Sunday, September 22, 2013

The Fugitive: The Most Wanted Edition - Complete Series



CBS Has Fixed the Problem!!
**As of November 15, 2012, the web site TV Shows On DVD has announced that CBS is offering replacement discs for 5 defective DVDs in this set. The 5 discs are the two Season 1 discs containing the audio issues in the episodes "Bloodline" and "Taps For a Dead War," the season two disc containing the episode "The Iron Maiden," which has music issues, the season three disc containing the episode "Three Cheers For Little Boy Blue," and the season three disc containing the two-part episode "Landscape With Running Figures." Those episodes had playback problems.

Here is the link to the web site explaining how to order your replacement discs:

[...]
A reviewer named Richard H. Campbell posted a review on Amazon.com regarding some defective discs in the newly-reissued 2012 edition of this set. I don't intend to review the product as a whole at this point, but will comment on this defective disc issue.

According to Mr. Campbell, the set contains four...

FIVE STARS!
I ordered mine from Movies Unlimited and it arrived today. I watched "Man In A Chariot," the first episode of the Second Season, and all the original music seemed to be present - except possibly the background music playing at the club during the conversation between Richard Drivas and David Janssen. The video and audio quality are the best I've seen yet.

"Man In A Chariot" is one of the episodes that had a lot of the music replaced in the free Season Two "replacement set" that CBS sent to those of us who heard about the replacement program for Season Two, Part One, and applied to get the new versions with most of the music put back in. (These "replacement sets" were in substitution for the first Season Two, Part One, sets that were issued with ALL the original music replaced with some truly TERRIBLE synthesizer music.) And again, the video and audio quality are even better than the half-season episodes.

I can recommend this set. I'll write a follow-up if I...

Revisit quality, simple, relaxing, family TV.
If you are old enough to remember good clean exciting television, this is worth in price. Revisit the past and a myriad of TV actors from the sixties. I wish they had left some of the commercials in. The cars alone will have you remembering when... Each and every episode features guest stars that were popular at the time and many who went on to greater notoriety. The picture quality and sound whether B&W or color is excellent. I read about possible flawed discs and sent for them. I received them in about two weeks. I ran into one problem with a disc that wouldn't navigate between episodes and used the replacement which worked fine. (Season Three, Disc 3, Volume One) I had no other issues. I bought the set for my wife for this past Mother's Day. We watched all the episodes in about a month. It was easy to substitute for those dead spots, even on cable, where there just wasn't anything that appealed to you or should I say the both of you. Enjoy! it's worth the ride.

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Clay Regazzoni Grand Prix Hero



EXCELLENT DVD ON FORMULA 1 OF THE 1970'S AND 80'S.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS DVD FOR ANYONE WHO FOLLOWED F1 IN THE 197O'S AND 80'S. THE FOOTAGE IS OF GOOD QUALITY AND CONTAINED MANY SCENES I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.





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Saturday, September 21, 2013

Tokyo Playboy Club



Awesome Movie
I've been wanting to see it since the Rotterdam Film Festival and I was surprised it made its way onto amazon. The movie is about a seedy club that is long past its heyday and the characters the interact within it. It has a heavy slice of comedy but it is also a crime film. I am reminded somewhat of Tarantino when I watch this film; any fan of his will most certainly enjoy this movie.

Not good
Terrible plot. Sad. Bad Camera work. Just not a good flick at all to watch. Suggest you pass on this one.

Great acting & storyline. Very entertaining.
After recently going to Japan, I've become obsessed with watching movies in Japanese. I gave this one a shot simply because it was in Japanese and was available on Prime free. Wow! This turned out to be surprisingly very good. It's set in Tokyo and is about how a few different people's lives (a few ex-thugs who own a club, one of their low life employees, his girlfriend, and some members of the Yakuza) cross paths over the course of a day or so, and a few small actions turn out to have huge and unexpected consequences. It sort of reminds me of Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, but it's much different too. It's engaging from start to finish, and the acting is top notch. I'd love to find more movies with this cast. I'd definitely recommend watching it!

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Breaking and Entering



An amazing documentary of a basic human desire to succeed
Records were made to be broken, and this movie highlights just how far people will go to prove they are the best in the world at something. It highlights the very basic human instinct to achieve something no one has accomplished before. The movie uses seemingly average human examples and shows how this desire drives them to go well beyond what most of us would be willing to endure just to have their name in the world renowned book of Guiness World Records. These wonderfully constructed stories somehow accomplish making the viewer both empathetic to their obsessions, yet at the same time inspired by their will to accomplish their goals.

Wonderfully idiotic and inspirational
This peek into the subculture of record breakers and wannabe record breakers is a blast. The three main stories are all compelling in their own way and the director does a great job of touching on the feats of several other bizarre and brilliant characters throughout the film. While you may shake your head at the aspirations of some of these people, you have to admire the drive and perseverance they demonstrate as they pursue their goals.

Bizarre, scary, interesting as hell
Reminds me of the great stuff by Errol Morris. A peek at one of the more bizarre subcultures in this country.

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The Invisible War



A Disturbing And Shocking Examination Of Sexual Assault And Systemic Cover-Up
Filmmaker Kirby Dick made, arguably, one of my favorite documentaries with his thrilling expose of the movie ratings board (MPAA) in "This Film Is Not Yet Rated." Clearly, he is not adverse to challenging the status quo and asking the probing and provocative questions that help to define an issue. This unblinking gaze is turned onto the horrific subject of sexual assault and cover-up within the military in the eye-opening, unpleasant, and powerful "The Invisible War." And the result may leave you quite stunned and disturbed. This is certainly not a new topic, I've heard about quite a few individual cases through the years. But the quantity of these events might just surprise you and Dick uses the government's own internal statistics to support his claims. Here's a couple of examples: about 20% of women in the armed services have endured some type of sexual assault (these are just reported numbers as well) and men entering service are 15% more likely to have sexual assault in their...

A shocking documentary that made a difference - when the Secretary of Defense watched it.
To realize how timely this documentary is, I watched the DVD last night and on this morning National new on ABC-TV was a story that charges were being brought in San Francisco this week on multiple sexual assaults on women in the armed forces in San Francisco. As you will learn (among many astounding facts in this 97-minute documentary) if you watch it (and you should), no cases of these sexual assaults were brought to conviction until this past Spring (2012) when Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta watched the film and changed the rules as to who had power to make decisions in these cases.

Director Kirby Dick is best known for his Oscar-nominated film on the Motion Picture Rating Board, but this film covers an even more serious topic.

The fact that the Department of Defense estimates that 20% (!) of all females in the Armed Services have been raped will probably astound the average American. But Dick has the proof. Though at least 20 women (and, a few men - yes,...

A strong call-to-action
I'd encourage everyone to go see the film if it plays nearby. I've been reading up about it but the actual film is even more powerful. The systemic injustice suffered by these men and women is horrific. The military seems like a very hostile workplace. And it scares me to realize that the perpetrators, who often go scot-free or even promoted, may one day mix amongst us civilians without our knowing. They could create new victims in workplaces and in our neighborhoods. I am glad that the Secretary of Defense is taking some steps to improve the process, but more needs to be done. Kudos to Kirby Dick and his team for bringing this important issue to our attention.

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The Cars Of The Bond Movies



Not What I Expecting
When you think of Bond, you think of classy. The DVD was just "ok". I think the worst part was the music. Sort of sounds like music from a porno movie. Not quality, but then again, it was inexpensive. Just not what I thought. OK for a stocking stuffer.

super video
great video would recomend it, not as fine as thought it would be.Wanted more info. I would call it enjoyable

Bond was better
Not what I expected, Individuals speaking about each car. No action shots and no shots if the detail of the actual cars. Pretty boring

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Tuck Bushman And The Legend Of Piddledown Dale



Cheap and Cheery
Having had the good fortune to catch this film when it premiered at the Hyde Park Picture House, in Leeds, I was delighted when i was finally able to purchase a copy for myself.

Tuck Bushman & The Legend of Piddledown Dale, tells the story of an out of work animal hunter, by the name of Tuck Bushman, who is given a chance to revive his ailing career when a strange creature is spotted in the hinterland of Piddledown Dale. With the help of his trusty sidekick, Jerry Stains, Tuck sets out to turn the capture of this creature into a television documentary.

