Law Abiding Citizen [HD]

Clever, Entertaining Thriller
"Law Abiding Citizen," the new thriller with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx, is an interesting revenge thriller that takes the viewer to some unexpected places and provokes thoughtful conversations and introspection. Regardless of any drawbacks that the film may have, and it is certainly not perfect, it makes valid points about the sometimes arbitrary nature of the criminal justice system.

Gerard Butler stars as an engineer whose seemingly peaceful life is shattered when two men break into his house, injure him, and kill his wife and daughter. Grieving, but obviously believing that his case is clear cut, he is stunned when the young assistant DA prosecuting the case, played by Jamie Foxx, makes a deal that allows a reduced sentence for the killer of the wife and child in exchange for his testimony against the other man.

Ten years later, as the man convicted of murder is facing lethal injection, Butler's long-planned revenge plot begins to unfold. We find out that...

Law A-breaking Citizen
SOME SPOILERS IN HERE BUT NOT REALLY I love a good revenge movie! And this is one! Good story and an interesting M-O. I loved the idea for this movie. It chose a controvertial topic and really ran with it. The judicial system has been known to have its flaws and sometimes if people want justice they have to take it. A man (Gerard Butler) goes ape s*** for ohhhhh ten years plotting and scheming over the death of his family. Hell bent on his lack of justice after the main culprit of his family's death gets a ridiculous plea bargain. Well, this man decides to enact revenge not just on the killers, but on the whole judicial system. Because, you see, he is a war device inventing genius who has been helping the special forces for years. Sweet! Action thus ensues and you are left wondering, how the hell is he doing this stuff. Well you gotta watch to get this little tidbit. There have been complaints about the ending and while it is tough to make a truely satisfying ending to a movie that...

A Great Movie!
Clyde Shelton is a law abiding family man, and inventor. After his wife and child are brutally murdered an up and coming lawyer hands out a deal to the killer in exchange for his accomplice. Clyde isn't happy about the way the "justice system" functions. Like many of us Clyde wants to right the wrongs in our flawed legal system. He proceeds to track down and kill the man that killed his family. After being put in jail, Clyde starts killing many of the others involved in the court case. The judge and the criminal defense attorney are among his victims. The problem is that he is in jail. It's hard to commit murder when you're locked up. He is pulling it off somehow. His former lawyer, Nick Rice, is determined to bring him to justice. He learns how hard it will be after he finds out that Clyde was a CIA tactician and inventor.

This movie blew me away. The acting, story, and soundtrack are all amazing. This film has action, drama, suspense, and comedy. It's pretty well rounded,...

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The Muse

A Different Take
Maybe it's because I had just started reading Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art" when I saw The Muse, but I had a different take on it. Others have already synopsized the film, so I'll just say: try watching it and thinking of the Muse (Sharon Stone) as, literally, an artist's creativity. What happens? It makes extravagant demands at inopportune times. It wakes you up at three in the morning because that's when it feels like working. It wants what it wants and doesn't care about your pocketbook, your relationship or your convenience. It gets [ticked] off and leaves if you undervalue it or start doubting it. You worry that others' creativity and success might take away from yours. Your female side (Andie McDowell) is maybe a little more comfortable with it (even thinking she will share a bed with it) then runs away when she sees what she's getting into (better to sleep on a cold, hard floor than to get too close to a real creative life). The writer, told he has lost his...

I Was Filled With Inspiration After Seeing This Muse!
I don't know why everyone is picking on this film so much! I wanted to see it really bad after watching so many previews for it on cable. Finally i bought the DVD on just a whim, and I am so glad I did!

Im not going to supply you with a plot because a lot of reviews already did that. I will say I found the film to be very original and charming. The preformaces by the actors, especially Albert Brooks, are prefectly delivered in this material. In addition, I could not stop laughing at some of the brilliant comedy. It's much better then the gross-out sex gags seen everywhere in cinema today.

Some who see The Muse may not like it because they'll compare it to Brook's other films like Mother or Defending Your Life. But, on the off chance you do enjoy it, you will have found a sparkling comedy gem!

Thoroughly Charming!
Forget the Sharon Stone of movies like Basic Instinct, Sliver or even Casino. This is an entirely different role and one that might actually change your opinion of her. Albert Brooks - who was also the writer and director of this little film - is a once successful screenwriter amid a career dry spell. At the suggestion of a friend, he seeks to engage the services of a muse, Sarah - Sharon - who demands gifts, living quarters and perpetual adoration. The initial benefit is questionable as Brooks struggles to realize any positive ideas from Sarah while his wife - Andie MacDowell - comes up with a hundred thoughts regarding the relationship between him and his erstwhile source of inspiration.

It's Andie that strikes gold first through the presence of Sarah, leading to comic angst from her husband - and perhaps no one has as much angst as Albert Brooks. Cameo appearances by a number of Hollywood characters playing themselves help to keep your interest through whatever slow spots...

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Dead Ringers [HD]

Great Minds Think Alike
After creating the viscerally charged and bewildering Videodrome, Cronenberg took on a few projects with a bit more mainstream appeal: The Dead Zone, The Fly, and this film: Dead Ringers.

It's not just a clever title (in fact, the movie was going to be called "Twins" until one of Cronenberg's old producers, Ivan Reitman, asked if he could use the title for a movie he was working on with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito). The movie stars -- and stars again -- Jeremy Irons as twin gynecologists, Beverly and Elliot Mantle. Although they are physically identical, their personalities take divergent paths as they grow older. Elliot grows into a confident womanizer, a sponge for the spotlight. Beverly withdraws into books, confident in little else other than...

Cronenberg-Irons tour de force.
'Dead Ringers' may indeed be David Cronenberg's best film. Jeremy Irons performance is truly extraordinary. As for not being able to tell the difference between the two brothers, I could sense immediately which brother was which by simple body language and how each brother carried himself. Which is a testiment to the subtlties of Iron's acting, that he could make you believe he was two different people at the same time on screen. This belief was also helped by the amazing motion control camera sequences which allowed Irons to "act with himself" in the same frame. The clean perpendicular lines of the twins' appartment was especially chosen to make it easier to cut the film together.

Viewers should be warned beforehand that 'Dead Ringers' is not a horror movie, it's more of a psychological character study. The twin brothers have an unusual gendered relationship. Elliot as the suave unfeeling male who's "no good with the serious ones" and Beverly, with the girl's name, as the the...

Jeremy Irons does more than just clone himself in this role!
The Mantle brothers, Beverly and Elliot, are more than just identical twins. They're like two aspects of one person's internal character turned into two separate external realities. They're both brilliant gynecologists specializing in infertility problems with women and have spent their whole lives living as if they were one individual. They live in the same flat, work at the same clinic and share the same unsuspecting women until Beverly falls in love and no longer wants to share. This emotional break initiates an evaluation of the self, ultimately calling into question the very nature of the brothers symbiotic relations. Can they survive without each other? Jeremy Irons does more than just clone himself in this role, but engenders the brothers Mantle with two distinctive characterizations that are convincing and compelling. Based on an actual case.

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Young Guns 2 [HD]

Yoohoo! I'll make you buy this!
Not many sequels surpass their original sibling but this DVD does. Billy's back, so is Pat Garrrett (although he is played by a different actor) and this is the showdown. This movie is the story of an old man claiming to be Billy who is after the pardon he was promised almost a lifetime ago. This movie picks up pretty much a year after Young Guns left off with the surviving regulators being round up and set for a hanging. Meanwhile Billy is being promised a pardon by the governor in return for testimony against his old enemies who killed John Tunstall. Of course there is no pardon and Billy must escape and rescue his pals. Pat Garrett is of course paid a lot of money to turn on Billy, track him down and bring him to justice.

Out of the two Young Guns movies this is the more well known story of the life of Billy the Kid. You don't actually need to have seen the original to enjoy this movie but the original is pretty good too so you might as well.

The trailer...

Young Guns II: Great Fun in the Wild Wild West!
How many times have we seen a sequel that was better than original? Let's face it: something like that is rare.

Young Guns, the film from 1988 was a succes at the box office, so a sequel came in 1990. Well folks, I'll tell you: Young Guns II entertains and is even better than the original.

The story of Young Guns II basically takes of where Part I stopped.

Cast members Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips are united once more for some more fun in the wild wild west.

The story may be historically inaccurate, the story is nice and gives a lot of entertainment and surprises.

Emilio Estevez is back as Billy the Kid and gives an even more satisfying performance than in the first one. He gives his crazy, triggerhappy character an extra touch and even shows a more emotional side of the character.

