Friday, December 20, 2013

She's the Man



Cute and funny chickflick!
For a teenage chickflick, I really loved this movie! Amanda Bynes is a great actress. She's down to earth, funny and has a great personality. The characters that she portrays in movies are very similar to the characters she plays in TV Shows. Nonetheless, she's amazing at the roles that she plays.

I've grown up watching Amanda on Nickeloden, then WB, and now movies. I like that she's down to earth and not at all stuck up or prissy!

Overall, this is a great comedy especially for a teenage date.

Shakespeare! Seriously.
For some reason, Shakespeare translates very well to modern high school. I think it's the social cliques and emotions running high. I think this is one of the funnier adaptations, along the lines of "10 Things I Hate About You," but with the story line for "Twelfth Night" instead of "Taming of the Shrew."

The actors didn't hold back on the comedy, the adaptation is well written, and the story is a classic. I actually think the disguises make more sense than in the original play; where in the original, people actually got the twins mixed up, in this adaptation, no one who knew either of them really well got a good look at Viola when she was being Sebastian.

There were lots of nice references back to the original, as well: Duke's speech at the end, the spider "Malvolio," Cesario's pizza place.

If you like Shakespeare or teenage romantic comedies OR sports movies, I would recommend this one!

She really is the man!
She's the Man starring the very funny Amanda Bynes is enjoyable from start to finish. Hunky Channing Tatum also stars as Duke, the boy Viola has a major crush on. Viola's high school soccer team is canceled from the program and decides to impersonate her twin brother, Sebastian at his boarding school so she can play soccer there while her bro is in London for two weeks. Bynes's physical comedy is invetible, her acting is refreshing and she has always reminded me of a young Lucille Ball. Bynes is never afraid to be sexy, goofy, and awkward all at the same time. This film is based on a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelth Night. She's the Man had me laughing practically the whole way through. I highly recommend this teen romantic comedy. Enjoy!

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There's Only One Way To Try A Case [HD]



Stop with the low star rating because you're mad at Amazon's policy change
I've watched this series for 4 seasons. The acting is consistantly great! Glenn Close and Rose Byrne are both excellent actors and they deserve higher star ratings than the the show is getting in season 4. Some people are givingpoor ratings with 1-2 stars because of a change in Amazon's policy to not offer it free starting in season 4 with the amazon prime video membership. These poor reviews are bringing the actual show ratings down. Amazon's policy change has nothing to do with the quality of the actual show. I wish people would rate the acting and writing quality of the show correctly and not lower it because they're pissed off at Amazon.

Another Great Season
Bruce Altman tells Glenn Close to F*** ***. What could be better? Another great season of Damages. And John Goodman as the villain.

Deceptive marketing, but Amazon corrected their error
July 21 update: Amazon issued a credit to cover the cost of my unwatched episodes that are now pay-per-view, instead of part of Prime's free instant video. Thanks for making it right, Amazon.

July 17 original comment: "Damages" is one of those addictive shows that hooks you and compels you to want to immediately see the next installment. It was deceptive marketing to offer season 4 for free one day as part of Prime instant streaming and then, after hooking viewers, switching the pricing the next day to charge for the remaining episodes. This is unethical marketing and Season 4 should be restored to free Prime instant streaming.

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Lawless



FLAWLESS is Hardy's Performance
I won't paraphrase the storyline as others have done here so well. I will add that the moment
I hit play on the BD Player, I was so engrosed in the film I realized I was still sitting
on the edge of my seat after the first 20 minutes before I made myself comfortable, and never once hit pause.

I was riveted by Tom Hardy's acting, his portrayal was an original. It did not rely on a particular accent, clothing, make-up, mental defect or resemblance to a historical figure. He created an intelligent backwoods bootlegger, who despite his profession and its violence, lived by a code so strong that he appeared invincible. The glimpses of his tenderness he allowed himself were profoundly felt. The film was satisfying in its cinematography, cast, and story.

Good Movie and Well Worth Your Time
I really enjoyed this movie despite the reviews at the time it came out.

Ignore any online reviews by the so called media reviewers because this
movie is well worth it.

I enjoyed it so much I bought some books here at amazon regarding this slice of history
of alcohol prohibition in America.

The acting was superb.

It shows the rampant corruption among politicians and the police forces and shows the story of one family (3 brothers)
who refused to pay the currupt politicians who had the police do their dirty work.

Rent it ..it's a 4 star movie.

A Well Made, If Aloof, Period Crime Drama That Never Really Made Me Care About Its Central Characters
"Lawless" was one of the movies that I most looked forward to this year! A period piece about the outlaw Bondurant family of Virginia, the movie has gritty action set in the time of Prohibition. What's not to love? It also features an incredible A-list cast including Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Shia LaBeouf, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce, and Mia Wasikowska. An impressive collection! It was also written by the eternally cool Nick Cave inspired by the fantastic biography "The Wettest County in the World." On paper, this had the potential to be one of the best film's of the year. And yet, something never really connected with me about "Lawless." It's a well made film, to be sure, but the story and its characters just didn't come alive enough to separate this from other Prohibition era dramas that have preceded it. I felt like I'd seen this tale many times before, and oftentimes with more depth. "Lawless" may still be worth seeing (especially for the cast), it just never felt particularly...

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The Pill



The PILL
No what I expected, very slow and not interesting. absolutely no point. unreal and at some point stupid.
Boring and expensive for this type of movie.....

do you mean sleeping pill?
I was so bored that I stopped watching 20 minutes into it. I found that I could not care about the characters.

great movie, dont listen to crazy girls!!
this was a great funny movie. it's like a real life comedy that can happen to anybody. i think it got such low reviews from others because they are bitter from their cheating boyfriends!!! Some people should learn to not be soul sucking bossy girlfriend and they wont get cheated on lol. I am rating the movie for the actual movie and i gotta say that it had great acting and was well paced, and was a very prevalent and interesting topic for young people. Watch It if youre about 18-35 :)

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Pilot



Great show
The Shield may be lamentably gone from TV, but prominent alumnus Kurt Sutter seems to have taken it upon himself to carry on its legacy with Sons of Anarchy, and if the show's first season is any indication he's more than up to the task. Anyone who enjoyed The Shield's combination of intelligence and testosterone will certainly find a lot to like here, as SoA quickly established itself as among TV's most unique and consistently compelling shows and only got better from there. Striking a near-perfect balance between grit and sensationalism, it takes viewers through a world marked by violence, double-dealing, and racial division, with an emphasis on the ambiguous morality and personal and familial baggage that come with a life lived between the straight world and the criminal one. The machinations of the characters and the twists of the plot are almost operatic, but the show remains rooted in the harsh realities of gangland.

The premise is sort of...

A Fable for People Who've Never Known Real 1 Percenters
The timing of Sons is obviously gauged to take advantage of the latest mid-life crisis which requires men my age to buy Harleys and spend their weekends pretending to be outlaw bikers.

Sons of Anarchy shows real potential as a worthy successor to The Sopranos - The Complete Series episodic brand of voyeurism. Sons offers to take us into the lives of those who live outside the social contracts (or constraints) most of us take for granted. However, unlike The Sopranos, the Sons are not a criminal version of royalty (a status bestowed by endless viewings of The Godfather DVD Collection .) Instead they are, (as described by another reviewer) "relatable." These are, for the most part, average joes, who've chosen to live outside the requirement to be a part of the herd or to "go along to get along."

Whether we actually...

Awesome show, great Blu
Had not watched this show during the first season run, but I had customers asking about it for months now, so in seeing the Blu option I took a chance. The demand has been huge and the feedback has been excellent. A well produced show, a great cast, a gritty yet flowing soundtrack (Primal Scream, Lions, Bob Thiele, Curtis Stigers) all put together onto a solid Blu package.

The picture quality through all 13 episodes maintained decently, with only a few failures here and there depending on the night footage. The DTS is mixed just well enough to hear such gems as a cigarette burning while the Harley floods the outer channels, or a dog barking out a rear channel that makes you jump, or one of the few bass scenes (thumping music) when they enter the Niners Club in Oakland. The music was actually done just right in each episode as to not drown out any peripheral chatter or relevant goings-on. The supplements are placed entirely on disc 3 and include:
* Making of - 9 minutes...