Okay so the costumes are cheap and the wigs cheaper, but on an alleged budget of

In Car 956



Viagra Schmiagra
Buy this for the lap of the Old 'Ring alone. That'll put lead in your Eberhard Faber or your already dead. Just to be along with the likes of Sir Derek Bell is an honor well worth the price of admission!

A Quiet Drive in the Country
This DVD is fantastic. For anyone who has ever watched a motor race and thought "I could do that" then watch this and see just how hard it is to drive a very powerful car on the limit around circuits where a mistake could mean your death.
The driver is Derek Bell, who was a works Porsche driver when the Porsche 956 was all-conquering. During the 1984 season a camera was placed in Bell's car during the practice session on a number of circuits and this DVD was the result. Circuits such as Silverstone, Nurburgring (the North Ring), Le Mans (before it was emasculated), Spa (the modern version) are some of the treats. On some circuits Bell commentates, sometimes whilst driving, on other circuits a producer provides the narration, unfortunately, not always accurately but this is a minor distraction.
For any fan of motor racing this is an essential addition to any DVD library.

in car 956
If you are Porsche/racing fan this is a must have. You are a passenger in one of the most successful race cars ever produced. World champion Derek Bell is your driver and gives an excellent technical review on how to navigate some of the world's best road race circuits in existence.

Filmed in 1984, the video and sound are some what dated by todays standards but then again, who cares? You get to ride along in a 650 bhp Rothmans Porsche 956 at 220+ mph! Enjoy the ride!

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History Of Motor Racing In 1950s



Those were the days
Better presentation than the companion 60's dvd.The comparison of tracks still raced with those here is mind boggling particularly as to widths and safety provisions as is the car handling. I would like to see more of Duke's dvds.





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Gabe the Cupid Dog



truly Fun and entertaining
What a cute movie.... it is one of those would watch again... fun, cute, good acting, good plot and perfect family fun. I wish we could watch this type of movies on reg TV... I m so glad for Amazon Prime instant Video.

Cute Movie!
My 6 and 8 year old grandsons liked it and I thought it was cute. I'm always looking for something appropriate for them to watch - they'd much rather watch things exploding or people and monsters fighting. I'm happy when we find something fun that the whole family enjoys without violence.

movies with Kirstin Dorn
Have many with her. This movie is good. Will watch more but some are hard to find. Good luck hunting.

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Alice: The Complete Second Season



A Few Episodes Fall a Little Flat--Otherwise, Get It !
I ordered my copy of ALICE: The Complete Second Season as soon as it was announced on the Warner Archive site a few weeks ago to be sure I got pressed discs (instead of DVD-Rs) just like I did for Alice: The Complete First Season. The price was a few dollars cheaper than here too and the cover art and discs follow the same design as the first set--no complaints whatsoever. (**NOTE** The limited-run of pressed discs for Season One has long since sold out and only DVD-Rs are now available--you MUST order early!).

During its' second season on CBS during 1977-78, ALICE was still finding its' footing with a revolving door of producers, writers and directors. Several of the installments this season seem somewhat static and flat compared to Season 1 (see "The Indian Taker" or "The Reporter"). Ironically, this is the year the show jumped into the Top Ten finishing at #8 among all prime-time series for the...

Fantastic Journey Back to Great TV!
I've been waiting a long time for this 2nd season DVD to come out! "Alice" is one of those genuinely funny comedies where all the characters work well together, are good friends, share everything, and just blend their lives together in a positive way. Sure it was a sitcom, but after all, and especially moreso in today's world - aren't all those show qualities really what we should be watching and enjoying as we try to escape the madness of the "real" world? Sometimes it's good to just sit down, watch some simple problems resolve themselves within less than a 1/2 hour, watch and listen to some laugh-out-loud comedic lines that leave us with a smile. It feels good. And if you are one of those that enjoyed such programming in the 70s and 80s, Alice will not disappoint you.

This series is also great in "going down memory lane" - seeing things like pay phones being used and definitely the outfits being worn, will also bring a nostalgic smile to your face!

I'm...

More greatness!
I first watched season 1, and then eagerly opened season 2 of Alice. I couldn't turn it off, and I watched pretty much the entire season in 2 days. The second season is probably the best, and I have fond memories of many of these episodes from watching them during summer vacation as a kid. I particularly loved Florence of Arabia! When I lived in Phoenix going to college, I was extremely homesick and watched Alice every morning during my break. The characters always felt like family to me, and I still feel like that today. Corny I know, but this is just a terrific show! I highly recommend it and hope they will put out more seasons soon.

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Athena: Goddess of War (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)



why, amazon, why?
why is amazon including reviews of the 2 hour movie with the 6 dvd set of the tv drama? it's just bringing the review average down. the tv drama is a wonderful escape. great acting, great action. a thoroughly enjoyable show! knock it off, amazon. let's keep apples with apples, ok?

Recommended for all IRIS fans
Compared to IRIS which starts off running, the Athena series starts slow, but stick to it. Unlike IRIS there is not alot of effort to define the Athena organization. But, midway through the series it gets to a feverish pitch and the character development seen in IRIS kicks in. This is a very emotional story line. The main characters grow thoughout the series. Strongly recommend. Like IRIS you are glued to the show to see what happens to the main characters.

There is only so much of the 20-hour drama series that can be condensed to a film...
In 2009, Korean network KBS broadcasted the South Korean espionage TV drama series known as "Iris". Known as one of the most expensive drama series produced.

The 20-episode drama series would focus on two friends Kim Hyun-Jun (portrayed by Lee Byung-hun) and Jin-Sa-woo (portrayed by Jung Joon-Ho) who become initiated into a secret organization of the National Security Service and both are brought into the secret organization with the job to pre-empt foreign threats and assassinate anyone who will be a threat to South Korean national security.

Suffice to say, "Iris" was a tremendous success in South Korea and the 20-episodes were condensed into a feature film featuring new shots and an extended ending.

The popularity of "Iris" would lead to a spin-off 20-episode TV drama series titled "Athena: Goddess of War". And similar to "Iris", the series became one of the most expensive drama series on television and would lead to a film condensing the...

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Friday, September 20, 2013

Legendary Pink Dots: 9 Lives to Wonder



This Could Have Been SO Good!
This DVD could have spent the majority of its time capturing the musicians in the studio as they lay down tracks for "9 Lives to Wonder." Unfortunately, the majority of the 80 minutes is nothing more than random shots of the various band members standing around by themselves, making random comments, constantly and incessantly mugging for the camera, driving into town, and engaging in other completely musically-unrelated activities. There is also plenty of footage of someone's kid crawling on the floor and someone's dog following people around. The rest of it involves having the camera focused on one of the guys playing snippets of already-recorded tracks through a tape recorder. I really don't see the point of it. Again, this had so much potential. How great would it have been to see the actual recording sessions. We don't even see or hear Edward KaSpel singing. At most, he is in a few clips outside of the studio, smiling at the camera and wandering around aimlessly.

I like watching it with my eyes closed.
The sound is yummy and probably will please anybody who's a fan. I wish there were more things available along these lines... I love being a fly on the wall!



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Apocalypse: Hitler



APOCALYPSE HITLER
Enjoyed watching this 2 hour documentary. Most of the film was in color and had sound added. About 25% of the film I had never seen before now. I believe that this documentary has been out for several years, but I had never seen it. If you enjoy the history of WW11, you will certainly enjoy this film produced by French television.

Don't Waste Your Money!
I just received my copy of Apocalype Hitler and am greatly disappointed! I am a student of military history and WWII in particular, with over 200 military DVDs in my collection.
This presentation was extremely weak for a number of reasons:
1. 100% of the content was on the early years of Hitler and not Hitler's life and management of the war and associated personalities. Interesting, but absolutely nothing new if you don't already have several Hitler/WWII documentaries and books on the subject as I do. There are much better video reviews of Hitler's pre-war past than this!
2. The colorization of virtually all of the footage, much from WWI and earlier, was beyond distracting! The colors were so bright and unrealistic and should ner have been added; the germans in light green and French in a bright powder blue is terrible! It has only 30-40 total seconds of real color footage which can be found in other documentaries. This is the same for the entire Apocalypse...