Kiefer Sutherland plays a good role as Doc and even if his role may feel a bit smaller than in the first one,...

An Era Lives On
Western films have slowly deterierated in quality since the passing and changing of certain actors souch as John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. It is good to see a western that captures the same hearts as did earlier westerns. We need more movies like this one.

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Episode 4

6 star 1700s period courtroom drama SUSTAINED
Quickly has become one of my favorite shows of all-time. Garrow's Law Series 2 confirmed as BEST HISTORICAL LEGAL DRAMA, tops Rumpole. Near perfection for late-18th century historical reproduction in sets, costumes, & dialogue. It's more realistic 1700s scenes than the true period. Stunning visual detail. The plots, cases, and people are from real British Old Bailey criminal court data- the beginning of justice. Sir William Garrow (1760-1840) initiated "Innocent until proven guilty." This TV series, accurately reveals him idealistic, rescuer for wrongly arrested. He's young, eager, belligerent, rash, arrogant, and a winner. Since Garrow was champion to the poor, this series gives viewers an accurate look at commoners' life. 18th century low class was often taken advantage of by aristocrats. Modern law has inherited much legal good begun by Garrow.

Stellar returning cast and powerful portrayals:
Andrew Buchan (Cranford) as barrister Wm Garrow could be played no...

Garrow's Law
This is one of the best series and I hope they do more. Great courtroom drama, love story and characters and the very best of actors. This is a must for collectors, and those who love the english language.

Garrow's Law
This is an excellent and historically correct period courtroom drama. It puts anything I've seen on American TV to shame!

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Copycat [HD]

Good story, great suspense...
If you like suspense, mystery, a good story, and for the most part, good acting, then this movie is a good choice. What I like about Copycat (besides Sigourney Weaver) is how it seems to come full circle. It feels complete to me. It starts at the beginning, doesn't backtrack with flashbacks or start in the middle and leave you wondering what's going on. You're able to follow along and not get distracted by unnecessary gore (sure there is some, but not much). It's a psychological thriller, and I like that much better than the slash and dash type of movies. It makes you think and allows you to try and figure out what the outcome will be.

Sure, you expect the star to live, but it's not always a given. The ending kind of hints at a sequel but as far as I know, there isn't one. If they can make one as good as the first, I think it would do well (at least those who enjoyed this one, might see the second). It's rather interesting to see the Harry Connick Jr. play a serial killer...

Remarkable display of talent...
Here you have two tough broads, a good cop and the nastiest of killers. How can you lose? Actually, the pairing of Sigourney & Holly is wonderful, in this age of films so lacking in strong women's roles. Sigourney, in particular, after years of kicking alien-butt, withdraws as the victim of an almost lethal attack and subsequent nervous breakdown. Her house-bound recluse still shows fire and rage, well-controlled and centered; a really great performance. Holly, too, in a slightly less showy role, shows drive and command of her role. These women are magnificent, in their own ways, and carry this film through plot-twists and strange turns that are always compelling. Also compelling is the very taut direction of John Amiel, never missing a chance to include the audience in everything, though you don't realize it at the time. A very handsome Dermot Mulroney makes an auspicious presence as an "almost" sex-object for the women, and William McNamara is greatly effective as the ultimate...

ONE FINE THRILLER
Amidst all the suspense, shocks, and chills of this superbly made thriller stands the awesome performances of Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter. Ever since she pioneered the "female buttkicker" in the Alien movies, Sigourney has stretched her range to show the immense amount of talent she possesses. Her role as agoraphobic Helen Hudson is one of her finest; she lets us feel every nuance of her frustration, her terror, her anger, her intense ability to be strong even when she admits she's weak. Matching her performance is the understated portrayal of cop M. J. Monahan by Oscar-winner Holly Hunter. Hunter's bravura etching of this likeable cop is extremely effective in counterbalancing the tormented Weaver. Although the fate of Dermot Mulroney as Monahan's partner is questionably appropriate, it does serve as a motivating factor in Hunter's pursuit of the serial killer. William McNamara's performance as Peter Foley may seem underplayed, but it serves to heighten the...

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If You Meet Sartana Pray For Your Death

Classic Must SEE Spaghetti Western
Okay, first off, the video quality is not great, but its a Italian Western so that is often expected. Also, I read lots of complaints on Amazon about the voice dubbing so here is a little help on that score. Almost ALL Spaghetti Westerns (Italian Westerns) were shot silent and dubbed into all languages (even Italian). They will always have the look of a strangely dubbed movie; its just the way it is.

Now about this actual film. I think its a GREAT example of the genre with one the classic Spaghetti Western characters (Sartana) and one of the classic actors (Gianni Garko). The plot is very convoluted so pay close attention to the betrayals as it matters. I have seen the movie several times and I still have to pay attention.

There is lots of Spaghetti Western gun play and great Italian death scene over acting. Just fantastic.

The cast list is a whos-who of classic Spaghetti Western actors:
Gianni Garko
William Berger
Klaus...

Splaghetti western...
Meh...Obvious Clint Eastwood ripoff - second rate spaghetti western. Plot? Box of rocks. Cheesy sound effects. Couldn't get through it...

Dont let the date fool you...
Like an old spaghetti western but not as good. I couldn’t make it all the way through the movie. I thought by the date that it was going to be a modern western.

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King George VI: The Man Behind the King's Speech

Another WONDERFUL companion film to the Oscar Winning "The King's Speech"
This is another WONDERFUL companion piece to the Academy Award Winning film "The King's Speech". About a month ago I reviewed a title "The King Speaks" which focuses on Lionel Logue - the speech therapist who taught King George VI to reduce his stuttering. This hour long documentary (apparently aired on ITV in the UK in connection with the feature film) Spends more time on the King himself, from inheriting the throne when his brother King Edward abdicated the throne in 1936 though his death at the young age of 52 and the subsequent coronation of his eldest daughter who became Queen Elizabeth II.

This is a fascinating extension of the all-too-brief featurette that was included on the DVD release of the Colin Firth-starring film from Sony (see my review of that film on Amazon.). The Sony film included one small except of archival footage of King George VI - the "stuttering king". Here we get much more!

Actor First makes a brief appearance as does the Sony film's...

Really good!
I enjoyed this film! As most people already know from "The King's Speech", King George VI never intended nor desired to be king. This documentary is a fascinating look at how he reconciled himself with the role, and became an inspiration to his nation.

Highlights include original footage of the King's life, interviews with the of grandson Lionel Logue, and commentary from the cast and crew of "The King's Speech".

Definitely worth the purchase. Inspiring man, inspiring film.

Brilliant
Nothing compared to the King's Speech but definitely a must see documentary for those who enjoyed watching the King's Speech. It's very informational and inspiring. Gives your an inside exclusive on the King and his struggles with stuttering. I really enjoyed watching the historic footages of King George. I was quite surprised to see Colin Firth do a commentary. This is something everyone should see before or after they watch the King's Speech.

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Critters (1986) [HD]

Weird, imaginative nonsense.
The Krites are the critters. They are nasty little hedgehog-type creatures and while they may look cute you wouldn't dare pet one as they'd rip your hand of and share the rest of you with their pals.

The Krites are prisoners on an asteroid jailhouse floating through the far side of the galaxy. Chaos inevitably breaks out and the Krites escape in a stolen ship, heading for the nearest solar system and it's only inhabitable planet...earth! Not to worry though, a couple of intergalactic bounty hunters are soon on their tail and track them all the way to the quiet farming town of Grover's Bend, Kansas. The worst thing ever to happen in Grover's Bend is the local drunk (the ever lovable Charlie) getting chucked out of a bar. But now the Krites are here and they lay siege to the Brown farm, eating their cows, Billy Zane, chickens etc. Anyone or anything getting in their way is promptly poisoned by their anaesthetic spikes and feasted on.

Once the bounty hunters arrive...

Fun and entertaining
I cannot help but laugh every time I see people bashing each other over a movie. Disliking a certain film is one thing. But for somebody to go out of their way and flagrantly insult a total stranger over their enjoyment of a particular film they happened to hate is unnecessary and immature. Amazon should police these reviews a bit more seriously.

"Critters" is a fond and harmless throwback to the sort of monster movie so prevalent in the mid-1950s sci-fi boom. I cannot so easily classify the plot as straight-up horror, because it really isn't. This is more of a hodgepodge. You get a smattering of horror, comedy, and science fiction all rolled up within a singular and satisfying package. I caught this in a theater with my father twenty years ago, and it has always remained a guilty pleasure of mine. None of the special effects are overdone, the writing is suitable, and I found most of the cast agreeable and entertaining.

