Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Eighth Season

As always, one of the BEST on TV!
It is without reservation that I share my endless "uncurbed" enthusiasm for this series, which is easily one of the best on TV. I own the DVDs from all seasons, and usually can't wait to acquire the next one. I watch them over and over and am never bored. The brilliant improvisational acting, as well as the hilarious humor and fabulous ideas for every episode are of the highest calibre. I highly recommend every season of "Curb your enthusiasm".

"You know what you are? You're a social assassin." - Jeff
Larry David is a comical genius, and I personally can't ever imagine this show getting old. Not only is the material hilarious, but it also has a little dark humor to it. Like Seinfeld, the whole show is pretty much about "nothing." It's just about people getting wrapped up in silly, trivial issues every day, and is kind of a parody of life itself. When asked where the title of the show came from, Larry's response was: "It reflects my perception that many people seem to live their lives projecting false enthusiasm, which I believes is used to imply that "they are better than you."

Do I miss Cheryl? Yes, I do. I would have chosen to keep her in the cast, but her departure opened up a lot more opportunities to put Larry in hilarious and awkward situations with women. And Larry is the same as he is with women as he is with everyone else - he acts just like Larry. Leon is a great part of the cast - he's very "Krameresque" with his constant following of Larry wherever he...

He's a comical genius.
This season was just as hilarious as the one's with Cheryl. I especially loved the Palestinian kebab vs the Jewish deli episode. No comedy today can hold a candle to Curb.

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Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail [Blu-ray]

Robertas back...and she's angry.
Black Lagoon was an unforgettable experience thanks to its intoxicating blend of action and awesome characters. So when the series ended many were left at a loss to find a suitable replacement. But fans need worry no longer, as this set brings back the explosions , guns and characters we love so much - all in an English dub! If that isn't enough to get you excited, then the return of a certain gun wielding Spanish maid is sure to clench the deal for you.

Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail (BL:RBT) is a five episode OVA series animated by Madhouse, that centres around the character of Roberta, who previously appeared in BL season 1. Her first appearance made it clear she was not to be taken lightly as she was one of the few who could match Revy in terms of sheer madness and skills with a gun; however, in RBT we see an even more extreme version of Roberta; one which will excite and create fear at the same time.

The set begins with the death of a certain person...

Let the mayhem begin
I am a big fan of this series, have been since it first aired on STARZ. So when I got the chance to buy this I jumped at it. All of the voice actors return for this string of episodes and it has all of the blood and mayhem of previous installments. the first episode alone is well worth the price of the Blu-ray. and Roberta is one of my favorite characters so seeing a series that she takes such a large part in was very fun. I hope that they are working on more of these in the future.

A must BUY!
I have the import version of this and have waited for this to be released in English and on Blu-ray! If you watched Black Lagoon and saw Roberta...you know she's no joke. That is all!

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Les Miserables: 10th Anniversary Dream Cast

An Exemplary Tenth Anniversary Concert Receives A Noticeable (And Appreciated) Sound Upgrade
I was going to say that the eagerly anticipated film version of "Les Miserables" had brought about a resurgence of interest in the long beloved musical. But let's face it, that's simply not true. Why? Because "Les Miserables" has never faded from our minds, it is an enduring classic that simply refuses to slip into our memories. In the last few months alone, I've seen Tom Hooper's film interpretation, re-watched the 25th Anniversary Concert on PBS, and enjoyed the re-release of this 10th Anniversary Concert DVD. That's a lot of misery and heartbreak for one individual to endure! Having seen various staged versions of the musical over the past twenty years, I must admit that initially it wasn't one of my favorites. Okay, chastise me now. But with time, I've come to appreciate the piece's intricate score (and stand-out songs) with more and more reverence upon different viewings. And I am certainly now to be counted among the Les Mis fanatics!

This concert was enacted...

Now that you've seen the Film, see (and hear) the original cast members and learn the backstory.
With the new feature film version now flooding theaters across the country, it was a perfect time for BB Home Video to reissue the 10th Anniversary Concert (held in 1995 at Royal Albert Hall). As you will see from reviewer "Richard M"s review there were some minor "corrections" to the earlier release but the print has been newly remastered and will look great on any TV.

The neat thing about the concert - which fills Disc One (bonuses are on Disc Two) - is that there are members of both the London and Broadway casts and they all have singing voices. (as opposed to the 2012 movie version which has actors not known for singing - doing just that.).

My fellow reviewer - jjCeo - has already listed the detailed contents so I won't repeat those fact. I will say that if you just found Les Mis from the film version, you'll probably want this to see original cast members and see the bonus features, including the one- hour documentary on the "Making of Les Mis"

I...

Best Les Mis
This is the best version of Les Miserables out there! The original stars in key rules were all superb. I rushed to buy this after seeing the movie because these performances are superior. I love the encore the Jean Val Jeans from around the world.

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Steve Martin: The Television Stuff

a review from an owner of the set...
When I cracked this baby open , I was first wondering where the promised '79 concert in its entirety was and was fuming... until I found it buried in disc 2 after the Homage To Steve..so Excuuuuse Me! I enjoyed that show in person and can say it brought back so many fond memories...
I was around 21 when Steve Martin blew up big time as a stand up so he's my (Daniel Tosh, Dane Cook etc.) and holds a special place in my heart along with George Carlin. Steve actually ended up with the career that Carlin had wanted when he began in the late 50's early 60's which saw him move from being court jester to movie star but for my money Steve Martin has never touched in any of his movies the brilliance displayed on these 3 DVDs of lunacy...stupidity..and surprisingly intelligent comedy. Of course I also LOVE all the banjo playing. While I am so happy to have the '79 show I actually attended..the '76 show from the Troubadour was a total surprise (I didn't have HBO in '76 and didn't know...

Classic Martin and One of the Year's Best DVD Retropsectives
Steve Martin, renaissance man - writer, author, comedian, playwright, screenwriter, producer, actor, banjo player extraordinaire - is more than deserving of his own Shout! Factory retrospective, and the label's wonderful STEVE MARTIN: THE TELEVISION STUFF ranks as one of the year's most enjoyable DVD catalog retrospectives.

Available on September 18th, this three-disc set focuses primarily on the early Martin years, with his two taped concert performances and handful of network TV specials comprising the set's first two platters. Martin's stand-up is particularly noteworthy, seeing as he abandoned it in lieu of his feature-film career. In both a 1976 HBO special and a 1978 appearance at the Universal Ampitheatre (included in the 1984 home video special "Homage to Steve," along with the funny short "The Absent-Minded Waiter"), Martin shows off both his adroit comedy writing and a side of his on-screen "persona" that viewers unfamiliar with his early material will find...

Excellent package and content...
Worth the price just for Martins "Comedy Is Not Pretty" special. Still kills me to this day. Great to have his classic stuff all in one spot. The new interviews and comments from Steve Martin really highlight the discs and makes this another winner from Shout Video.

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Gladiator

How to definitively know you got the remastered version
Pay very careful attention when trying to determine which disc you actually received from Amazon. There's conflicting information on the internet as far as the telltale signs of the remastered disc versus the original crappy transfer. For example, most people tell you the packaging for the new version has a yellow UPC....not always true. Other people tell you the copyright on the back bottom right of the box says 2010 DW Studios LLC instead of the original which says 2009, also not always true.
It seems the only definitive way to tell if you have the new version is to look at the innermost rings on the underside of Disc One itself. Hold it up to the light, and at the end of a string of letters and numbers, you should see "B1R2". If you have anything else (i.e. B1R1), you have the original version and NOT the remastered one!
If so, exchange it promptly.

A Total Mess
This review refers to the blu-ray picture quality only. The movie itself is an absolute classic. Unfortunately this blu-ray was a victim of considerable DNR and EE that has actually removed and distorted picture detail. Here's a good example. At the beginning of the movie where we see Maximus as a General leading a final battle, you see an amazing wide shot of flying, flaming, arrows. It should look amazing, right? Wrong. The picture was DNR'd so badly that it actually removed arrows and the ones you can see are a blurred mess! Absolutely terrible. Don't waste your money on this. Wait until they release a quality blu-ray because "this is not it!"

Remaster confusion put to rest... hopefully.
I do have the remastered version and it looks and sounds great! At first I wasn't sure. After doing some research I have confirmed that I HAVE THE REMASTERED VERSION.

BD has yellow UPC bar code not white.

2-DISC SET does not appear above the Paramount logo on the slip case (outside cardboard of BD packaging). However, and this is what threw me off; 2 DISC SET does appear above Paramount logo on the inner sleeve of keep case.

Remastered version no longer has a white, titled security sticker on the top of the case.