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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Dragon Ball GT: The Complete Series



Dragon Ball GT Complete Series
In season one Dragon Ball GT, Goku has just finish training Uub on the lookout. Uub now heads back to his village. As always Goku is hungry. So Goku heads of to the kitchen for a light snack. Meanwhile the evil Emperor Pilf along with Mai and Shu have come to the lookout for the black dragon ball. The black dragon ball have been long forgotten from the world expect from Emperor Pilf. But the they have a price for using them. Once the wish is make they are sent all over the galaxy. They must be colleted up again before one earth year is up or the earth will be destroy. Pilf is in the middle of making his wish, when Goku surprise him and by the slip of the tongue he wishes Goku back to a kid again. Now Goku, Pan and Trunks have to search the galaxy for the dragon ball. They meet many enemies along the way. One of them is baby the last remaining Tuffle. After a battle with Baby he disappear from slight. Baby reappears on earth looking forwards to destroy Goku and all the Saiyan. But...

Nothing new..
This DVD Box contains the two already released Dragon Ball GT season sets stuck together, that is all. There is nothing new except the front and back cover. If you don't already have GT then buy this, if you do then don't bother. Here's hoping that FUNimation releases the GT Dragon Boxes next.

As for the series, GT is a great adventure story. With a fun story at first, and then awesome action at the end. You will definitely enjoy it!

Love this series
This series doesn't get the credit it deserves, it's GT not Z so I expected something different and that is what I got. I loved the difference and it made the series very enjoyable.
Highly recommend.

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Meet Me in St Louis (Two-Disc Special Edition)



An American Classic In A Memorable DVD Package
Many critics consider MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS the single finest Hollywood musical of the 20th Century. Produced by Arthur Freed, directed by Vincent Minnelli, and sporting a flawless ensemble cast led by Judy Garland, the film was immediately hailed when it debuted in 1944--and time has only added luster to its name. Now, after several home market incarnations, it at last receives the edition it deserves on DVD.

Given its stature, it is ironic that both MGM and Judy Garland originally fought the project. Based on a collection of autobiographical stories by Sally Benson, the script is little more than a series of domestic adventures in the lives of the Smith family of 1903 St. Louis. But it became a thing of wonder: a careful balance of sly but gentle humor, a collection of memorable performances, an understated score shorn of the usual movie-musical affectations, and at the center of it all Judy Garland, one of Hollywood's most memorable talents.

The transfer is excellent,...

fantastic musical
Judy Garland gives one of her finest performances in the delightful period musical MEET ME IN ST LOUIS, still one of the best-loved movies of all time.

Esther Smith (Garland) is in love with "The Boy Next Door", and when she discovers that the Worlds Fair is coming to her town, everyone in St Louis is thrilled.

Her enchantment only grows when she discovers the feeling of love is mutual, but when her father announces that the family is moving to New York, the romance could be finished before it even began...

Margaret O'Brien steals every scene she's in as Esther's little sister Tootie, while the supporting cast, led by Lucille Bremer, Mary Astor and Leon Ames is first-rate.

Initially more popular at the box-office than THE WIZARD OF OZ, the evergreen MEET ME IN ST LOUIS continues to be loved by generations of movie-lovers.

A beautiful timeless movie loved by people of all ages.
Meet Me In St. Louis is a lovely film, based on episodes in the life of a large family living in early 20th Century St. Louis at the time of the World's Fair. Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien are both amazing in this film and are very strongly supported by the rest of the cast.

My 6 year old daughter is hooked on it too now (and I guess that's about the age when I first saw it) and we often watch it together for a treat. I have watched it countless times and am always happy to watch it again.

Meet Me in St. Louis is essentially a "pastoral" musical that celebrates the values of small town America, a popular theme in MGM musicals, especially those directed by Minelli. The so-called delights of the big metropolis New York are exposed as undesirable and compared unfavorably with the simple "purer" family life of St. Louis - which is a big city too but "doesn't seem big, out here where we live".

But it is not just a chocolate box movie, in...

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Jingle All the Way (Family Fun Edition)



Jingle All The Way - Family Fun Edition
On October 16th, 2007, 20th Century Fox released Jingle All The Way - Family Fun Edition. This is the extended cut specially supervised by director Brian Levant. This runs at 94 minutes verus 89 minutes for the theatrical cut. This edition features the following additions...

1.) Instead of Howard going right after the woman in the car, he first sees another woman (Yeardley Smith) with a matching fur coat. He sees a TurboMan package in her bag and offers her money. She takes it and walks away. He takes it out and discovers that it is TurboMan's sidekick, Booster. He then runs after the woman in the car.

2.) In the following scene of Howard traveling to different toy stores looking for TurboMan, the 'Jingle all the Way' song is replaced by "The Christmas Song".

3.) A scene inside Howard's GMC when they're driving to Santa's warehouse where it shows Howard saying his "We've yet to see a sign of that supposed Turbo Man doll" sentence. The mall Santa...

Five Stars for pure fun!
Yes, "Jingle All the Way" is chock full of bad acting and ridiculous situations, but hey, it's a Holiday comedy, and a darn good one! And, for those of us who are really into Christmas shopping and have been on that search for the elusive, must have toy of the year, it really touches a nerve!

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Howard Langston, a workaholic father who's failing with his family. He is constantly breaking promises and missing family events simply by being absent-minded and overly concerned with his business. When he shows up far too late for his son Jamie's Karate presentation, he realizes he's got some major sucking up to do. Howard immediately offers to get his son anything he wants for Christmas as a quick fix. But, little does Howard know that the toy Jamie wants, the official Turbo Man action figure, is the hottest toy of the season! No stores in town have one, and tomorrow is Christmas Eve!!!

Howard gets an early start in the morning, arriving at a...

Just Love Watching This Every Christmas
It's not going to win an academy award. It's not going to be the best acted or scripted movie that you will see. Arnie's acting, 'nough said. However, my family and I have seen this moview every holiday season, and quite honestly, this is the pick of the litter. Second,third and subsequent viewings were always more appreciative than the first. It is unique, and really hits upon the Christmas experience. Phil Hartman is great, as is Arnie. I know for the next 30 years my family will watch this every Christmas season, and I'm glad that Arnie took the risk to make a comedic Christmas experience.

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Episode 1 [HD]



"You are surrounded by dark forces, gentlemen. You must work fast and be invisible."
Thank goodness England's Whitechapel district is infamous for its many heinous crimes. Else how could a show initially tailored around Jack the Ripper go on, let alone thrive? There's gratifying news of a Series 3 being worked on and scheduled for a 2012 airing, so sighs of relief, sighs of relief. Meantime, WHITECHAPEL Series 2 revives one of the most notorious eras in East End lore: the reign of the murderous Kray twins, them nattily-attired crime lords what often resorted to torture and murder. And here you thought Britain in the 1960s was only known for the Beatles.

The brilliant cast of actors reprises them roles. Series 2 opens with the East End's homicide unit attending a policeman banquet and still soaking in the humiliation of having allowed the Jack the Ripper copy cat to scarper. Except that it's worth it to hear Detective Sergeant Ray Miles (Phil Davis), ornery as ever and up for a commendation, deliver a scathing acceptance speech. We also learn that his...

Give us REGION 1!!
This is an intelligent, beautifully acted Series. Why can't those of us in Region 1 get to ejoy more than the first season??? PLEASE1

Great series
Some of the earlier reviews gave the series only a few stars based on the availability at the time of all the episodes. Not fair in my opinion. All episodes are now available--at least I was able to see them all. I love this series. I like the quirky characters and find the true crime history fascinating. I think it is extremely well written and well acted. There is just enough tension between the characters as they learn to work with each other. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good British mystery.

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Better Off Dead



Better Than Nothing - finally on DVD 7/2002
It's finally here, and although it doesn't cost $2.00, it's better than nothing (if you caught that reference, you're a fan and will buy it now).

I won't go into plot and such - you already know about the movie's merits (or can find them online easily). This review will concern the region 1 (USA) DVD release that came out 7/16/02 at long last! retail around $20-25 USD.

One note: I had trouble finding this on release day - the local "big box" boys all told me they had "a copy on order or something"... I guess they didn't anticipate a big demand for this wildy funny 1985 cult comedy.

DVD Special Features: Widescreen enhanced for 16:9, English Subtitle Option, Dolby Digital & "English Stereo" (whatever that means). No foreign language tracks, outtakes or even a trailer. No stills of the cast or bios.... nada. Zip. Zero.

Initial Impressions: This DVD is truly a bare-bones production from start to finish. I actually thought the audio track was absent at first, due to the lack of...