I have found over the years that many of us...

Inventive and sprightly horror /sci fi hybrid
Critters -or "crites" -are intergalactic criminals who escape from their gaolers and land in Kansas.They are pursued by the forces of the law , leather clad bounty hunters with shape shifting abilities .The crites are not notably pleasant creatures -while they resemble tumbleweeds(albeit omnivotous tumblweeds ) they have the nasty habit of discharging poison darts from their skin and have murderous dispositions .They lay siege to a farm house in Grover's Bend ,Kansas and are intent on the destruction of any humans with whom they come into contact

The movie has a nice line in wry ,acerbic humour and the performance from a capable cast ,which includes Dee Wallace Stone , M Emmett Walsh and Scott Grimes are excellent .

Add some good production values and the result is a sharp little movie that is funny without deetracting from its merits as a neat little monster movie

Entertaining and witty

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Anuvahood

YAY!
Love this film! SOoO funny and the characters are all completely lovable, especially "K" played by Adam Deacon. You will find yourself rooting for him to win and laughing the whole way. The visuals and colors are great too, such a nice touch!

Love this film!
This is a fun and witty film about teens trying to live up to a certain reputation. It is a fun and light-hearted film that is perfect for just sitting back and enjoying the crazy adventure it takes you on!

Absolutely love it!!!
Just happened to come across this movie one day, and I love it. It is a real life setting with a comical twist.

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Bollyrobics Dance Workout

Fun, easy to follow, great music & moves, though slow/non-music teaching portion
This DVD comes in several languages: English, Hindu, Spanish, French, Japanese & music only (same beat for all menu choices).
It has 3 different dances, Maahi Ve, Chaiyya Chaiyya. Each section is 30-35 min each w/a warm-up, step by step, the 3 min dance performance itself & a cool down. The warm-ups & cool downs are all the same for all 3 dances.

From their website:
Songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Bombay Dreams" and the Bollywood film "Kal Ho Naa Ho" (Indian Love Story -- Tomorrow May Never Come) featuring Shahrukh Khan provide the music to 3 dances, each with an increasing level of difficulty and unique style which varies from playful and sensual to dynamic and powerful.

The woman on the dvd, Julia Casper, is the one dancing. At the dance portion, it's just her 3x with computer graphics.
Warm-up - uses basic dancing you will use to get you into it before the step by step portion.
Step by step - shows you the moves, she does break it down,...

Bollycize
This is one of my favorite exercize DVDS based on Bollywood/Bhangra moves--while the other similar routines out there (Sarina Jain, Hemalayaa, Honey Kalaria) all have something unique to contribute--this DVD is particularly good because the choreography is excellent & interesting and Julia Kaspar is just an amazing dancer. The 3 dances each start with a warm-up and end with a cool-down, are broken down into easy to follow segments, and are set to music that is actually dance-inspiring. The production quality is a little silly (or maybe just BASIC)--sort of Euro-90s but, that said, very fun. I would also note that this DVD is more oriented for someone interested in dance rather than pure aerobic fitness.

The Best Ever!!!!
I bought this DVD together with another one by Heemalaya's and BY FAR THIS IS THE BEST! It has a great and easy routine, in several Languages (which I love since I can practice Hindi, and can see it with my friends either in English or Spanish. Although more languages are available). Julia Casper is a very good dancer and not just an aerobics freak (which was my impression of Heemalaya's DVD). Therefore the movements are very graceful.

It has 3 routines of great Bollywood songs and they all start with a warm-up, then she leads you little by little to all the beautiful steps... and she makes you sweat!!! (I barely sweat... until I did these routines). Then it is dancing time to Sharuk's music and finally the cool-down exercises. I LOVE THIS DVD. I hope they will produce more routines later on. ... and by the way, this DVD really has Bollywood music unlike the other one which pretends to... but has more a Westernized version of Bollywood.

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Mamma Mia! The Movie (DVD + Digital Copy)

Some things that are not good for you, "feel" good so go for it!
From what I know of the history of this play/movie the two ladies that worked so hard to get ABBA and others to put this together in GB are now two of the wealthiest women in England - and from what I have seen it drives the critics nuts, ("lousy, bad camera work, Brosnen can not carry a tune etc., etc.,) the bottom line folks, this movie fits like that old comfortable shirt your wife (the critic) wants you to throw away because it looks "awful". Well, the heck with em, I like my shirt, and I like meatloaf and mashed potatos, and I like Mama Mia, maybe it is mind candy, maybe it does not reach the high brow standard, but it "feels good" so the pundants can take their "expert" advise and put it where "the sun don't shine", this movie makes me smile and who knew Meryl Streep could sing like that - the "Winner Takes it All" maybe very poorly filmed according to the so called experts because the one I saw said "get me off the Merry-go-Round" but it sure sent chills down my back - let the...

Funtrack
This CD is a must-have just for the simple unadulterated pop culture value. This isn't one of those dramatic instrumental soundtracks with titles like "Wedding March" or "The Emperor is Dead", but instead is a lot of fun, especially for people who have grown up singing every word that ABBA ever wrote.

The eighteen songs (17 + hidden track) are all familiar ABBA hits, and you'll find yourself singing along with the likes of Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried and others.

Some of these unlikely songbirds can actually carry a note (albeit not too far), and others will make you smile (You're a brave man Pierce), but there's no denying that this soundtrack would make a great stocking stuffer or just-because gift for your favorite baby boomer.

Tracks not to be missed (whether good or just rather ambitious) are:

"Honey, Honey" - Amanda Seyfried

"Mamma Mia!" - Meryl Streep

"Dancing...

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVED this movie. I saw it six times in the theater and laughed and bobbed my head as much the sixth time as the first. The music great!! Ok, so Pierce Brosnan isn't the best singer in the world. You know what? I've paid a whole lot more money to see people in concert that were suppose to be great singers and were so much worse than Pierce. Besides if you don't want to listen to him just watch him. He's showing some age(but then aren't we all) he's still quite attractive. I think Merryl Streep did an incredible job. Who knew she could sing like that?! And Donna's two friends are a hoot. And I think the girl that plays Sophie is adorable.

In today's times it's great to be able to sit down with a movie and not have to think about it. Just be entertained by it. It's a great "bad day" movie. Go home put your feet up and just veg out. Sure to improve your bad mood greatly!!

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Tale of Two Wars: WWII And Vietnam

A huge but average collection.
A Tale of Two Wars: WWII And Vietnam

It comes as two separate plastic boxes with the discs in sleeves, stacked in the center, like other Mill Creek products. So no fancy packaging here. Video quality varies but is mostly good. Good transfers though.

WWII: The war that Changed the world. 11 DVDs

The first two series Dawn of War and The Fight for Freedom, are actually one huge series called The Finest Hours of the Second World War divided into two parts. It's in English but produced in Spain apparantly. The narrator speaks perfect English but the script seems to be translated from spanish so the sentence structure and some pronuciations are kind of distracting. You can kind of get used to it after a while but it remains a distraction. (For the reader's information, not meant as an insult.) Still it's a huge series and very detailed and contains a lot of stock footage. 4 DVDs 21 episodes at 52 minutes each.

The next one is The War in the...

An Impressive Collection--Almost 90 Hours !
This is another very good idea by Mill Creek Entertainment, putting many different documentary Series on one big DVD set. On this impressive 20-Disc collection you'll find 150 programs, some about World War II and others about the Vietnam War. Chronicling the major battles, the victories and losses and the stories from the brave soldiers on the front-lines during WWII and Vietnam, this epic collection contains almost 90 hours of wartime video footage, newsreels, photographs, interviews and much more. If, like me, you enjoy watching Historical documentaries and learning more about the great wars then this DVD set will be a very good addition to your library. The series you'll find in this Collection are:

-- The Dawn of War ( 3 DVD )
The Dawn of War: The Early Battles of WWII takes viewers to the front lines of the European, the Pacific and the African theatres of the deadliest conflict in human history. Entire hours are devoted to the rise of the Axis powers, the...



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1911 [Blu-ray/DVD Combo]

1911 Revolution
Dynamic actor Jackie Chan is working hard in trying to leave a firm and strong legacy in Chinese cinema and cinema in general. Perhaps he wants to demonstrate that his talents are not exclusively in martial arts films and comedies, but also in dramatic roles. And I'm happy to say that he successfully does that in "1911 Revolution," a formidable and epic film about one of China's defining moments in its tortured history. Historical movies just don't get better than this.