As for the inner ring number issue there are multiple numbers identifying the disc as the remastered version.
NA13081B1R2 - remastered version

BVDL-103860B1 (on my BD) is ALSO the correct number for REMASTERED copies of Gladiator.

The final confirmation that I had the remastered version; all the arrows appear in the opening battle sequence.

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Clara Etmoi

A Beautiful, Intelligent, and Sensitive Contemporary Love Story
Arnaud Viard has written and directed a quintessentially French love story that simply has everything going for it. The dialogue is richly imbued with both light hearted comedic elements as well as radiant moments of verismo that make this little story one that, once seen, will be indelible in the memory of the viewer. This is a love story awash with all of the nuances of contemporary life in Paris - and in the entire world.

Antoine (Julien Boisselier) is a thirty-three year old actor, having given up his business career to pursue his dream, yet a young man without a partner. Serendipity strikes on the Metro as Antoine sees a shy woman his age Clara (Julie Gayet) and from the silence surrounding their exchanged looks it is obvious something will happen. Antoine demurely writes a note on his pad and without speaking shows it to Clara. Clara responds with a written message, and the game ends with Clara giving Antoine her telephone number! At a surprise birthday party that...

depends upon how you look at things...
and where you are in life. this move is heartbreaking. because its about a burgeoning love that faces what so many of us see as an insurmountable obstacle. antoine (beautiful) falls in love with clara (more beautiful), but its clear early on that antoine has issues with selfishness. its no wonder then when they find out that clara is hiv positive, he rejects her. in the months that ensue, he pines for her. how could he not. its clara. his dream woman. she is the most amazing woman that he could ever want to have and to love. and he cant let go of her illness. it asks of the viewer: how do you view this illness? do you think that it damages a persons value. this is why i titled this post as i have. its very easy to determine that you would do one thing or another if you are not faced with this situation. one cannot help but understand antoines fears: will i lose her, will i contract this disease too, will she get sicker and suffer before my eyes, rendering me helpless. will i fall even...

Julien Boisselier et Moi
Julien Boisselier gives a genuine performance as Antoine, an aspiring actor who falls in love with Clara, a woman he meets in metro.Reminiscent of " Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" (1964), the couple sings, dances on Parisian streets. But as their romance unfolds, at times lively, though in the background, Schubert's lovely melancholic Fantasia for piano four hands in F minor is introduced , waving in and out, giving us a taste of the biterness to come. Clara is HIV positive. The Antoine's transformation is captivating. What will happen to the young couple? Ending left open, as in real life...who knows. For classical music lovers, Schubert's fantazia four 4 hands, adds a special treat. Enjoy.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Adolescence Has Not Changed
I am 74 years old. The world is different now; there are more risks and more choices than when I was 15, but this movie reminded me of what it felt like to be 15 and 16 in 1954 and 1955. In those days homework was accompanied by radio with Rock and Roll music thanks to Alan Fried, Ranger hockey against Maurice Richard, and Gene Shepard,the best story teller of all time. Most of us had after school jobs which gave us enough spending money to begin making choices independent of our parents, and every day we left home and entered the world alone, with very little confidence but with the hope that everything was going to work out. Watching Charlie going through his day, observing the antics of his friends and trying to make sense of it all, brought tears to my eyes. The beauty of the movie is that it captures the universal experience of adolescence, and fortunately, as difficult as the experience may be, just like Charlie, most of us make it through.

"And in this moment I swear, we are infinite."
Every now and then, you come across a film where everything was done just right. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of those films. Directed by Stephen Chbosky, who wrote the screenplay as well as the popular young-adult novel of the same name from which it was adapted, The Perks of Being a Wallflower seems to hit every note just right, capturing all of the tumult and the extreme highs and lows of adolescence as experienced by a group of friends in high school in Pittsburgh back in the early 1990's.

(*** Note: this review contains what some people feel to be spoilers, so if you're sensitive to such things, please stop reading now and just take my word that this is really well-done, enjoyable film and is well worth going out of your way to find and see. ***)

The film begins with 14-year-old Charlie (Logan Lerman) writing a letter to an anonymous "Dear Friend" about his nervousness about starting his first year in high school. He writes because he doesn't feel...

An underrated movie worthy of awards.
When I think of this movie, I think about perfection. Everything about it is spot on. The acting, the directing, the music, the story, everything. Had their not been so much focus on Argo, Lincoln, Zero Dark, and Les Mis, this movie would have won many awards.

The story keeps you guessing and is anything but predictable. There are several things hidden from you as the plot unfolds and right away the mind gets busy trying to figure everything out.

You feel very involved when watching Charlie's freshman year in high school progress. You root for him and are riding on his emotions, but you are also trying to understand who exactly he is.

Without spoiling anything, the basis goes like this: Charlie's best friend shot himself the summer before Charlie goes to high school. As a result, he enters high school as a loner and outcast, and has to try to get through the year with as little resistance as he can. Luckily he starts to make friends and you are brought...

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Faith & Family Holiday Movie 10-Pack (The Christmas Shoes, The Christmas Blessing, The Christmas Hope, The Christmas Box, Christmas Comes Home To Canaan, A Christmas Visitor, Christmas in Canaan, The Christmas Pageant, Gift of the Magi, Christmas Choir)

Christmas Movie Packet
this is a Christmas present. I have seen 7 of the films and all hit where that little 'Christmas wish list place' is in one's heart. It can be viewed year round to keep that feeling warm and snuggy.

Buy it
These are the usual sappy Christmas movies that I will watch over and over again - even when it's not Christmas!

Buy this for the one you love
This is a great inspiring set.

It is hard to frown while watching these movies. They are all such beautiful uplifting stories that it is hard to turn them down.

The movies aren't all of the same quality but they are all enjoyable. Christmas shoes is clearly the headliner here. While some are t as good as others you will still enjoy each of these.

This is great as a gift. I also feel that while faith is strong in these DVDs there isn't an overwhelming preachiness to them. I say this so maybe you would feelore comfortable giving this as a gift. Each movie is heartwarming and has a beautiful message.

This set of films should be loved by all.

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Extraction

Shattering...
...is about the only way to describe the way the first part of season five of 'The Shield' ends. It's the hallmark of a truly terrific series that events from its very first episode (like, the first episode of season ONE) form the basis of the entire fifth season.

Detective Vic Mackey's original sin -- to keep it hushed for those not in the know -- comes back to haunt the entire Strike Team in the fifth season, while strings from seasons past (The Incident with Aceveda, Mackey and Danny's tryst, etc., etc.) are all pulled taut to make the entire season tense with ugly possibilities, the ugliest of which comes at the end.

Forest Whitaker is a commanding presence as Internal Affairs Lieutenant John Kavannaugh, a seemingly-dedicated member of the rat squad who SHOULD be perceived as the hero in this piece. But of course, we've all come to love Vic Mackey so much that we're actually rooting for Kavannaugh to fail (again, another impressive accomplishment for a...

What goes around comes around
Sometimes TV shows let you down after they've built up the tension, that is not the case here. Everything that came before in the Shield series built up to the events of this season. All the characters start to reap what they've sown for the past 4 years and it doesn't disappoint, although it will twist your heart.

In real life, Forest Whitaker's Kavanaugh would be My Hero, because I know the Strike Team members deserve what's coming to them, but as a Shield and ST fan I mostly don't want them to get it now. One minute they're behind, the next minute ahead, but Kavanaugh is a pit bull who won't let go so the tug of war goes back and forth the whole season. The storylines for the rest of the cast weren't as meaty this year but still complemented the season and built on their history as well. The shoe was on the other foot for Julian who was training officer for bumbling newcomer Tina, while Billings is an inept acting Captain. Catherine Dent was pregnant so Danny was too,...

Unrelenting, intelligent writing
This season is going in my DVD collection instantly.

One of the aspects I began noticing while watching this season was how the writers are showing us in each consecutive season how captians and people with authority handle Vic, and what it will actually take to get him.

When Aceveda was running the barn, he wanted to bring Vic down because Vic was a bad cop, but also because he wanted to help himself. That also meant he didn't mind helping himself to Vic's methods (used Vic) when it suited him. He couldn't get the job done, because he lacked personal integrity.

Rawlings had the integrity, but she believed in a second chance for all. She would have eventually got Vic, but unfortunately, her integrity got her canned while Vic's second chance clock was winding down.

Billings? Forget about it, he just wants cruise control for himself. Kavanaugh is a bull dog who wont stop, and will use any means necessary, even if it means he has to break...

