The Bourne Identity (Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Jason's not paranoid, he's just in a tough spot.
I'll be honest, I haven't read the Robert Ludlum novel, nor do I remember seeing the original film staring Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith. So I'm not able to point out differences or inconsistencies, if indeed there are any. Having said that, I can't imagine its predecessors topping Doug Liman's version of "The Bourne Identity." This is the sort of film I like to watch pretty often and each time I find something new to enjoy.

The plot, while nothing very original, provides a useful framework around which we get to enjoy some of the most believable action sequences I've seen. Let's face it, an assassin suffering from amnesia is not going to lead a dull life, particularly not after his "friends" decide he's gone rogue. There's only so many ways you can film stunts and action sequences like a car chase but Liman has managed to somehow make the many action scenes seem fresh. I particularly liked seeing what looked like a mini-minor out driving the police using skill and...

Fool me once, shame on yoUniversal Studios
First, I rate the MOVIE Bourne Identity and the older Collector's Edition DVD both as 5-star. I expected the Extended Edition DVD to include all in the older Collector's Edition DVD AND MORE. What you get with the Extended Edition DVD is a FREE TICKET (EXPIRES AUGUST 8th) to MOVIE Bourne Supremacy and a weaker DVD release that is largely a promotion for the new movie.

What you LOSE (Extended Edition DVD versus Collector's Edition DVD):

an extended farmhouse scene; DTS sound; Doug Liman's informative Director's Commentary track.

What you DO NOT GAIN (Extended Edition DVD versus Collector's Edition DVD):

the SAME alternate ending IN ROUGH, GRAINY QUALITY as in the deleted scenes of the Collector's Edition; the SAME deleted/extended scenes (except for the ADDED alternate beginning noted below and the OMITTED farmhouse scene noted above); the SAME Extreme Ways music video by Moby and the SAME DVD-ROM access to web site; no featurette whatsoever...

A skillfully made thriller
THE BOURNE IDENTITY is a tightly conceived, well directed, well photographed and particularly well acted suspense thriller loosely based on the Robert Ludlum best seller. True, many liberties have been taken from the novel, but when you take the time to note that Ludlum himself is the producer, then all arguments are off. Matt Damon and Franka Potente are terrific as the amnesiac agent and his 'only friend' who helps him escape a mad and endless chase from multiple groups of would be assassins. The characters are well developed - Damon gives one of his better perfomances, doing most of his stunt work himself while Potente continues to prove she is an actress worth watching. The supporting cast of such fine actors as Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, etc help propel this movie along. Outside of the French Connection this is one of the best car chases ever filmed - gratefully without the now-boring background of explosions and destruction. In all a fine film that is delivered on DVD with...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Mr Hockey: Gordie Howe Story

Really good TV movie
I caught this just as it started on of all channels - Lifetime and really liked it. I love the history of the World Hockey Association (WHA), and have seen the old clips, but to see the Aeros jerseys, the Whalers, the Jets (with Bobby Hull and the pissing contest that they had with each other) Cleveland Crusaders (with accurately depicted with Gerry Cheevers in goal) it was amazing! I thought that it was really well done for a made for TV movie, with a lot of passion. Andy Mikita does a great job, bringing back 1973. I'm glad that the Red Wings and the NHL allowed the use of true logos and names (including the Oilers, who originally started off in the WHA). Even some of the old known stories were included, like when Marty gets drafted after Mark and someone in the room yells..."hey are you going to draft Colleen next?" (Marty and Mark's mom) I enjoyed it from start to finish and it is a great story. I am purchasing this movie when it comes out immediately. If you like hockey,...

Meet the real Mr. Hockey
Most of us were to young to actually see Gordie Howe play. He retired from hockey (NHL) in 1971. Then in 1973 he decided to make his dream come true and play with his sons on the same team.
The movie really shows how strong his wife was....She had the financial smarts and gave Gordie the support he needed (eventually..lol) You get a closer look at Gordie and the Howe family. It's more than just a hockey movie, it's the true events of the Howe family.
The hockey scene's were ok, wish they could have added a little more hockey into it.
After watching this movie I had much more respect for Gordie...the man and the hockey player.
Overal 4 out 5 stars. (More hockey scene's would have brought it to a 4.5 of 5 stars)

Weak telling of great story
Mediocre acting and often-clumsy writing distracts from what is really a great sports story. Recommend if it's free streaming but as long as they are charging for it, I'd use your $3.99 or whatever for something else.

Click to Editorial Reviews

SHADES OF DAY - Director's Cut

Intersting film
I thought this film is worth watching. This was the first time I saw the finished product. Support indie film makers.

Not your father's Dostoevsky.
A stylish, sexy ode to LA. The script takes the original's 19th century themes of love, longing and loneliness and updates them for our modern, often strange, urban world. With polished cinematography that transcends the usual indie moviemaking, nice performances all around, and--surprise, Dostoevsky fans--even moments of humor, this L.A. story brings Dostoevsky into the 21st century.

A Noir Wrapped in a Fable
Highly entertaining and deeply affecting, this film is full of surprises. It's a noir wrapped in a fable. It has a magical quality, but the magic derives from its extraordinary characters rather than supernatural forces. And while it's character driven, "Shades of Day" manages to achieve an almost epic quality. This directorial legerdemain can be attributed to both the richness and variety of the film's iconic Los Angeles locations and to the magnitude of its themes----sex, love, betrayal, greed, and death. But director Sumin never forgets that the cinematic seeker of truth must also be an entertainer; he juggles his seemingly weighty themes with a circus-like sense of fun and adventure.

The film is beautifully shot and edited from a script by Sumin and playwright Jeff Bergquist. The title appears to be a canny reversal of "White Nights," one of Dostoevsky's finest stories. This is a case of a film being "inspired by..." in the best sense of the word. Sumin projects...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Gatekeepers [HD]

Every American Should See This Now
Insights from six former heads of Shin Bet, supplemented with rare footage of targeted assassinations and disturbing historical events. Encourages reasoned analysis of the effect and morality of the use of violence for security purposes. Highly relevant to citizens of any country grappling with the use of drones, targeted assassination, occupation, or torture. Don't be turned off by fact that it is a documentary--movie is riveting.

Hoping Peace...
I am neither a Jew nor a Muslim and to me it seems so hard if these people will ever achieve peace since when it comes to politics, geographically they certainly are not in a peaceful zone. As an outsider, I appreciate a sincere and well presented documentary which allows me to educate myself and this director has surly done his work by presenting facts and interviewing few people who have been in charge of defending Israel... but what is important, are those legislators who unfortunately have a mind of their own but controlled by few... Bravo.

Rare insight for people not so familiar with the Middle East
The film offers interviews with the last six heads of Shin Bet, Israel's secretive state security service. Despite being largely sympathetic to the men, their interviews were laced together very well to show inconsistencies in their responses. As is common in interviews with governmental officials, politicians are not shown in a very favorable light. However, the film makes it clear that Shin Bet was not blameless in the things that happened.

I think this is a documentary that would benefit many Americans, if not others, as it gives a very different perspective on Israel's history than can be found anywhere else. As an American who is very interested in understanding the state of affairs in the Middle East, and who is just starting to see the "darker side" of Israel, I found this documentary very useful and interesting.