The film opens with the execution of Qiu Jin, in Shaoxing. She was a member of the Tongmenghui, a revolutionary council that wanted to end the imperial government. We are then taken to San Francisco, on April 26, 1911, when Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (Winston Chao) is speaking at a fundraiser to the Chinese community in that city, in order that money could be collected for the revolutionary army that was fighting the Qing Dynasty. It was thought, we learn, that "overseas Chinese people were the mothers of the...

I enjoyed it, but not because it's a great movie
I'm a world history teacher, and I am going to China later this summer for a three-week vacation/adventure. I spent a lot of time in my class covering Chinese history, so it was only natural that I would watch this. I enjoyed it a lot - but mostly because I was familiar with the basics of the material it covered. Otherwise, I would have been totally lost. The plot concerns how Sun Yat Sen and his followers fight a lot of battles to defeat the corrupt Qing dynasty and establish a Chinese republic. There's a little more to it, but not much. This is not really a martial arts movie, nor a real drama, but a curious mix of those things and a documentary.

What you get is a lot of hagiography about Sun Yat-Sen, and a lot of battles. The film is most certainly propaganda for the current regime in China, even it is somewhat veiled. Many historical figures are introduced and then. . . they disappear from view. I suspect a Chinese viewer would probably get a lot more out of it than a...

That's not the real run time
The run time for this movie is actually about 118 minutes, but the US Blu-Ray version is only 99 minutes. Why the heck is that? I was looking forward to this (especially for it's incredible run time, making it a true epic), but was let down by you guys at Amazon. Other than that, the movie was still good, but should have been 240 minutes, extending all the battle sequences in the movie

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Girls Animation Bundle - Horseland + Sabrina + Mona the Vampire

A good bargain
My daughter likes this DVD. Especially the Sabrina shows. As a parent, I thought this was a great deal money wise. The animation is quite good with brilliant colors.





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Me Again [Blu-ray]

Definitely One of the Funniest Christian Movies I've Ever Seen
Christian Comedy -- that's a mostly untapped movie genre with unlimited potential. And yet the newly released Me Again has to be placed at or near the top of this list of humor-filled faith-based films. I found myself laughing again and again throughout this film that was at times downright goofy and yet at other times more meaningful than I expected. We all need to spend more time thinking through what life is really like for the people around us who are broken and hurting in so many ways, instead of dismissing, judging, or ignoring them. It's time to reach out and make a difference in people's lives, helping them fall more in love with our Savior! Lots of chuckles, smiles, and a great message -- what more could you ask for in a movie that the whole family will enjoy?

Inspiring Without Being Preachy
There are a lot of Christian movies that have Christian beliefs as the main theme, and then develop plots around those themes. What is nice about this movie is that it focuses on a main theme and adds a few (thankfully subtle) Christian elements to support that theme, but elements that can actually be considered universal. In other words, you don't have to be Christian to appreciate the movie, and the movie certainly doesn't attempt to get you to become a Christian. It is really just a good, solid, movie that holds one's interest from start to finish. It has some really powerful scenes, and it has an important, universal message that will speak to people of all faiths. It is a movie that everyone in the family can - and should - watch, particularly people who question the value and purpose of their lives. In sum, this movie can really make a difference in people's lives - regardless of their faith (or lack of it).

I just don't get the glowing reviews
I rent or buy a lot of "family-friendly" movies. Some time ago, I bought this movie,(cheap), at a pawn shop. I tried hard to watch it but became bored and irritated by the plot after about half an hour. Maybe this film gets seriously resurrected later on but I couldn't take more than a half an hour. The "minister" in this film was a slob and a pathetic excuse for a man of God. Again, maybe he gets revolutionized later on but the acting and the plot during the first half hour were, for me, about as bad as it gets.

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Bratz: Desert Jewelz

Bratz: Desert Jewelz
A Good Twist on A Classic Story.
The Bratz Look Sexy-Tough, But They Always Do the Right Thing.
They Help Who Ever Needs Help.
A Fun Little Movie.

great kids movie
I loved having this movie for my seven year old granddaughter it kkept her entertained while I had important business to tend too. The movie had good values on life also.

Entertaining Show
Grandchildren enjoyed and learned a lesson. The music entertained and kept the children interested. The timing was perfect. Made for an enjoyable afternoon.

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The Whistleblower [Blu-ray]

Fighting human rights violations
"The Whistleblower," based on a true story, is a gritty movie about sexual trafficking in Bosnia. Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz), a Nebraska cop, is a divorced mom who takes a job with a security contractor for big pay and a short tour in the Balkans. She discovers that ethnic tensions have caused local cops to refuse to investigate domestic violence cases, particularly those involving Muslims. She is promoted and put in charge of gender affairs by a U.N. official (Vanessa Redgrave), but is increasingly frustrated. After building cases against sexual traffickers, she's told they enjoy diplomatic immunity.

Bolkovac is a lone crusader, persuading fearful women to testify against their abusers, bucking diplomatic hypocrisy, and dealing with rampant paranoia. Ms. Weisz heads this topical political thriller, turning in a powerful performance, one of her best. The movie underscores the collateral damage caused by politics and maintaining the delicate balance of world...

A sharp, intellegent political drama that's not easy to watch
The Whistleblower is not a comfortable film to watch, nor is it supposed to be - Rachel Weisz takes on an extremely difficult role here that could have come across as monotone in the hands of someone less capable. I used to think she was a fairly average actress but she's clearly become somebody extremely skilled around challenging material. Some of her final scenes in the film are Oscar-worthy and underscore a number of sickening truths that have been developed throughout the script.

From the first few minutes, it's pretty clear that the story isn't going to have a happy ending and once you see what military contractors and UN officials were conspiring to achieve, it's enough to make you want to write letters to your elected representatives. I haven't read anything to indicate that the situation shown in this film is untrue and it paints an extremely shameful picture of what Westerns organizations were doing while supposedly protecting civilians.

Overall, it's...

Harsh Realities Exposed
THE WHISTLEBLOWER is a film that kicks you in the stomach and then continues to play out the worst possible truths that we'd rather not admit exist. The theme of the film is Human Trafficking, and apparently there are about 2.5 million victims around the world today - young people who are sold into sexual slavery for the financial gain of people from all areas of life, including our own government, the International Practices Task Force, and contracted companies supported by the US Government to rebuild who are assigned to third world countries and countries besieged by or recovering from war, and in our own cities in this country. This film is based on a true story, a story written (and discussed in the bonus track on the DVD) by Kathryn Bolkovac who was transferred from her police job in Lincoln, Nebraska to Bosnia (with the promise of $100,000. and a six month term) to monitor the local Sarajevo police and advise them on proper police procedures. Bolkovac's story was written for...

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Head Case

Warning! Your worst fears could become a bad fake-umentary!
***Contains Spoilers***

Well, I watched the movie all the way through. I did.

The cinematography was interesting in places, reminiscent of Dario Argento. Very texture-laden. Cinder-block walls, brick walls, textured stucco, the sets in the Montgomery's house had a scabby, WalMart-esque organized quality in a manner. Pleasing in a way. The problem is what other reviewers saw as "grisly" or "gory" was off-screen butchery. Some of it was on-screen, but both on-screen and off-screen lacked a kinetic quality. Watch "Videodrome" and the video of abattoir had water in it, to give it kinetic quality. There is nothing in the cinematography of "Head Case" to suggest kinetic action. What makes "America's Funniest Home Videos" funny is kinetic action. "Head Case" is fake-umentary that resembles a video of a socially-awkward teenager who stammers a lot. If fake blood that doesn't seem to come from anywhere, just magically...

Trailer for Head Case




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Timmy Time: Timmy Needs a Bath

Messy and Silly!
If you have never seen Timmy Time before it is a spin-off of Shaun the Sheep made especially for preschoolers. "Timmy Needs a Bath" is an adorable DVD featuring Timmy and the gang basically being mischievous kids. Timmy just keep getting in mess after mess at preschool with mud, glue, and paint! What is nice about this show is the characters don't talk, they do make noises but no talking so kids can actually focus on the characters actions. The show made me and my boys laugh at the sillyness of the characters. There is five fun episodes on this DVD perfect for kids to watch a bunch of episodes in a row or watch one here or there since they are short episodes.

My almost 2 year old loves it
I can get anything done by my toddler by just letting him watch the DVD. He just loves Timmy time.