Come back, Savage Steve!
As the years go by, I find myself growing more and more convinced that the '80s were the last true golden age for that often-maligned genre, the teen sex comedy. Whereas now Hollywood shells out a small fortune to finance a Britney Spears soundtrack for films starring young men who make Frankie Avalon look complex (and featuring actresses who seem to have copied Annette Funnicello's bust but none of her own admitedly simple charm), the '80s were usually made with low budgets, up-and-coming young actors who at least seemed to be having fun, scripts that were too joyfully crude to ever be considered truly offensive, and directors who seem to have vanished at the decade's in. My own personal favorite amongst these directors was "Savage" Steve Holland (Is that a perfect '80s name or what?) who defined the entire decade with just two films -- One Crazy Summer and especially Better Off Dead. Both of these films display Holland's crazed, gloriously strange wit, his penchant for...

Better Than Ever!
I don't know what people were expecting to see or hear with Better Off Dead on blu-ray. High definition does not translate to a miraculous transformation. It simply allows you to experience more closely what the source elements have to offer. In the case of Better Off Dead, it had a very low budget and was made very quickly. The filmmakers weren't concerned with how great the shots could be artistically, since it's a screwball comedy for teenagers. The low quality 80's film stock that was used wasn't great with detail, depth, or color, and was quite unstable. The film's soundtrack, which was originally in mono, was created with basic sound effects and design, because that's all the budget allowed for. The film will never look amazing no matter how much restoration is done to it and it'll never sound amazing unless an entirely new sound mix with new sound effects is created. It is a product of its low budget source limitations and unless you accept that fact, you will be greatly...

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The King's Speech: Road to the Throne



An enthralling journey which is heart-warming, humorous and genuinely sincere.**** 1/2
There always seems to come a time in every British actors career where they must play the role of a historical British monarch. Riding on the success of his career defining performance in "A Single Man" and sampling the glory of Best Actor nominations across the award circuits, Colin Firth comes storming back with another film, determined, this time, to take the all the prizes with him too. But is "The King's Speech" worth its pre-Oscar hype?
Set across the years between the First and Second World War, "The King's Speech" concentrates on the rise of King George VI (Firth) and his personal woes, including his infamous stammer and disdain for public speaking. Obviously being royalty, having an ability to engage the public in moving and inspirational speeches tends to be a necessity of the job. In attempting to overcome this disability, he's entrusted in the care of the eccentric and flamboyant speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).
Over the course of the film, the two...

Brilliant on Every Level!
THE KING'S SPEECH is one of those rare films that rely on the brilliance of the actors to bring a story/screenplay alive. But the success of this extraordinary film does not stop there. This re-telling of history as written by David Seidler and as directed with enormous sensitivity by Tom Hooper, as captured on film by cinematographer Danny Cohen glows as a background for some of the finest acting before the public today.

The film opens in 1925 as King George V (Michael Gambon) is beginning to fail, leaving the heir apparent to the throne at the time of his death to be Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), a man more concerned with love with the twice divorced Wallis Simpson (Eve Best) than he is with the Royal Lineage. Once the now senile George V dies, Edward VIII takes the throne but soon abdicates to marry Wallis. This passes the throne to the tender but severely stammering Prince Albert (Colin Firth), a man terrified of facing his beloved countrymen because of his speech...

Fascinating and moving true story
This isn't just another period piece or costume drama. It's a slice of history with a very real problem that many people deal with: stammering or stuttering. In this case, it's King George VI of England. He takes over after his brother abdicates the throne. George's problem is public speaking, and imagine just how hard it would have been for someone who had to make many broadcasts during his reign. He gets help from speech therapist Lionel Logue and from his loving wife as well.

Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter are at their best here as the three main characters. The interplay between Firth and Rush is especially moving to watch. The two men end up becoming close friends, not just a king and his subject/therapist.

Excellent and highly recommended.

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Denise Austin: Hot Body Yoga [HD]



Ok
This is probably a great video for a yoga beginner. I was a bit disappointed in the DVD for a few reasons. I do love Denise and will continue using her, but this DVD will be used for days when I just need a little stretch.

The first 30 mins is mostly stretches. She does offer different levels of progression but they are basic poses. The poses arn't held for very long. I didn't get much out of the lunge series. Overall, a great stretch.

The second 30 mins is taking traditional yoga poses and adding weights. A bit more challenging, but not difficult if you practice yoga.

Overall, a good basic yoga practice but not as challenging as I thought. Her Yoga Body Burn is more difficult due to the vinyasas and her Fat Burning Yoga is also more difficult due to the continuous movement in the first 30 mins. This one compares with the yoga section in her Power Yoga DVD. Simple, basic flowing movements with brief holds. This video is NOT for "feeling the...

Brilliant Pairing of Weight Training with Yoga
Denise Austin's Yoga Body Burn is a tough act to follow. I have relied on that program to keep me in shape for the past few years. I was pleased to find that Hot Body Yoga is a completely different type of workout than Yoga Body Burn, but no less fun and challenging.

The first 30-minute section of the dvd uses no weights but instead offers interesting new variations of traditional yoga moves at an engaging pace. This is perfect for light days when you want to do yoga but don't want anything that's strenuous on your joints, and yet you also don't want something so easy that it will make you sleepy.

The second 30-min. section is more challenging. I use 3-lbs. hand weights but stronger users may certainly use 5 lbs. The moves throughout this segment challenge your entire body simultaneously: your upper body is maneuvering the weights, your lower body is holding and repeating yoga poses, while the core is stabilizing the entire action. As usual Denise gives you the...

Two Good Yoga Routines
I agree that this is a good intermediate workout. In the first 30 min you'll do each pose twice. The second time you do the pose Denise makes it more challenging by having you stretch further. You can take it to the next level or stay with the beginner pose. I like that Denise gives you the option and has an exerciser showing modifications. The second 30 min workout with light weights is a great way to strengthen and stretch at the same time. It's mostly standing basic poses (warrior, triangle, crescent pose) while you do bicep curls and tricep extensions for the upper body. At the end you'll hit the floor for bridge work, cobra and boat pose again holding weights to enhance the work. I like how the workout ended with some leg, hip and neck stretches. I also have Yoga Body Burn and although this isn't as difficult, it's still a great combination of effective yoga poses.

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Auteur [HD]



BUY THIS MOVIE!
A hilarious film with a fantastic ensemble cast. Melik Malkasian is pure genius and James Westby
has arrived with this fantastic low budget film

Don't be scared away by the budget. this is not your typial crappy low budget film but instead
is a wonderfully funny and surprisingly heartwarming film. Fast paces, excellent acting and
a hilarious premise.

I saw this in a theater and the audience went nuts. so if you are tired of Hollywood Recycled crap
do yourselves a favor and buy this extremely well crafted film.

CAVEAT: No, I did not work on or finance this film.

I simply enjoyed every frame and genuinely loved it
and want to support more independent filmmakers... talented ones anyway.

Remember sex can be funny
Cruising to laugh, we chose this film based on some of the frank reviews left.

It was hilarious....the film made fun of the pompous film makers and it was a laugh riot all the way home. In the vein of SPINAL TAP.....

Have to wonder why more US films don't accept an NC17 rating in the mainstream. What's worse...killing or making fun of porno makers???

Enjoy a good laugh, watch this film.

Hilarious, excellent writing, great acting
This is probably the funniest indie/low budget movie I've ever seen. I can't suggest this movie enough. Rent it, buy it. Malik is friggan amazing as Arturo Domingo. John Breen is awesome. The romance with Fiona is hilarious and painful to watch.

Other indie flicks can't compare. Only Boondock Saints has this kind of word-of-mouth cool.

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Who Framed Roger Rabbit: 25th Anniversary Edition (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging)



The Rabbit Gets Some Justice
Filmmakers have been combining animation and live action since the days of silent film--but 1988's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT not only bested everything done previously, it set a standard that is unlikely to be surpassed. Although it has been available on VHS and in a mediocre DVD release for quite a few years, the film finally gets the star treatment in this "Vista Series" double DVD release, which includes the film in both pan-and-scan and letterbox formats and an assortment of extras, many of which are quite interesting.

The concept and story are well known: cartoon characters are not drawings, but are living entities who work in the film industry, and when Maroon Cartoon star Roger Rabbit is accused of murdering Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye), he turns to private detective Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) for help. Trouble is, Eddie hates "Toons." After all, one of them offed his brother, and Eddie hasn't been sober since. The concept is a clever one, and the story could have gone in any...

