "The Cage" and a never-before-seen variation on "Where No Man Has Gone Before." Even if you have reservations for getting the "weaker" star trek season,...

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Taking Chances

Glad I Took a Chance
When I had heard that the guy who does the "Hi, I'm a Mac" t.v. commercial was in this film, my interest was piqued. Didn't know who the other actors were.... didn't matter: the story, a variation on the David vs Goliath theme, was compelling. It is unfortunate that the cover art of the DVD gives the impression of this being a teenage romantic comedy. The movie itself belies that image - it's a complex, textured story about good and evil, innocence and knowing, honesty and deceit. My only criticism: perhaps the movie tries to take on too many deep contradictions. Even so, "Taking Chances" is worth watching.

A surprisingly great watch!
I bought this film because I think Justin Long is funny and I thought it looked like a cute love story. Now, I was reticent because I thought the cover is cheesy, but I decided to get it anyway. It was so much better than I imagined! And it wasn't just a love story, more of a coming of age film about a young guy who is trying to figure out his place in his town and therefore the world. I laughed out loud, which I rarely do, and I was also really touched by it. It's quite witty, not big slapstick humor. I also thought it captured the current political climate of main street economic struggles and the corruption of government and big business. I strongly recommend it. Pleasant surprise!
Taking Chances

"History Is the Foundation Stone of Our Past"
While I have no shame in admitting that Justin Long is probably the longest crush I've suffered thus far, his latest vehicle TAKING CHANCES (2009) is a bit of a disappointing film to try to review fairly. Political satire is not easy, yet it is even harder to evaluate. Just ask Michael Moore.

Set in "Patriotville", South Carolina, TAKING CHANCES is about exactly that: taking a chance on better prospects. Director Talmage Cooley handles this fairly well, for his third-time outing.

The film, hinging around a poor, small, broken South Carolingian town that is about to get an Indian casino, is full of that rare repartee that is witty, near-slapstick (and often ad-lib) that makes these films such a treat. The Sasquatch Gang (see my review), another of Long's starring roles, came to mind as I watched this. Some knee-slapping, biting back-and-forth brought to mind some of the ridiculous political...

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Two-Disc Special Edition)

dvd details
Since I had to look elsewhere for DVD details (to decide whether to buy the 2-disc or one-disc film), I thought I'd post here:

1-Disc Wide screen and Full Screen DVD

*Includes both a wide screen and full screen version of the film.
*No special features
*RRP $28.98
2-Disc Digital Copy Special Edition DVD

*Widescreen version only
*Additional scenes (6:31)
*Close-Up with the Cast and Crew of Harry Potter special. Matthew Lewis ("Neville Longbottom") and Alfred Enoch ("Dean Thomas") lead us on an entertaining look at the cast of Harry Potter as they explore their interests away from acting and spend a day on set with the production team (28:30)
*J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life: A fascinating and intimate look into the life of J.K. Rowling over the last year of writing "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." (49:32)
*One Minute Drills: The cast has 60 seconds to describe their character's personality, history,...

So sad, so... very... sad.
First. please let me say that I adore (nay, worship) the Harry Potter stories. So, being a gen-you-wine "Potter-Head" I was first in line to see Half-Blood Prince.

It was an interesting movie. Nice special effects.
Disjointed enough however that one MUST have seen all the previous movies and/or read the books to follow the plot.

...Most importantly, it bears little resemblance to the Harry Potter books!!!

Really. I can forgive replacing the actions of one character with another character, to save time, I can even forgive eliminating whole chapters for the sake of brevity, but to change scenes, edit whole parts, and invent whole chapters???

Beware, below, there be SPOILERS! Don't read if you haven't watched!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some examples of lost scenes:

-Dumbledore confronting the Dursley's? Gone.
-The invention of a fight at the...

Don't Buy This Edition. Great Film, but Not the Extended Version!
Warner Brothers is trying to fool us again - calling this an "Ultimate Edition" when it is NOT the extended version of the film. It comes with behind the scenes extras and commentaries, but the movie itself is the same! I expect this is because they decided after the first 2 Ultimate Editions that they would wait and re-release all 8 movies at once in another Ultimate Edition, but this time a Box Set with extended versions of all films - to entice everyone to buy all the movies yet again. Hold off for now and watch your DVD copies - next year we can all buy the REAL Ultimate Editions!