Its Timmy Time!
Our now 17month old son first saw Timmy Time commercials on a Bob the Builder DVD. He imitates the sounds Timmy makes! Fair warning- there is no talking, it is all just animal sounds but you can almost tell what they might be saying based on body language and what they are doing.

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Beginning of the Great Revival [HD]

Communist Chinese Propaganda That Misses The Mark As A History Lesson Or As Entertainment
Made from a purely propagandistic standpoint, "Beginning of The Great Revival" is a state sanctioned effort to commemorate the ninetieth anniversary of the adoption of that country's Chinese Communist Party. As such, it is a celebratory and one-sided event that shies away from any unnecessary unpleasantness or critique to present the glories of enlightenment. On subject matter and perspective alone, therefore, the film can be viewed in a rather negative light. And justifiably so. But being pragmatic, a film can be distasteful and/or untruthful but still merit consideration from a historical significance viewpoint. Take, for example, Griffith's "Birth of a Nation." Morally and thematically reprehensible, it still helped define the language of film and is absolutely a masterpiece--however wrongheaded and dangerous (and it was directly responsible for many deaths). Obviously, I'm not saying that "Beginning of the Great Revival" holds the same significance, just that I was willing to have...

Sound Bites of History
I was really looking forward to this film, but it was a disappointment. I almost gave it a two star rating , but that inclination was probably the result of dashed expectations. Three stars is only a little generous, so the reader could probably find my true sentiments somwhere in-between.

With a host of great Chinese stars, I imagined this film would be a great epic production with beautiful scenes and a driving plot. Sorry to say it, but this film truly missed the mark. Though the visuals were great, the film played like a string of commercials, very choppy and somewhat disconnected. Rather than focusing on main themes, the plot presents the years leading up to the Chinese Revolution as a series of small and large events with both major leaders and secondary figures getting their due notice. The result is a movie filled with sound bites of history, a story line of vignetts. The great actors in the film are forced to develop their characters with only a few lines and...

Fascinating Movie
I really enjoyed this movie. I like having the chance to see an authentic voice of China, something that actually happened.

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Classic Kung Fu Double Pack Vol 1: True Game Of Death/Incredible Kung Fu Mission

Save your money
I've spent a long time looking for a copy of this movie at an affordable price, and was surprised when I found it in a double pack. The package descibes it as digitally remasterd, it's not. And the worst part is the movie cuts off during the final fight scene, maybe 90 seconds left in the movie and it jumps back to the menu screen.

Classic kung fu double pack vol 1
I remember when these first came out on VHS and these stories are so original and a great bargain to get two for the price of one. True classics



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Revenge of the Electric Car

The Race Is On: Unprecedented Access To Automotive Power Players Adds Insight To The Rebirth Of The Electric Car
At the dramatic conclusion of Chris Paine's 2006 documentary feature "Who Killed The Electric Car?," it appeared as if this alternate source of transportation was already a thing of the past. As we know, however, electric cars (or cars that incorporate this technology) do exist in contemporary 2012. It seems quite fitting, therefore, that Paine would have compiled a follow-up film with "Revenge of the Electric Car." How did the market shift so dramatically in such a short period of time? That is a question Paine seeks to answer, and for this film he received surprising behind-the-scenes access to some of the most influential power players in the industry. The journey begins shortly after the conclusion of the initial film, with an unlikely advocate being GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz whose company received the most vocal condemnation for pulling the EV1 off the market (this is the primary subject of the first film, if you have not seen it). With Lutz cooperating with the filmmaker (and...

High production value, great story
Talk about cool! This movie is the best insider look at cutting edge vehicle programs and the rise of the newest generation of electric cars from 2005 to 2011. It was fun and easy to watch (I watched it twice in a row) because the protagonists are great, the story keeps you interested, the music is phenomenal and the picture quality is top-notch. This is not your average documentary.

I have been interested in Elon Musk and Bob Lutz for a long time, so this movie was at the top of my must-see list. Not only does it give an inside look into the lives of Elon and Bob (at work and at home) but the filmmakers arranged a meeting for the two to get together at the North America Auto Show. Elon and Bob talk about the cars as they tour the auto show together! Priceless!

Entertaining and informative
Every time I fill my Prius these days, I'm so thankful that I have a car that is at least partly electric and gives me a lot of miles per gallon. I can imagine how much better it would be if I had a car that was totally electric but there aren't many affordable electric cars out there yet. This documentary gives me hope that there will soon be more energy efficient cars available. This movie was not only informative, it was very entertaining. I loved the way it gave insight into the first electric cars and how GM destroyed them. It showed some of the small companies like Tesla that were trailblazers with the first all-electric vehicles. Wow, I wish I could afford one of those! That has to be one of the best looking cars I've seen.

The documentary also showed how resistant GM was to develop new electric models when there were Japanese carmakers that were selling so many hybrids and Americans were willing to pay a premium for them and even wait in line to get them in...

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Classic Kung Fu Double Pack Vol 2: Bloody Fight/Story In Temple Red Lily

classic kung fu 2
After seeing the 1st in this series of classic kung fu dvd's I thought that kung fu 2 was equally as good-original and a great bargain to get two features for the price of one.





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Nip/Tuck: Complete Second Season

Truly great TV
The second season of FX's Nip/Tuck went above and beyond the conventions set during it's first season, with plenty of shocks and surprises for all involved. Beginning with Christian (Julian McMahon, soon to be seen as the villainous Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four) fighting for custody of the son he knows isn't his, while Sean (Dylan Walsh) ponders over hitting the big four 0. Eventually, Sean comes across a mysterious "life coach" (Famke Janssen) who soon begins a dangerous affair with Sean's oldest son. This leads to a shocking revelation for Sean, Christian, and Sean's wife Julia (the teriffic Arly Jover) that soon becomes one of the most gut wrenchingly heartbreaking moments on TV today. But it doesn't end there. Christian comes face to face with the possibility that he might be HIV positive, and Sean comes face to face with a knife wielding masked would be killer after he does some pro bono work for victims mutilated by him. All this ends in a season ending cliffhanger that will...

Engaging, very addictive
I stumbled upon Nip/Tuck by accident and stayed on purpose. It has to be some of the best stuff on television today. It's not even the subject matter or graphic scenes depicting plastic surgery procedures, that's just there to calm things down a bit. The real shock value comes from the relationships and personalities which can be obsessively engaging. I am especially drawn to the interrelations between Christian and Sean, best friends since college and now partners in their prominent and very successful plastic surgery practice. Christian's outward demeanor is all ego but inside he's just a scared little boy in search of love. He has morals although they stay well hidden and are rarely used. Okay, maybe they just aren't there but he's really handsome, very easy on the eyes and fun to watch, even if it's just as a warning of the type of guy to stay clear of.
Sean seems to struggle with everything, thinks too deeply and is as much of an egotist as his partner but with a...

Season 3 CANNOT GET HERE SOON ENOUGH!!!
Idly, one night, I was tuned in to FX, and this show with the bad guy turned good from "Charmed" was on. My wife told me to leave it on because she was a fan of "Charmed". Ever since that night, I have been an ENORMOUS fan of NIP/TUCK. Quite simply, there isn't a better show on television. It's as depraved and sordid as a bad soap opera, but with infinitely better writing, directing and, most of all, acting. Dylan Walsh is great as Sean, who even when he's doing the right thing sometimes seems to be the wrong thing. Joely Richardson is wonderful as the troubled but self-absorbed Julia, who just can't seem to choose what she wants more: A life of luxurious lifelessness or an exciting, passionate romance with the one man who truly loves her. And of course, there's that guy from "Charmed". JULIAN MCMAHON RULES THIS SHOW. It's just that simple. Christian Troy is one of the best characters ever to grace the small screen. A wonderfully hedonistic, and often times, cruel man who no matter...

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The Whistleblower

Fighting human rights violations
"The Whistleblower," based on a true story, is a gritty movie about sexual trafficking in Bosnia. Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz), a Nebraska cop, is a divorced mom who takes a job with a security contractor for big pay and a short tour in the Balkans. She discovers that ethnic tensions have caused local cops to refuse to investigate domestic violence cases, particularly those involving Muslims. She is promoted and put in charge of gender affairs by a U.N. official (Vanessa Redgrave), but is increasingly frustrated. After building cases against sexual traffickers, she's told they enjoy diplomatic immunity.