That's what I call one seriously disturbed Toon......
One of the great joys of movie-going is to see a concept, that on-the-face-of-it is so goofy and off-beat that it should never work, but, in the end, does work and works in spades! So it was for me with Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This Vista Series DVD brings the film to us with a crisp & clean picture, THX sound, and a beautifully packaged set of extras that include a very clever interactive menu, plus loads of goodies presented smartly, with humor and surprises.

Seeing the film again reminded me how impressed I was with the audacity and accomplishment of Bob Zemeckis and his collaborators on bringing off with care and intelligence, a sharp & funny film that plays to both children & adults. Who would have thunk it?

Taking a Chinatown-like story of early Los Angeles with some basis in fact (destroying the Red Line to make way for freeways) complete with murder & intrigue & marrying it to the screwy conceit that cartoon figures, aka Toons, actually lived and worked as live actors...

Tonsa 'toon fun!

I was 10 when "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" came out and it is just as much fun to watch now, maybe funnier because I missed some of the humor back then. Roger's a riot and his wife, Jessica Rabbit ("I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way"), is truly a toon vixen. Bob Hoskin's Eddie Valiant is sent to find out the truth when the owner of Toon Town is murdered after playing patty-cake (literally) with Jessica. Everyone assumes a jealous Roger did it and that washed-up detective Eddie can't hack it anymore. There is lots of subtle humor, like when Eddie asks for a scotch on the rocks in a 'toon bar and instead of ice he gets actual rocks. Eddie seriously hates Toon Town because his brother had a piano dropped on his head, but he eventually becomes pals with Roger, overcomes his hatred of Toon Town and clears Roger's name. Christopher Lloyd's Judge Doom is perfectly creepy and his squad of weasels are funny as they try to stop Eddie and Roger from discovering the...

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White Collar: The Complete Second Season



Thrilling, mysterious and funny all in one
I found this show by watching the marathon on USA. The show is one where you can't wait to see what happens next. There is a definite "hook" with all of its mysterious twists and turns. We bought Season 1, and my teenager is now hooked on it. The characters are fun and believable and the cast brings such a wealth of talent to the show. The show itself is a rarity in Hollywood because it beautifully portrays the proper mix of mystery, sexual intrigue and danger without being overdone - allowing the viewer to use their imagination.

An Absolute Winner !!!!!!
Somehow I never heard about this show when it first came out. Now I'm addicted. The show's loaded with twists & turns, brilliant capers, suspense, and some laughs as well. The cast and writers are clearly having lots of fun ... and they're pulling it off flawlessly. I imagine it's a joy to work on such a smart show. It's certainly a joy to watch.

Highly recommended ... and also highly addictive!

Back and even better
Last summer USA introduced us to sophisticated white collar thief Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), a con man turned FBI consultant, and FBI Special Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay), an agent in the FBI white collar crime division who has dedicated his career to hunting down Neal. After making a deal with the FBI, Neal begins working with Peter on white collar cases, including everything from art theft and forgery to embezzlement. Season one laid the groundwork for this edge-of-your seat show, creating unforgettable characters (especially Willie Garson's quirky Mozzie) and building a white-hot, unique summer show that ended (quite literally) with a bang.

At the beginning of season two, Neal is still reeling from ex-girlfriend Kate's unexpected death. Though he returns to his job as an FBI consultant (after a brief stint in prison after cutting his tracking anklet -- again), Neal secretly works to unravel the mystery behind Kate's death. Meanwhile, a concerned Peter meets secretly...

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Ouran High School Host Club: Complete Series (Classic)



Review on the Actual Product, Not the Series Itself
I just got this item today and have looked through some of the extras and I must say they are pretty entertaining. They have the "outtakes" section, which is basically a blooper reel from all the episodes, and while it doesn't show the actual voice actors, it does show the the scenes with the dialogue of the voice actors messing up or doing some improv. Some of the other extras include audio commentary on certain episodes and the textless songs. There's a preview for the manga provided by Viz and it shows some shots from one of the volumes that's big enough to read but don't expect it to be the complete volume. The episodes themselves are pretty good quality and you can choose from having English or Japanese audio and subtitles.
The packaging is pretty nice, too much pink for my taste, but still nice and it has some quotes and pictures throughout. There isn't a booklet but after the case is taken out of the sleeve it folds out to show an episode guide on the left side and what...

I didn't expect It would be THIS cool
I won't go into too much detail, because part of the fun of this anime series is just hanging on for the ride, not knowing alot going into it.

But basically the story is about a girl who enters a very nice, prestigious high school where rich kids are numerous and poor people are thought of as fairytale material. She meets the highschool's Host Club, which is basically a group of young men who entertain the school's young ladies. Keep in mind they're all rich, and somewhat arrogant, so they kind of just sit around and talk about rich kid stuff.

The Host Club thinks she's a guy, she accidently breaks an expensive vase and instantly earns herself a very large debt, and the only way to pay it off is to join the Host Club.

This is just the beginning. Like I said I don't want to go into too much detail because Ouran High School Host Club is the type of anime that is best enjoyed when not too much is known about it going in.

I was mainly interested...

Great Anime!!
This is one of the greatest romance comedy. I mean I could watch this anime over and over. The characters are so colorful and full of life. This anime is a real enjoyment. I love this anime and I watch it over and over!!!

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The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection



It's Elementary, this is a Must Purchase!
MPI Home Video has made a terrific decision here, combining all of its previously released DVD boxed sets of this classic 14-film series into one affordable package. It is a must buy for any Sherlock Holmes fan, or anyone who enjoys classic mysteries, who does not already have all of these wonderful films.

When these were first released on DVD it was truly a cause for celebration, as it represented the completed painstaking restoration of all 14 classic films by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.

The UCLA Theatre Archives did an award-winning job in restoring and thus preserving these great films from 35mm master copies into the digital format, sometimes literally being forced to piece together the celluloid remnants that they found.

It took the archivists several years to complete the entire project, but was well worth the wait. The result is that the black and white images seem as fresh today as when the films were released to theatres more than 40...

14 Rathbone-Bruce flicks complete on 5 excellent 5-star DVDs but in clumsy 1-star box
Philip St. John Basil Rathbone (13 June 1892, Johannesburg--21 July 1967, New York) and William Nigel Bruce (4 Sep. 1895, Ensenada--8 Oct 1953, Santa Monica) starred in 14 Sherlock-Holmes films as, respectively, Holmes and Watson. The first two films (1939) are period pieces whereas the last 12 (1942-46) are contemporary ("modern").

"The complete Sherlock Holmes collection" is a 6/06 reissue on 5 DVDs of a 14-DVD set (in 5 boxes) previously issued by MPI 10/03-4/04. The reissues by MPI, which involve restorations of the 1942-46 films, have been critically acclaimed. This review thus just compares the 2006 and 2003-04 sets of reissues (this review also supplements the previous two reviews by R. Smith, 7/18, and E. Hornaday, 4/10):

OVERVIEW: 2006 reissue = 14 films on 5 DVDs (see below for track listing) in 1 box 1 1/4" wide VERSUS 2003-04 reissue = 14 films on 14 DVDs in 5 boxes totaling 4 3/8" wide.

DVD CONTENT: Same in both reissues except the 2006...

Classic Holmes on Blu-Ray -- Be Sure to Support It!
THE SHERLOCK HOLMES COLLECTION (MPI): HD enthusiasts with a passion for the Golden Age need to do themselves a favor next week by picking up MPI's Blu-Ray box-set of the "Sherlock Holmes Collection," which not only will encourage the release of more titles like it but also infuse your collection with terrific HD presentations of the 14 vintage Holmes mysteries starring Basil Rathbone as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective and Nigel Bruce as his faithful sidekick Dr. Watson.

The five-disc BD set offers the duo's first two series entries - "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and the outstanding "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" - which were produced at Fox as Grade-A productions in 1939, as well as the following 12 pictures Rathbone and Bruce starred in for Universal Pictures beginning in 1942.

Universal's entries differed from the Fox films in a number of ways: the studio produced the films on a lower (though not entirely bargain-basement) budget and, most...