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Star Trek: The Complete Original Series (Seasons 1-3) [Blu-ray]

Icing on the cake
When I first heard about the 40th anniversary remastered episodes, I was skeptical. Having seen the original Star Trek series on prime time TV in 1966, 67, & 68, and always liking it better than any of the other Star Trek series that came afterwards, I thought that it would be a huge mistake. I was wrong. These new effects are what Roddenbery would have done had he the budget and technology. They are not out of place; they very much have the feel and flavor of the live-action scenes and mesh perfectly. The live-action scenes themselves are now much sharper, colors more saturated, better contrast. Of course I have the complete series as it was originally broadcast- that is a must and I can't part with them. But the remastered episodes are just as essential. They are the original series episodes with the fine details that they have always deserved- even if it took 40 years to finally finish them. I can't imagine any of the original writers or directors having complaints about...

The stellar first season, shining second and the white dwarf of the third-maybe less expensive to buy individually
You can read my formal review at dvdivas.net

Depending on when you purchase this the individual sets MAY be a better deal (as of 12/09 they are about $24 less)

This is for the Blu-ray three season set. Many folks are rating this based on THE PRICE (that's not what the star sysem is for folks--it's for the overall quality of the sets)my rating is based on the quality of the sets, their packaging and the original episodes themselves NOT THE PRICE.

In a nutshell: The show looks terrific and you can toggle between the original visual effects and the new ones with ease most of the time. The writing for the first two seasons was top notch with the third very much a hit-or-miss affair. The show looks stellar with new digitally prepared "prints" that have been cleaned up, color corrected and had damage repaired.

Extras are virtually identical to the last DVD set which also had the new visuals but we also get 3 new "Trek" extras (for all three...

To buy, or not to buy...
Star Trek was a ground-breaking series, but a few of the episodes (especially early in Season 1 before the main characters come into their own) are pretty painful to watch. 4 stars overall for the 3 seasons, but many of the episodes are 5-star. No doubt you have seen the show on TV (edited to fit in more commercials), and other reviewers on Amazon have written excellent reviews for the single season editions so I won't go into details. I just want to summarize some information that may be helpful in deciding whether to buy this set now, or wait until later...

First, the set I received had several defective disks (1,6,7 in the first season). The program freezes, then eventually skips from seconds to minutes of the show. Amazon has a good exchange policy, and I'm hoping I get a good set this time, but I won't know until I go through all the disks and that will take a while. At least one other reviewer has also recently (fall 2006) received defective disks, so it is likely...

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The Tudors: The Complete Third Season

Season Three introduces three more wives!
I thoroughly enjoyed Season Three of "The Tudors." In my opinion, Jonathan Rhys Meyers gives his best performances ever as King Henry VIII. (Warning: the next few paragraphs contain details that some people may consider spoilerish, but seeing as how this is a retelling of British history, I'm sure most people know what's going to happen this season.)

At the start of Season Three, Henry is married to Jane Seymour, a gentle woman who thrills her husband by giving him a son. Unfortunately, Jane's reign as Queen of England is short-lived, and Henry soon finds himself mourning the only one of his wives thus far who he has truly loved (or at least been able to appreciate at the very end). The impertinent Thomas Cromwell then convinces Henry that a new marriage to Anne of Cleaves would benefit the country. Henry reluctantly goes through with the marriage, but never consummates the union because, according to him, his new bride "looks like a horse." It doesn't take long for Henry...

Bundle O'History
*This review is based upon the series as shown on cable network Showtime*

After the superlative season 2 of 'The Tudors' (which featured outstanding, Emmy-worthy performances by Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn and Jeremy Northam as Sir Thomas More), I was completely prepared for a "letdown" of sorts for series 3. After all, the true story (Henry VIII's marriage to Jane Seymour, birth of Prince Edward, death of Queen Jane and marriage to Anne of Cleves 2 years after that) goes at a relatively quick 4 years in English history. I was UNprepared for the economic downturn and PeaceArch's (the production company of 'The Tudors') decision to only have 8 episodes for 2009. If you thought seasons 1-2 were a whirlwind, prepare to be whip lashed by season 3.

Queen Jane's (Annabelle Wallis-in a replacement role from season 2's Anita Briem) relationship with Henry is so chaste and "pure," and he swears she is his most "beloved" queen (which he also claimed toward Catherine of...