Bolkovac is a lone crusader, persuading fearful women to testify against their abusers, bucking diplomatic hypocrisy, and dealing with rampant paranoia. Ms. Weisz heads this topical political thriller, turning in a powerful performance, one of her best. The movie underscores the collateral damage caused by politics and maintaining the delicate balance of world...

A sharp, intellegent political drama that's not easy to watch
The Whistleblower is not a comfortable film to watch, nor is it supposed to be - Rachel Weisz takes on an extremely difficult role here that could have come across as monotone in the hands of someone less capable. I used to think she was a fairly average actress but she's clearly become somebody extremely skilled around challenging material. Some of her final scenes in the film are Oscar-worthy and underscore a number of sickening truths that have been developed throughout the script.

From the first few minutes, it's pretty clear that the story isn't going to have a happy ending and once you see what military contractors and UN officials were conspiring to achieve, it's enough to make you want to write letters to your elected representatives. I haven't read anything to indicate that the situation shown in this film is untrue and it paints an extremely shameful picture of what Westerns organizations were doing while supposedly protecting civilians.

Overall, it's...

Harsh Realities Exposed
THE WHISTLEBLOWER is a film that kicks you in the stomach and then continues to play out the worst possible truths that we'd rather not admit exist. The theme of the film is Human Trafficking, and apparently there are about 2.5 million victims around the world today - young people who are sold into sexual slavery for the financial gain of people from all areas of life, including our own government, the International Practices Task Force, and contracted companies supported by the US Government to rebuild who are assigned to third world countries and countries besieged by or recovering from war, and in our own cities in this country. This film is based on a true story, a story written (and discussed in the bonus track on the DVD) by Kathryn Bolkovac who was transferred from her police job in Lincoln, Nebraska to Bosnia (with the promise of $100,000. and a six month term) to monitor the local Sarajevo police and advise them on proper police procedures. Bolkovac's story was written for...

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Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated: Season 1 Part 2

Mystery Solved. (Finally !)
Yep, I was right. The second half (well, actually, MORE than half) of the first season of "Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc." is now on an awesome two-disc set continuing the adventures of Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Velma, and Daphne as they track down the elusive "Mr. E" as well as a mysterious treasure and solve other strange things going on in the town of Crystal Cove. These 14 episodes include the following:

"When the Cicada Calls" - A huge infestation of insects is targeting a factory that makes one of Shaggy and Scooby's favorite treats (and they're not Scooby Snacks, thank goodness).

"Mystery Solvers State Club Finals" - Scooby is feeling sick as a dog and has a fever dream that has him and the gang in the style that they were originally created. But only Scooby, along with other familiar faces Jabberjaw, Speed Buggy, Captain Caveman, and the Funky Phantom must track down their lost teammates before it's too late.

"Escape from Mystery Manor" - The gang head...

Love the Series, and Much Happier with This Release
Apparently WB is listening to the fans... somewhat. After the first three releases that basically ripped customers off with only 4 episodes and no features for 10-15 bucks a piece they have announced the second half of the season will be released in a 2 disc dvd set with the final 14 episodes, Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated Season 1, Part 2. Date is set for January 24th, 2012. I wish they would have released the first half of the season this way or hope they will now. That said there is still something that troubles me.

There is no mention of Blu-ray or of any special features being included, I feel like the fans of this series deserve special features, even basic ones, and there is no reason not to release these in HD. At least the dvd set, if nothing else is released, allows fans to own over three times as many episodes as these volume releases but at only $5 more suggested retail price. The set will be only $19.99 and likely sold on sale by amazon and other retailers...

So awesome!
My name is Sabrina. I'm 11 years old, and throughout my life, Scooby-doo has been a HUGE part of it. All 14 of these videos are pure awesomeness. Scooby-Doo has done it again! All of them are interesting, exciting, and SCARY. Very thrilling, mysterious, and not to mention the secrets, a chance to find out who Fred's parents REALLY are, what the puzzle is all about, and the biggest two mysteries of all; WHO are the original mystery inc. members, and WHERE are they now?

Hope this was helpful. SCOOBY-DOOBY-DOO!

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Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?

Beautiful, Passionate, and substantive!
Queen of the Sun is much more about the importance of our relationship to bees, and how integral they are to our food system. Sure there is a bit of crazy in there, but its completely beautiful and fun. There is also deep concern for the state of modern beekeeping and its part factory farming, pesticide use, and complete lack of sustainability; which is a real problem for those of us who enjoy eating. In response to the negative review that stated european honey bees are not native to the Americas - neither are we.

Enlightening Documentary
I loved this film, beautifully filmed and told. I especially loved the colorful characters such as the beekeeper who tickles his bees with his mustache and the women dances with thousands of bees on her body. The film had some humor too but it really dives deeply into the issues and helped me understand the problems and then solutions. I learned so much about this world of beekeeping and was relieved that it was uplifting and not doom and gloom.I recommend this film to everyone.

Eye-opening and Inspiring Documentary
Before watching this documentary I was one of those people who ran away at the very mention of a nearby BEE. My fears were subdued and eventually disappeared as I watched this film. Coupled with heartfelt accounts of beekeepers and their craft and personal connection to the bees, the film expounds wisdom with experts like Michael Pollan. The film does a great job at balancing the art and the science that make up a bee colony and our dependence on their very existence.
It's no exaggeration to say, that after seeing the film: I wouldn't mind having a bee colony of my own now.

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Bad Girl Island [HD]

Could have been better with some more effort
Maybe it meant to be campy. If so they should have gone with more nudity and bad jokes. Oh, well.

No redeeming value.
Yeah, a lot of us watch the bad movies because they are fun. It's a real shame MST 3000 rapped up before they had a chance to skewer this celluloid tomato.
I could only stomach 15 minutes in the middle of this stinker so admittedly I can only speak to what I saw, but hey, 15 minutes was enough to compel me to write this review.
The basic premise is about a location shoot on an island in the "spooky" Bermuda triangle region. Apparently some mysterious force makes women go bad here, wreaking mayhem on and off the movie set.
The film jumps around a lot, really bad editing, no reason.
The script must have been penned by someone who knew someone who knew someone and was owed a big favor so that they also could direct. The dialog is ridiculous. The events improbable, the reactions subdued and phony.
There is some dude who gets caught having sex with the lead bad girl, SImone, but his girlfriend is the forgiving type ushering him naked back to their room, while some...

Great Scenery
If you've ever visited the island of Eleuthera you'll love the shots of the island. If you've never visited, the scenery will make you want to go. The main house in the movie "Sea Lily" is now owned by Mariah Carey. An OK 'B' movie, with disjointed editing. We watched it twice. The first time because we and many of our island friends were in it as extras. Second time was to watch the film. Enjoyed both.

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Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Season One

The entire series in one box! Excellent set
The shows are uncut and look better than you've ever seen them. Thank goodness, they've also included the original theatrical version of the pilot (released to theatres several months before the series aired) which has the most hilarious open credits scenes ever.

Don't worry about the "broadast" version of the pilot not being included; it is mostly just an *edited version* of what was shown in theatres anyway. A brief scene or two were added in the NBC aired version, but these were brief and didn't amount to much. Yes, they would have made a nice extra, but I for one am glad they went with the *original theatrical version* in the set, as it came first anyway.

I never much cared for the second season, but it is also included here! The entire series in one set...who can ask for more?

Like Buck Rogers... a blast from the 20th Century past
I will never forget first seeing the theatrical movie at the Mall of the Bluffs in Colorado Springs the day after a huge blizzard in 1979. I had no idea what to expect. I was already obsessed with Star Wars and my Dad took us to see a movie called Buck Rogers which he described as being similar to Star Wars so I was already expecting droids and robots and all kinds of special effects.

I had immediately recognized the similarities in production design to that of Battlestar Galactica which was also produced by Glen Larson and I had enjoyed very much. I was not at all surprised when it became a weekly series. Although it was much campier than the mythic Galactica, it was still a guilty pleasure whose tone harkened back more to Classic Trek with Buck's weekly womanizing reminiscent of Captain Kirk. It became a guessing game as to which colorful flavor of spandex Colonel Wilma Deering would be wearing each week, but who could forget most of all the lovely Pamela Hensley as...

Sometimes you can come home again
Some of you are like me, you watched this show as a kid and loved it. It didn't matter what the quality was or anything, you just enjoyed it. And now that you're in your thirties you're wondering if this little part of your past can be recaptured. You've been disappointed with other early 80s things that don't hold up so well these days.