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Part 1



She's gritty and the woman who can handle it
In, "PRIME SUSPECT" Helen Mirren makes the show as Tennison. Obsessed, work-driven, feminist attitude, course, in-your-face drive, believable. Most is man-like rather than the occasional romantic portion which does exist. She's a drinker, and almost never smiles. The cases may not always end to your satisfaction--just like real life crimes and punishment. But you will be on the edge of your seat while you watch. "Prime Suspect" is compelling viewing, ruthless in the detail, definitely not for children and the squeamish, blatantly course visually and in dialogue, but oh, so realistic.
Police drama was changed forever by Helen Mirren's as Jane Tennison.

1-Brutal murders, & DCI Tennison gets promoted to head of the murder investigation team after the present leader dies. She takes on a botched investigation, a slippery suspect, a home-front relationship, and proves to have more than what it takes, even being a woman, to male surprise. Loads of blood, mutilated bodies,...

The mother of invention
Having recently discovered the excellence of such American TV series as The Wire, or Sopranos, I was keen to have a look at one of the first such series, the English one called Prime Suspect, with the fabulous Helen Mirren. Finally I managed to watch series 1 of 1991, not without misgivings: can it have aged well, would it not be dated and antique?
No, it is still as fresh as if it had been done recently. Some things have changed of course. The star looks like 40, not like the queen. And her female cop Jane Tennison struggles against male ignorance among her colleagues on an unimaginable level. No current show would dare to depict men as such stupid idiots.
The 200 minutes of the first series are not broken up in hourly or 45 minutes dosages, but come in just two installments. The plot focuses on just one case. It is a whodunnit, but it is also a procedural and a character study and a social study. Tennison is ambitious, selfish, vain, smart, and we see how she has to be...

The First and the Best
Helen Mirren is in my mind the best actress of our time.. I cannot think of a film where she did not shine! She is able to take on the personna of the character she is playing, she is believable, honest, intelligent, and quite lovely.

I recently reviewed the first couple of episodes, and in the first series, the difficult time that DCI Jane Tennison had breakng into the old boy's network, comes full force. The smirks, the lies, the deceit from the men who were so afraid of a woman taking over. When she had her first win, and the men in her department greeted her with cheers and champagne, I ffelt tears in my eyes. I was a woman in the 60's and felt the discrimination and had the bottom pitching. I knew exactly what she went through. Tom Ball who plays DC Otley, the most despicable liar of the entire team has his comeuppance and none too soon. The other big distinction between the time Helen Mirren plays Tennison and now, is the amount of smoking that took place. A clig in...

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Barney: Let's Go On Vacation [HD]



My son watch it every day
My 20 months old son like it very much and he want to watch it every day. Although he may not understand the story, the songs are very attractive for him.

Picture quality
It was a good program except the quality of the movie was grainy. Other than that my daughter enjoyed watching it.

Not what I bargained for
Just finished watching this with my 2 year old Barney fanatic daughter. I bought it thinking it would get into more of the process of going on vacation, maybe explore some different locales, etc. It's more like a 51 minute episode about how butterflies go south for the winter, which bums Baby Bop out, because "Monty" the butterfly is her friend. So, true to BB form, she whines and complains and the whole gang ends up going to "Mexico" (which is actually just a shabbily decorated set) to find the other butterflies which Monty somehow got separated from. The whole thing kind of lost me as about 5 minutes in, I started to sing a little non-Barney song in my head. My daughter lost interest, too, which is odd. The movie, from what I could gather, is about butterflies, and sort of Mexico. And the word vacation was used, but not in the context that I expected. For a more "adventury" type story, we liked "Barney Celebrating around the World" much better. Save your money, you can...

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Two Weeks in Hell: Part 1



Excellent
It's awesome to see what these amazing soldiers go through with their intense training. Highly recommended to everyone. Go USA.

You can sleep well at night knowing these men will be on our side!
It was very graphic, depicting the difficulty that these men must go through to become the best of the best. Very few soldiers can complete this course and this documentary shows why. As a nation, we need these guys to be the toughest on the planet, physically and mentally.

As a Civilian You Always wondered...
How tough training is for special forces - here you get a 1st hand look. They train until they weed out the weak….

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Dragon Ball Z: Season Four (Garlic Jr., Trunks, and Android Sagas)



The Greatest Collection of the Greatest Anime
Dragonball Z is famous across the globe, most noted for being one of the all time most popular anime series ever created. The show does an excellent job of staying true to the mangas, with few name changes and plot adjustments. This collection happens to be my personal favorite collection of all of the available ones to choose from. Why? It's because of the interesting sagas that it contains.

The Garlic Jr Saga is a great series of episodes that is highly overlooked. Garlic has returned from his "Dead Zone" imprisonment. He now seeks revenge on the earthlings, and will stop at nothing to continue his attack on Piccolo and Kami for the death of his father. Armed with new henchmen and still gifted with immortality, it seems as if Garlic Jr is unstoppable. The fight between Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo and Garlic Jr is one of the most action packed ones ever placed within the anime. The plot is great, and the show does a great job of keeping the viewer enticed and engaged...

Based on previous viewings.
This has not been released yet so my review will be based on previous viewings of the episodes.

This is when things start to get really powerfull! DBZ has been called "The greatest action cartoon ever made!" I agree 100%. That being said this was/is the greatest season ever made. It's starts most likely with the Blackwater mist saga an auspicious begining. The only thing the B-W-M saga does is waste/fill time. Then we have the Trunks saga. This saga really shows how the power level has risen. With the eminant return of Frieza, Goku still missing, and a new frieghtfully powerfull young man, the drama is there. After everything settles down a bit The Z fighters find out about a new threat even greater than Frieza. Enter the Android saga. An enemy from Goku's past comes back to haunt him and his friends. A really dramatic action packed saga where Krilin falls for an attractive but vollatile advesary.

I really hope the original score is available for this season...

The introduction of one of the most popular DBZ characters and the Clone saga begins!
With each DVD season box set release of "DRAGON BALL Z", as a hardcore fan of the series, it's just incredible to get over 30 episodes for almost the same price or less than most American television box sets.

Season 4 is definitely going to excite some fans as one of the more popular characters, Future Trunks is featured on the box cover.

The season starts off with the Garlic Jr. arc that I wasn't too caring for, while the fate of Goku is still unknown after the battle with Frieza, everyone else gets accustomed to their own lives as Gohan is stuck at home studying for school exams and his mother Chi Chi is very striict with him. Piccolo continues to train and Krillyn dates a beautiful, busty woman named Maron.

But eventually everyone reunites to take on the latest threat to their world when Garlic Jr. unleashes the black water mist upon the world and everyone turns evil with the exception of Piccolo, Krillyn, Gohan, Maron and Master Roshi. With the...

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Broken Trail [HD]



Lyrical, Sweeping Western a Triumph...
"Broken Trail", a dream project for producer/star Robert Duvall, and AMC's first original film, is the spiritual heir to Kevin Costner's 2003 "Open Range" (also starring Duvall), and one of the most moving, involving Westerns of recent years.

With a charismatic, extremely effective performance by Thomas Haden Church, as Duvall's long-estranged nephew, the film is one of only a handful of Westerns that combine epic sweep, superb characterization, and an understanding of the 'Real West', without shortchanging decency, or respect of an individual's worth. The era was hard, justice could be swift and brutal, and Duvall, as aging but upright Prentice Ritter, lives by his own rules; to protect the helpless in his care, to respect others, and to be unafraid to resort to violence, if necessary. Tom Harte (Church), despite some family history problems with his uncle, lives by the same code, and the two men, driving a herd of horses from Oregon to Wyoming to raise cash for a ranch,...

A Western you can take a date too...
I watched this film on AMC. This is AMC cable network's first original production starring Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church. It is a fictional story that everyone will want to watch. The background for this movie is based on historical fact of the time. I knew I was going to watch this western as soon as I read that Robert Duvall was involved in the project.

This movie takes place during the late 1800s. It starts with two horse wranglers played by Duvall and Church. Duvall's character, Print Ritter, is Church's uncle. They decide too wrangle horses and sell them to the British Empire who needed them for the Boer War. In the movie we follow this magnificent heard of horses as they are driven east across beautiful country. During the drive they run into five Chinese women who were being kidnapped from the West Coast and brought to the interior west to serve as prostitutes. The story of our horse drive and the story of five Chinese women become intertwined...

A Romantic Yet Gritty Western - Top Notch!
Wow! This is why filmmakers make movies. This movie will capture your imagination and heart. It is a big epic of a western, beautifuly filmed, with an intriging story line that will keep you guessing right up until the very end.

I am a devoted western movie fan, and this movie ranks up there with the very best of the genre.