The biggest reason this is not rated five stars is that it was hard to remember which of the men corresponded with which years as directors of...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Ben 10 Omniverse - Heroes Rise 2

Ben 10 is the Best
AWESOME! I love Ben 10 Omniverse. Rook is a great partner to Ben, and the new aliens are pretty cool too.

fun item
this was a fun and entertaining dvd. my nephew loved it. we will surely watch it again and again. thanks

for my grandson
My grandson loved it. He has is a Ben 10 fan and watches his DVD's over and over again. Thank you

Click to Editorial Reviews

Would You Rather [HD]

Brilliant but flawed
I know this is by no means a perfect movie, but I truly loved it. Jeffrey Combs performance was fantastic and I really liked the story. There were really no surprises, but the casting and the dialog kept the movie interesting for me. The "choices" idea that runs through the movie caused for a lot of tension, but I feel that it could have been exploited a bit more. Most of the gore in this film is what plays in your head, because most of those shots cut-away. I found this very effective and was tense through most of the movie. I do want to say I feel a little guilty in liking this so much because there is a definite cruelty to the violence. Having said that, I felt that it was a compelling, tense, film that managed to entertain. I'm already wishing there was a sequel.

THERE IS A PROCESS INVOLVED
Iris (Brittany Snow) has a brother who needs a bone marrow transplant. The creepy Shepard Lambrick (Jeffrey Combs) offers to pay for it if she wins a game of a sadistic "would you rather," one that we quickly discover is played to the death. 8 people are assembled in a dining room and forced at gun point. Since Iris is the only person we know anything about, everyone but Scooby-Doo can figure this one out.

Amy, played by porn star Sasha Grey, is an aggressive player who immediately plays to win. Shepard has an obnoxious son (Robin Taylor) who insults the players.

There is a fairly decent intensity factor with this film, but it really doesn't stimulate the grey matter. The whole set up is rather inane. If you like the "ten little Indians" style movies with slasher elements, this one is satisfactory as long as you keep your expectations low. Perhaps 5 stars on a Red Box rental scale.

If you liked this film you might also like "Truth or Die" which I...

Loved it
This movie contained everything I want in a horror flick. I will watch it again and would highly recommend it to all of my friends!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Everything Is Broken

The Frontier at the Ends of Civilization
When Nolan, the jaded scavenging veteran at the heart of the new Syfy series Defiance, strides from the Lawkeeper's office early in the pilot episode, seasoned viewers will recognize the streetscape. With storefronts built of reclaimed materials and stacked cargo compartments, it distinctly resembles the Eavesdown Docks from Joss Whedon's Firefly. And for good reason, since both shows shows channel the same American frontier mythology.

Frederick Jackson Turner's seminal 1893 essay, "The Significance of the Frontier in American History," identified the idea of frontier as the defining trait of American society. Crossing the invisible line from society to wilderness allows individuals to shrug off confining Euro-American stipulations of hierarchy, subjection, religion, and money. But Turner lamented that the closing of the American frontier, according to the 1890 census, marked the end of American pioneer fervor.

Firefly, like Star Trek before that, rejects that...

Well Written, Well Executed SciFi
My husband and I really enjoyed the pilot episode. It was far better than so many recent entries in the genre. We hope our support will keep it on air if (as we hope) the writing and execution continue to hold up to the high standards set in the opener.

Definite Potential
For some reason the first episode was released early, but for those watching now or watching on the 15th, the show has great potential. Its not perfect, and the first episode has its slow parts, but overall it was enjoyable to watch, especially as you get to the battle near the end. This is the first time a game and tv showed have been tied together like this, and as a player of the game I really want to see Defiance end up successful for everyone involved. We need more companies, and people, willing to try new things and I hope future episodes continue to improve as the story expands and the cast gets used to working together. The cast itself is pretty solid overall with a few well known names involved. Jaime Murray (Spartacus/Warehouse 13) and Julie Benz (Buffy) being two of my favorites. Farscape fans will also notice one of the people behind Defiance is the creator of Farscape, Rockne S. O'Bannon. We need more good sci-fi shows out there and so far Defiance looks like it could be...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Dead Man Down [HD]

Engrossing and Powerful Tale Of Revenge
DEAD MAN DOWN is a very engrossing and engaging tale of revenge. What starts out as a totally confusing and seemingly unrelated series of events ever so slowly comes together in a thoroughly riveting climax. Director Niels Arden Oplev's tale is methodically paced and ultimately mesmerizing as the story unfolds. Colin Farrell gives one of his best performances in a very underplayed characterization and Noomi Rapace is totally impulsive in her captivating performance opposite Farrell. Together they are amazingly convincing as the viewer never is given a chance to get a good read on these two actors who powerfully and so subtly reveal just bits and pieces of their broken and twisted lives that by happenstance place them on a singular road of salvation for their own humanity. To say too much would give the plot away, but by the end the entire experience gels in a visually cathartic conclusion. I highly recommend this film.

WWE Studios made a good film. Who knew that was possible?
Wow who knew WWE Studios could actually make a good film. From the trailers I first saw a few months ago the film looked like a really good action thriller yet there was no sign that WWE produced this film and I think that was purposely done by WWE Studios and the distributor studio in FilmDistrict. I mean when you bring up WWE Studios a good film certainly isn't the first thing that comes to mind. The only half way decent film they produced was The Condemned with Steve Austin. It was stupid fun thrill ride, but at best was a two and half to three star film, so I can understand why I didn't see the WWE's name openly attached to Dead Man Down. I think this was the first film WWE actually took seriously putting time and money into the film, and bringing in a good cast and director. Still when I learned that the WWE was a part of Dead Man Down a few days ago my expectations for the film dropped considerably, and I think that was a good thing because I was pleasantly surprised that Dead...

Revenge!
Danish director Niels Arden Oplev brings his talent for relentless uneasiness on the screen in this story by Joel Howard Wyman. The theme is not good guy versus bad guy because every character in the film is a bad guy/girl and once the audience tunes into that then the emphasis is on that elusive human reaction to trauma called revenge.

Victor (Colin Farrell) is a Hungarian immigrant whose wife and daughter were killed and he is out to destroy the Albanian crime gang that caused their death. He has infiltrated the crime empire run by ruthless kingpin Alphonse (Terrence Howard), with the single purpose of making Alphonse pay for destroying his once happy life. Victor's best friend is crime cohort Darcy (Dominic Cooper) whose obsessive curiosity about his friend opens the story for insertion of all manner of bad tings. As he meticulously orchestrates his vengeance from his high-rise home, Victor watches and is watched by Beatrice (Noomi Repace, a mysterious young woman, her...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Smithsonian Channel: Aerial America: New England Collection [Blu-Ray]

Aerial America (at last)
I've seen some on TV in HD and had to have them. Fortunate I've a Blu-Ray player who can handle NTSC and region 1. A fantastic view.

Beautiful, educational and true eye candy
I have collected many travel videos but after seeing this series on Smithsonian Channel I just had to have it. It is the best of the best.

Love the Wonder you Created
Highest degree of excellence, I am grateful to have the opportunity to view the wonder you created with outstanding quality

Click to Editorial Reviews

Gattaca

How do you hide when you're running from yourself?
Gattaca (1997) is a beautiful movie that takes place in the not-so-distant future where genetic manipulation prior to birth brings out the best qualities of the parents while eliminating the worst, specifically, predispositions to diseases, additions, poor eyesight, etc. That is, if your parents choose to do so...

The film tells the a story about Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), a man born naturally, a 'God-child', one who didn't benefit from advanced technology during his development within the womb, and subsequently has various conditions many are familiar with like poor eyesight, heart problems, etc. Vincent has his sights set on the stars, wanting to travel to distant planets, visit far away places (I mean really far away) but due to advanced science, he has no chance as people can now determine the status of your health, your future health, by any number of ways, a strand of hair, a bit of spittle on a cup, a flake of skin, and while biases due to genetic profiling are illegal,...