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Meet the Robinsons

"It's the heart that really matters in the end." And this film has more heart than any movie I've seen in ages!
In all my years of reading reviews and shopping on Amazon I have never been compelled to write one myself until now. Like many parents, when a new disney film comes out on dvd, I usually buy it, watch it during movie night, and forget about it by the time the credits start rolling. My daughter is five and she enjoyed it but to me, as an adult who can look back at his life and appreciate all those struggles and "twists and turns of fate" that shaped who I am, the emotional impact ressonated much deeper. I was skeptical of this film due to the fact that disney's computer animated ventures without Pixar on board have consistantly been pretty weak, but in my opinion this one can stand toe to toe with every Disney/Pixar film to date. The director, Stephen Anderson explains that his life was extremely similar to that of the main character, Lewis. The passion that he had for this project is evident in every single detail of every single frame. The musical score by Danny Elfman and the...

An Excellent Disney Film For The Geeky Kid In All of Us!!
We saw "Meet the Robinsons" in the 3-D version at the theater and my kids laughed about it for days. Too bad they couldn't release the DVD in the 3-D version, but it's still an excellent film for children. Personally, I also loved hearing the voice of Adam West in the film.

The film is based loosely on William Joyce's, A Day with Wilbur Robinson. If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it. William Joyce ALSO was the artist behind Rolie Polie Olie series. The book is quite different from the film, but there are direct parallels. For instance, there is no orphanage theme in the original book and no Bowler Hat Guy. However, many of the other characters are present in both. Stylistically, the book and the movie have a pronounced retro- animation/cartoon feel to them. It is a very refreshing artistic style to watch and makes for a unique animated film.

The DVD contains a fairly...

Past, Present, and Future Weave Entertaining Flight
Evaluating `Meet the Robinsons' depends on whether you entered the theater offering 3-D glasses. Either way you receive excellent family entertainment, even if there are elements of the film you've seen before. Resembling an animated version of `Back to the Future' or `Peggy Sue Got Married,' `Meet the Robinsons' is a briskly based, nicely woven tale about belonging and achieving.

Starting we find the typical desperate mother leaving her baby on the orphanage steps. Her son Louis becomes a nervous inventor at the orphanage and a nuisance to everyone, especially his long-suffering roommate, Goob. Having an intellectual disposition doesn't help him in adoption interviews, and ingenious inventions that seldom work, don't endear him at school. Add to that a pure villain comes upon his scene, known as "Bowler Hat Man" (Whose hat makes him like a nimble, but less scary nemesis comparable to "Dr. Oct".) his life comes into disarray at science fair he's finally sure he'll...

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Fringe: The Complete Series

I wish I'd Known Sooner
I didn't get into this show until after the final season. I wish I'd known sooner how good it was. Not all of my questions were answered, but it's shocking, funny, and overall entertaining. Fringe is not only possibly the best sci-fi show I've seen, it's also a great drama.

Best tv show in recent memory
I hate most tv shows and it's very rare that I come across one that even catches my interest, not only does Fringe catch my interest I LOVE IT!! J.J Abrams has impressed me yet again!

I wish Fringe lasted longer than 5 seasons though, Fringe caught my eye on Netflix and I've been religiously watching it every day.

Raise your suspension for disbelief and enjoy!
If everything needs to be perfect to the detail, this series is not for you. If you can set a few qualms aside and just go with the flow, you're going to love the ride that Fringe takes you on. Fringe is a completely character driven story. You will learn to love the characters and the relationships they create and eventually re-create with eachother. There are a lot of things that I'm still confused about from the show which is why I'm looking forward to watching it through again. The first 3 seasons get five stars. Everyone always thought the show would be cancelled, but it kept coming back (even to the creators surprise)which may have thrown the story through some unexpected loops resulting in the last 2 seasons not being as good, but still enjoyable... to me anyway.

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The Jeff Dunham Show 101

Taking away the live element of his show takes away a lot of the humor
"The Jeff Dunham Show" is a Comedy Central offshoot of Jeff Dunham's live shows using the familiar characters Walter, Achmed, Bubba J, Sweet Daddy Dee, Peanut, and Jose Jalapeno. In this seven episode season, Dunham introduces his characters onstage in front of an audience and then goes to a clip of them out in the real world trying to interact with other people.

Watching the show, the format is VERY similar to the Dave Chappelle Show where he would interact with the audience and introduce segments and then go to the clip in a sketch comedy sort of way. However, the difference between Dave Chappelle and Jeff Dunham was that Chappelle was really good at this. When Dunham takes his characters out in public, the audience is supposed to believe they are real people and other actors and celebrities talk to the puppets. For example, Brooke Hogan is set up with Peanut on a date until Peanut "eats" some guacamole laced with nuts that he is allergic to and Achmed intercepts the date...

rip-off
this was a very badly put together format for jeff dunham, and it was the first one of his shows that i didn't think was funny, nothing new, not worth watching, we actually turned it off after 20 mins....too bad cause i have loved his other stuff....

??? Do you really want to buy this????
As I say in my title do you really want to buy this? I really love the heck out of Jeff Dunham but unfortunately his new TV show just doesn't have it and actually the second season has been canceled, but in by another review from CNN I heard that Comedy Central is going to keep Jeff Dunham because they have multilevel agreements with him but the TV show is gone. There are a few funny moments in the seven episodes of his first season but I purchased it because I don't watch TV I watch DVDs. But in less you are a dedicated fan of his work I would not buy this DVD, I would purchase his former DVDs which are hilarious and will keep laughing over and over again when you watch them. Even though this was only $10 at Amazon I am going to keep it because I am an avid fan of Jeff Dunham. I hope my review helped you in any way. Thank you.

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Parental Guidance

Old Age versus New Age Parenting
Being an avid fan of Billy Crystal, I eagerly awaited his return to the silver screen. I was not disappointed. Coupled with another veteran actress in Bette Midler (his doting wife), they made we 'older' parents appear archaic with their 'tough love' approach - (didn't all Baby Boomers experience this as children?). The story goes on to explain how they are 'the only' set of grandparents available, to care for their 3 grandchildren, 12, 8 and 5, much to their daughter's reluctance. Their daughter (played by Marissa Tomei) is all about 'new age' parenting and frowns heavily upon any strayings from her teachings. Therefore laying down her set of rules and opening the door to laughter.

Naturally, things are going to go wrong, as Billy and Bette strive to keep the peace and understand their charges. As not only do the 'Oldies' react to each situation in an uninitiated new age-old age way causing havoc, but are also victims to a completely automated house which initially sees...

funniest movie I've seen in a long time
I saw it the other day, and it was so funny, I laughed so much. It really hit home, about being grand parents. I just loved it.

Crystal and Midler Get on their Schtick and Liven Up This Formulaic Family Comedy
***This review may contain spoilers***

The trailers advertising "Parental Guidance" (hereafter PG) were not only unpromising, but borderline appalling. It emphasized the tired, painful slapstick and saccharine sentiment of so many other formulaic family comedies, that I was determined to avoid it. But, visiting my mother and deciding to take in a movie before lunch at Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse, we decided upon PG because it was the only movie that had subject matter my Mom (not particularly keen on hobbits, 40-somethings, or even Lincoln) was interested in. After seeing it, we were pleasantly (if surprisingly) entertained, despite the dilapidated old "Clash of the Generations" plot. Our amusement was largely due to those reliably schticky comedy workhorses Billy Crystal and Bette Midler.

Crystal and Midler play fairly (but not completely) old-fashioned Artie and Diane Decker, parents to Type-A, harried upper-class daughter Alice Decker Simmons (Marisa...

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Saving Private Ryan (Single-Disc Special Limited Edition)

"Saving Private Ryan" Blu-Ray Review
"Saving Private Ryan" is, by all accounts, an American masterpiece and one of the premier World War II films. Its release on Blu-Ray has been highly anticipated and, for the most part, it doesn't disappoint. First of all, the transfer is every bit as astonishingly sharp as expected. I am by no means a videophile, but there didn't appear to be a single moment of artificial enhancement of the film. The print is appropriately accompanied by a slight sheen of grain whilst still retaining a high level of detail. As far as I'm concerned this is an easy five star transfer. The film runs 2:49:28 and features audio and subtitles in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Prior to the menu loading are two easily skippped trailers for the "Minority Report" Blu-Ray and the long overdue home video release of "The African Queen".

There are no features on the first disc, not even a commentary track (Spielberg is well known for his dislike of commentary tracks). The special features are...

Very good War Film
I was very impressed by ths film. I thought it would probably turn out to be rather cliched but it did seem to have a newer perspective on WW2. Some people say the characters are stereotypical - well, I served in the British Army Reserves for four years and my platoon had a fierce Scot, joking Londoner, smiling Irishman and philosphical Welshman in it, plus me as the token University Boy so I think you'll find that real-life Army units can be like that. No African Americans? Since the US Army was segregated until the sixties that is hardly surprising. Caricatured Germans? Germans running away? Well, some of them DID run away you know - they weren't all ruthlessly obedient supermen, and some were no doubt far more fed up with the war that the allies were. It would have been nice to see some British soldiers about but they were some way East taking out Caen at the time, so again, not a surprise. I wasn't sure about the film's comment on Montgomery...