Robert Duvall, best known as "Agustus" in Lonesome Dove, dons western garb once again and stars in a lengthy, yet thoroughly enjoyable tale of a horse drive across the plains to Sheridan, Wyoming. Duvall employs his nephew in the endevor, and they unexpectedly meet up with a variety of both endearing and unsavory characters along the way.

This is not a shoot 'em up western. It is not action-packed. It meanders at a leisurly pace, as an actual horse drive would, yet an enjoyable pace from beginning to end. Duvall, as the patriarch Print Ritter, and his nephew Tom Harte, (played exceedingly strongly by Thomas Church) take about...

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The Russian House



6 stars for set 6, the post-war after Foyle's War 1-5, all a must view
Post War!-What everyone who's seen Foyle's War was anxiously awaiting. Triumphant 3 NEW EPISODES of Foyle's Post-War (summer 1945). Done in the same 6-STAR excellence as the British home-front WWII series. Period drama done to perfection providing history, drama, action, romance, mystery, and suspense (6-STARS) in every episode. WITH SUBTITLES
Proven to be one of the finest war series ever British produced, and this is the result of public demand for more. Foyle returns for some activity after the war. It's just as awesome as the original series.

Foyle's War is a classic in it's own time.
Michael Kitchen is back as Foyle--the series is impossible without him. Anthony Horowitz is writer/creator. And what a blessing to again see 'Sam', Miss Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks) back helping Foyle in Hastings, solving crimes and dealing with post-war issues. She has such a beautiful face--and more. A jolly voice. I just love her.

In the Series, Foyle longs for...

Most Excellent
This whole set of series is historical while entertainment of the highest degree. I watch it over and over again from the first season to the last and can hardly wait for seasons 7 & 8 to be available. Even with cable these are the stories I want to spend my winter evenings with. They remind me of the sacrifices made by the men in my family and yours while making new friends with Michael, Anthony and Honeysuckle (Who I know would be my lifetime friends should ever we meet). Its great fun to see and recognize many actors from other favorite stories and series. Thank you for "Foyle's War".

Excellent.
Excellent in nearly every respect, Michael Kitchen is superlative as usual. Few detective dramas manage to so thoughtfully interweave a more profound theme of loss, human cruelty and compassion.

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Prime Suspect: The Complete Collection



COMPLETE SET REVIEW-completely thrilling & well done
UPDATE: This set is rumored to be released on Blu-ray in fall (Aug or Sep) of 2013.

Now, "PRIME SUSPECT" is available, boxed as "The COMPLETE COLLECTION". A bargain compared to individual segments. If you are just finding Prime Suspect, you WILL want all 7 years. 9 stories. Not just tales of cops and murder, but in-your-fact realistic cop activity, which was done with so much realistic detail, it was the show to change British (and world) crime shows forever. It is the gritty type of show that all mystery film and TV now try to duplicate. Police drama was changed forever by Helen Mirren and her role as Jane Tennison.

Be aware, the cases may not always end to your satisfaction--just like real life crimes and punishment. But you will be on the edge of your seat while you watch. 6 stories last over 3 hours each. The other 3 are about 1 1/2 hours long. Each is compelling viewing, ruthless in the detail, definitely not for children and the squeamish, blatantly course...

Truly Spectacular
If you're looking for something different in the police drama category... this is it. Completely unlike anything in the American cop show format, the first thing you'll notice is that these are all 1-hour-40-minute movie length features as opposed to the American format of 42-44 minutes. With only two of these features in each series broadcast a week apart as a part 1 / part 2, this must have been more like an annual event on British televison as opposed to a "season" on American TV. And what an event it must have been... wonderful story development with some really gritty subject matters, and Helen is marvelously brilliant in what could have been a very stereo-typed role. She plays it with a flawed humanity that is totally engrossing and even a little uncomfortable at times. There are also some fine performances by her fellow actors, particularly a couple of the "suspects". Very emotional and gripping. One other big difference from American cop shows... for the most part the...

One Fault by Makers of DVD
The original productions are outstanding in all respects; Mirren, above all, an example of towering excellence. However, those who produced the DVD's inexplicably omitted subtitles in the final two discs. This omission diminished my enjoyment because ever-present arcane British slang was much harder to pick up, much less understand, particularly when coupled with broad British accents. END-

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Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt



More Melancholy Mystery As Selleck Returns In His Eighth Outing As Jesse Stone
Tom Selleck is back in the role he was born to play for this eighth outing in the popular Jesse Stone series. Stone must surely be one of the most laid back heroes to ever grace the small screen and Selleck has perfected the minimalism necessary to make this character stand out. I don't know who author Robert B. Parker might have envisioned inhabiting his iconic small town police chief, but Selleck has certainly owned and perfected the role over the course of these last seven years of TV movies. Starting in 2005, these movies have proven that there is still an adult audience looking for thoughtful drama. I do think each chapter thus far has enough to recommend it on its own merits. You'll appreciate the films to varying degrees as with any serialization--some you may love, some just like. Here's a run down before I comment of "Benefit of the Doubt."

2005: Stone Cold
2006: Night Passage
2006: Death In Paradise
2007: Sea Change
2009: Thin Ice
2010: No...

Back in Harness...
"Benefit of the Doubt", the eighth Jesse Stone TV movie, finds the former Paradise police chief back on the job, rehired after a mysterious explosion wipes out his successor. Jesse sets out to solve the mystery, working somewhat at odds with the state homicide squad and an inquisitive town councilman.

Like previous installments of the Jesse Stone franchise, Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone spends a lot of time drinking coffee and contemplating the beautiful seascape of Paradise with his aging dog, when he's not breaking into his own office, stepping on official toes, romancing the secretary at the local car dealership, or reaching out to former employees. Most of the recurring cast of the Jesse Stone movies make appearences, including Kathy Baker, William Devane, and William Sadler. However, this story is mostly about Jesse's refusal to accept the easy answer about the death of the previous chief. His dogged pursuit of justice and his considerable detecting skills lead him...

Outstanding
I thought they might be pushed for an interesting story line, but this one starts it all over again, and leaves the way for a sequel ,so easily.There are surprises right away, that you are not ready for, and pave the way for some interesting dramatics.
The dog is a star again, and surprises everyone.
An interesting twist on the villains, and you are never quite clear about what is going on, and why.
Jessie's love life is interesting, but boy did he blow it, with the secretary for Gino.That would have been too exhausting to cope with;Jessie too.
Seeing "Suitcase" as a fisherman, is hard to deal with, but his later decision, is awesome.
The opening Ocean scenes are fantastic, and well done!

Looking forward to the next "Movie"--

Kevin

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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Guilty Crown: Complete Series, Part 1 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)



I think people are being a little harsh.
I'm not sure if there is a Manga regarding this show or any other sort of Media, my review for this is based only on the actual Anime, for that is all I have seen.

That being said I find people are being a bit on harsh on the reviews, at least in my opinion. To be honest the plot is doing nothing new. A military organization is trying to wipe out Japan and it's up to the resistance to fight back and keep Japan out of the clutches of this organization. It's not something new but the way the fights, the plot, and the characters are presented seemed fresh and new to me, for the most part I very much found myself enjoying the series.

The stand out here for me was the music and art. If you are a huge fan of soundtracks this is one you may not want to miss. The show does a wonderful job of setting the mood, from sad moments to some of the most epic fights the show can offer. And when it comes to over the top fights this show is not hurting at all, it has enough action...

Great artwork, sound track, and story... for the first half at least.
I watched this show all the way through and found it quite enjoyable for a number of reasons. 1) the artwork is stellar and not just for the characters but the environments, tech, and the Void abilities. 2) The sound track is awesome, Ryo (SuperCell) had a hand in it so that's a major bonus for me.

What I dislike about this show is the main character, Shu. He's too weak of a character to be playing this main role, in my opinion, but does a good enough job to soldier on and be apart of the 'group' so to speak. He shows some growth as he progresses through into the second half of the series but towards the end he gets a major overhaul in personality and I'm just not sure what to make of it. Also, the latter half of the second part to the series gets a little sloppy with the story and I felt like the ending was lacking.

In the end, would I buy this show despite my list of faults for it? Yeah, I would.

Good Series.
First of all, I want to say that personally, I really enjoyed this show.