Slight improvement over previous editions
I have two topics to mention: The "special features" and the "image quality".

It is worth noting that I own the both the original Gattaca DVD and Super-Bit version for comparison.

1) Special Features:
While maintaining the original DVD's ugly menu system, this edition contains a 22 featurette on the making of Gattaca with interviews of Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, and a number of the production crew. I enjoyed this addition. There is also a new clip on gene manipulation (history, current, and future) which was somewhat interesting.

2) Image Quality:
The original DVD was only a single layer 4.5gb disk, which resulted in a grainy image with a slightly blue tint. The Super-Bit disk was disappointingly mastered, with visible dust and hair in the copy. The Super-Bit version took on a more natural tone but suffered from over-saturated browns and greens.

Finally, this reproduction seems to have a good balance between color and image...

A Triumph of the Human Spirit
"Gattaca" is an incredible example of a science-fiction movie entirely based on plot, low-key twists and development, and not on special effects. Married couple Hawke and Thurman, along with Jude Law, and the direction of Andrew Nicol prove that there is no gene for the human spirit.

Vincent (Hawke) is an invalid, a "degenerate" born of natural conception without any advanced genetic engineering. Several seconds after he is born, his parents know how Vincent will die, and his life expectancy. As he grows, his heart dysfunction limits his career choices. As a result, his parents have another child, this time genetically engineered to be totally superior. The feuding siblings prove themselves over a game of swimming chicken, but it is inevitable as Anton grows more faster than Vincent that the younger child will be the favored. As a result, Vincent leaves the home and begins a job as a janitor at the Gattaca Aerospace Center, the closest he can be to his dream: the stars. But he finds...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Rockin' Reverend

great surprise...
i have to be honest, had low expectations. a friend had told me about it and on a whim one night, i watched it. it was great! i normally don't give 5 stars for anything unless they deserved it and for simply not wasting my time and being entertaining at that, i think this one deserves all the stars and more.

Awesomely edgy flick!
Great indie film that is award-winning for a reason! This movie is a fun ride that combines a great cast and acting with a unique story. Highly recommended!



Click to Editorial Reviews

Lazarus: Part 1

Intriguing Pilot
I saw not the Overlook Hotel, but the haunted New York apartment building based on the real life Dakota in Rosemary's Baby, complete with the research into the building's evil and storied past. It is a genre trope that I like, so for that alone and the potential therein I was hooked.

A young couple, living on the fringes of New York glamour in terms of the company that their professions bring them (lawyer and architect) but in the sticks in Queens in terms of their income, is first tempted with the offer of a beautiful apartment on the Upper East Side of New York for a nominal amount of managing work. Indeed, in the interview they are told that they need to keep their day jobs, so clearly there is another person or people in the building doing daily maintenance work. They grab the opportunity as anyone in their right mind would as it takes rich person money to live a middle class life in Manhattant. Nobody tells you that cheap, beautiful apartments in Manhattant require not...

Worth it!
Somewhere between "American Horror Story" and "Devil's Advocate". It's intriguing and promising... mysterious and the cast is great. The pilot hooked me enough to want more.

Cool but creepy
The series gave me nightmares... and I do not scare easily. But I do support Vanessa Williams. She needs the job.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Steel Wheels: Until the Summer Comes

Nice documentary about a fabulous group of musicians!
My only complaint about this is that it could have been longer - love the Steel Wheels, love hearing more about their song-writing process and seeing footage from a live show.... great quality and interesting commentary from Trent Wagler, energy-packed, heart-stopping music, as always delivered by The Steel Wheels!

Wonderful!
I love love love it! I'm not sure how you can you not love anything that comes from The Steel Wheels?

The story behind the songs
This is a great little movie to get a small taste of a great group...The Steel Wheels and some of the stories behind the songs..

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Secret World of Gold

Who Needs Two Hours? A Novelty Concept Executed Well Geared Toward More Casual Viewers
With its bold promise and provocative title, the History Channel documentary "History of the World in Two Hours" has a lot to live up to. But seriously, anyone who thinks this will be a complete or comprehensive chronicle of almost 14 billion years is probably setting their expectations a little high. For one thing, as this aired on the History Channel with commercials--it actually boils down to 88 minutes from start to finish! Heck, who needs a full two hours? The title is a teaser, a novelty. This is a breezy and entertaining trip through history that starts with concepts related to the formation of earth and ends in contemporary society. In between, we hit certain highlights from the realms of chemistry, biology, astrophysics, paleontology, anthropology and history that help to overview key components that made life possible, sustainable, and able to evolve into its recognizable modern configuration. Certainly, this isn't an in-depth analysis of any one thing in particular, it's...

Wonderful Look at the Middle Ages
This was an amazing show! It was factual, engaging, beautiful to the eye, and a very quick 2 hours. I very much enjoyed that Loades didn't dress up in the various costumes for his presentation, but kept his clothes simple and understated, drawing far less attention to himself than his subject, allowing the viewer to see how history LOOKS. I also liked that he didn't dwell on the royalty and nobility, but got in and got his hands dirty with the ploughman and the castle masons. I have ALREADY recommended this video to many of my friends, and will continue to do so. It is an invaluable look at the high medieval period from all the various strata of society.

Mike Loades does it again!
As a medieval enthusiast, I'm well acquainted with Mike Loades' work. Once again he creates a program that is both informative and entertaining. Well suited for both the hard core medievalist and the average viewer, Going Medieval is worth your time.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Progressive Power Yoga Volume 1

Challenging
This is a pretty challenging yoga routine, it runs about an hour and a half. Its worth the money to buy this video.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Nadine Velazquez, Burt Ward, Adrianna Costa, Bruce Davison [HD]

Great Show
I love this show. The fact that the celebrities are familiar to me (from TV and what not) make it seem as if a friend or relative is telling the ghost story. The stories suck me right in and I love it. I also like that these shows are family friendly.

I like this show!
I really like this show, but they need to work on the editing. They show previews before it starts, then they show about 5 min & go to commercial, then they repeat the last 30 seconds before the commercial - it's a bit much!

Great as usual
Personally I have always enjoyed these, always surprising about the stories and happenings. Thank you for bringing this on Amazon! Keep it up.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Meet Monica Velour

A cute little "coming of age"movie
This movie was a pleasant surprise.
It is a shame it did not more attention.

Truth be told, based on previews I was concerned it would be some cheap, stupid, teen comedy with an excuse for sleazy sex jokes.

To the contrary, it was a charming and amusing "coming of age" movie about a geeky guy who loves nostalgia who does a lot of growing up and discovering important things about life when on his first big solo adventure on the road.

A much better film than I was expecting.

Probably Kim Cattrall's best acting performance of her career - and she was brave enough to gain weight and skip make-up in order to try and make the characterization genuine.

Charming and human
This is basically a charming little "coming of age" indie movie. I found it fun. Kim Cattrall's star turn is quite good, high-quality acting, and the young hero is believable and effective. Brian Dennehy gives a solid if underbilled performance as the young nerd's grandfather, as well.

The makers created some "Monica Velour" adult features from the pre-video age that will amuse anyone who remembers that era - they obviously had a lot of fun inventing period products. I enjoyed this aspect of the movie, but wish they had given Annie Sprinkle or Kay Parker or someone a cameo -- that would have been great!