Don't worry. This is a great DVD set. I thought about buying it for weeks and finally broke down and bought it for my birthday. I don't regret it. It was great reliving the past. I saw the last episode this evening and re-watched the first. The DVD has 24 episodes of season 1 and only half a season of season 2 which is all they made. The original theatrical intro is here (which is a hoot) and they don't have Mel Blanc dubbed over Twiki in the first several episodes of season 2.

Still, the show is just as watchable now as it was then. Erin Grey is still beautiful and Gil Gerard is still the guy to be. If you're agonizing over...

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The Brute Man

And now, the DVD technical review
Another customer review very nicely covers the movie itself, so just let me chime in with a few quick words about the technical quality of the DVD release.

You might think that this disc would be grainy, or soft, or with poor contrast, particularly since it's from the legendary poverty row studio PRC, and a few other PRC videos are so-so. Truth is, although the film was released by PRC, it was produced by Universal Studios!

You'll be exceedingly happy to discover that the transfer to DVD is outstanding. Contrast is excellent, and the image is sharp and clean. This is a Criterion-level transfer here! Sound is nice and clean too. Of course, the disc hasn't anything in the way of extras. Running time is just about an hour, the case is a snapper.

If you're interested in the related films, this one is the last of the "Creeper" films. The Creeper is Rondo Hatton's "signature role" begun in 1944 in the Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes film PEARL OF DEATH,...

Below-par B thriller of historical interest only
The Brute Man was the last film of Rondo Hatton, an acromagly sufferer whose disfigured looks were exploited by Hollywood in a series of movies in which he played a psychopathic back-breaker called The Creeper (although none of the movies, including the Sherlock Holmes thriller Pearl of Death, has any link and were not part of any series).

This cheap PRC production has Hatton hunt down the people responsible for his disfigurement (an explosion in his college lab) and also murder various others who get in his way. The victims include a nosy shop assistant and a jeweller who insists that Hatton pay for a broach. Meantime, he falls in love with a blind woman but she eventually betrays him to the police and he tries to kill her too.

One of the amusing things about this movie is that there's supposed to be a huge Dragnet out for Hatton but he's always walking down the street openly despite his looks and appearance. He actually doesn't give a bad performance. Deapite his...

"I've changed a little since I last saw you."
I first became familiar with the character `The Creeper' after seeing a likeness of him in the 1991 film The Rocketeer, as special effects man Rick Baker transformed actor `Tiny' Ron Taylor into the character of Lothar, an incredible likeness of Rondo Hatton, who played the character (sans any prosthetics) in the late 1930s and through the 1940s, up until his death in 1946 at the age of about 52. Seems Hatton, once a handsome looking man (according to reports), suffered from a case of acromegaly, which resulted in a form of gigantism deforming his head, feet and hands to enormous proportions. Hatton's last film, The Brute Man (1946), directed by Jean Yarbrough (She-Wolf of London, Hillbillys in a Haunted House), features Tom Neal (Another Thin Man, Detour), Jan Wiley (She-Wolf of London), and Jane Adams (House of Dracula). Also appearing is Donald MacBride (My Favorite Wife, High Sierra, The Thin Man Goes Home), Peter Whitney (Destination Tokyo), Fred Coby (Devil's Cargo), and...

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Obselidia [HD]

Uncommonly sensitive and offbeat
This movie will not appeal to everyone. It is a bit draggy at first, as it dwells on the inner world of a loner whose life is absorbed in creating an encyclopedia of the obsolete, thus the title. But I loved it, because of the sensitive interplay between him and a beautiful, free-spirited woman who provokes many levels of awakening in him. The story of their relationship moves from believable tentative beginnings to a touching unfolding of their immense differences by cleverly taking them out of city routines to the purity and clarity of Death Valley. Superb photography and timing imparts a sense of being there--the space, the soft breeze, and unaltered natural earth. The film makers deserve high praise for their treatment of this metaphor.

Obselidia could hardly be more unlike the usual Hollywood movie style. It leaves one feeling stirred up a bit, not neatly resolved, much as it is in real life. It leaves one thinking about question huge and small, knowing very...

Great Movie
Not your average 'love' story. I didn't know what to expect but wasn't disappointed. Too bad it wasn't a big box office hit. It should have been.

good movie!
enjoy this movie, its very wise thinking. recommended . May help anyone who have some difficulty during the growing of life....

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Division III: Football's Finest

Wow!
Hilarious! If you love Andy Dick, which most don't...you will love this movie. He is amped up the entire time. It's like watching the best parts of his MTV show, for an hour and a half. Gr8 stuff!

Hilarious I laughed out loud a LOT
This movie is a total gem, entertaining and perfectly cast and edited. There were moments I had to replay right away because they were so funny. Like when the assistant coach, Paul Henderson's character, leads the prayer for the football team. Brilliant comedy. Andy Dick is a madman and yet he has pathos. My family has been quoting one liners from the movie ever since we watched.

The Andy Scenes Are Funny
Andy Dick is genuinely funny in this movie. He's a funny comic actor, but most of the reason it works is that he's playing a very funny character. Rick Vice, a psychotic coach with a checkered past, is the perfect vehicle for Andy to channel all of his crazy, scary talent into, and it works.

Other actors have their moments but I never felt they were as developed as Andy. Will Sasso and Adam Carolla have a funny running gag as sports reporters, and I wish there had been more of Mo Collins as the loopy president or dean of the small liberal arts college.

The problem with the film is that the main character, played by co-writer and director Marshall Cook, is that he's simply the Lead Character In A Sports Film. And an under-developed one at that. He at first comes across as lazy and cynical...and then he just walks through the rest of the film, ending up with a winning game and The Girl...and we're not sure why. I guess because he's the Lead Character In A...

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The Girl Who Leapt Through Space Volume 4

Mission Complete!
When we last left "Sorakake," the Kirkwood colony was under Nerval's icy control, forcing the refugees to flee to Leopard; Nami's recklessness had gotten her into serious trouble; Honoka-chan was on a desperate mission to retrieve Professor FON; and Akiha was trapped inside one of Nerval's boxes. Now, in the final volume, there is sacrifice, betrayal, redemption, and (semi-spoiler alert!) a happy ending. Of course, there will always be those who won't learn from their experiences, and by now you can probably guess the character that doesn't!
It's interesting to me how -fast- everything happens in Volume 4; by the end of the series, I was having to back up the DVD to catch all the dialogue, and some of the action sequences needed my Zoom button to make out what was happening; but it may just be that I'm getting old and slow. I am sure the younger audiences for whom this anime was intended will catch everything right away. Which brings me to my one complaint about this...





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Lbs.

Surprisingly good!!
I thought this was a good movie about one man's journey to correct what he thought was the problem in his life...his weight. After losing the weight, he realized that there was much more to the problems in his life than just his weight. He had a deeper addiction problem with food and was able to recognize it and work towards fixing himself along with the weight loss. His family and friends also seemed to be ashamed of his weight and then still not pleased with him when he lost the weight. People are cruel no matter what you do. I was surprised by a few of the storylines in the movie, but over all it was a great film.

Losing Pounds Isn't Altogether The Purpose, Gaining His Life Is.
This Independent film/docudrama was a standout at the Sundance Film Festival, also an Official selection. It definitely deserves this distinction. Co-written and directed by Matthew Bonifacio this lends a newer spin on a problematic behavior. The topic at hand would be food addiction. There isn't anything new to this clinically, but in the way it is looked at and handled; which is honest, painful and stirring. The view is phenomenal.

Neil (Carmine Famiglietti-who also co-wrote) is a rotund man, living at home with his Italian parents and working for his father. His mother enjoys caring for Neil and feeding him along with worrying about his health at the same time. He has a sister (Theresa) who is getting ready for her upcoming marriage. Theresa loves him very much and smothers him also. Her fiance (Anthony) has his own agenda and is unforgiving with Neil. He goes overboard in the other direction with Neil. Teases him constantly, finds him 'weak' due to his weight...

Had me thinking
Give Lbs. a chance. I absolutely enjoyed every moment of it. It even had me thinking about the changes I wanted to make for myself. Not just losing weight but other changes as well. It can be very motivational if you are open to it.

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Final Destination 5 [Blu-ray]

Final Destination 6 & 7, Here We Come!
The "Final Destination" franchise began going downhill rapidly after the second movie. But, will the fifth movie help the franchise go back up or will it continue going downhill fast?
I saw this movie about a month ago at the test screening, and I must say that, in my opinion, this is the most brutal, the most gruesome, and the most clever movie of the entire franchise. It has many well-thought out death scenes, and one death scene in the movie made me cringe and look away, and trust me, I watched A LOT of slasher/gornography films. One of the most famous scene is the lasik surgery which I thought was pretty good. I'm not going to spoil it for you.
First off, this movie has a very interesting plotline. As you heard from the trailer, you know the new death rule, and I think it is pretty clever. But, why didn't Bludworth tell it to the others? Hmmm...?
Second of all, the characters are very very relatable. You can actually tell if one hates the other, and one is friends...