Unforgettable. The best war film ever made.
Some people advise others to close their eyes during the loooong opening scene of Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. That would be a mistake. Yes, it's carnage, it's horrible, it's relentless, it's bloody, it's random death, it's a portrayal of fear and courage and raw coincidence. But it's also one of the most powerful pieces of cinematography ever filmed.
There are many other scenes that have stayed with me during the years since I last saw this unforgettable film, perhaps Spielberg's best ever. Perhaps the most poignant one that comes immediately to mind is the woman whose sons are all away at war. She's on a remote farm, washing dishes, and thru her window she sees the dust of approaching cars. She goes outside to meet the visitors, tenses as she sees military brass and a chaplain step from the cars, then crumples wordlessly to the worn boards of her front porch as she tries to take in the news: all her boys have been killed, except for one: Private Ryan.
Another related...

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The New World [HD]

Redefining Life And Death In A Totalitarian State--A Torchwood Reboot Hits American Soil
Note: To help avoid potential confusion, the reviews from the upcoming U.S. release have been mixed with the earlier reviews for the DVDs available from the international marketplace. The reviews describing compatability issues have NOTHING to do with the U.S. release which, naturally, will be fully compliant with the appropriate technology. The reviews should NOT have been mixed, but that sometimes happens here.

For the first time, the Torchwood team (or what's left of it) head to America for this ambitious ten part series for the Starz network. In Captain Jack Harkness, creator Russell T. Davies and actor John Barrowman created a truly unique warrior for the science fiction and paranormal set. The dashing bi-sexual hero was first introduced on Davies' "Dr. Who" reinvention and quickly became a fan favorite. So, it was with some amount of excitement that I followed Barrowman to his own show expecting some variation of the "Dr. Who" narrative. But no, the show was...

It had its moments, but..
Miracle Day had its moments (mostly when Jack, who was sorely underutilized, was on screen), but if you're a fan of the original series then you probably shouldn't waste your time or your money. It feels nothing at all like the first three seasons, which are what made me fall in love with Torchwood in the first place. The format of the show has changed, the new characters are highly unlikeable, and I found the episodes slow-moving and not very well-written (with few exceptions). And ten episodes was FAR too long for the plot they had.

It's like an AU (that's alternate universe, in case you aren't familiar with the term) version of Torchwood. And honestly, since Jack and Gwen were practically background characters, it shouldn't even be called Torchwood, because it just felt like any other bad American action show that just happened to have Gwen, Jack, and Rhys involved.

Torchwood should have ended after Children of Earth - which was a well-written, tight, dramatic...

Redefining Life And Death In A Totalitarian State--A Torchwood Reboot Hits American Soil
For the first time, the Torchwood team (or what's left of it) head to America for this ambitious ten part series for the Starz network. In Captain Jack Harkness, creator Russell T. Davies and actor John Barrowman created a truly unique warrior for the science fiction and paranormal set. The dashing bi-sexual hero was first introduced on Davies' "Dr. Who" reinvention and quickly became a fan favorite. So, it was with some amount of excitement that I followed Barrowman to his own show expecting some variation of the "Dr. Who" narrative. But no, the show was stylized in a very different way. The "Torchwood" spin-off played like a high octane and oftentimes quite amusing cousin to the "X-files." For two seasons, the show exceeded as adult escapism at every level. The controversial miniseries "Children of Earth" redefined everything in the Torchwood universe and is alternately loved and hated by the show's most fervent fans. For my money, though, it was a dark and unforgettable...

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Ice Age (Single-Disc Edition)

Super cool movie the same as before
Another re-release for "Ice Age" (this is the third counting the single disc edition of the film) to coincide with the sequel, this edition essentially is the previous two disc edition with some minor features added that don't make it any more worthwhile to pick up. The DVD ROM printables and "Scrat's Frozen Facts" appear to be the newest features on this set. Most of the featurettes are recycled from the previous edition.

No issue with the transfer per se since it is a digital cartoon this edition appears to be from the same source as the previous edition. Should you upgrade? Not if you have the previous two disc edition but if you have the single disc edition and you want the extras, this is the way to go. Sound is crystal clear with nice use of 5.1 effects.

The DVD ROM printables and "Scrat's Frozen Fun Facts" an interactive feature that can be accessed during the film appear to be the newest features on this set. The latter has behind-the-scenes clips you...

This is as cool as it gets!
Here's why:

First, a great character driven story with a positive message. The heroes in this story don't start out as heroes at all. Sid is an annoying and rather pathetic sloth who is left behind when all his friends migrate. Manfred is a mammoth with "issues" who at the beginning is walking the wrong way for some reason. Why? Does the scene with the moving cave drawings explain this? Was his wife and offspring killed, and was he walking the wrong way to end his own life? Diego the sabertooth tiger is an order following killer on a mission.

Each of these characters grow beyond themselves to save a human baby. Sid assumes responsiblity and develops courage. Diego learns to think for himself and do the right thing. Manfred overcomes his grief and self-centerdness and endures all kinds of trials to save a baby who may grow up to be a hunter of mammoths. This is a story how anyone, regardless of how non-heroic they may be, can rise above themselves and...

Sub-Zero Heroes
Get ready to "chill-out" with the fun-filled 2002 animated family hit "Ice Age". During the great migration, a moody mammoth (Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond"), a dim-witted sloth (John Leguizamo, "Moulin Rouge") and a devilish sabre-toothed tiger (Denis Leary, "Rescue Me") become the unlikely guardians of a lost human child. Together, they will embark on a journey across icy glaciers and countless dangers to return the child to his tribe. Created by Blue Sky Studios, "Ice Age" is a remarkably entertaining family spectacle that ranks as one of the highest grossing films of 2002. The story is fast-paced, heartfelt and very funny. The computer-animated feature film contains some hilarious moments and memorable characters. The CGI animation is stunning with impressive landscapes. Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo deliver some fine comic performances. "Ice Age" also features the voice talents of Cedric the Entertainer, Stephen Root, Diedrich Bader, Alan Tudyk and Jack...

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The Wild Thornberrys Movie [HD]

A rollicking adventure through the African jungle
It has to be said: although I'm a twentysomething, I still *love * to watch Nickelodeon cartoons, my absolute favourite being "The Wild Thornberrys." I've seen every episode (many more than once), and I was a little skeptical at the thought of a full-length animated movie.

Happily, the movie far surpassed my wildest expectations. The animation looks great, including the use of several CGI elements not present in the series (at some moments it reminded me of "The Lion King"). There is enough background information included (including the opening credits of the series) that newcomers won't feel left behind. The whole Thornberry gang is here, including the addition of Nigel's parents, and several new characters as well. The voice work is fantastic, including such well-known names as Tim Curry as Nigel, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea as Donnie, Rupert Everett as the baddie, and Marisa Tomei. The music is an eclectic mix of traditional and modern, featuring such talents as Sting, Dave...

A movie your kids will enjoy, even if you won't
Eliza is the youngest of the Thornberry's - family dragged across the world by Mom & Dad to document nature ala Attenborough. Unknown to her parents and bratty older sister Debbie, Eliza can talk to the animals - a gift given her when she laved the life of a mystic shaman. Though no human can learn the secret, Eliza's gift has made her a best friend to animals like the chatty chimp Darwin and a family of Cheetahs. When one of the cheetah cubs is captured by a mysterious high-tech poacher, it's Eliza to the rescue (that is, once she can escape back to Africa from a boarding school to which her cartoonish-ly British grandmother consigns her).

There's not much here that will surprise you (i.e., reward the parents who bring their kids to see this flick), and the story doesn't keep to any single ideas throughout the movie, or at least any longer than it would in a half-hour episode on NickToons. Still, my kids were game, and my 3-and a half year old never asked to leave.

Excellent Movie for All Ages
This cartoon movie, based on the kids' tv series, is an excellent movie to entertain people of all ages. It is visually stimulating and fast paced, capturing the attention of even young children for the duration of the movie. It delivers a wonderful message, without forcing it on the audience. You will walk away from this movie feeling great.

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Psych: The Complete Second Season

Bad juju magumbo!
Without a doubt, Shawn Spencer is the public's favorite fake fictional psychic detective. Of course as far as I know, he's also the only one.

But that doesn't stop the second season of "Psych" from being a rollicking good time, full of crazy schemes and baffling murder mysteries. James Roday and Dulé Hill actually become even more entertaining, with less slapstick and more of a reliance on eccentric plot twists, pop culture references, and crimes that get ever weirder.