Despite dealing with adult themes and sex work, this is not a very salacious movie. There are a few quick glimpses of partial nudity and some explicit language, but 90+% of this movie is PG or purer. There's more smuttiness in any teen-age slob movie, these days. You'd have to be exceptionally prudish to be offended by anything here.

This film is adult...

This Proves Love is Blind
Adolescence is a period of barely controlled insanity. Adulthood isn't much better. "Meet Monica Velour" proves it!

Kim Cattrall ("Sex and the City" and "The Ghost Writer") is the infamous Monica, a talent-less former porn star gone to seed. Her main fan is a gawky 17-year-old boy from Auburn, Washington, who has collected all her videos, posters, press clippings and publicity items from websites, video stores, yard sales and E-Bay. This goofy kid is played to geeky perfection by Dustin Ingram (lots of TV) whose character is out to prove that love IS blind!

Our hero is the proprietor of a mobile hot-dog vending van; it has a giant hot dog mounted on the roof. His father is a boozy retiree, played by Brian Dennehy (working hard on stage and screen since 1977), who gives his son the keys to the van as a high-school graduation present. The boy instantly lists it on E-Bay and finds a buyer in the mid-West, not too far from the last known address of his dream...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Obscura is Loved to Death

Great show .... but ...
$1.99 per episode is too much to pay for a 20 min video.
This holds true for any series.
If it were 42 min episodes, ok.
Come on Amazon, give us loyal long-time customers a break.
Can I get an amen?

we're wild TV show fun things to see
weird wonderful TV show it's fun to watch. Lots of neat things to collect and see. I would highly recommend this TV show.

I LOVE ODDITIES
AMAZING SHOW!!!!! NEVER BORING!!!! I LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND INTERESTING EVERY TIME I WATCH IT. THE NEW YORK CAST IS AMAZING!

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Giving G/Release the Craigan

Awesome show!
Funny great show! Up there with the classics and the new popular shows like Adventure time and regular show. Just watch it!

Awesome!
This series is for kids and adults alike! Love it!!!! Great for kids of parents who actually WANT their child to grow up with a sense of humor (as opposed to those who want their kids to become stiff and serious about everything)!

differant
even tho it is different, would say it does have dry humor and does have a code of ethic slightly written into story

Click to Editorial Reviews

Jug Face

Creepy flick.
Jug Face reminds me why I don't go into the woods. It's a creepy thrill ride that left me equally uncomfortable and entertained. It's a wonderfully-acted and twisted backwoods horror that seems believable in a way that should scare everybody. Check it out.

The Pit Wants what the Pit Wants
and so does the movie viewer!

We were looking through a list of movies available On Demand on our TV. We watched, oh, I don't know, perhaps a dozen previews. They all seemed to be a conflagulation of every other movie in that genre that came before it. Like just a really bad knock off. I'm sure those movies would have been just fine, but just as easily forgettable and predictable.

Then we saw the preview for Jug Face.

And so it appeared we had not only found a movie sure to entertain us with messed-up characters, but we also found something unique. Something we hadn't felt as though we'd seen a thousand times before.

The paranormal element was so beautifully handled that for the first part of the story I wasn't sure if the pit TRULY wielded any power, or if these people were just crazy! (Or both!) You'll have to see the movie for yourself to find out.

Chad C Kinkle really captured the spirit of paranormal horror in its finest...

Glad I gave it a chance!
When I saw the title of the film, I really wondered if I should watch it or not. But, the positive reviews it received pushed me to give it a chance. And I'm glad I did! While the situation surrounding Ada's pregnancy is a tad uncomfortable, the whole situation isn't far-fetched nor are the characters. The actors, many of which I'd never heard of before, really did a wonderful job. Sean Young (the only one I had heard of) did quite the job of playing a mother I'd never wish to have. The ending was heartbreaking but didn't leave me crying foul. It's not a movie for everyone and not every horror fan will like it, but I definitely don't think this one is a dud.

Click to Editorial Reviews

1987 [HD]

It's hokie, but ok.
It's not my favorite, but it's a good enough show to watch when nothing else is on. Some may have trouble following the dual storylines (one is the show and one is the "show"). I don't. But I know someone else who can't keep track.

Great Show
Excellent and thought provoking series. Well written and clever, not just a rehash of tried ideas. Hope it last for a long while.

Not what I expected....
From the preview commercials, I thought this series was going to be a psychological thriller with a "sprinkle" of supernatural. After viewing the first five episodes, I'm not impressed. Freakish fans looking for clues in a show; a man trying to find his brother, a woman wanting to know the reason why her father disappeared and a show about a cult that's iffish at best.

I wouldn't recommend this series. I'm quite sure (hopefully!) it'll get better (hopefully!). Yes, I meant to type hopefully! twice. LOL I would like to know others view on it.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Galileo's Space Adventure & other stories: Around the World Adventure [HD]

excellent educational program
wonderful my grandson love it, and it is a great educational cartoon. Need to have more episodes so we can continue enjoying.

Super. why is a great show.
Very educational for my 4 and 7 year old. Makes not feel guilty about watching television because I know they are learning something.

Very Educational
My 2 1/2 year old son loves this show! He is even learning his letters. There is nothing questionable about this show like many shows out there these days. Another great one by PBS.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Five Miles To Midnight

THE PERSUADERS (INSTANT VIDEO) - CLASSIC BRITISH ENTERTAINMENT!
THE PERSUADERS was/is a 'very' entertaining British comedy-drama series from the ITC stable that starred Tony Curtis and Roger Moore as (polar opposite) wealthy playboys who spend their spare time as international crimestoppers. The series ran for only one season ('71-'72) before it was cancelled. Glad to see all the episodes available here on the instant video format.

In the episode, "A HOME OF ONE'S OWN" - When Danny (Tony Curtis) acquires an old derelict rundown English cottage, he has his heart set on restoring it to its former picturesque condition. While giving Brett (Roger Moore) a 'tour' of his newly acquired estate, an unknown woman is filming them from a distance and appears to have the place under surveillance - later claiming to be a bird watcher.

All is going well with Brett and Danny inside, when an uninvited guest suddenly appears - slamming a hatchet into the staircase rail exclaiming, "You're trespassing, this house is private property!" Danny...

Time warp!
Love having the ability to watch these older tv shows, especially The Persuaders. Everyone growing up in the U.S. in the 60s should watch at least one episode of this show, just to see the fashion, the cars, and the almost unbelievable over-the-top acting!

Humorous, highly entertaining series
Roger More is great as Lord Brett Sinclair!

"Greensleeves", "That's Me Over There" and "A Death in the Family" are my favorite episodes.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Divination

VERY impressive!!!
div

Growing Up Caillou & other Stories: Growing Up Caillou

Great for a 4 year old
My 4 year old loves this show. Lots of good lessons for kids here and in a way that they can really relate.

So cute
My 2 yr old grandson loves Caillou. He becomes transfixed when I put it on. They have controlled the whiney behavior of Caillou in the later seasons which has made it so much more enjoyable to watch with him. Some of the episodes teach social interactive skills and some educational and some just fun.

Great for the Kids.
Great of the kids. It is very educational and entertaining. I highly recommend it to kids of all ages from 1 to 91.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Kickin' It Shaolin Style - 12 Movie Set

A good buy for old school kung fu fans (includes info on the movies in the set)
This 3 disc compilation is from Mill Creek. The movies are in dubbed English; i didn't find any alternate audio or subtitles. The quality is what you would expect from a Mill Creek package; the films are not restored or remastered. Most are watchable as far as image. Some are full screen cropped (but not too badly in most cases) and some appear to be widescreen transfers. The widescreen movies are slightly better image quality overall. These are older movies mostly from the late seventies and early eighties so don't expect anything more than that.