AWESOME!
This was an awesome documentary, I thoroughly enjoyed it, very informative and good color footage as well! The musical score was outstanding and very emotive! I also highly recommend the other documentary in this series called Apocalypse WWII which is even better! Erol Pedersen MA political Science MA history

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Too Young to Die? / The Yards Blu-ray & DVD Combo



LOVE THIS BLU RAY !!
a great blu ray for the PRICE !!!!
Its Came on time,
Glad i Bought it !!! To young to die is a classic movie, i had it once on a Vhs & i got rid of ALL my vas tapes & now i got back TO YOUNG TO DIE !! with a bonus ( anther movie ) never heard of, but ill watch it and see, thanks amazon & your the best shopping !!! I hate malls now !! i rather shop on line !!!!





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Thursday, September 19, 2013

The Replacement Killers/Truth or Consequences N.M./Love Lies Bleeding/The Point Men - 4-pack



The Replacement Killers/Truth or Consequences N.M./Love lies Bleeding/The Point Men 4-pack
When I bought this 4-pack I thought at least The Replacement Killers was a good movie and the price was right, but after watching all 4 of the movies I found out that all of them are really good.

good movie
Bought it for my video collection. Very good action. Bought new so it plays well. Most of the movies are good

Nice!
Really like Truth or even though it froze a lot, Love Lies was good too, still watching the last movie. Replacement was cheesy.

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Meridian



Loved this movie, It is top on my list to watch again
This movie is full of suspense, light erotica, rommance, great acting, backrounds and photography. I would highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys fantasy horror. It's only drawback is that it is not available in DVD form.

This Was Great!!!!!!!!
A beautiful young artist must choose her destiny in this hauntingly sensual tale of love, passion and revenge.
Catherine Bomarzini (Sherilyn Fenn of Two Moon Junction) returns to the family castle in Italy after her father's death. There she finds herself drawn into a mysterious love triangle with a handsome, sinister magician and a creature of the night whose gentle eyes and touch reveal his infinite love. Is this creature real or an illusion? Guided by the ghost of a slain young beauty, Catherine discovers the ancient curse that enshrouds Bomarzini Castle-a curse only she can dispel.

Attractive werewolf story.
I recently bought and watched this movie, I got to say that I really liked it. The special effects were impressive when the man was turning into the werewolf, I liked the format of the werewolf and the story was romantic and passionate.

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Seven Keys to Baldpate Triple Feature



Fun mysteries
Three versions of the same witty mystery story, with enough differences between them to keep the viewer entertained. (It's interesting to compare the choices the different film-makers made). My favorite is the 1937 version -- but all are fun.

Great movies.
I have been waiting a very long time to buy this movie on dvd. I'm not disappointed, great picture and sound.If you like a good mystery movie, this is the movie for you.

Classic Old-School Mystery!
This DVD contains 3 versions of SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE and all are surprisingly good. Old-fashioned fun...if you are looking for blood and gore, look elsewhere because these movies are from an era when those things didn't appear in movies. Quality is excellent in all versions. Crisp black and white. If you like a mystery that takes place during a snowstorm in an old mansion, this is the one for you. Recommended for those of you who love classic b&w mysteries.

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Cherry



Fascinating film about love/friendship
CHERRY: THE MOVIE

This is a complicatd and entertaining film about human nature, with a twist. Love Vs. Lust; Friendship Vs. love and good vs evil. A love triangle that keeps you on the seat of your chair....you may know whats going to happen....but find yourself not wanting it to really happen...even tho it is inevitable. A bit of a surprise twist at the end.....

Excellent acting; excellent writing; director Quinn Saunders does an amazing job of developing the characters with the intersting use of color, language, appearance and a set that shows a bit of the "seedy" side of LA that sets the tone for the film. I loved it...and didn't want it to end....
rented from Amazon.

Above average movie, hampered by weak lead
The movie itself is thought provoking and reasonably well written, although Sam's verbal vulgarity at the start was nearly overpowering. It wallowed quite a bit in the middle, but hang in there, the ending was very taught, I truly did not know which way it would go.

I might have stretched and given it 4 stars, but the acting of David Crane as Cherry was ... not very good. I probably acted about as well in high school (and that is not a compliment). The other two leads (Jules, Sam) were both very strong, but that really doesn't undo the damage to my immersion that Crane's acting created. Maybe Crane thought the more he exaggerated Cherry's puppy-dog patheticism, the more "sensitive" the viewer would perceive him? All it did for me was create a growing sense of annoyance, and make consciously wonder, how could these guys have ever become friends? (come to think of it, maybe Sam was played as an extreme caricature too, the non-stop vulgarity at the start in the...



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Christmas Angel



What Would You Wish For?
Olivia Mead and her classmates have been given an assignment to give oral reports about their impossible Christmas wish. Olivia's wish is for someone else, and she also wants to help other children's wishes come true. Is the run down house in the neighborhood a wishing house? Is it occupied by an angel who will grant these wishes?

I've been in the mood to watch Christmas movies and listen to Christmas music for a couple weeks now. I heard about this movie while watching Tia & Tamera's reality show on Style Network. I looked forward to seeing it for two reasons: It is a Christmas movie. And watching Tia & Tamera has shown me how hard Tamera has worked to be cast in a television show or movie. When she announced on her reality show that she got the part, I was very happy for her.

Christmas Angel cast: Teri Polo (Melinda Mead), Kevin Sorbo (Nathan Davis), Della Reese (Elsie), Tamera Mowry-Housley (Daphney Conroy), Jaiden Kaine (Jeb Conroy), Izabela Vidovic (Olivia...

A wonderful movie for the entire family!
I love Christmas movies because they are family friendly and they have wonderful messages. Christmas Angel is no exception-its message is very simple and one the whole family can relate to-all things are possible when you believe and trust in God. The cast is outstanding,most notably Della Resse as Miss Elsie and Kevin Sorbo as Dr.Nathan Davis,a man who needs another chance in life,but doesn't know it-yet. I know your family will enjoy this movie and will want to watch it again and again!

A perfect Christmas movie!
I can't say that about most Christmas movies. Usually they contain at least moments of cringe worthy sappy-ness. But the Christmas Angel is a perfect blend of family and holiday that will touch your heart.

Olivia (who is adorable!) makes a Christmas wish for her mom to find a husband. And though this movie contains some romance (slowly budding and heart-stirring!) it is more about the discovery of God's hand behind the scenes and the amazing way He works.

I do not cry too often while watching Christmas movies (unless it's to despair of the two hours I wasted just for an ending too corny to be believed), but this one brought out a few tears!

A great movie. And one to be watched again!

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Beaver Falls Series 1 [Blu-ray]



Under The Radar. Beaver Falls (UK) Is "Meatballs" For The Next Generation! May Just Be The Funniest Adult Themed Comedy On TV!
NO SPOILERS:

Perhaps I am dating myself, though I do remember when the afore-referrenced Bill Murray star vehicle "Meatballs" was released.

Beaver Falls takes 3-friends from the UK to a high rent summer camp in Northern California where they work as Counselors. There is "The Ladies Man", "The Geek" and "The Arab" (he is actually called "Arab"). Every other cast member is (or plays) American. Interestingly enough, the show is filmed in South Africa.

There are all the camp cliques (jocks, geeks, hot girls, etc.), the hot female Counselors, the promiscuous wife of the camp owner.

Beaver Falls is not only laugh out loud funny, though is supremely unique both in the associated drama and the situational comedy between the UK and US. There is also a kicking soundtrack.

Best news is that there will be a Series 2.





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Tree with Deep Roots



One of the Best Films I've ever Seen!
I'm a huge fan of Korean historical dramas and I've seen as many as I can possibly find from places like Dramafever, HuluPlus, Crunchyroll. And during my wonderful journey of discovering this fascinating genre of film I came across this gem and was nothing short of blown away by how terrific it is!

It starts with a superb script adapted from a first rate book and it just gets better from there! Outstanding cast of gifted actors, gorgeous sets, and directed by a very gifted director. I can't recommend it highly enough.

It might be a good idea to watch a few other KHD's so you'll understand the customs and historical settings first - Dong-Yi, Dae Jange Geum a/k/a Jewel in the Palace, Yi-San, to name a few. And if you do watch Tree with Deep Roots and love it like I do be sure to watch this director's adaptation of Painter of the Wind another script from another book by the author of Tree...