Shawn (Roday) and Gus (Hill) get swamped by reality pop culture when American Duos comes to Santa Barbara. The cruel British judge Nigel St. Nigel (Tim Curry) hires them to protect him, because he thinks that someone is trying to kill him.

A live wire and a poisoned sandwich later, Shawn agrees -- especially when a drugged-out female judge almost dies. But out of all the people who loathe Nigel, which one tried to kill him? Then the police suspect that Shawn has lost his touch...

Don't be a gooey chocolate chip cookie...
CAUTION: Watching Psych while enjoying milk may cause said milk to come out your nose. Please drink responsibly.

This show is freakin' hilarious. There are a few sitcoms that have made me laugh, even one hour comedy/dramas that I have found amusing, but I have never watched a television show that has made me laugh as much or as consistently as Psych.

Shawn Spencer is a hyper-observant son of a police detective, who frequently calls in tips to the police hotline to solve crimes. After calling in one too many tips, the police bring him in for questioning. The head detective ("Lassiter a/k/a Lassie") thinks that Shawn must be involved in the crimes to have given all the tips. To avoid arrest, Shawn tells the detective he is a psychic and the "spirits" give him the information about the crimes. Thus begins a beautiful relationship between the Chief, Lassie, Shawn and his best friend Gus. Shawn & Gus open "Psych", their psychic detective agency which leads to...

Season 2
I've been watching this series ever since it aired, and I have to say this show could easily be moved to a prime time spot on NBC or FOX and become on of the greatest shows out there. The show is great for anyone, and one of the most hilarious shows I've ever seen.

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Aquarium for your Home - Saltwater Reef an Aquarium for your Television

Stunning video for recreation or education - Top Notch!
I initially purchased "Saltwater Reef: An Aquarium for Your Television" for my wife, who is a biology teacher, thinking she might find it of value in her classroom. She did - but I quickly found it perfectly suited to my purposes, as well. First, my wife: Not only was she smitten with the color, the quality, the crispness and the top-notch production values, but she also was blown away by the incredible variety of saltwater life that populated this intriguing production. She and her students have watched it over and over, and have used it for both educational and recreational purposes - precisely as you would a real aquarium!

As for me: Once I saw it, I had to have one for myself. I use it in my office as a fascinating yet calming visual that not only helps me get through the day, but stimulates my creativity and serves as a terrific conversation starter. The price - $1.99 for a 7-day rental or $3.99 for purchase - is highly reasonable and may be even underpriced. You...

Visually Stunning
I have always been fascinated with the ocean and marine life. When I stumbled upon this video, I found it amazing and visually stunning. I couldn't take my eyes away from the television screen. I was blown away by the clarity, quality, and the production value of the video. I loved how the camera captured the aquatic life surrounding the busy reef. The color just popped on the screen.

This video comes highly recommended if you want to enjoy watching something beautiful and relaxing.

Good for background music
I played this video in the background while I was doing some work. I felt like the aquatic sounds were very soothing, but not distracting. It's a fun video to keep on in the background.

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Gilmore Girls: The Complete Fifth Season

Still Great In Season Five
Gilmore Girls is one of those rare shows that has maintained a consistently high standard of quality throughout its run and has even managed to get better with age. The show started with the Lorelei (Lauren Graham) & Rory (Alexis Bledel) as mother & daughter who are best friends. Rory was an innocent intellectual who was starting a prestigious high school as sophomore. Through the years, the show has transformed her from a young girl who lost herself in books and education to a young woman who is experiencing life first-hand. The change started at the end of season four when Rory sleeps with her ex-boyfriend, the married Dean (Jared Padalecki) and continues in this season with her relationship with the rich Logan Huntzberger (Matt Czuchry). The change in Rory is startling and Lorelei has a tough time dealing with it thus creating rift between the two. This season also shows the blossoming of her relationship with Luke (Scott Patterson) and how that relationship is handled by her...

The season of Luke and Lorelai
The fifth season of Gilmore Girls might as well be named the Luke-Lorelai season, because basically that's what it was. From their first date, to thier breaking up, to Lorelai popping the question, it is obvious to me that they belong together. The break-up showed that. Luke was miserable without her, trying to find excuses to be near her, and Lorelai couldn't sit up! The whole point of the short break-up was to show that they belong together. It would be a major dissapointment to me if Luke and Lorelai didn't end the series together. After the great Luke-Lorelai romance, where could they go? Bring back Christopher? I don't think so.

On to Rory... seasons 1-3 were basically about Lorelai and Rory. Thier relationship, and being best friends. When Rory went off to college, it was hard for them to stay as close. Despite a few exceptions(Rory visiting Lorelai in bed after Luke breaks up with her) there were few great Lorelai-Rory moments this season. This makes sense, because...

Enjoying a Renessiance of a Year
After a brutal year that left fans guessing up until the last minute whether or not the girls would be back for a fifth season, comes what many fans argue as the best season of the series.

Focussing on Lorelai and Luke's blossoming relationship, as well as Rory's ventures into adulthood with sex and matural relationships, Gilmore girls starts to retreate into the teritory of the first couple years, bringing back the charm that was so veyr much missed over seasons 3 & 4.

Durring the Emmy Nominations times, there was alot of buzz going around about how this coule be the year that Lauren Graham gets a nomination, but eventhough she was overlooked again (in favor of 3 housewives) this season still remains the strongest season to date.

Special Features Include: The 100th Episode with Commentary by Creator Amy-Sherman Paladino (this is the first gilmore commentary!), behind-the-scenes footage, trivia, and more.

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Diary of a Tired Black Man

Eh.
I think the idea behind this documentary was a good one, however it was very biased. It seemed as though the take away from the movie was that "it's the black woman's fault". The documentary interviews many regular black people giving their two cents on relationships. I couldn't help but notice that when the men where interviewed, although making some valid points, they were agreed with and not really interrupted. However, when the women who were in direct contrast in opinion were interviewed, they were almost chastised in a way. If the women being interviewed did not directly or indirectly say "yes, we are angry and/or its our fault" they were ridiculed and made to look dumb.

I did not like the in between acting. Again more bias. The man was made out to be a saint, while the women came off deranged and crazy. That's not the real world...the world consists of PEOPLE (men and women) who are not infallible.

The movie did touch on no good men, only to say in...

Never judge a movie by the cover
I initially ordered this movie for a friend who wanted to get it for her fiance because he really liked the movie. My friend and I watched it together and loved it. I can't count how many times we had to pause it and discuss the content. This movie is great for sparking conversations regarding the opposite sex. May be a good tool for a women's/men's groups, girls night, or book/church groups. I recommend the clean language option on the desk for folks who want it for a church group. At first I didn't want to watch this because the cover looks so cheap and bootleg but my friend guaranteed me it was good, and I trust her. When I began watching it I said this movie was biased toward black women but then I thought of all the movies (Diary of a mad black woman, waiting to exhale, how stella got her groove back and the like) that are biased regarding black men. I thought, we NEED to hear this, ladies. Keep and open mind and heart so that we can love our men the way they need to be loved. I...

no balance
had there been any balance in this film, i could have spared a few more stars. as it is, this is nothing more than tim alexander's big chance to share with us his distaste for black women. pitting a truly good man against a crazy woman for this kind of documentary was a very bad idea. actually, there was something objectionable about the personalities of most of the characters portrayed by actresses. the guys, on the other hand, all come off looking like beaten down, beleaguered "good men" who've been done wrong by their shrewish lovers. almost none of the men who appeared in this film had anything good to say about black women.

i noticed that whenever a woman said things that didn't mesh with the interviewer's opinion, he was quick to ask, his voice oozing judgement, "do YOU have a man?" a woman who doesn't have a man isn't necessarily without one because she nags or puts men down. we're supposedly in the wrong if we stay with a man who isn't right for us or...

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Pretty Woman [Blu-ray]

Special Film.....Not So "Special Edition"
This review refers to the Special 10th Anniversary DVD Edition(Touchstone) of "Pretty Woman"...

There are a couple of reasons why you may want to go with this "Special" edition of this charming and very modern update of the classic "Cinderella" story. The first is that at this time, the original edition seems to be unavailable, except from the outside sellers with prices higher then this one. The second reason is the fabulous music video with Natalie Cole doing one of the best songs from the film, "Wild Women Do". Other then that, I did not find anything really "special" about this "special" edition.

Here's what you get...A "Behind the Scenes" featurette, which runs a couple of minutes and is just some footage of Geer, Roberts and Marshall, getting ready to shoot a scene at the Polo game with the "Pretty Woman" music playing in the background. There is a very short production featurette, and except for Garry Marshall telling us what the film is about, appeared to...

not the original
For anyone who simply wants to know if this is the original theatrical version, like myself--it's not. It's the same as the 10th Anniversary Edition, with the stuff from the cutting room floor thrown back into the movie, instead of in Bonus Features where it belongs. I'm so thankful I still have the oringinal release that I love on video.