None of these are rare finds but there is some good action in most of them. Story and action quality ranges from occasionally silly (Dynamite Shaolin Heroes directed by Godfrey Ho (aka Tomas Tang or Walter Lee in the credits here) to not bad (Fist From Shaolin, a poor man's OUATIC).

Overall this is a good value for the money at under $10. YMMV. I don't think any of these are in the larger Mill Creek 50 movie set...

Kickin It Shaolin Style
There are 12 movies that feature various good martial artist e.g. Jet Li, Carter Wong, Lo Lieh etc. However, some of the story lines and production are very poor. Other story lines were okay yet, lacked good direction, then again you had poor martial arts direction. If you are a collector of martial arts movies this maybe a must have. However, if you are looking for good movies -its a hit and miss. I would give it 5 or 6 out of 10; and no more. I purchased it because it had a couple of movies I didn't have already. Once again be careful as you may know with many older Chinese films they have multiple names for the same movie and you just maybe buying a movie you already have.

great
Amazon Customer service met my expectations and blew them out of the water! You guys were helpful and kind. thank you

Click to Editorial Reviews

Perez Hilton and Brittany Snow [HD]

Vinny and Mindless Behavior
I absolutely LOVE VINNY and his family! The fact that they had Jenny Mc Carthy on the show too, was funny! The dancing with Mindless Behavior (love them) VINNY got down! Good show ♥♥





Click to Editorial Reviews

My Father's Garden

Must see!
This is a wonderful story with a dramatic twist. It's hard to distinguish between a documentary and a novel, but it tell's an important story of the current state of our agriculture. It brings up important possibilities for the future of our food and should be seen widely.

My Father's Garden in Health Class
I have used this compelling film in my 8th grade Health Science class as part of our unit on nutrition and organic gardening. I like to use the film because it documents the development of farming with chemicals in a very human way. The film has the quality of a home movie and the individual lives it focuses on help make the story very real to my students. This film does not preach, but does show us how farmers innocently used chemical pesticides and fertilizers thinking they were farming with the newest scientific advances. This documentary is informative and moving, and important for all of us to experience.

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll go organic!
"My Father's Garden," is one of the most important and poignant documentaries I've seen on the plight of the American farm and how petro-based chemical agriculture has altered this country's rural heritage. Fred Kirschenmann is my organic farming hero. If I could choose all over again, I'd pursue a career in organic farming because of him.

If you care at all about what you eat, if you care at all about the health of our rural communities, if you care at all about the well being of the people who grow the foods you consume, buy this DVD. Watch it. It will forever change the way you think about what ends up on your plate. A must-see.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Pablor and the Acorns

Kids love it
My kids love this episode. They have only seen it once on tv, and have been hoping to see it again. I was happy that I could purchase it on Amazon.

Love it!
We love the Backyardigans. Perfect preschooler show. Lots of songs and dancing. Great to get it free with PRIME membership!

I think I like it more than the kids
My kids (2 and 5) were never really into the Backyardigans until we happened upon this episode several months ago. I bet we have watched it a hundred times (ok not really) since then, and I know I am constantly annoying my children with my singing and dancing along with each song. Love love love the Bollywood singing and dancing. If you could only watch one Backyardigans episode, this should be it.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Colombian

Interesting plot - poorly told.
Great underlying story but the production is very weak. Kept waiting for the story to pick up or gain depth but this never happened.

A action movie based on a true events
The movie is done in a documentary style but with an action line that will keep your attention. The viewer needs to keep in mind that this movie is developed along theme elements that different from a Hollywood movie. I took the story and movie line at its own terms and found the character development to be well done. The story line does drift some but not to the extent that it is distracting. The movie is about a underdog who sticks with his plan and over the years he comes out successful. It is a true story as well which caught my attention as well.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Liberty's Kids - The Complete Series

Just what I've been waiting for -- October can't come soon enough!!
See? What did I tell ya? Patience is a virtue, and I'm absolutely willing to wait for October to get the ENTIRE series of Liberty's Kids for the far-more reasonable price of forty-four bucks!

As I've mentioned in the Teacher's Edition, this is the far better deal out there (seriously, what teacher can pay 500+ dollars for ONE show? Is PBS really that unaware of most teachers' ridiculously low salaries? I don't know . . . maybe they expect "the school" to buy it for their library or something -- but which school would pay that much cash for a six-disc DVD set?)

So . . . on with my review of the series:

I've loved this show since I first saw it back in early 2003. During AP US History, this show actually helped incite curiosity and understanding for the complex period that is the American Revolution. It's also the series that made me curious into looking into American History deeper, and reading up on the finer details of America's birth...

Homeschoolers dream for American History
As a Homeschooling mom this is been a dream come true. It provides the informations in a fun fact filled way that kids really understand what our founding fathers and our people went through to become the United States of America.
I would recommend it for kids ages 4-101! I love watching it too.
To get the complete series in one set is great because watching the individual episodes online at KEWL cartoons is hard because they only offer 5 at a time and generally out of order.
We own a few of the DVD's which were hard to find and we watch them over and over. So, I'm really thrilled to get the complete set all at once and I'll use it in my lesson plans for our Homeschool co-op too.
I know no one who buys this will be disapointed except if your a History Major or professor and you'd only be disapointed that it didn't last longer into the Civil War and the War of 1812.
Maybe they'll carry on at a later date.
My 2 cents thanks for the read.

THRILLED to have this available!
I have waited a long time for this wonderful series to come out on DVD. My son was 4 when we first saw it on PBS. He was enraptured by the story lines and the history lessons which don't seem like lessons. Thus began his fascination in history and wars (as most boys are). He is now 10 and has a reputation in school for being a history nut giving his fellow classmates "quizzes" on history details and I give Liberty's Kids the reason why he is so into history.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Entrepreneur

Inspired
When I first viewed the trailer I thought, "Who is this dysfunctional wild man?" I was intrigued by someone who can build and lose so many fortunes in one lifetime and still generate intense passion to do it again. What I enjoyed about this story is how director Jonathan Bricklin managed to capture the two very distinct sides of Malcom Bricklin, his crazy dysfunction with a deeply sensitive loving soul. Well directed, well edited and I loved the soundtrack. The film takes you on a wild ride with a passionate visionary. It's not the money, it's the game. For anyone with an Entrepreneurial spirit - I highly recommend this film.

Well documented and filmed but one doesn't understand the reason for the ending
This is a documentary of a deal gone bad and of a betrayal. I would have liked to know how and/or why this happened.

A real look at how hard it is to start a new business
As a former executive of the company I can attest that the movie is accurate and the editing and musical score was very good and I only wish there had been more time for a lot more detail about Mr. Bricklin's other innovative projects that were not covered in the movie.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Shaman's Apprentice

The Shaman's Apprentice
"The Shaman's Apprentice" is the remarkable documentary of Mark Plotkin's ethnobotanical adventures and work with shamans in the Amazon rainforest of Suriname. The film is compelling for its insights into the ecology and people of the Amazon, both the indigenous tribes and the maroons--Africans who have adapted to the South American rainforest after fleeing slavery. The Indians over generations have used plants to treat such illnesses as diabetes and fungal infections. The maroons are able to treat sickle cell anemia and many other health problems.

The film is heartbreaking in documenting the loss of tropical rainforests around the world--over half have fallen to saws and fires in the past century. The tribes and knowledge that have been lost are comparable to the destruction of many libraries. Plotkin contrasts western science and medicine with the indigenous tribes that use plants in every aspect of their lives.