I'm not sure what put people off because they all agree the first part of the show was great but the 2nd was not. I wanted to know what the fuss was about so I watched it and I must say where was the problem?? The 2nd part was more depressing but I stilled enjoyed it. In the end, I just thought people do not like watching depressing things or from what I'm hearing are upset for the mild religious context in the anime?? I really would say if you're going to argue or are easily offended about religious context like every parent does in school, do not watch this anime period.

I digress but moving on.

Personally, I recommend this anime to anyone especially if you enjoyed Code Geass, you will like this anime. Is it better than Code Geass? No. But I liked Guilty Crown in its own way. To add on, The first opening (My Dearest by Supercell) is by far one of my favorite anime openings I...

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A Christmas Kiss



A cute holiday romance.
A chance kiss on a scary elevator ride leaves Wendy's world shaken up. She had been all business lately--no time for fun. But her roommates could see that this kiss had brought a new spark to their friend. Wendy had left her job as a set designer for community theater to work for a star in the interior design world, hoping to advance her own career. But her boss, Miss Hall, is demanding, self centered, and unscrupulous. Wendy is called upon at all hours to fulfill Miss Hall's every whim. Now this mysterious man who kissed her as the elevator seemed to have doomed them to perish together, has breathed fresh life into her heart. Problem is, Wendy was rather disguised when the kiss took place, so he would not recognize her, and she has no idea who he is.
One day his identity is revealed and Wendy must work closely with him while he has no idea who she is. Her roommates want her to tell him, but she can't bring herself to do it.
Meanwhile, things with her boss are going from bad...

Fun christmas movie
I enjoyed this movie. I purchased it because it was recommended when I bought a different movie. I am glad that I purchased it. It is a fun little romantic movie set around Christmas. It did not have any cussing in it or anything like that. There are no overly romantic scenes, so children could watch this movie. I enjoyed how the main male lead came to realize which of the woman was right for him. I don't want to give away the story but I enjoyed the antics of the friends to help the guy see who was the right woman for him. I really enjoyed how it ended. I thought it could have been a little longer, to give us more at the end but I still liked it. i would recommend this movie if asked for a good enjoyable Christmas movie.

Sweet Christmas flick
Okay, so I love Christmas movies, really, I do. This one is a really sweet movie and I won't repeat the story line as it is already written for you. I enjoyed Wendy's friends, they added some unexpected spice to this film. If you are into Christmas chic flicks, this should be on your list. And yes, it does have a predictable love story ending but worth watching anyway.

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Lee Daniels' The Butler [Blu-ray Combo]



Wonderful Biopic of a White House Butler
THE BUTLER is a film which, for all its sentimental tone, nonetheless addresses the fundamental issue of civil rights, and whether the reforms of the Sixties have actually had the desired effect. It centers on the life of Cecil Gaines (Forrest Whitaker), who grew up on a plantation but spent most of his career in service at the White House. To his son Louis (David Oyelowo), Cecil is nothing more than a representative of "Uncle Tom" culture, spending his life in willing thrall to the white man. On the other hand Cecil manages to provide for his family and carve out a career; it is only late on in his life, when President Ronald Reagan (Alan Rickman) offers him an opportunity to savor something that he has never previously experience, that he understands how little his masters have changed, ideologically speaking, since the days of racial segregation. This is the film's "aha-moment" - from then on Gaines devotes himself to the cause of equal rights. THE BUTLER...

For history beginners, this is a cleancut yet tough take on U.S. racial politics
"Lee Daniels' The Butler, while taking liberties from the original source, is a commendable effort with Forest Whitaker's performance as a subtle, understated White House butler in a more grounded light than we would normally see with recent race-oriented films like Django Unchained or a film from Spike Lee (which many of his films talk about something tough but boil down to a heavy and potentially one-sided argument).

The film reflects much of the butler's years working since childhood to an elderly age and it reflects his life in motion with his alcoholic, disenchanted wife played by billionaire Oprah Winfrey, his rebellious son who joins the Black Panthers and demonstrates at sit-ins, and his naive youngest son who goes to Vietnam. It was a very interesting experience to watch this fictionalised persona Cecil Gaines (Whitaker), based on the real-life Eugene Allen, play it so good-to-the-bone that there is an inner sadness and melancholy in his character that amid the...

"A MUST SEE - Emotional, Timely, Passionate, Powerful, Loving Is "The Butler""
In this day and age when civil rights (equal rights) are still being battled in the courtrooms (even 237 years later after the Bill of Rights and Constitution was signed) with issues like Gay Marriage and Women's Rights (which are still forcing people to fight for their own personal freedoms and choices because of archaic minded judges, courtrooms, bible beaters or just plain ignorant and intolerant people who think they are better then anyone else), this movie, "The Butler" shines through a dark page in America's long history to remind all of us that our justice system is very slow to operate, even more slower to learn and - to this day, does not still embrace equal or civil rights of all Americans equally.

Director Lee Daniel's (Precious, The Paperboy) did three amazing things; One, he used writer/actor Danny Strong's (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay 1 & 2) masterful screenplay adaption of an original news article of "A Butler Well Served by This Election" written by Wil...

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Bogie and Bacall - The Signature Collection (The Big Sleep / Dark Passage / Key Largo / To Have and Have Not)



Romance and Choices in Martinique
The summer of 1940 in Martinique as people began to choose sides is the setting for another Howard Hawks masterpiece. William Faulkner, who had adapted Raymond Chandler's complex novel for the director's other Bogart screen classic, "The Big Sleep," expanded a thin Hemingway story with writing partner Jules Furthman into another. This is sort of "Casablanca" with grit rather than gloss, and is just as enjoyable. "To Have and Have Not" does, in fact, outshine that film with its upbeat ending, and marks the real contrast between the two films, despite their similarities.

Bogart is Harry Morgan, trying to stay neutral about the local politics while he and his pal Eddie (Walter Brennan) take tourists ocean fishing in the waters of Martinique. His pal Frenchy (Marcel Dalio) wants him to use his boat to pick up a couple that will put him square in the middle of all that's going on both in Martinique and the rest of the world as the Germans make their move across the globe...

If You Want Them, This Is It
"Bogie and Bacall -- The Signature Collection," brings us the four movies the near-legendary Hollywood stars, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, made together, from first, Howard Hawks's 1944 "To Have and Have Not," in which the couple, just meeting, literally fall in love on screen, through probably their best together, 1946's "The Big Sleep," again directed by Hawks; their strangest, 1947's "Dark Passage," written and directed by Delmar Daves; and their last, the 1948 "Key Largo," directed by John Huston.

All four films are made by Warner Brothers, in black and white; all but "Dark Passage" made entirely on studio back lots, despite the ostensible tropical settings of "To Have and Have Not," and "Key Largo." In most, Bogie plays a character that will be familiar to his fans from his previous work, particularly the great wartime hit "Casablanca" that directly preceded "To Have." We see some of the familiar Warner Brothers company of supporting players in these films, and...

Holy Smokes --- what a pairing!
Watching this movie can give you the vapors. Ye gods, has anyone's big screen debut been as sizzling as that of the 19-year-old Lauren Bacall's? Even 60 years later, Bacall's sensual presence absolutely smolders on the screen. While this is not the most gripping Bogart performance one is likely to think of, he is nonetheless fascinating to watch in this film. As the film progresses, it is unmistakeable that he is absolutely HOOKED by his co-star.

The storyline itself is a conventional thriller for its time, although it has the distinction of being the product of two of the greatest American writers, Hemingway & Faulkner. Not that they would have seen much merit in that --- Hemingway had a lukewarm attitude towards this work, and Faulkner hated every minute he spent in Hollywood, prostituting his talent (as he saw it).

This movie is not on a dramatic par with "Casablanca" or "The Maltese Falcon," and the subsequent Bogart-Bacall "Key Largo"...

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Treme: The Complete Second Season



Down Here In New Orleans
"We got magic, good and bad
Make you happy or make you real sad
Get everything you want, lose what you had
Down here in New Orleans"
Dr John

'Treme' HBO's magnificent season one, introduced us to the New Orleans of post-Katrina, the music, the people, the problems, the lives of the everyday people trying to make it work. In Treme's second season we see and really feel how the natives live and die.

'Treme' season two moves to the lives of the musicians, the businesses trying to thrive and into the police stations and politicians pockets. The regulars like Antoine Batiste, played by Wendell Pierce, find themselves trying to rebuild their lives. In his case, he is a trombonist and works in the local school band by day and in the clubs by night. Terry Colson, played by David Morse, is a detective in the police department, where he feels out the greed and graft of his colleagues. Melissa Leo, plays Toni, the local lawyer who fights for her...