Fair warning! These are addictive!

finding excitement behind an alphabet
another intense classy period Korean TV drama - with bright lighting and colors - lavish costumes & sets - and some very good acting

while the story starts in the early 1400s - eventually it centers on the introduction of the Korean alphabet by SeJong the Great in the 1440s - but in order to make an exciting tv show out of that - large liberties with history were taken - and the emotions were amp'd up by some overwrought dialog

if you're not familiar with SeJong or the writing system - i suggest looking up the history after the drama - but definitely look it up - especially the amazing story of Sejong the Great

the main leads are a fictional young couple - an angry young swordsman - played in a very mannered style by Jang Hyuk - and a clever young women serving as a maid in SeJong's court - played by the lovely and fast-rising Shin Se Kyung

SeJong the Great - called by his birthname thru out the series - which is pronounced "ee doe" - but...

I'm still speechless... An amazing Korean TV Drama
This drama series has it all. The best acting I've seen in a long time, an incredible (and deep) storyline, amazing sets and costumes, and just enough mystery, drama, suspense, action, and even some lighthearted moments. The endings of some of the episodes literally took my breath away. I wonder how anyone could write such an amazing story. This is a show I will watch multiple times. Highly recommended.

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Prophecies And Predictions: Nostradamus, UFO's, 2012 And Beyond



wow- great deal
I didn't realize when I ordered this that it was a 3 disc collection so that was a cool surprise. I watched this over a couple of weekends. Enlightening to say the least.

Not new material
This three disc series is not any new production. It is simply the repackaging of three movies that already existed. Disc 2 is the Billy Meier Story, which is an interesting film, but I already own that one. So I was disappointed to say the least. Disc 1 is just a film with the basic regurgitated Nostradamus story. That's good too , but I've heard it so many times. I was looking forward to seeing some new prophecies from some different people but that is not in this collection.



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Shazam! The Complete Live-Action Series



CHOOSE! : The Cast Photo Cover or the "Variant" Cover drawn by Jerry Ordway!!!
Just a heads-up--if you order SHAZAM! THE COMPLETE LIVE ACTION series from Amazon.com, you'll receive the version with the Cast Photo (the same photo appears on the Menus for all 3 discs). If you order the set from the Warner Archive website, you get the "Variant" Cover drawn by comics artist Jerry Ordway. Since this **IS** a "live action" series, I personally prefer the Cast Photo version over the comic book "Variant" Cover--but to each his own of course--BOTH Covers are great! Order SHAZAM! today--you won't regret it! This show is TREMENDOUSLY FUN. Picture & Sound quality is absolutely SUPERB--this series has never looked or sounded better! UPDATE: 11/25/12-The "Morals" that conclude each episode are included (most with horrendous picture quality)--but they are ONLY viewable when you use the Play All function). Also--its OOP (out-of-print) but several 3rd party sellers here on Amazon as well as on eBay are offering the "companion" TV series--THE SECRETS OF ISIS: THE COMPLETE...

FINALLY!
...This show was part of my Saturday mornings, as a kid. Good, clean, positive fun. Nostalgic adults and kids can still enjoy this.

I received genuine silver back dvds, NOT dvd-r's
Just a heads up to let you know, i ordered directly from Warner Archive so that i could get the variant cover art and to my surprise I actually received real dvds!Don't know if it has to do with ordering directly from them or not, all the other titles in my order were purple dvd-r's. Still in hate with dvd-r's, because as a rule they are inferior, but what a nice surprise to not have to worry about it with one of my favorite shows from my childhood!:)

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Bloody Christmas



Awesome movie!
This movie is a lot of fun. One of the most unpredictable movies I've seen in a while. It's the perfect mix of sad, funny, and gory. The movie is well-acted, well-edited and the cinematography is reminiscent of '70s horror classics. And there is a scene where a girl's chest gets lit on fire in the shape of a cross! You could not ask for much more in an independent Christmas horror movie. I can't wait to watch it again!

Bloody Awful
This is an extremely low budget and low talent creation. It is ineptly made and ineptly told. The idea that they would ever, even within a week of its release, suggest a price of $15 might be a crime against humanity. The reviewer who gave this five stars must have been the director or a simpleton. It was actually emotionally painful for me to watch. Thank goodness I received a free copy rather than paid anything for it. The only way you will come across this is to see it in the schlock section of Netflix and you might think it'd be a bit of fun. Don't think that. It is worthless. Can I give it negative stars? It pains me to give it one.

See my extended review on JustPressPlay.net



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Five Senses Of Eros



Lost in translation?
Perhaps it's just a different style/culture, but somehow this movie did not give me the 'i want to continue watching it' vibe

Five Senses of Eros
Unlike the summary, none of the five stories relate to any of their counterparts. First story sustains interest but then ends without reaching a thoughtful conclusion. The other four stories test your patience leaving you feeling cheated for wasting time to see if anything of substance comes from any of them. Watch the first story and quit immediately upon its conclusion.

Don't wast your time
This movie was not as advertised in my opinion. Poorly acted and boring. Just a very uninspired story line with half hearted acting.

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Morgan



In the Blink of an Eye
"Morgan" is a charming, believable and heart-wrenching story about staying true to yourself and doing the best you can everyday.

Even with relentless support from his family and friends, Morgan still feels hopeless and uncertain about his future. In the blink of an eye, Morgan's life is changed. Crippled from a bike race many years ago, he struggles with the idea that he will no longer be able to do what fuels him and makes him happy: bike racing.

But when he meets a man named Dean, everything changes. He and Dean go out. Talk. Drink beers. Get to know each other. Morgan likes his newfound friend, and Dean's feelings, as Morgan will soon discover, are mutual. Days turn to weeks, weeks to months, and both boy's lives are dramatically altered. And when the obsession to return to what he loves best, even amid his doctor's warnings, Morgan turns his back on everyone and forges ahead toward the only thing that makes him fulfilled.

Until tragedy strikes. And...

Better every time I watch it
Morgan Oliver is recently paraplegic, T-10 incomplete, as a result of a bicycle accident during a race he was competing in. He has recently returned home from rehab and he's now unemployed and living on disability, adjusting to his new life and the new adaptive setup in his apartment. His preferred way to pass the time is drinking beer and watching television, and the main events of the film begin when he runs out of beer and neither his mother, Peg, nor his best friend, Lane, will enable him any further. They refuse to buy him more beer, forcing him to leave the house on his own. It is during his trip out to replenish his beer supplies that he meets Dean Kagen, which is where our romance begins.

The drama unfolds once Morgan decides he wants to compete in the wheelchair division of the very same race that cost him his ability to walk, where Morgan, because of his hyper-competitive nature, caused an accident involving himself and two other competitors on a very...

Good beginning deteriorates into absurd, annoying melodrama
The first half of this movie is very good, refreshingly low-key and original, with a believable, slowly-developing romance between Morgan and Dean in Inwood, the far northern tip of Manhattan almost never seen in movies. The relaxed, small-town, almost rural character of the place is a welcome change from the frantic pace, hard-edged greed and shallow posturing that dominate in the more fashionable areas downtown where most movies are made. The city used to have many such low-key neighborhoods that we never see in movies, so it's good to see this one while it still exists.

Unfortunately, the movie sort of disintegrates in its second half. Producers Akers and Berg must have thought a simple love story would be too boring, so they shoehorned a boatload of dramatic tension into the gentle, lovely story and ruined it. There are no gay-beating thugs, which is the stock drama-injector in gay movies, and its absence here is a great relief; but the absurd and highly annoying...

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Where The Yellowstone Goes



Great documentary
Another one of Hunter Week's great movies. A great documentary in a great style. Not the most awesome footage but a good story combined with an interesting topic make for a good show.

Really enjoyed it!
It was better than we expected! Different from other fishing movies but still very beautiful we enjoyed many of the different people in it.

A River Runs Through It...Montana is beautiful!
After camping and rafting along the Yellowstone last weekend, i couldn't wait to watch this movie again. I was fortunate enough to see it last year at the Myrna Loy theater in Helena, MT. It is a wonderful tribute to the beauty and unspoiled nature of Montana and gives you an educational experience along the way. The charming small towns and friendly people are a rare thing in today's world of technology and fast paced lifestyle. This movie makes you want to relax and enjoy the simple things in life.