"The Shaman's Apprentice" is my all-time...

The Shaman's Apprentice
I was pleased to see that Mr. Plotkin refused to divulge the information he gathered from the many Shaman to drug companies who were salivating at the prospect of cheap research done over millennia by indigenous people. As it stands (under the GATT trade agreement)drug companies glean this information, synthesize the drugs, and sell them back to indigenous peoples whose rain forests have been cut down to satisfy other commercial exploiters. Mr. Plotkin's plan to educate the Shaman as to the value of their knowledge (before any contact with commercial interests) is commendable.

Shaman's Apprentice, nice film
This was very informative and interesting. My wife is from Suriname, so she really enjoyed it because you get to hear alot of the language that they speak in that area and she could understand it all.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Episode 0005

LOVED ALL 3 SEASONS!!!
I LOVED ALL 3 SEASON OF THIS SHOW, I HOPE WE HAVE A SEASON 4, IT'S WORTH WATCHING!!!
ACTING IS GOOD!!!





Click to Editorial Reviews

Happily Never After

Strange and entertaining
I felt on the edge of my seat during this whole film, not necessarily in a suspenseful way, but just unsure of where it was going to take me. A very raw story line and very complex relationships and personalities are constantly interacting with each other. It kept my attention and left me with a stunning ending. Very entertaining

not that great
I felt like the movie was boring. The main character was not a good actor, the younger actors did a good job, but the movie was dumb.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Evil Dead

essentially the original, yet it's own film.
When I first heard that Evil Dead was being remade, I wasn't happy. I've grown tired of reboots and remakes and I felt that remaking Evil Dead was akin to trampling on sacred ground. After discovering that Raimi and Campbell were backing it, I gave in and joined the the party, my uptight "Dead purist" friends be damned. This version starts out with the same creepy cabin in the same creepy woods but with a new group of twenty somethings unwittingly walking into the slaughter. A new element is introduced when we find out that the gang is trying to help their friend Mia recover from a nasty heroin addiction. Making the trip is her estranged brother David who wasn't around when Mia had to deal with their mother's death. Needless to say, there are a lot of family issues that the two never hashed out and hard feelings are being felt.

If being drug out to a creepy cabin in the woods by her friends wasn't bad enough, things are going to get worse for Mia. Ignoring all blatant...

Where the hell is the unrated cut??
I am not happy. Great remake, but I was expecting an Unrated cut for blu-ray. If the studio thinks they are double-dipping off me, think again. I'm waiting on the Hobbit (extended cuts already confirmed) and I'm waiting on this too. Stop being so damn greedy Hollywood!

AN OVERWHELMING CRESCENDO OF FEAR, TERROR AND HORROR
I admit I was somewhat skeptical in sitting down to watch this film because of the various unfavorable reviews I had read. Well - fuhgeddaboudem! This is NOT a remake of the original movie from 30+ years ago - this is an ultra-modern version of the basic theme of that film, and it succeeds superbly. It's very rare that a horror movie carries me from the first scene to the last with such a powerful, relentless and unstoppable feeling of accelerating dread and doom. ("The Exorcist" is the benchmark for me in this regard.) But this film did it for me, and because of so many factors, not least of which is the musical score - a brilliant synthesis of different styles and techniques that it can virtually stand alone as an hommage to the horror genre. The cast is uniformly excellent, the cinematography is astounding, the production values are first-rate and the director obviously had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve - namely, to scare the living crap out of us - and he does...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde / Strauss: Tod und Verklärung [Blu-ray]

A wonderful disc
This is a very fine disc and more or less completes Mahler's important works on quality Blu-ray releases. The Swiss are on top form here, done up to the nines like a dog's dinner and all the technical aspects ticking over like a Swiss watch! The camera work, picture and sound and the orchestral playing are demonstration quality. Neeme Järvi is 76 now and has lost a bit of his flamboyancy but none of his attention to detail and draws out the most beautiful sound. A minor oddity is that whilst the European language subtitles are possibly just a bit too small, the Japanese subtitles are much larger and very easy to read. Many regard Das Lied von der Erde as Mahler's greatest work and the final song: Der Abschied is deeply moving. The issue here is often very personal - baritone or mezzo. On DVD there is a quite magical rendering by Semyon Bychkow and Waltraud Meier that for me sets a standard that is perfection. Meier's facial control and vocal genius has to be witnessed to be...

Thomas Hampson sings Das Lied on DVD and Blu-ray!
Not since Leonard Bernstein has a performer been so identified with the music of Gustav Mahler as Thomas Hampson. This concert, available on both DVD and Blu-ray, presents a riveting, passionate and overwhelmingly beautiful performance. Under the direction of Neeme Järvi the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande prove once again why they are a world-class ensemble. Especially known for their French repertoire, in this work their sonorities range from sumptuous and vibrant to delicate and ethereal, perfectly reflecting the Asian undertow of the text. The fine principal flute and oboe players outdo themselves in the last movement titled "Der Abschied" (The Farewell) where their solos magically entwine with the singer's breathing. Time becomes an entirely new experience here.

Tenor Paul Groves offers a dramatic reading of his three movements that captures the cynical, nostalgic and intoxicated characters that inhabit the piece. Words do not suffice to describe Thomas...

Thomas Hampson is the reason for purchasing this DVD!
Thomas Hampson, one of the foremost Mahler lieder singers today, sings magnificently on this DVD. To my knowledge, it is the only complete Das Lied Von Der Erde on DVD with him singing in it as 1 of 2 singers. The beautiful cinematography and precise editing added to my enjoyment of this DVD. The other principal DVDs of the work with Bernstein, Bychokov, Sanderling as conductors have women singers for the role that Hampson sings.(The scoring calls for tenor and alto soloists. However, Mahler also includes the note that "if necessary, the alto part may be sung by a baritone.") Jason Starr produced and directed this DVD as part of his ongoing series on Gustav Mahler (available via Amazon.com), which I can also very highly recommend. From his website: "The first film in the Mahler documentary cycle, 'What the Universe Tells Me: Unraveling the Mysteries of Mahler's Third Symphony' narrated by Oscar nominee and Emmy Award-winner Stockard Channing, won the 2004 Maui Film Festival "Visionary...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Shifter

Shifter
The movie was alright,but A teenage boy who travells all over the world because his parents are spies which then some thing happens, and he decides to go find them.Somewhere on the way he discovers he's part of some kind of universel Alinement by music>also he can change his shape to any animal,but why not people also.I think if they do A remake there better ideas for ther main character.

WORST movie EVER!
Worst Acting EVER
Worst Accents EVER
Worst Plot EVER
Worst Scripting EVER
Worst Special Effects EVER
Worst Costuming EVER

even the dog was a lousy actor



Click to Editorial Reviews

Brotherhood

THE PROTECTORS COMES TO INSTANT VIDEO
From 1972, THE PROTECTORS is a fun series from the ITC stables (the same studio that brought "The Saint", "The Champions", "The Persuaders", etc.) and starred Robert Vaughn, Nyree Dawn Porter and Tony Anholt as international crime fighters and was filmed at various locations over in Europe.

A fun episode is titled "It Could Be Practically Anywhere On The Island" and involves the kidnapping of two pound puppy poodle belonging to a woman who is vacationing in Europe. The kidnappers originally planned on using the pup to smuggle some microfilm until a funny (and predictable) complication occurs that puts the kibash on their plans! This episode is a good one for animal lovers. (Guest stars: Linda Staab, Sherwood Price, and Madeleine Hinde)

Although the run time for each episode is around only 25 minutes which didn't allow for much character development, still it makes for enjoyable programming and a nice trip down memory lane despite this shortcoming. The...