Best FD movie in awhile, and the 3D is sweet!
This movie was pretty cool. I won't go into any details about the various deaths, storyline or acting; I mostly wanted to comment on the 3D effects since that's why you're buying this version!

I felt like the 3D effects were awesome and effective. Not only did many of the (gruesome and gory) deaths utilize the 3D effect well, many scenes in the movie - whether it was a transition scene or just a scene with the characters speaking - used the effect too, creating moments of depth with people and objects. There were also moments in which objects flew or poked out of the screen (for all of you that want that effect). :D

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie, and I would recommend purchasing it, however, not from Amazon.com. This is currently being sold at Best Buy for around 25 bucks, so I would definitely go there. Also, I used my VIZIO passive 3D set with some RealD glasses to watch the movie and the effect was fantastic. I feel like the effects look crisper...

Best one yet. Epic come back.
Look, I'm just gonna get right to it. If you've ever liked any Final Destination movie, even if you only liked the first one, see this movie. Anyone who's gone beyond the first movie, out of love or interest for the theme, your life is not complete until you see this movie. It doesn't matter if you haven't seen 3 or 4 (The Final Destination). If you have seen 3 or 4, this will make you feel the come back. It will make you appreciate and feel an awesome resurrection. I've been a Final Destination fan from the beginning, seen them all, and I say thank God for this movie. I'll pick it up on it's very first day of release on Blu Ray. Still stalking Amazon for the release date. ;)

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Donner Pass

Great little horror film
Donner Pass is a great little horror film with a nice amount of reverence for the genre. While not as gonzo as his films can be, I would liken it to a Rob Zombie film where you can sense the excitement and love for the genre in tiny details. The film has a little bit of everything, and although I wouldn't usually consider that a good thing, here it's done so well that it comes together nicely. It starts with a historical perspective of the setting's notorious past. It then jumps to present day and slowly, smartly builds tension subtly revealing more and more things that just aren't right. It then busts wide open delivering a lot of gruesome gore and also delivers a nod to the rape/revenge sub-genre. The end, I don't want to give away but it delivers a smart, unique explanation of what has transpired. Highly recommended.

An okay movie, worth a single watch!
Although a couple of folks may be in the minority of people who hated this film, I found it to be just another average entry in the many slasher movies of the genre; not bad, not great. Certainly the acting, directing, editing, and filmwork was presentable, but the overall theme was very typical. The ending did have a twist, but having seen so many of this type of movie, it was not a big surprise to me. Die-hard horror fans will want to see the film once, but try to watch it without getting too critical regarding authenticity or plausibility!

Fun Snowbound Slasher Flick
Donner Pass is a fun slasher movie with a couple of somewhat new ideas involved.
I again don't like to give too much away but So far this year and last year there were not that many good slasher flicks and I'm always excited to see a new one. I like a good Slasher in the snow flick and this one is pretty cool,No pun intended.
The gore is about an 8 out of 10 and it's done well..
I read some of the reviews and they gave much too much away.
It has some interesting characters and some really annoying ones but it brings out the basic slasher movie roster of teens and 20 somethings..
There was a cool twist and the story was pretty original as well.
I liked it and recommend it to other slasher lovers.

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The Oregonian [HD]

Avant-garde style is perfect
in this modern Alice in Wonderland. A Ground Zero introducing traumatic brain injury and seizures to a wider audience. No two brain injuries are alike. Besides the Petite Mal and Grand Mal, there are around 50 different Partial seizures. Most don't produce a loss of consciousness. As more service men and women return with head injuries from our war efforts, the interest in TBI, MBI and seizures will become more mainstream. I applaud these talented Indie filmmakers and want to see more of their work.

Here, art immitates life. And it gets weird.

Worth the Money
I don't know what Roy S. Alba II is talking about, for the price I found this film to be a great value. Definitely worth the money. I have been renting it for 3 day periods every few days, but I'm saving up to buy the unlimited version.

It's like watching a nightmare, and I love it
I saw this film when my Alma Mater showed it as part of a collaboration between faculty and students at the union movie theater. I was eager to see this, as avant garde, cult, and just plain odd films are my forte. I was not disappointed. The film is, for lack of better explanation, a nightmare. A young woman wakes up after a car accident on a secluded road only to be hurled into a series of bizarre events, which only get stranger as the film goes on. This film is not for the casual movie-goer, but if you dare to enter this world please understand that you may not understand anything you see. With that mentality, you may love this film as much as I do. Shot in 16mm film, the aesthetic works wonderfully, and the imagery is unforgettable. The Oregonian is disturbing, funny, and simply brilliant.

Writer Director Calvin Reeder is a daring man with a twisted mind, and if you can appreciate that you can appreciate this film.

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Bilal's Stand

Loved It
Great movie independently produced by unknown actors. It depicts the relationships between members of a large Muslim family who happen to be black. A new way both of seeing Muslims and of understanding black culture.

Excellent! A film about something! A depiction of REAL black people.
Short Attention Span Summary:

1. A young man lives in Inkster. (I could swear that they shot some of this movie over in Lemoyne Gardens before it got torn down.)
2. He goes to school in Romulus. (These are all places that someone in Southeastern Michigan would know and this situation of Inkster kids going to Romulus is a very common one.)
3. It seems that his family has a cab company that supports them-- *just barely*.
4. They happen to be Muslim
5. Remainder of film is about young man using ice sculpture as a way to get a college scholarship and the conflicts it causes about leaving his family. There are a few minor plot elements.

All the characters in this film are actually real people (or based on real people). The culinary arts teacher, Mr. Charles Usztics really is (was) a teacher in the Romulus school system (he taught me) and the places that they showed were all places that I have passed 1,000 times in actuality.

The acting...



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First Squad

An Unfinished Battle
"First Squad" has been on my must-buy list for quite some time now, mainly because it's subject matter intrigued me. The animation is handled by Studio 4C, whose pedigree is quite impressive and includes some classic titles like "Tikkon Kinkreet" and "Tweeny Witches." It's also one of the rare standalone anime films that gets a US release without having any attachment to a major franchise or genre. Last time I saw a movie come this out of left field was "Strait Jacket", which I absolutely adored. So after months of wait and a barely promoted release, the movie was of course a first-day purchase for me. But maybe I should've waited until some more reviews came in, because "First Squad" is one of the most frustrating anime films I've ever seen.

It's not that this Russian/Japanese co-production is what one could fairly call "bad." At it's very core, the plot which drives "First Squad" forward is quite a unique one. In the middle of World War II, Nadya is a 14 year-old psychic,...

Wish there was more...
I have to say after reading/skimming the previous comments, I have to agree with that the 'mockumentary' clips are unnecessary. But I have to guess that the filmakers were trying to intersperse the reality of the war and its suffering along with the animated segments. I do enjoy the music along with the 'summer sequence' which I think is beautifully scored, designed, and animated. So touching, of the past.

The English dub was not bad,I think the chosen voice actors fit the characters well but in a certain scene the english actor for Leo tries too hard to say the lines with a dose of emotion in such a short timing sequence. Some lines are too cliche or too mushy on purpose!

I give animation an A+, English Dub an A-.

Finslly, I can't stress enough that the animation was superb but the movie is best watched without the live-action clips unless you want a little bit of 'history' add into it. I also like to criticize that despite what other people have said...

Not bad, no live action on the version I saw
I was turned off by other reviews talking about "live action" mockumentary sequences. These must have been in an earlier version. The version I watched from netflix was pure anime. I may be giving it higher marks since I have no idea what this "live action" footage is all about. The version I saw had English, Japanese & Russian language tracks, i chose to watch in Russian, assuming that's how the Russian producers envisioned it. It's a great start to what, hopefully, could be a series someday. As others have mentioned, it feels like a pilot for a new series. Hopefully we'll see more of Nadya, Colonel Below, & Nadya's dead comrades in the future. All in all it did seem like an unfinished experience, now I'd like to see the original cut with the live action "interviews" included, simply for reference. A great start to something, but fans will long for more. The ending does leave you feeling cheated, but the 50 minutes or so before that is really fun & quite visually stunning.

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