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Slice



Great Movie!
I especially love this movie after watching it online and wanted to collect it, very bizzare and arty film, must watch

Slice Zone 1
Best twist of the year! Maybe not the best movie but something really surprising coming from Tha

Vinny The Chin: The Long Island Legend



rented this out of boredom, wish i hadn't to be honest
i've followed Vinny the chin since i saw him as a guest on a bodybuilding website tv show about 2 years ago or so. I've seen most of his stuff on youtube and i give the guy credit, he is entertaining to watch. But this documentary was just boring to me. A lot of bad acting from the people in the set up "confrontations" he gets into. I'd say about 70-80% of the encounters where he messes with people are obviously fake and scripted. In hindsight i wish i would of just kept the 4$ for something else.

Vinnie The Chin is the balls!
This movie is funny as hell! I loved it! Vinnie is so cool I would let him ball my sister.

The Most Legendary Movie Ever
Hilarious movie, honestly one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I've seen all of The Chins videos on youtube and finally had to order it. It is worth it for the fact that there is 90+ min of extras which are all hilarious too. Awesome movie. A must see. Can't say enough good things about it, probably the MOST underrated movie of 2013.

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Beauty



Superlative "Beauty" is gut wrenchingly dark & ugly
Oliver Hermanus wonderfully crafted "Beauty" was South Africa's submission to the Academy Awards as well as 2011 Un Certain Regard Cannes Film Festival Nominee and a Cannes award winner. This is a tale of repressed turmoil that slowly creep ups to the viewer. A very capable Deon Lotz plays Fran

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

I Am Bish



Low budget but hugely funny
This thing was clearly shot for no money but it's very very funny in an early Kevin Smith kind of way. I laughed my ass off.

He is indeed NOT Bish, but Bishop.
Vulgar, indecent, poor, inappropriate for kids AND adults, indecent, a few funny moment, but over-all, horribly horrrrrrribly terrible. Obviously done within his $200+ budget.



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The Ambassador (+ Digital Copy)



Shocking and Daring
I thought it was scripted and acted, as no individual with a sane mind would film this cast of characters surreptitiously because if you are discovered, you are dead! Throughout out the whole movie I was thinking how clever they were to script this film, get random people off the street to act, and use a crafty cinematographer who was able to give it a gritty, dirty documentary look. That was an intriguing combination when mixed together!

But, nooooo! After the movie I did a little digging and much to my surprise it was not acted! Not scripted! Was shot undercover! I found a whole new level of respect for Mads, plus his secretary/production manager, and the movie moved up to the top notch after discovering how it was created.

AAAAA+++++ WILL SEE AGAIN.

Must-see documentary
I saw this documentary at the Toronto "Hot Docs" documentary film festival. It is the best documentary I've ever seen. It is such an exposé into the world of diamond smuggling and corruption in Africa, but it is also darkly funny. You will be shocked while laughing at the same time, and shocked that you are laughing. Watch it!

Interesting and Great Movie!
I am very pleased with the purchase of this movie. I read a review of it in the New York Observer and decided to buy it, once it was released. I will say, it is a very interesting and good movie. For those who have traveled to and have knowledge of Africa, we can relate to corruption and how things can be done with bribes, etc.

I would recommend this movie highly!

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Dracula (Import) [Blu-ray]



75th ANNIVERSARY BATS & THISTLES RERELEASE VS. THE OTHER TWO
Soooo fellow geek classic monster collectors, tell me, does this sound familiar? You are perusing various sites and store DVD racks and you stumble across these 75th Anniversary editions of DRACULA and FRANKENSTEIN and your geek heart starts palpitating at the thought of digitally restored version of these films and you get all excited and you start deciding which comic books you'll give up this month to buy these instead.......but then you remember you've bought the last TWO previously released DVD versions of these films and now you wonder if these are worth it? OK....well...maybe this is kind of an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. I bowed to temptation because, well....Universal has me with their monster releases from way back....period.

Soooo.....as it is obligatory when one has bought three releases of the same d@mn film, I sat down with them all and ran them through to decide which was the best of them. It is without question IMO, that the DRACULA 75th DVD is...

One of the Finest DVD Presentations I've Ever Encountered
This DVD is the "Jewel in the Crown" of the classic Universal horror films released in that format. It includes a quality print of the Bella Lugosi DRACULA, with options to play the film with Philip Glass' recent soundtrack; the so-called "Spanish" DRACULA starring Carlos Villarias; and a fascinating documentary hosted by Carla Laemmle, who has a bit role in the Lugosi DRACULA and who was niece to Universal studio head Carl Laemmle. There is also an audio track by David J. Skal, production notes, and the like.

The Lugosi DRACULA is somewhat problematic. DRACULA had been previously (and illegally) filmed as the silent NOSFERATU, and a later stage adaptation proved a staple of the British theatre. When the stage play at last arrived in New York, the title role fell to Bela Lugosi. Although Universal optioned the material, studio head Carl Laemmle was not enthusiastic about it; although European films were comfortable with the supernatural, American films were...

Excellent Dracula Disc
This DVD is a real treat for fans of Lugosi and Dracula. This disc has 3 "versions" of the 1931 film Dracula. The first is the original Lugosi version with restored extended groaning at the end when Dracula dies. The 2nd version is merely the original with an added modern score. The third version is a spanish version that was filmed on the same sets with spanish-speaking actors after the american crew had packed up for the day.

The image quality is the best it has ever been although somewhat grainy at the beginning of the film. The DVD has an excellent optional running commentary as well as a great documentary film explaining the genesis of Dracula and its transition from book to stage to screen. Finally, this DVD has a nice selection of movie posters, lobby cards and stills as an added feature.

This disc is a collector's dream!

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Leave



A masterfully told film full of suspense and deeply moving
I had a chance to see this film at the Gasparilla Film festival - where it won both the audience award and best film! Robert Celestino is a master storyteller who grabs you in the opening minutes of this film and never lets you go. The movie is full of suspense and wonderful performances by all involved. This is a true indie gem that must be seen! It is an exciting and deeply moving film.

A captivating and well-told film, although you may have seen it before...
Leave follows Henry, a successful writer, who has been haunted by the same nightmare for 6 months. In order to decode the dream, Henry decides to leave to his isolated 2nd home and work on a new novel. While traveling, he runs into a strangely familiar drifter at a diner; a stranger with information that shocks Henry and has the potential to change his life. Leave is a captivating and well-told film, although you may have seen it before.

Leave's story is captivating and interesting; it has engaging dialogue/conversations, and some great twists. However, if you've seen films like this before, you may be able to guess the main twist a long way before the end, since it isn't completely original; regardless, I won't spoil it. The story moves at a very fast pace, working solely off its dialogue, which is impressive. Leave uses its time wisely, and is over before you know it. (the film is 1hr 13 minutes without credits.) And, although it may be a bit predicable, the ending...

Something Very Different
Though not for the fast action/ultra-realism crowd, LEAVE is a somberly beautiful little film. It goes deep without trying too hard to do so. It's truly haunting and unpretentiously raises questions about our notions of life, death, and reality. Well-filmed and well-acted, with a solid but unconventional storyline.

I found the middle portions draggy and frustrating, but they paid off in the end. LEAVE doesn't always make perfect sense along the way but ultimately adds together. You'll see what I mean.

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Sunday Bloody Sunday (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]



LEGENDARY CLASSIC RETAINS ITS POWER.
While I concur with many of the reviews posted here, there is not enough praise bestowed on the sublime Glenda Jackson, who remains the great lost actress of her generation. Though the recipient of two Oscars ("Women In Love", "A Touch of Class") and two other nominations ("Sunday.." and "Hedda"), as well as a criminal snub for the landmark "Stevie", Ms. Jackson seems to be little remembered today. It seems inconceivable now, since in the early Seventies, only Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave could be considered her equals. For me, her Alex in "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" is my favorite of her rich performances. She is conflicted with her obviously unsatisfying affair with her bisexual (and, more importantly, shallow) lover, unfulfilled at her job, and basically adrift, just marking time in her life. The simple, yet powerfully suggestive emotions Jackson offers do much to help us identify strongly with her character. Who...

One of Schlesinger's Greatest Works!
For over thirty years SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY has remained one of my favorite movies. John Schlesinger may be my favorite director. I believe I own all his movies save one. So I probably cannot be objective about either this movie or Mr. Schlesinger's greatness.