Click to Editorial Reviews

That's What I'm Talkin' About

Is it possible to award zero stars?
Its hard to believe that anyone actually pays money to see this show. Saget's humor is sophomoric at best, in terrible taste, and really not at all funny.

... and he talks! a lot!
It's been almost 15 years since the last time I watched a Bob Saget stand-up performance. I remember back then feeling shocked that all these dirty and inappropriate jokes were coming from the same man who looks so calm, generous, father-like and naturally kind... WOW I couldn't have been more wrong! That super protective and polite father figure from the Full House days paint a very false picture what this man is REALLY like, and Bob goes absolutely swear-happy insane on That's What I'm Talking About.

He frequently picks on a select few people in the audience, mentions his father and what he was like when Bob Saget was younger, name drops the Full House show and cast quite often (and one joke perhaps takes the cake for being the funniest of the night involving a cardboard cutout and I believe Dave Coulier inside a limousine... WAY too offensive to mention here!), and even does the typical "guitar and song" sit down segment at the end (which is surprisingly not that funny...

Boring!
Although I understand many people may find it amusing to see Bob Saget from Full House cursing constantly and focusing on sex, masturbation, farting, etc, he lacks wit and novelty. I have no trouble with comics who curse a lot or focus on sex, etc, but he simply is not funny. Every punchline is predictable. Spend your money on Hannibal Burress, John Mulaney, Bill Burr, etc instead.

Click to Editorial Reviews

It's in the Bag

And on top there should be a cherry.............maraschino
Addendum 6/8/13: This new Blu-Ray reissue IS the preferred non-voiceover version, read on.

Where to start? First, there are two versions of this hysterical farce but one of the versions is severely hampered by Fred Allen's voice overs through many of the best comedy segments. The other, and I'm guessing, "original" version involves no voice overs and this version is an unmitigated classic for which we can give a big thank you to producer Jack Skirball.

It's in the Bag is one of the screwiest comedies ever. It's the story of Fred F. Floogle(Fred Allen)an unsuccessful flea circus exhibitor and his madcap family; devoted and wholly unsatisfied wife Eve(Binnie Barnes), soon-to-be-bride daughter Marion(Gloria Pope) and genius son Homer(Richard Tyler)who is given many of the best lines though there are zillions of funny lines and millions of gags in this one-of-a-kind romp. Exterminator(Robert Benchley)is determined to not let his son Perry Parker(William Terry) marry...

One of Radio's better Movies
There have been numerous attempts at fashioning movie vehicles for radio stars:most of them failed to work,or work consistently well,but It's In The Bag is something of an exception.Starring Fred Allen-who had a great face for radio-and featuring cameos from Jack Benny,Robert Benchley,Don Ameche,Rudy Valee,and William Bendix,this is a simple,plot-driven movie packed full with in-jokes and tried-and-tested routines.Mel Brooks would return to the source material - a Russian short story - for the 1970 movie The Twelve Chairs,but the pretentiousness of that version is missing here.If you like Benny(who is on fine form) and Allen(who is at his most appealing,or least unappealing,depending on your perspective)then It's In The Bag is well worth a look.

It's in FRED's Bags!
It's a shame that only a chosen few REALLY KNOW who Fred Allen is. In the 1940's his popularity was that of names we still cite today - Jack Benny, Abbott & Costello, etc.

But in his day Fred's radio program was incredibly popular, as well as his "fued" with Jack Benny. If you love old radio, or old time comedy you will enjoy IT'S IN THE BAG. Fred Allen was, as still is, one of the smartest writers of comedy there was - even today great legends such as Mel Brooks and George Carlin cite his influence.

One drawback with the film is that to get all the jokes you will need to be familiar with "the age" when the film was released since some of Fred's jokes are dated (commentary about crowded theaters comes to mind), but some of the jokes are just as fresh today as they were 56 years ago (commentary on how relatives get in the picture, why do we need to watch credits, psychoanalists, etc.)

In some ways it's a very "da-da-ist" film -as in the vein of...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Professionals

Don't Nail Him Yet
Excellent episode of spy vs. spy with John Drake. One of my favorites. This is still one of the most accurate TV series of a British secret agent than most any other series alive today. I highly recommend it.john.a.carman@gmail.com (former U.S. Secret Service)

Fair Exchange
Great episode form the daring secret agent of the British Secret Service MI5/MI6. One of my favorites. Buy the whole series so you won't miss an episode. John.a.carman@gmail.com

A Date With Doris
This is my favorite episode of Danger Man. I can remember watching it many years ago and I loved it. It has always been my favorite because of the friendship between John Drake and Peter Miller, and how John risks his life to save Peter, with the help of Juana, their new found friend --who is also one of the military police! It was wonderful to see it again! Thank you!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Letters From Jackie: The Private Thoughts of Jackie Robinson

A Brief, But Stirring, Documentary Tribute To Robinson As A Ballplayer, An Activist, And A Business Leader
Timed to coincide with the DVD release of the narrative biopic "42," Major League Baseball Productions is also offering a short documentary about Jackie Robinson entitled "Letters From Jackie: The Private Thoughts of Jackie Robinson." While clearly a trailblazer within the arena of baseball, Robinson became a unique figurehead for equal rights and racial tolerance and equality. I'm not sure that Robinson, left to his own devices, would have seen himself as such an important man. But he understood his role as it came to be defined. And instead of keeping his head down and playing ball, he embraced the impact he was having on the greater picture. Clocking in at less than 50 minutes, this illuminating portrait discusses Robinson as both a baseball legend and a civil rights activist. It does so, however, through the correspondence of Robinson who actively wrote to fans, friends, and even the President. To hear his thoughts, in his own words, makes for a pretty stirring...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Moneyball (Mastered in 4K) (Single-Disc Blu-ray + Ultra Violet Digital Copy)

Back Office Baseball: A Smart Screenplay And Grounded Performances Showcase The Business Of The Game
Every year, I get wary of the inevitable film set in a sporting arena where an underdog player or team must triumph against adversity to become unlikely heroes. As accomplished or heartwarming as many of these films can be, they never seem to be able to break free of the conventions that we've all seen a hundred times. While I can't say that "Moneyball" isn't inspired by the genre, I will say that it looks at the phenomenon from a decidedly different angle. Based on Michael Lewis's non-fiction account of the same name, this is actually an intriguing story ruled by the business of baseball as opposed to the emotions the game elicits. As such, it seems like something entirely new. Director Bennett Miller (Oscar nominee for Capote), along with heavyweight screenwriters Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian, has created one of the brainiest and least sentimental baseball films you're likely to see. "Moneyball" tells the true story of how the Oakland A's GM Billy Beane rebuilt the team for the...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Dragon Knight

Very poorly done
This movie is lacking a strong developed theme. The story meanders along as if the writer was trying to figure out what to do next at each turn in the events that occur. The actors are weak in creating their characterization of the characters they are supposed to animate. If you decide to watch this poor excuse of a movie then you are wasting 4 dollars. I am disappointed in this movie and in relying on those write ups that gave high marks for this failure of a movie.