Enjoyable, but not as good as the first 2 seasons
I am more than half way thru watching the 3rd season on Showtime. Although I am well aware that this is not necessarily based on historical accuracy I feel that a little more care could have taken in making the actors, especially Henry VIII character look their age and historical appearance in that particular time period. Henry, as well as his best friend look like they are stuck in a time warp being eternally in their 30's. Also it is well known that Henry VIII's weight already started to balloon after Jane Seymours death, whereas the actor as shown in the nearly nude scenes still has his perfect trim youthful body. Still an enjoyable and entertaining show -I wonder if it will end with Henry VIII death or will include further installments of Edward, Mary and Elizabeth I - after all they are Tudors, too.

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Harry Potter Years 1-6 Giftset [Blu-ray]

For the fan not the fanatic
While I value all posted opinions of this product I strongly disagree with the notion that this product is dumb. For anyone who has waited many long years and not purchased any of the movies until now, or anyone who was hooked later in the series, this set is a real value. All the released movies are bundled neatly together and they don't consume much space in my movie library because of the slim packaging.

This set is certainly not for the collector as there is no bonus material whatsoever. This is fine for us as we generally never watch the second disc anyway. If you have been waiting to buy or are new to the series and you don't mind the lack of bonus material this set really makes it easy to start your collection.

If this does not describe what you are looking for then I suggest you do as the other reviewers have suggested and look elsewhere or wait till the complete set releases in several years. For what this product is however (all current movies/no...

HD Harry Potter Movies and Bonus Features
Some reviewers have indicated there are no bonus materials included with this set but in my experience I found otherwise. While it is true the dvds go directly to the movie when loaded they each also contain a menu which allows access to the bonus material. Just hit your menu button and voila! This set does not include the extended version of the film and does not include all the extras included in the Ultimate Editions but there are extras which include deleted scenes - they are simply not integrated into the film. I had some problems getting all the bonus material to play on my PS3 blu-ray player initally but once I visited BD-Live and updated the software they all played great. I've listed the bonus material included for each movie below.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" includes the following bonus content: 7 Additional/Deleted scenes; BEHIND THE STORY -- Capturing the stone: casting and bringing the novel to life; Around the world multilanguage clip; Ghosts...

Harry Potter 1-6
I, unfortunately, grew up without owning the movies. So, naturally, I wanted to buy all of them at once, just in time for the November 19th premiere of HP7. I didn't need anything fancy and I'm not, personally, big on behind the scenes or bonus material. This "gift" boxset was perfect. The movies come in thin packages that only really have the film. I can just pop it into the DVD player and enjoy! There are no advertisements beforehand and it goes right to the menu! If you just want the movies, nothing special or extra, this is PERFECT.

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Coraline Gift Set [Blu-ray]

Great Movie
This movie, yes is a little creepy. It has a moral, which is the point. The grass is always greener on the other side. The moral is the grass is not always greener and things are not always what they seem. I watched this with our 12 year old daughter. She was fine with it. Not sure that a child of 10 or younger would understand it. We love this movie. The person who commented about the 3D effects is wrong. They must have watched that non Blu-Ray 3D, with the paper glasses. This is the version for 3D TV's and Blu-Ray players.

Best Movie I have...in 3D
I am only commenting on the 3D aspect of it....not the story itself.
I have several movies in 3d and for me this is bright & colorful. Story is well done but unfortunately nothing really leaps out of the screen at you except for a few instances. I did not think that I was going to like this but watching this in 3D really changed my mind.
I did not really care for Alice in Wonderland or A Christmas Carol. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Despicable Me are pretty good but this I found to be more of a visual treat.
I must say that out of all that I have -Saw 3D and Clash of the Titans-Resident Evil... just do not hold up against CGI movies. IMAX does great stuff but those are not movies.
From start to finish Coraline is a visual feast and I would recommend this for anyone that has a 3D television.

The 3D Works.
I was let down when I saw the paper glasses that it comes with. I was expecting clear, transparent 3D glasses but the glasses that it comes with have Pinkish and Greenish lenses.
But after watching the movie with glasses I found that they worked pretty good. I haven't seen Coraline 3D in theatres, but I was blown away with some of the 3D scenes. The glasses do take away the bright vibrant colors (not too much though, Coraline's bright orange coat and Blue hair were still vibrant) but add a completely new feel and mood to the movie that's very appropriate for it.
Some people have said that only a few selected scenes are in 3d. I didn't feel this at all. The entire movie was in 3D. Maybe a couple close up scenes where there wouldn't be too much depth to begin with may be 2D, ( I don't know) But the rest was completely 3D.
I watched the movie on Blu-ray and on an HD TV. That's the only way to get the best picture possible.
There are almost 2 different version of...

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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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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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