Can't understand the bad reviews
One of my favorite shows of all time. People who gripe about lack of specific plot development just don't understand that the show's creators are just trying to create a tapestry. Interwoven layers looking into the lives of the characters... Smart intelligent writing and brilliant acting.

The Only TV Drama That Matters
David Simon's "Treme" is simply the best dramatic series currently on TV. Period. The second season continues the story of New Orleans with its mosaic of characters from musicians, chefs, chiefs and carpetbaggers looking to make a quick buck from the Big Easy's misfortunes caused by Katrina. If you require loads of explosions, buckets of blood and a car chase ever five minutes this well written program is Not for you. "Treme" is like a great American novel with its many characters and layers that gives the viewer a Dickensian look at one of America's greatest cities, New Orleans. While there is plenty of drama (The Danziger Bridge killings, street crime and City Hall backroom deals) it is the music and the musicians that are consistently the focus in this outstanding series.

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The Mindy Project: Season One



Hilariously Smart.
Mindy Kaling is not afraid to be a funny girl...and I love it! This show pokes fun at "true" girl life, but does it in such a way that it feels....um...awesome? "The Mindy Project" is probably one of the wittiest shows on television today. If you love humor in the style of Tina Fey, if you liked "Bridesmaids," and if you thought Kelly Kapoore was even remotely funny on "The Office", you will enjoy "The Mindy Project."

Funny and Entertaining
This show makes me laugh - and many of the medical scenarios are accurate with a funny Hollywood twist. I hope they're able to do more seasons because I really like Mindy Kaling.

Very funny!
I am so sad that 30 Rock is on its last season. The Mindy Project, I feel, will keep me from being too heartbroken.

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My Man Godfrey



Thank You Criterion!
At last, a good clean copy of this wonderful screwball romantic comedy! Much superior to the Hollywood Classics DVD which was washed-out and missing a key scene.

Well, this is just one of the best of the half-dozen or so top screwball comedies of the 30's. A dream cast plays it light and loose, with the real world of Depression-era America as a backdrop to a love story and a light lesson in responsibility, both to one's friends & family, to one's society, and to one's better nature.

And what a cast. William Powell is the epitome of debonair (what a quaint term: NO ONE is debonair anymore, alas)with one of the best comedic touches and timing in the business. Opposite Powell is Carole Lombard, young, adorable, beautiful and screwy and a perfect foil for Powell's smooth decorum. The supporting cast is first rate: Eugene Pallete the long-suffering businessman/husband; Gail Patrick, the beautiful but bitchy Cornelia; Mischa Auer's deadbeat Carlo; Alice Brady's clueless mother;...

Which Version
For those of you lucky enough to know, or who propose to get to know, this flick, you've come to the right place. Amazon sells two DVD versions of My Man Godfrey. I've seen both, as well as the VHS, and this one, the least expensive, from a company called Platinum, is by far the best quality. The other DVD, by Madacy Entertainment, is a fiasco based on a terrible print that happens to also be missing a crucial scene. Why Amazon continues to sell it, I don't know.

Ignore irrelevant reviews---get the glorious 2005 Legend restored version--perfect in B&W and great computer-advanced color too!
The "First Time In Color" cover of MY MAN GODFREY from the Legend company is the very BEST-----better than the Criterion version, believe it or not---in part, because on Legend you choose to watch color or black and white. In fact, the Legend version is just tremendous and even the color version is miles ahead of the old colorization processes of the 1980s. But you do not see this information ANYWHERE except at the very end because Amazon has loaded up all these ancient and out of date reviews of OTHER PRODUCTS---not the one listed and shown in the picture. It is terrible confusing. Luckily, I did order a copy of the Legend version with color and B&W and was thrilled, but you might never figure it out based on the utterly confusing mess of reviews of all sorts of different versions mushed together in the same place here.__________
I had seen this film at least twice over the years and thought it pretty good but came across this 2005 remastered version from LEGEND films. I...

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Battlestar Galactica:The Mini-Series [HD]



Don't Buy Mini-Series if also Buying Season 1 DVD
DON'T BUY the mini series DVD if you are also planning on buying the season 1 DVD set. I made that mistake and wasted $$$. The mini series is the first DVD in the Season 1 set.

Great pilot, better series, bad DVD
The 2003 3-hour (minus commercials, that is) pilot/miniseries update of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA was a very well-done, very good pilot. I say that because pilots generally aren't as good as the series they lead up to, they merely lay the groundwork you need for the show, and GALACTICA is no exception. While it is very good on its own, it lags at times, loses its focus every once in a while, and it is obvious that it is a pilot for a TV series.

Thankfully, we got that TV series.

It is nothing short of amazing. Far surpassing the already-great pilot, it is the best show on TV at the moment.

This miniseries DVD, however, is crap.

I say that not because the picture or audio quality is bad (they aren't), or the extras are lacking (they are), but because in the upcoming Season 1 set, they include this exact disc, plus all the extras on this one on a separate disc in that set. This entire $22 set is pointless to buy if you buy Season 1...

Ever try something new and everything works out just fine?
I fear change. I shy away from bleeding edge technology. I stay safe. There was no way I was going to install some commercial program that stays resident and runs in the background on my computer. (After all, it was probably written by cylons.)

But then 'they' got me. What a dirty trick: BSG3 would be released in England next month, but not in the US for the indefinite future. If I wanted to watch BSG (which is the greatest program on television, bar none), I would have to risk installing 'Unbox.' As an avowed conspiracy theorist, you know what I thought about that.

Grudgingly, I downloaded the Unbox Player and installed it. I had to turn the computer on and off a few more times than expected; but that's par for the course on most installations. Then I decided to splurge. I spent $1.99 to check out an episode. Seemed a safe risk for the money, and the software installation had gone so quickly I was left with time on my hands to monkey around with this...

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Oz The Great and Powerful [HD]



HOW TO GET THE 2D / 3D COMBO ... AT THE BEST PRICE
For those consumers like myself who want to own both the 3D and 2D versions of this film without spending a fortune, there is an easy way to achieve this goal. Simply purchase either the two disc 2D Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital Copy package (which has a yellow border and pictures a flying monkey, the Wizard, and three witches on the front) ... OR ... the single disc 3D Blu-Ray + Digital Copy (which features the Wicked Witch framed in the letter "O") at the cheapest price you can find from a retailer in North America.

Inside the case will be a special insert that contains information about a special OZ sweepstakes, and which includes a "Magic Code" that can be activated when you join or sign in to the DisneyMovieRewards.com website. This same insert also includes a special offer that will enable you to purchase whichever disc you are missing (either the 3D or the 2D) for $5.99. No additional shipping or handling charges apply. The extra disc should arrive at your home within...

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW, MARGARET HAMILTON IS SMILING
UPDATE (6/14/2013): Refrain from buying the single 3D-disc version, because you have the option of purchasing the 3D disc for $5.99 on DisneyRewards.com with the combo pack. I discovered this when I went online to get the digital copy with my combo pack. It is for a limited time though, so keep that in mind.

WARNING: ***SPOILER ALERT*** Some things discussed in this review could potentially spoil some of the film for those who have not yet seen it. Therefore, if you have not seen it, read onward at your own choice.

Okay, first thing is first: This review is NOT about the packaging decisions made by Disney for this set or their decision to sell the 3D version separately. I agree with most that it is corporate greed and is quite despicable, but that is not what I am here to review because most everyone can come to that conclusion themselves without people ranting about it endlessly in the reviews. No, this review is an actual critique of the film, so if you are...

Once in a While a Movie Comes Along...
Making a prequel for such an iconic fantasy and beloved film as the Wizard of Oz at first glance seems like just more grist for the Hollywood mill, but said assumption couldn't be farther from the truth.

Oz the Great and Powerful (aka Oscar Diggs) is a magician in a small, traveling circus who is good at fooling an audience, most of the time, and sweet-talking the local ladies. The latter becomes a source of trouble as an angry boyfriend, who just happens to be the circus strong man, prompts Oscar's hasty departure from the troupe via a hot-air balloon and bad luck turns worse when it flies right into the path of a tornado. By some twist of fate, or divine intervention, Oscar finds himself not only alive but in a strange and beautiful land where magic is more than sleight of hand and its local residents, including three lovely witches, mistake him for a heroic wizard and either a potential savior or threat, depending on the point of view. Many people found in a similar...

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