The Blu-ray features the theatrical version and now in 1080p High-Def. But how does it compare to previous releases?
The delightful and charming romantic comedy "PRETTY WOMAN" which would win hearts courtesy of the wonderful performances by Richard Gere and Julia Roberts and its fantastic music now makes its Blu-ray debut nearly 20 years after the film's debut.

When I first watched this film, I absolutely fell in love with it. I purchased it on VHS, the CD soundtrack, the director's cut LaserDisc, the 10th Anniversary and then the 15th Anniversary DVD special edition, multiple release which I didn't mind. The film has become so much of a favorite that I have traveled to Beverly Hills to check out the Beverly Wilshire, to looking for similar suits and ties around that time period that Edward Lewis would sport, discovering the opera "La Traviata" and eventually listening to opera music. Needless to say, this film at the time, really touched my life and it's hard to believe that nearly 20 years have passed by.

There are so many memorable moments in the film that are just...

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Harlem Nights [HD]

One of the Greatest Films Ever Made
Harlem Nights is one of the best movies ever made. It's a great period piece from the "roaring 20's". It has a cast of some of the greatest comic geniuses from every generation. Redd Foxx is classically funny in his usual manner paired with Della Reese; their exchange of witty banter throughout the entire movie leaves you cracking a smile. Eddie Murphy is as smooth as ever in one of his funniest films. Richard Pryor uses his subtle class to hold this one together. I know some of the language can be a bit much to some people who are not used to it being used as humor. A lot of critics did not think that this movie lived up to the cast involved in it. I am not sure what they were thinking that it should be. It couldn't have been any funnier. It has class, style, great costumes, good dialogue...great charisma between the actor/actresses. I think that if the critics didnt try to be so politically correct all of the time...they might have enjoyed this movie for what it...

Don't read the Amazon review, this movie was great!
Though Amazon.com didn't think highly of this movie, I did, and thank goodness this movie was made!

Both Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx are not with us anymore, but this IS here. This film shows us the comedic talent of both these men, and to have stars like Eddie Murphy, Danny Aiello, and Della Reese is delicious icing on the cake.

Pryor as Sugar Ray and Murphey as Quick try to keep a vicious mobster from taking over their business. As you might think, they turn the tables on the bad buys!

Jasmine Guy stands out particularly as the mobster's girlfriend, and so does Della Resse as the hard-fighting madam with a heart of gold.

Thank-you, Eddie Murphy, for getting all these wonderful comedic talents together for us and prosperity! Because this movie exists we have them all forever.

Very entertaining.
A very funny movie which will become a classic. I have seen the movie at least 10 times. Hopefully one day it will be on DVD. The television version takes away some of the comedic dialogue. This all star cast that includes comedy greats such as Redd Foxx, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and celebrities such as Della Reese, and Arsenio Hall. It is almost certain to become a much sought after collectable.

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The Possession [HD]

Horror at its best
This movie was superb! Although the scares are sporadic, the story was intriguing and suspenseful. I was never bored. After watching horror movies for 40 years, I don't care for slasher films. I prefer intelligent, suspenseful horror with good acting and a great ending. This movie fits the bill. I recommend it for those who prefer stylish horror. Best of all, there are no vomiting scenes. I hate that!

The "Diet Coke" of exorcism movies; a series of missed opportunities or perhaps a Disney-appropriate version of The Exorcist
This was okay. But Raimi fans will find no Drag Me to Hell gross-out gore and generally horror fans will not see original scenes (regarding scares), provocative possession behavior, or unique plot elements. The newer you are to the genre (or, possession or demon box movies, per se) the more you will enjoy this finely prepared, but under-seasoned meal. While perfectly competent for a horror, let's call it the "Diet Coke" of exorcism; a series of missed opportunities and pulled punches.

Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick), Em[ily] (Natasha Calis) and her older sister are a family recently sundered by a rather civil divorce. But when young Em becomes fond of an antique puzzle box she finds at a yard sale things start to get strange. Em becomes temperamental, graduating to obsessive about the box while apathetic (even sociopathic) of the needs or wants of others. Clyde begins to suspect a malevolent force is at work and seeks the aid of the Hasidic...

Scared the fluids out of me.
I watch a lot of horror movies. Have for years. I was feeling numb to them but this one got me! Actually turned on the lights. Really great twists. This is not an Exorcist rip off. This one is based on old Jewish mythology of the dibbuk. A human who is so evil they are condemned to live as deamons for all time. The DVD includes the story behind the story and it is facinating.

I cannot say I have seen many movies that feature religious Jews. I am not Jewish so I am not exactly looking for them. This one introduces a Jewish exorcism which is not like the catholic one at all. I was facinated by that. A glimpse into a world I never see,

I have never seen a horror movie where a religious Jew was the hero.

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SpongeBob SquarePants: It's A SpongeBob Christmas

Great!
Really cool! I love spongebob and this was a great episode that they made for the christmas season this year.

Fantastic breath of fresh air for spongebob fans !!
WOW!! I was so impressed by the show and just how good the characters made the leap to real life. This was such a needed jolt to
the spongebob franchise. The characters are so charming to see in Claymation style.

Great movie!
My boys looooooooove this movie!! They watch it almost every day during Christmas and still laugh every time. It's really funny and entertaining and I enjoy watching it myself. It's very well made and has a cute story line. It does say the word "jerk" ALOOOOOT so if you don't want your kids to hear/learn that work, you may not want to get it. Overall, it's a really great movie to add to your Christmas collection.

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Madagascar (Full Screen Edition)

Laugh Out Loud Funny
I have to admit I was underwhelmed by the ads for "Madagascar", it just didn't look that good. But my kids were anxious to see it so I dragged myself into the theater on Saturday ready to see another kiddie movie along the lines of "Shark Tale" or "Home on the Range". I did not expect to enjoy the movie as much as my seven year old....if not more. "Madagascar" is not only a great animated film and packs as many laughs into it's hour and half as either "Shrek" movie did, "Madagascar" is just a great comedy. There were several times in the movie that were just laugh out loud funny, the scene with the Penguins in Antarctica was worth the price of admission for me! There are plenty of jokes aimed at an older audience, like the reference to "The Twilight Zone" episode "How to Serve Man". The story is great and the characters are really fun. The visuals are stunning and the animation is top-notch. Add all that together with a great soundtrack, and I think "Madagascar" is a great way to kick...

Great for the family...
Madagascar is a cute and funny movie. Parents and kids were laughing through most of the movie. (there was an little while where the story gets boring.) But, I love the penguins and the fact that they are always so sneaky; they really steal the show from the main characters. If you have kids this is a definite must see, we had kids laughing the whole time and most loved the bright colors, music and especially dancing. You saw a lot of little kids dancing in their chairs. People without kids or older kids will also enjoy the movie as it has a lot of jokes for adults to keep us entertained and laughing; the bright colors are also great for us as well as the dancing and music. I felt this cartoon lived up to its previews and the way it was perceived. My only hope is if they do a 2nd one that they include more of those sneaky penguins.

Amusing Fun for Young and Old
Recent animated efforts have tried to create 3-D characters and environments, but the filmmakers have wisely chosen another course for "Madagascar". Adopting a stylized form of animation, the film looks like a living picture book. Everything is cartoonier than we are used to. Alex, Marty and Melman are still rendered in 3-D, but they are not lifelike and appear to be adapted from a children's book, actually adding to the humor. These characters look like stuffed animals and its funny to watch little kids carrying a small toy of Alex home after their visit to the zoo. They seem more believable as zoo animals and they are certainly cute as the dickens.

In all animated films today, a certain level of irreverence, of zaniness is expected. "Madagascar" doesn't reach the heights of the "Shrek" films, but it comes darn close. Everything from Tom Wolfe to "The Twilight Zone", "American Beauty" to "The Planet of the Apes" is parodied in the film. Most of the kids won't get these...

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Rear Window

Rear Window---Newly Restored DVD!!!!
The last few years have seen some classic films that have been given back their old lustre via restoration, including such films as, My Fair Lady, Vertigo, Lawrence Of Arabia to name just a few. These films as well as this film have been restored by the restoration mavericks Robert A. Harris, and James Katz.

I must say after seeing an advance copy of this film that Rear Window looks incredible, especially compared to the Laser Disc copy I have as well as the poor copies that have been showing up on television and VHS over the years.

The colors are vibrant, in particular the reds which don't give a hint of bleeding into the frame, and the image looks I imagine as close to the original as possible given the fact that this film is almost fifty years old now.