HISTORY OR ?
THIS FILM WAS A FARCE IT REALU HAD VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH CRUSADERS. A C MOVIE AT BEST. I8T WAS BOARING

Engrossing & Visually Brilliant!
Watching Dragon Knight reinforced my fascination with the Sword-and-Sandal genre. Visually brilliant scenes & an engrossing story make this a MUST-WATCH movie!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Leapfrog: The Complete Scout & Friends Collection

Three good discs and one dud, now in a slimmed-down collection!
This set includes four DVDs originally released between 2011 and 2013, starring Leapfrog mascot Scout and his friends Violet, Penny, Eli, Axel and Dash. The four discs include "Phonics Farm", "Number Land", "Adventures in Shapeville Park" and "The Magnificent Museum of Opposite Words", which are exactly the same as the individual releases. So if you're new to the party or only have one of these, it's a cheap and easy way to get them all in one package. Together, they aim to teach basic math, vocabulary, reading and comprehension skills for kids approximately aged 2-4.

The first three are good to excellent, with interesting characters, colorful animation and fun songs (and since they're already available, detailed reviews aren't hard to find). The last one, "Magnificent Museum", is the weakest of the bunch: it's hard to follow, not very intuitive and overall just sloppy compared to better outings like "Shapeville Park". But overall, this four-disc set is a good value for...

So educational you don't mind your kids watcing tv
My children have learned so much from the Leap Frog movies. I've always been obsessed on them not watching too much TV and really careful on what they watch (it must be educational). But I don't mind them watching these. Both just love all the programs.

Great Deal
We purchased this on Amazon for a great price. I pop one of these videos on in the car for my two year old while I'm running errands. I figure this is better for him to watch and is educational. The videos are very repetitive, which is great for learning and I think it's great he shouts out the answers when the TV asks him questions. He is definitely learning his numbers and shapes without even realizing he's learning.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Gentle Ladies

shadow
I was looking for a good show to watch when i found THE SAINT. I have not seen these in years but there as good as i remembered them. a+





Click to Editorial Reviews

Patlabor TV: Collection 1 [Blu-ray]

Amazing remaster. Absolutely amazing.
I am a Patlabor nut. Pure and simple. This is just as I stated in my review of the Patlabor (OVA) [Blu-ray] review.

Maiden Japan has treated this release with the utmost respect. They have secured the original Japanese remastered video, which is jaw droppingly beautiful No dust, no dirt and less cel jitter than the original DVD releases from CPM.

Patlabor TV restarts the series. The squad is re-formed, discarding what we received in the OVA (so no, you don't need to see the OVA first, though I still recommend watching them as they are some good episodes).

There are 12 episodes, spread across 3 Blu Rays.

So there is one other thing to alert everyone to. The discs contain both the Japanese and English spoken languages, however there are 2 video streams. One stream is the original Japanese video, with the original running time, subtitled with Japanese language. The other...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Bert Stern: Original Mad Man

Stern Was Remarkable - But You'll Want More
First-time director Shannah Laumeister pulls together a somewhat disorienting documentary about Bert Stern, who was arguably, one of the most innovative photographers of the last century.

The story line bounces about, documenting Stern's classic American success story life. Born poor and not educated, Stern became an established and very successful photographer by his mid-twenties.

His early job working for `Look' magazine got him his chance where he became friends with Stanley Kubrick. Reluctantly interviewed, Stern discusses his life. Most of it is about his womanizing and his drug abuse. When he discusses his work, its magic - as if it was a different person. His first successful series of shots was for Smirnoff and even by today's standards; his commercial photography was new, fresh and inventive. His work with Kubrick included promotional shots for the infamous film, "Lolita". His most famous work is the series of stills called, "The Last Sitting"; a...

A wonderful "portrait" (not biography) of the multi-talented Stern (who died just a few weeks ago)
As I watched this 89-minute 2011 film on DVD today, knowing that photographer Bert Stern died (at age 83) on June 26th, there was one question that Director Shannah Laumeister asks near the end the film that took on new meaning based on his recent death. She asks Stern, who has just finished telling us how bored he is with life in his older years (and comments on the thousands of photos he still has), "Who's going to handle your archives?" "I don't know", Stern replies. Then we see the auction he attends where a folio of 16 photos he took of Marilyn Monroe are sold. The price: $113,000. Two years later Stern is dead and I, for one, am curious to know if they were donated or sold to private collectors.

But we are here to discuss the film and the DVD, aren't we? I found it fascinating (as well as great DVD to test out my new flat screen HD TV). The film is on DVD (not Blu ray). A few of the other reviews I read said that they thought the film was lacking in depth and they...

Pictures are for ever
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. This documentary presents us a story of the life, love and work of Bert Stern. It weaves an interview with Bert Stern himself with looking at his timeless photographs. It was very interesting to hear the stories behind the famous photographs.

His photos are not just images, each one creates a story. His photo compositions were innovations, he came up with angles and backgrounds that no one has seen or imagined before. His eyes were able to isolates and defines images others did not see. I am avid photographer and really enjoyed learning of how he came up with the ideas for his photographs. Many of his compositional ideas are now taught in every photography class.

The movie covers his commercial photography, which created modern advertising as we know it, as well as portraiture work of beautiful women. We get a glimpse of his personal relationships with various models, including Marilyn Monroe. He had an ability to establish...

Click to Editorial Reviews

42

Plaaaay Ballll!
"Plaaaay Ballllll!" Yes, the Boys of Summer are at it again and this time, I learned a LOT about where American baseball has been and the fundamental changes that have happened in my lifetime. Even though we already know how it ends, thanks to a terrific PG-13 script by Brian Helgeland (Oscar for "L.A. Confidential") this insight into the Great American Pastime is an excellent reminder of how far we have come, thanks to courageous trail blazers like Jackie Robinson, who integrated professional baseball in 1945 at the instigation of Branch Rickey, a baseball executive who loved the game.

We cringe at the language used to attack our hero, we are saddened by the refusal of hotels and restaurants to serve a team that includes a black man, we are enraged by the racist heckling that takes place and we cheer when we see a man quietly rise above the rancor and "just play ball."

Here is a sample of the (huge) wonderful cast:
* Chatwick Boseman ("The Express" and...

Tale of Real Life Heroism
When I was a kid Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey were history, I read about them in books. But my baseball heroes were Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins, to me they were always just baseball players, their being black wasn't a factor in either my liking or disliking of them, and "42" brings home the truly heroic effort and forces Jackie Robinson had to overcome.

"Sports movies" are best when they're a metaphor for other areas of our lives. "Field of Dreams" isn't really about baseball, "Rocky" isn't really about boxing, and "Hoosiers" really isn't about basketball. What those movies speak to are other forces in our lives that hopefully bring out the best in us, and while "42" isn't metaphorical it speaks directly to our views of race and racism.

"42" takes place between 1946 and 1948 when Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) brought Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the Brooklyn Dodgers and integrated baseball. The plot is as simple as that, the story isn't...

A great story and outstanding performances but hampered by ham-handed paint-by-numbers directing
42, written and directed by Brian Helgeland, is based on the real-life story of Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson, the first African-American baseball player to play in the major leagues. Robinson's story is well known to many, but to anyone who isn't, 42 (Robinson's number when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers) will serve to acquaint them with the man and his achievements against the backdrop of the times he lived through. The cast is excellent and give outstanding performances, particularly when recreating the feel of the times and the way it felt to watch Robinson play.

The story begins in 1945, when Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey (a deftly turned performance by Harrison Ford) makes the decision that his team is going to be the first major league baseball team to recruit and field a black player. He takes his time, going over the various prospects with his staff, and finally settles on a short-stop currently playing for a black league team, the Kansas City...

Click to Editorial Reviews