I understood how my black students felt when they saw SOUNDER for the first time when I saw this movie on its release in 197l. "At last here is a decent movie about us." Not only was the movie about bisexual and gay relationships, but the characters were richly and complexly developed. In a word, believable. The plot is rather straight-forward-- the screen play is by Penelope Gilliatt--Alex played by Glenda Jackson is having an affair with Bob who is played by Murray Head who is having an affair also with Dr. Daniel Hirsch played by Peter Finch. Rod Steiger may have preempted Peter Finch and Murray Head with a kiss on the lips between males in THE SERGEANT, but the kiss between Finch and Head here was certainly well ahead of...

Quietly subversive classic
This tale of an unconventional love triangle looks better and better three decades after its release. John Schlesinger's filming of Penelope Gilliatt's screenplay preserves the brilliant performances of Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson, as a man and a woman reluctantly sharing the affections of a another, younger man, Murray Head (whatever happened to him?). What continues to surprise and delight is, most of all, the quiet acknowledgment that different kinds of love can co-exist, each having its own validity, without angst, guilt or retribution. If anything, general cinema has moved backwards since this film in terms of portraying homosexuality and bisexuality in a mature, non-exploitive manner. Ultimately, it's the acting of Finch and Jackson that makes this film, making one regret more than ever their respective death and retirement--in particular, Finch's moving closing speech, made directly to the camera, remains a masterpiece of understated delivery.

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Crooked Arrows [Blu-ray]



Best Sports Movie Since Miracle!
Crooked Arrows takes the oft used Mighty Ducks style of sports movie to another level. The overall skeleton of the story is what you would expect. Misfit team thrown together with unpopular, unmotivated coach manages to come together to win in the end. It is how the journey takes place that sets this film apart. Crooked Arrows delves into the rich history of lacrosse and native American culture. The history and philosophy is both accurate and respectful. The theme of the movie is "respect the game," and Crooked Arrows does just that.

Through all this, the comedic timing of these athletes is impeccable. As with Miracle, it would have been much more difficult to teach actors to play lacrosse than to teach lacrosse players to act, so that's the way they went. As a result, the lacrosse action is both accurate and spectacular. They brought in the same sports photography experts that created the intense action of Miracle to recreate that here. You will feel like you are...

Beautiful Lacrosse!
My whole family waited for this movie to come out in theaters, and we ALL loved it! Besides being a great underdog-wins-out sports flick, this movie touches on a lot of other important topics as well, including the rights and heritage of Indigenous Peoples, class rivalries, and personal honor and responsibility, and it does so without an overbearing or moralizing feel. There are a few tongue-in-cheek jokes that only true laxxers are likely to get, and a lot more humor for everyone else to share. A must-see for all youth lacrosse players, this movie is a treasure for the entire family. Spread the game!

Straight Forward for Crooked Arrows
The way the story is told, about a sport established LONG before any Spanish, French, or other non-indigenous peoples stepped foot on this continent makes this film have a richness grounded in a tradition most of us have no clue about.
Beautiful in it's simplicity. Rich in it's uniqueness. Unless the day comes that someone makes a LaCrosse movie on a Res by a native, with only natives in it, you will not get a more inside view of where the sport comes from, and how unique the culture behind it is.
Anyone cynical enough to call this a "typical feelgood movie" needs to examine themselves. There is nothing typical about this movie.
There are not enough movies told from the native viewpoint. That in itself makes this movie out of the norm. I am NOT a Native American, but it sure is something worth wishing for.

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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Lost Girl: Season One [Blu-ray]



Best Fantasy TV show out there
A must have for those Sci-Fi/Fantasy lovers out there, especially those who once loved Buffy and Angel - two series Lost Girl is constantly compared to. It is, however, targeted to a more mature audience, given its sexual content. Bo (played brilliantly by Anna Silk) is a Succubus raised by humans that runs away from home once she drains her first boyfriend to death. Ten years later, she is found and targeted by the Fae when suspiciously leaving a body behind after protecting human sidekick Kenzi (Ksenia Solo) from a man at a local bar. Bo soon learns that the Fae are divided between Light and Dark and refuses to make a choice -- which is a parallel to Bo's own sexuality; a bisexual Succubus, constantly torn between two lovers: Light Fae detective Dyson (Kris Holden-Ried) and human doctor Lauren (Zoie Palmer). The first season is about Bo's search for her true identity as we are introduced to the Fae world and its various secrets and ramifications.

The love triangle is...

region 1 coming to Canada on 4-24
If you are a fan of the series by all means do NOT wait for it to come to Amazon's US web site. It will be available in region 1 format on Amazon's Canadian site (AMAZON.CA) on 4-24-12. It is 29.99 Canadian (minus the exchange rate to the US dollar), plus 10.00 shipping international. I will not go into the show itself because you will either like it, or hate it. It is on SYFY on Monday nights 10 PM and has drawn huge complaints from censor loving religious thumpers. I will say no more. Check it out yourself. and if you like True Blood, then you will appreciate this show as well. Be patient as it could take 2 weeks to arrive from the release date.

UPDATE: IF YOU LIKE THE SERIES GO TO AMAZON.CA IMMEDIATELY. MINE WAS SHIPPED OUT FROM CANADA ON MONDAY 4-23. IT ARRIVED ON WED 4-25 AND I DID NOT PAY FOR EXPEDIATED DELIVERY. IT IS REGION 1, AND MY WIFE AND I STARTED WATCHING WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK. THIS IS THE SAME SEASON BROADCASTING ON SYFY NOW. THE EXCHANGE RATE WENT DOWN...

Not Unrated or Uncut, False Advertising
These DVD's both season one & season two are exactly what the Scifi channel shows,the only difference is no commercials. You also get the skips or blank spots where commercials would be inserted. Do not get me wrong, this is a great show, love the characters & the story line. The boxes state unrated & uncut, but this is not true. If you look at the fine print on the box, it states TV14 as a rating & as I stated, the content is not uncut. So my only complaint here is the false advertising, truly bogus...

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Fear & Desire



The legendary filmmaker's first feature film that provides an insightful look at a young Kubrick at work!
Stanley Kubrick, one of America's legendary filmmakers responsible for films such as "Paths of Glory" (1957), "Spartacus" (1960), "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964), "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968), "A Clockwork Orange" (1971), "The Shining" (1980), "Full Metal Jacket" (1987), to name a few.

But all filmmakers have their beginnings and for Stanley Kubrick, his first feature film would be the 1953 film "Fear and Desire".

Having created two documentaries ("Day of the Fight", "Flying Padre: An RKO-Pathe Screenliner") in 1951 and employed at "LOOK" Magazine, Kubrick quite his job to create his first feature film.

Using funds that were raised by his family and friends, Kubrick and a classmate from his old high school, Howard Sackler, would go on to create "Fear and Desire".

While not a box office hit, the film captured the attention of film critics, who took notice of Kubrick's talent.

But...

Lackluster anti-war drama for Kubrick fans only
Director Stanley Kubrick's first film was made available for purchase late 2012. Finally Kubrick fans, like me, were able to view the debut of a cinematic legend. There are some items worthy of praise here namely the cinematography and the inventive editing. The story itself follows a group of soldiers trapped behind enemy lines trying to march back undetected to friendly territory. Unfortunately, the lack of character depth sinks the movie. All the characters feel like thin cut-outs rather than living breathing men. It doesn't help that the audio overdubs are poorly done and just scream low-budget production. Be warned this war drama doesn't offer much for anyone outside of Kubrick devotees. All in all, "Fear And Desire" shows promise from a visual standpoint, but is lacking in every other department.

For blu-ray fans, this release is pretty much bare-bones with the exception of an early Kubrick documentary short called "The Seafarers" (1953). The audio and...

Incredible restoration
Finally the long forgotten first film by the legendary director Stanley Kubrick has been released on a home video format for the first time and it is truly a sight to behold.
There was believe it or not a time when Stanley Kubrick wasn't one of the biggest names in film history, Yes, that's right, Stanley Kubrick, a man who's Career in the industry has no equal started out as a nobody who had to raise funds from family and friends to start production on what would be his first full motion picture, and like most directorial debuts, it was a box office failure, even after having been given high praise by some notable critics at the time, audiences just didn't care for it.
It's been said many times that Kubrick was before his time, and the same can be said about this film. At a mere 60 minute's, it is by far Kubrick's shortest movie, and lest polished, but contained in it's short run time are the ideas that gave birth to the style of film making that Kubrick continued to used...