The aspect ratio is 1.66:1 which is the proper framing for this film, the sound is the original mono soundtrack and has been scrubbed up to remove any audio imperfections that have built up over the years.

Also included on...

the ultimate Hitchcock classic
The ultimate Hitchcock classic, REAR WINDOW gives us a glimpse into the mind of Alfred Hitchcock, and in turn Hitchcock turns the mirror on us and forces us to admit our darkest desire...to be voyeurs.

That is exactly what Jeffries is. Jeffries (James Stewart) is a wheelchair-bound photographer who spends his time cooped up in his apartment, peeping in on the neighbours across the courtyard. He comes up with "names" for them; Miss Torso the ballerina; Miss Lonely-Hearts; The Newly-Weds and so on. His only contact with the outside world is his girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) and his wisecracking nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter).

Unknowlingly witnessing the murder of Mrs Thorwald, he, along with Lisa and Stella, set out to expose the truth about Mr Thorwald (Raymond Burr) and uncover the mystery of her quick disapperance.

A beautifully-restored print by James Katz and Robert Harris (also responsible for the beautiful new renderings of MY FAIR LADY and VERTIGO), is the...

Hitchcock's Classy Voyeurism Thriller...
One of the joys of Alfred Hitchcock films is his ability to take social taboos, present them in an enticing context, throw in major stars we know and love to perform them, and thus make abhorrent behavior seem attractive! 'Vertigo' is the best-known example of this Hitchcock trait ('Psycho' also comes to mind), but 'Rear Window' is the most fun to watch, because of the appealing combination of James Stewart and Grace Kelly!

Stewart is a photographer, laid-up while recuperating from an accident (cleverly shown through photographs in his studio), who, out of boredom, begins spying on his neighbors. Jimmy Stewart a 'Peeping Tom'? Only Hitchcock could get away with this!

Of course, Kelly, as his high fashion model girlfriend, and Thelma Ritter (who is fabulous as his nurse), are appalled by Stewart's behavior, but are drawn into voyeurism by Stewart's devotion to it, particularly after he witnesses an apparent murder (committed by Raymond Burr, in one of the most...

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Thomas & Friends: Santas Little Engine

My son loves it, but they could do better.
Our son loves Thomas. We loved the new DVD. But as his parent, and a long time connoisseur of entertainment media, I have a few issues with this DVD.

First of all, the DVD we were sent was presented entirely in a 4x3 aspect ratio. This DVD is brand new, and for a show made using computers in the year 2013, I find myself a little frustrated at the lack of options here. I mean, my son could care less about a detail like this, but I don't understand why they would do this when the last time I saw a 4x3 tv for sale was about five years ago. It just feels cheap.

One of my son's favorite parts of these videos are the sketches between each episode with Mr. Perkins. They've cut Mr. Perkins' screen time down to two segments, which do not take place in the engine driver's common room. In each sequence, he spends the majority of the time reading off a script while images fill the screen (one of these being a recap of the new film released last month). I was...

DVD review
I enjoy this new Thomas DVD. There were wonderful holiday stories.

In the first story "Santa's Little Engine", Sir Topham Hatt is dressing up as Santa Claus for the Christmas fair and rides a sleigh. Next in "No Snow for Thomas", Thomas doesn't like his snowplough and hides it, now he's stuck in the shed while everyone is having fun in the snow. In "The Frozen Turntable", The turntable at Tidmonth sheds is frozen, so the engines has to find a new place to sleep for the night. in the next episode "The Missing Christmas Decorations", Diesel 10 takes the Christmas decorations from Tidmonth sheds to the Dieselworks, and Percy teaches everyone the generous spirit of Christmas by giving Sidney a Christmas present. In the last story "Snow Tracks" (Which was previously released on the Thomas DVD "Splish Splash Splosh", But it was re-narrated by the new storyteller), Gordon thinks he can go through the snow without a problem.

During the DVD features 2 Mr. Perkins segments...

Awesome Santa Movie!
Thomas and Friends Santa's Little Engine DVD is a super cute and fun DVD for any Thomas lover. When I had the opportunity to review it I knew that my nieces and nephews would love it and I was right. They sat down and watched the entire video for an hour and they were in love with the Christmas spirit. Briar who is 3 said, "It's my Thomas movie" when he saw the DVD. And older sister Sage who is 4 enjoyed it as well, but Briar was the one that enjoyed it the most.

The first story is "Santa's Little Engine" and Sir Topham Hatt is dressing up as Santa Claus so he could visit Sodor. Which amazed Sage because Santa always visits everywhere, why wasn't he always in Sodor. Good question, but one that was easily answered with, of course he does, but now we have proof Santa visits Sodor. Problem solved!!

Episodes Include:

The Princess Bride

Wonderful film - what's in the Blu-Ray only edition?
This is a terrific movie that has so many different editions of the DVD and now Blu-Ray discs that it gets very confusing as to what is in each version.

A search of the internet shows several reviews that describe the differences between the DVD versions. Basically the "Dread Pirate Roberts" edition and the "20th Anniversery" edition have different special features not in the other edition.

As of this writing, there are three versions of the Blu-ray - the Blu-ray only edition, and the Blu-ray + DVD edition in either a Blu-Ray or the old style DVD case.

What makes it confusing is that Amazon and other sellers of this Blu-Ray only edition list this movie as a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, implying that it might be a different movie cut, while the other two Blu-ray editions are listed as 1.85:1 aspect ratio. No doubt this, together with the fact that the Blu-Ray + DVD edition has almost the same price, has hampered sales of this Blu-Ray only edition...

What's the Difference in all these Editions?
Here's what is new on the 20th Edition DVD:

- "The Princess Bride: The Untold Tales"
- "The Art of Fencing" Featurette
- "Fairy Tales and Folklore" Featurette
- "True Love and High Adventure: The Official The Princess Bride DVD Game

The Dread Pirate Roberts/Buttercup Editions include all of the Special Edition features plus:

French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) Audio Track

"Dread Pirate Roberts: Greatest Legend of the Seven Seas" mockumentary

"Love is Like a Storybook Story" featurette

"Miraculous Make-up" featurette

Quotable "Battle of Wits" trivia game

Collective booklet: "Fezzik's Guide to Florin"

I prefer the Dread Pirate Robert's/Buttercup Edition, but there are three reasons why you might want to buy the new 20th edition:

1. You don't already own the movie (shame on you).
2. You collect all things Princess Bride.
3. The DVD cover art is fantastic!

I do not think it means what you think it means
I remember when I first saw this movie, around age 13, I had no idea who the Man in Black was through the entirety of the first act. Sure, it's apparent now, given the benefit of hindsight, but because of the actor's anonymity at the time I never made the obvious connection. On top of that, most of the rest of the cast was unknown to me as well (except for the one non-actor, Monsieur Roussimoff, a.k.a. Andre the Giant). The sweeping anonymity of the company allowed the film to do two things: first, the audience isn't distracted by the presence of the Big Star; and second, unknown actors allow for no preconceived notions of their characters. Which in turn allows the filmmakers to subvert character types, and insert some true surprises into the story.

Which, to make a long point even longer, is the whole ethos of the film

William Goldman's book "The Princess Bride", on which this film is based, intended to tell only the 'good parts' version of the story of Westley and Buttercup...

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Deadly Impact

The FBI should hate this movie
They should show this in the class they teach on "How NOT to solve a case".

This entire lot has to be the most dim-witted "intelligence" officers I've ever seen portrayed in a crime movie.

Sorry -- be warned -- there are spoilers below -- but necessary to show how unintelligent these guys are:

- They repeatedly walk into buildings without checking -- knowing that they're chasing a guy who sets bombs.
- The female lead wanders off by herself after getting a tip about a secret warehouse.
- The male lead believes the villain when he says "put down your gun and I won't shoot you..."
- They can't figure out why a guy who has blown up several other buildings has corralled all law enforcement into the same place.
And on it goes. I found myself rooting for the bad guy out of spite.

Sean Patrick Flanery was the only actor in this!
Sean P was the reason I rented this movie and surprise, surprise, he was the only one who actually acted and believably. The villian was annoying as hades and the FBI agent girl he fell for even more annoying. I really wouldn't recommend this movie unless youre a diehard SPF fan like me because it really tanked otherwise. The whole thing was pretty painful. Can I have my money back?

one hour and eleven minutes
That's how long I watched what I thought was a typical escapist B movie. I am a SPF fan and have watched most of his films for good or ill.

I was enjoying this one until they had a character make the most dumb obvious rookie, stupid plot device possible. So for the last 20 minutes of the film I was not happy, especially when they had another character show up and be even dumber.

So I give it a two star for Sean but it really should be a half star because of that last 20 minutes!!!!

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The Dark Knight (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Great Film - Buy the Single Disc Version!
What has been said about the Dark Knight cannot be elaborated on - so I won't. The film is muscling its way into my #1 favorite comic movie adaptation of all time.

The reason for my review is in hopes of saving you some money. This double disc Special Edition doesn't deliver the price you pay for it. There isn't even deleted scenes!!! I would save your very hard earned dollars and buy the single disc version and wait for the inevitable ULTIMATE re-release that will come later on down the road.

But nonetheless, a great film - you will not be dissapointed; I just wish the studio would have given a better Special Edition release than what we have here. So enjoy!

The Dark Masterpiece Surpasses the Hype
Christopher Nolan has a vision. And whether you agree with it or not, he undeniably completes it in "The Dark Knight"--a vicious, engrossing, overwhelming, intelligent event- film that re-defines 'comic-book-flicks'. In Nolan's grim, dark-depiction of Gotham-City (the crime-ridden hell protected by legendary superhero Batman), the director strives to make everything real (something he began in the well-received "Batman Begins"). He makes it plausible, possible. And yet there's more to it: just as 'Begins' was a dissection of myth, the nature of symbols and heroes, 'Knight' is the escalation of that notion. It's a biblical- confrontation of 'good-and-evil', yet as 'good-and-evil' really exist: a conflict of ideals, something that can't be purely-defined but that is relative to a viewpoint. In Nolan's world, the line of villainy and heroism isn't crossed... it's non-existent. The bad-guys don't see themselves as bad-guys, and as such something so unnervingly-real comes across it might...

A little batpod & case info
Ok, the movie is a 5 star, this is a little info on the case and bat pod if anyone is curious about it size. We have it at work and I have already seen it. It is actually VERY small, the case and the bat pod. The bat pod is maybe 4"-5" long, and the case is just a bit larger then the blu rays. I was expecting a bat pod the size of the one available at in the toys at most stores which is 10"-12" long.
AT $50+ dollars, I would get the Bluray 2 disc and the $20 12" bat pod, which s a much better bat pod and value in my opinion.

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Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dream

When You Follow Your Dreams...You Can Accomplish Anything!!
I had the opportunity to attend a special screening of Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams. This is the first release in this new Princess series which features Aurora from Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine from Aladdin. The tales are told in two different segments but are linked by the theme of Perseverance. For those who may have grown up loving these films (or who have children who adore these characters), it was wonderful to see how much care was taken to deliver such detailed and nuanced animation in this direct-to-DVD release.

Princess Aurora shows the importance of never taking the easy way out and being proud of one's own efforts, while Jasmine asserts that even a princess needs to do something challenging with her life. Both stories are told in a humorous fashion and the whimsical new songs, Keys To The Kingdom & More Than A Peacock Princess, should not disappoint. The original singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, Lea Solonga, also...

Better than you might expect, but aimed at the little ones.
Disney Princess DVDs take a new turn with "Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams." This 56 minute program, the first in a new DVD line, does something totally different: it offers entirely new and fully animated content. Finally, people get what they originally wanted and expected from the Disney Princess Collection DVDs. This disc features two all new animated stories starring Princess Aurora from "Sleeping Beauty" and Princess Jasmine from "Aladdin." What's more, Disney doesn't take advantage of the all-new animation by false advertising. They make no attempt to call this a "sequel" or "Aurora Meets Jasmine," (they don't interact, by the way, so don't have a geek-gasm), though "Tales of Perseverance" would have made more sense than "Follow Your Dreams." I suppose the latter is more appealing to the younger set though.

The program starts rather abruptly, as the closest thing there is to any opening credits are part of the main menu. To explain, as the DVD...

Definitely for children; safe to watch alone
As stated in other reviews, there should be no expectation from animation fans that this DVD is meant to be a sequel to the original classics. This DVD is what I would call 2 morality/life lesson tales aimed at children, presented in such a way that it is entertaining for them to watch. Disney has done a great job of keeping the characters looking like they did in the originals; however, I really do question the vocal choice for Aurora. Ilene Woods is a tough act to follow, but surely they could have found a girl who matched her better. The current choice has a pleasant enough speaking voice, but when she sings, there is a definite disparity between the two. Still, most children will not notice these things and will be very entertained by the plots that are sprinkled with humor aimed at their age level. Some might miss the addition of a villain or two, but with each of the 2 stories being less than half an hour, it probably would have added to the length of the show. It's actually...

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Smash: Season One (DVD + UltraViolet)

Smash is AWESOME (check here the list of episodes), but where's the BLU-RAY???
If you're here, you probably know that Smash is one of the best shows to appear on television in the last 20 years. Thank you, Theresa Rebeck, for creating it!

Great music, great characters (Derek is my favorite), everybody who loves New York and especially Broadway will have a BLAST watching every single episode. What could you expect, it also has Steven Spielberg as one of its executive producers!

I'm sure that thousands and thousands of americans and foreigners who love NYC will feel the same way. Am I right?

My god... and the original music of this show !?

I don't have words to describe how incredible and perfect they are, really, REALLY creative, songs AND lyrics, you have to watch Smash and listen to them yourself, if you still didn't do that!
(Don't waste any time, btw, you're gonna fall in love with the original music!)

The original songs were written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, these guys deserve no less than...

Finally Glee with a Script and Great Acting
Best show I have seen in years. I did not expect to like it and by about 15 minutes into the first episode I was hooked. The songs are incredible, the storyline very engaging and a tremendous cast.

Are You Fascinated by Musicals/Theater?
If you love the world of musical theater, you may enjoy this smashing romp aptly titled SMASH. With a stellar cast including Deborah Messing, Katherine McPhee and Anjelica Huston with Spielberg producing it, there's talent invested in it.

The talent is trying to produce a Broadway Musical based on the iconic Marilyn Monroe. However, there are the usual challenges: inconvenient romances, slimy director, cast rivalry, insufficient financial backing, script rewriting etc. It is great fun to observe the creative process and the chaos surrounding it. Will they produce a smash hit? You want to keep watching to see if it will come together.

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Shadow of the Bat: Part 1

This is the best bat series
This set will introduce Batgirl. Ra's Al Ghul will be in 4 episodes and we'll get to see the villians put Batman on trial at Arkham. Even Alfred Gets a Real Good Battle With Red Claw. Plus Batman fights Bane, Catwoman and more. this is a must have.

Episode list:

557- Shadow of the Bat Pt1

558- Blind as a Bat

559- The Demon's Quest pt1

560- His Silicon soul

561- Shadow of the Bat pt2

562- Fire From Olympus

563- The Demon's Quest pt 2

564- Read my lips

565- The worry Men

566- Sideshow

567- A Bullet for Bullock

568- The Trial

569- Avatar

570- House & Garden

571- The Terrible Trio

572- Harlequinade

573- Time out of Joint

574- Catwalk

575- Bane

576- Baby-Doll

577- The Lion and The Unicorn

578- Showdown

579- Riddlers Reform...

New Villains! 29 (not 28) episodes! Batgirl!
This is a hard decision, but I have to say that this volume is better than the other two. Barbara Gordon gets introduced as Batgirl for the first time, and we meet new villains! Ra's Al Ghul, Baby-Doll, Scarface, Bane, Lock Up, are Maxie Zeus and introduced in these 29 great episodes. Mr. Freeze, The Riddler, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, The Mad Hatter, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, The Clock King, and Red Claw return! This is clearly a better volume than the previous because it concludes "Batman: The Animated Series," and has cool extras. Some people, however, think that the extras (special features) are bad because they're mainly commentary. Well, I hope you buy this totally awesome 4-disc set.....packed with 609 minutes of action!!! Some episodes descriptions to get you interested are the following: Ra's Al Ghul needs Batman's help to find his daughter Talia, Batman's villains hold a trial against him, Scarface frames Catwoman, the Joker steals an atomic bomb, Red Claw plans to...

THE FINAL 28 EPISODES
In the final release of Warner's Batman the Animated series we get another 28 episdoes of one of the finest animated shows ever created. I would heartily disagree with John Q. Public's opinion of Anime-style animation and weak voice acting. True the animation was done by Studio Junio and has some Anime influence I would not consider this Anime style at all. John Q. evidently has never seen true Anime before or such a ridiculous statement would never have been made.

Batman was just a great series and far superior to the Batman Beyond and the New Batman series. This is the tough, gritty Batman of Bob Kane although updated for modern times but still great to look at for its art-deco stylings. My favorite episodes on this collection include:

"The Demon's Quest parts 1 & 2" Batman must agree to an uneasy alliance with arch-villian Ras Ah Ghul when his daughter Talia and Robin have been kidnapped under similar circumstances.

"Sideshow" Killer Croc...

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