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Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2



return to Eaton Place for the final time...
In this second set of episodes from the BBC's revamped UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, the dark clouds of war once again start to gather over 165 Eaton Place.

The year is now 1938. Lady Agnes (Keeley Hawes) has given birth to her second child, but mother and baby barely survived the ordeal. Weak and fragile, Agnes returns to Eaton Place where she is taken under-wing by Dr Blanche Mottershead (Alex Kingston), Sir Hallam's aunt and the half-sister of the late Maud. Following the death of Maud, Blanche has decided to remain in Belgravia indefinitely, and despite initial hostility from Hallam and the servants, she soon finds much to occupy her time - most importantly a "Kindertransport", with the assistance of Mr Amanjit (Art Malik).

Sir Hallam (Ed Stoppard) also finds himself increasingly called away from his responsibilities at Eaton Place. The Foreign Office is abuzz with rumours surrounding Hitler and his threats of war. During a trip to Germany to smooth over...

On The Precipice Of War: Season Two's Six New Episodes Allow A Great Ensemble To Shine
A fervent admirer of the original "Upstairs, Downstairs," I was more than a little intrigued when an updated series rolled out in 2010. With the original being a true piece of television history for five seasons (1971-75) of groundbreaking drama, the modernization certainly had a lot to live up to. So I was very surprised that Season One only had three episodes and that it was actually a sequel of sorts as opposed to a re-imagining. Well, the truth of the matter is that these episodes definitely lacked the bite and complexity of the preceding series. But with such a limited running time, I suppose that was to be expected. However, the resultant product (while perhaps not the stuff of TV legend) was a fitfully entertaining confection in its own right. This likable introduction received six Emmy nominations and set the stage for further and more in-depth adventures. Season Two is back with twice as many episodes (a whopping six) and this extra times gives each member of the ensemble...

I love it just like series one, even as good as 1970s U,D
The new 2012 UP/Down series two finally. Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh dreamed up the "Upstairs, Downstairs" concept. Jean stared as Rose in the 70s and continues in 2 the new episodes, more like a cameo. Beware of confusion, the only difference between the old title and the new is the current series is missing the comma. 6 episodes advance the story in season 2. Much of the cast returns including Marsh, but not Eileen Atkins. You get the same house and music as the 1970s epic blockbuster and seasons of the modern continuation. Yet it progresses as a costume period drama, and in my opinion at the entertainment level of the standards set in the 1970s.

No disappointment from me or my wife with 2010's 3 episodes or this season's additional 6. The current cast is believable, compelling stories and character delight. Rose and the house gives old fans past memories, even though the interior was redecorated to 1930's. I fell in love with the new upstairs and downstairs families of...

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The Penalty: Kino Classics Special Edition [Blu-ray]



LON CHANEY'S ELECTRIFYING MASTERPIECE
Kino on Video has carved a niche for themselves with their fine digital transfers of art, foreign and classic silent films. Four of the towering icons of early cinema were Lon Chaney, John Barrymore, Douglas Fairbanks and Rudolph Valentino. Now, each of these stars has a seminal film freshly available for a new generation to discover and enjoy on DVD (along with a generous sampling of choice supplemental material).

A few years before his death, I got to know Allan Dwan, the legendary film pioneer and director of over 400 features films, who by then was well into his 90s. After a special screening of a his 1922 "Robin Hood," a spectacular comic epic adventure starring Douglas Fairbanks, Dwan told me how he discovered Lon Chaney. "I was at Universal and picked up a new prop man," he said. "Suddenly, every day after work, I noticed a stranger leaving the set where we were shooting. A stranger with a missing leg, or eye, or odd nose, hair or teeth. It turned out...

Weird and rather fun
Like many other movie fans, my only view of Lon Chaney was in The Phantom of the Opera. I enjoyed it a lot and decided to try some of his other work. The Penalty sounded the most interesting since Chaney's legendary makeup skills are used not on his face but on his legs. He is nothing short of amazing in his role as a double amputee/crime lord. Indeed, this is one of those movies that is carried by an actor's charisma.

Unfortunately, the supporting cast is not nearly as fascinating as Blizzard. With the exception of Rose, they are just the standard gangster film characters. (The eager young man, the innocent young girl, the dogged investigater) Whenever Blizzard is onscreen, the movie really works and the viewer misses him when he is not there. Chaney takes a completely horrid character and makes him almost likable. It's no wonder this was the movie that made Chaney a real star.

The plot involves Chaney's character, Blizzard, seeking revenge on the imcompetant doctor who amputated...

Maybe The Best !
Other than "The Phantom of The Opera" this is Chaneys' best work. I have viewed most Lon Chaney films (All that are in print). I must admit, some of his films are corny, one hour melodramas,that I would only recommend to dedicated fans. However, this story, the acting, and the "Kino" soundtrack, will make this one to remember. Better than "The Hunchback" (and that's saying a lot)

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Magic Mike (Blu-ray+DVD+UltraViolet Digital Copy Combo Pack)



Love love love me some Channing Tatum...and the dancing gets 10 stars, but...
This movie is AWFUL. Seriously, just bad. I saw it in the theater AND I pre-ordered the DVD/BluRay/Ultraviolet combo. So why would I want to own a movie I already knew was bad? Can you say Channing Tatum bumping and grinding on the dance floor? Channing Tatum is at his luscious best in this film as far as his dancing and body, but it's like he totally forgot how to act at all (not that he was Oscar material before this anyway). The dancing in this movie is excellent and SO.HOT. and Matthew McConaughey is awesome when he's used for comic relief (when it gets serious even the great McConaughey is pretty bad). The plot and even most of the acting in this movie is just downright pitiful.

Would I own the movie? YEP, I DO. Would I watch the movie more than once? Yep, I have. Would I say it's cinematic magic worthy of an Oscar? NO WAY. Do I recommend this movie to pretty much all women who might kind of like the look of Channing Tatum? Absolutely. Do I recommend this...

Eye Charms galore
I first saw this movie trailer when I saw Haywire. I did not really know who Channing Tatum was(dumb me), let alone he was in Haywire. I thought a male stripper movie. I have seen my share of male strippers and if it was going to be like watching the Chippendales, I thought how boring. Well it came out and it was going strong at the theater in July so what the hell, I went and saw it. All I can say is WOW it was raining men and and hot bods and man candy. Definitely not boring. Channing Tatum can definitely move and the dance in the red thong is Oh My God. We women finally get something decent to look at, after all the years of enduring movies where chicks get naked and the guys are drooling. So the guys get to suck it up. Seeing Channing Tatum's naked rear-end and just about everything else, makes your mouth drop open. He is drop dead gorgeous and sexy as hell and the rest are not bad on the eyes either. Joe Mangianello from True Blood is holy crap hot too. It was a pretty decent...

Does Not Explain that regular DVD Version Does Not Have Complete Dance Routines
I received my DVD version of "Magic Mike" today from Amazon.com. It does not contain the additional footage (dance sequences by Joe Manganiello and Matt Bomer.) I was told today by someone that only the Blue Ray combo pac version has this. THIS IS NOT CLEAR IN ANY OF THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS PUT OUT BY AMAZON.COM. Shame on you Amazon, for deliberately misleading the public. Since I saw the film, I would not have purchased this DVD, but wanted to see the dance footage that Soderberg did not include in the film. I don't own a BLU RAY DVD player, by the way and can't afford one. I'm certainly disappointed that the Distribution Company distributed this product in this way.

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season Four [Blu-ray]



More Clone Wars fun
Clone Wars in season 4 continued to impress. This season was filled with several multi-episode story arcs. I found the first half of the season generally disappointing. The Mon Calamari arc didn't do any favors to Admiral Ackbar's character. The Umbaran battle arc has impressive visuals, but dragged on a bit long. I generally found the slaver's arc to be uninspired, with too many silly stereotypes (including an entire race of slaver's with Russian accents).

The second half of the season really picked up the pace with Obi-Wan Kenobi's undercover arc. I loved seeing more of the bounty hunters, especially Cad Bane! There were some great moments foreshadowing Anakin Skywalker's downfall. Then, of course, the finale, with Asajj become a freelance agent, Boba Fett getting a helmet, and Darth Maul!

Overall, this season definitely showed that the animators have the technical capability to do just about anything on the show. The second half of the season showed that the...

Blu-ray Review: "Star Wars: The Clone Wars - the Complete Season Four"
"Star Wars" fans are a fickle bunch. Some choose to believe only the original trilogy is to be taken seriously. Others are willing to accept all six of the films in the live-action series and that's all. I belong to the last group I'm about to talk about.

The faction I belong to will devour anything Lucas and company delivers in regards to a "Galaxy Far, Far Away." We're happy to get anything that expands the universe we love so much. Individuals who fall into this category but don't have the luxury of cable, satellite television, or high speed internet connections can now celebrate in the news that Lucasfilm and Warner Bros. released "Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season Four" on Bu-ray and DVD.

Season Four of the show features the Jedi and Clone troopers continuing their tireless campaign to help different alien species fight for freedom against Battle Droids, Sith lords, and other deadly forces on strange worlds. Things get more complicated when a...

Season review not DVD
Season 4 continues the greatness of The Clone Wars as this show seems to get better every year especially the production and animation. Season 4 is my favorite season to date I love the multi arc episodes and this season had 2 different 4 part story arcs also 2 different 3 parters and a 2 parter to close the season. Without giving too much away I would say the Umbara arc was one of the best and darkest of the series and darkest and well the cover gives away another big story with Darth Maul which was handled very well. If you are fan of the show this is a no brainer Clone Wars is turning out to be one of the all time greats and a nice addition to The Star Wars Universe. So it turns out it's the slim cheaper packaging again I knew it would be but oh well still on content alone it's well worth the purchase for any Star Wars fan simply a great show that gets better every Season.

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AC/DC - Dirty Deeds DVD/Book



DIRTY DEEDS
Ive been an ac/dc fan for over 32 years and i must say this is a must have for all ac/dc fans. I believed i only was ordering a 4 dvd disc set, but was pleasently surprised to discover that not only did i receive the 4 disc set, i also received a 116 page hard cover book. giving detailed info on the history of the band. TOTALLY COOL!!! and in closing I would put this book a the same level ( info & history ) as the hard cover book that comes with the backtracks cd and dvd box set. thanks for reading my review.

ac/dcdude47

Not what I was expecting
This LP sized 4 DVD set was not quite what I was expecting. However the book that is part of this set is worth the price alone so I figured the DVD's were a bonus. I was hoping for several live performances on the DVD's but it's mostly interviews with various people about the different stages of AC/DC's career. Worth watching once for some nuggets of info you may not have known before but doubt anyone would watch it more than once.

Not bad
I enjoyed this book but had higher expectations for it. It just skims over their career without delving very deep into any of it. A good addition for a collector of AC/DC memorabilia, but not so much for the casual fan. Enjoyable read overall but without depth.

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Odd Jobs



Underrated comedy...RELEASE IT ON DVD!!!
This video came out in theatres in January 1985, but only made it to video in 1999...and is YET to be released on DVD. This situation needs to be fixed and SOON!

On to the review. First, the cast list...a very young Paul Reiser, Robert Townshend, Julianne Phillips, Rick Overton, Richard Dean Anderson (McGyver!), Scott McGinnis and Paul Provenza. A great collection of comics and actors that seem to keep popping up in TV/Movies pretty frequently.

The movie is about a group of college buddies and what they're going to do over the summer, namely work. They start out as waiters, caddies, nuclear vacuum cleaner salesman, and movers. Of course, all of these fall apart and Max (Reiser) decides to start his own business...Maximum Moving ("Max...M-A-X...that's me..."). Max learns a little about life and moving from Wylie (Leo Burmeister), who decides that Max is a "tutti-frutti" name and states, "From now on, your name is CHUCK". Max hits the road with Wylie while working for...

One of my favorite obscure movies!
Let me start this off by saying Odd Jobs in NOT a film for everybody. If you like very wacky comedies and don't mind your humor being dumb, you may enjoy Odd Jobs. The charm of the film is difficult to describe, as the story is rather absurd, the situations are ridiculous, the writing is unsophisticated, and the characters are one-dimensional. Put all those together in this right combination though, and you get a very funny and memorable movie. The hightlights of Odd Jobs are Jake Steinfeld (the Body By Jake guy) as a villanous yet funny henchman, and Leo Burmeister as Wylie, a redneck greasy trucker with a heart of gold. The cast of comedians each has a distinct character, and each has several funny scenes to shine in.

If you like Monty Python wackiness, and you like Airplane! type dumb yet funny comedy, give Odd Jobs a try. You may find a hidden comedy treasure.

Old School Funny
Not the funniest movie, but still a good laugh; especially considering it cost me about $5 including the shipping. I remember seeing this when Robert Townsend was still in front of the camera instead of behind it.

You have to love seeing Jake [yes the Body by Jake guy] running around in a french maid get-up and laughing his little weaselly laugh he does throughout this movie. And the entire scene that is a spoof on "Deliverance" is worth the price of admission alone!

I would still give this a 7.5 out of 10.

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Take This Waltz



The movie tells what life actually is.
Someone seems to say "life is between boredom and anxiety". People feel bored for what they already have and feel anxiety for what they don't. The process of knowing a new person or getting a new thing stirs the excitement. The excitement makes people feel delighted, happy and bold, which could lead to make a wrong decision and regret later. After a while, the excitement dies down, the new becomes the old, the boredom strikes again... I think the movie captures the idea very well. People who have the similar experience will find this movie is interesting and worth to watch. Otherwise, the movie might seems boring and slow.

The important thing in the life is to figure out what is really important and hold on to them. Rather than chasing the "mirage" created by the excitement, it is better to ride out the boredom by discovering new trait from old people or things, include ourself. So when you feel you will give in to the temptation, you can watch this movie and see whether...

Not A Literal Interpretation
Take This Waltz is a slow moving quirky movie. There was something unique about this film, something that caught my attention from the first moment.

The film opens with a beautiful song, light quirky words, slightly on the folk side. The opening montage is a set of close ups of Margot making cup cakes. One of the last shots is of her sitting in front of the oven, a man in shorts walks past and the montage ends with an out of focus shot of the man standing in front of a bright window. I describe this very carefully because the film closes with exactly this same series of shots. They are identical, except for one small detail; the man is wearing long pants.

The film then moves to a town on the east coast of Canada where Margot writes the new brochure copy for a Colonial town. A man taunts her to participate in a mock flogging. He ends up sitting next to her on the plane home. Turns out he lives across the street and they share a cab home, as they part ways she says...

Everything old stays old
Margo (Michelle WIlliams) meets Daniel (Luke Kirby) on a Colonial tour, in which actors are put in stocks and whipped for committing adultery. This bit of foreshadowing (Daniel goads her into administering the lashing) is a clue as to the moral dilemma that involves Margo, Daniel, and ultimately Margo's husband, Lou (Seth Rogan).

The theme of marriage, temptation, boredom and adultery is hardly new fodder for exploration, but it does have an endless fascination. This tale of hipster attraction, lust and flirtation does not add anything particularly intriguing to the mix. Michelle Williams does a good job with the complicated character of Margo, who seems literally lost in her own neuroses and insecurities. She swings from childlike timidity to really bold flirting without much in between, and the instant hot attraction between she and Daniel leaves her understandably emotional and highly charged. Daniel, it turns out, lives right across the street from Margo and Luke...

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Mark Of The Beast



A decent effort but still falls flat...
When I was about halfway through MARK OF THE BEAST, I paused the movie for a moment to reflect; I was having a hard time deciding whether or not the filmmakers were trying to make a serious horror movie or a spoof. Yes, as much as it chagrins me to say, this film is simply not very good. I had high expectations, too, because I'm actually a fan of Kipling's works; and although the film follows the story very well, the execution is unfortunately lacking.

First off, I'll start by mentioning the good. The film has an amazing score that accents it perfectly. It is haunting and melodious at the same time, which in turn sets an ethereal mood, a perfect backdrop in which to tell this story.

Also, the adaptation of the original short story is almost perfect. The filmmakers definitely did their homework and studied the source material in-depth before they wrote the script. This is, however, a good thing and a bad thing. It is impressive because they didn't take too...

This is awful!
Horrible acting. The only reason I got this was to watch Ellen Muth. She is one beautiful woman who can act.... the only one in this film that can act.

mark of the beast
Thank you for your fast shipping of this movie i like it but it is strange it is a zombie film and it a gang of folks getting drunk on new years eve thing about this one a man is attack by a zombie like man and he turns into one himself but it turns out ok.

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