Monogram Cowboy Collection Volume 4

Great transfer of these films to DVD.
I loved these films when I was a boy in the forties. I like seeing them again, especially with the excellent remastering for DVD. Johnny Mack Brown was a fine actor in these westerns.

LIST OF FILMS INCLUDES.
Another batch of great little Westerns from MONOGRAM & starring

Johnny Mack Brown, Jimmy Wakely. The Old West returns in full force with a fourth volume of classic cowboy oldies. Includes Land of the Outlaws (1944/56 min.), Blazing Bullets (1951/51 min.), Colorado Ambush (1951/52 min.), Montana Desperado (1951/51 min.), Texas City (1951/54 min.), Springtime in Texas (1945/55 min.), Moon Over Montana (1946/56 min.), Rainbow Over the Rockies (1947/58 min.) and Six Gun Serenade (1947/55 min.) on 3 DVDs. B&w/NR/fullscreen.

Great Quality from Warner Archives.

Western Movies
I love old movies, especially Westerns and have been collecting them for years. These are some I did not have, especially the Jimmy Wakely films.

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Will It Snow For Christmas?

Will it Snow for Christmas
This is a good melodrama with a good story line. But I must say, the ending left me a bit confused and frustrated. The drama is about youthful love, tragedy, separation, reunion, and a painful struggle with the past that keeps the characters from being together. Go Soo, the lead male, was excellent. Never heard of him before but I enjoyed his acting. Han Ji-Wan, the main character (Han Ye-Seul played this part), started out as a strong-willed, courageous, and compulsive schoolgirl but as the drama progressed, this character weakened, which was disappointing. This seems to happen in many K-Dramas. Still, a good drama.

Title is Somewhat Confusing
Because this is an interesting story, I recommend it, but I am confused about the title. As I recall, there is only one "snow" scene and hardly any mention of Christmas; but, don't let that dissuade you from watching the series. This was my introduction to Go-Soo, and I am now a big fan as a result. He has an expressionless face while the eyes say it all, which, to me, makes for an interesting acting interpretation. The story has all the components of the Kdramas we love to watch -- abandonment, betrayal, devotion, honor, and dedication.

Bittersweet Korean Romance
Always like actors Go Soo and Han Ye-seul, who was hilarious in Couple or Trouble. Follows the lines of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy may get girl back. Very attractive leads, lots of twists and turns, good performances. LIke the absense of a trumped up nasty villain. Just young people carrying a torcy, wearing their heart on their sleeves. Soft on maturity of adults making hard choices about love and loss, but hey, this is a K-drama.

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Titanic: Birth of a Legend

Outstanding Docu-drama
This docu-drama is far better than the fictional miniseries along the same lines, "Titanic: Blood and Steel." The docu-drama has been edited much more closely and has a tight-knit pace to it. "Titanic: Blood and Steel," on the other hand, is a ponderous soap opera dominated by endless bickering and unpleasantness. Both productions show how the labor and political unrest in Belfast influenced building of the ship and perhaps lent to its faulty completion. Nevertheless, the docu-drama, masterfully narrated by Charles Dance, tells us the story without the use of characters who either didn't exist or whose fate we don't care about.

Each of the good documentaries on Titanic seems to give us information and clues to the ship's sinking that we may not have heard about before. "Titanic: Birth of a Legend" is no exception in this regard. Lord Pirrie was the head of Harlan & Wolf, Titanic's ship builder. Apparently, he above anyone else was responsible for the decision to...

Titanic: Birth of a Legend
I have always been a Titanic fan. So naturally how it was constructed appealed to me. This was an excellent documentary.

I wished it continued
I enjoyed the series a lot but some of the smaller stories were not carried well (being a German spy).

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Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse

A pleasant journey into Hell
I typically don't like non-canon Bleach anime - namely the movies and arcs that don't follow the manga. This, though, was rather entertaining. As the fourth Bleach film, it certainly is a step up from Diamond Dust Rebellion and is as good if not better than Fade to Black (though I am still a fan of Memories of Nobody). The story is interesting, there is a good dose of what every Bleach movie should have - fluidly illustrated fight scenes - and not a lot of wasted time of fuzzy, emotional appeals (the downfall of Diamond Dust Rebellion). And there is the added perk of finding out just what the world beyond that terrifying gate is actually like - and believe me it isn't a cheerful place. The story also has a few twist that keep things entertaining. Bleach is at its best when showcasing all its cool abilities and fights and this movie puts them on display. Very entertaining, especially for Bleach fans.

A few drawbacks: 1. there is a woeful lack of other characters in this one...

Go to Hell!!!
If you watch or read bleach you know that Ichigo and his friends are always trying to rescue somebody. Well this time its Yuzu, Ichigo's little sister, and he has to go to hell to save her! I've always wondered if there was a heaven or hell in the bleach universe since apparently one goes to the soul society when he or she dies, but here we learn that hell is a place where the worst sinners go and there are a group of sinners who want to break free from hells grasp and are basically bribing Ichigo to break the very gates of hell in exchange for his sister's soul. I really enjoyed this movie, I would say it may be my favorite bleach movie so far. The animation is awesome, and I just think the concept is just perfect for a bleach side story. The bluray had amazing picture and sound, but featured very little special features. Just a small art gallery and a couple trailers.
Overall, awesome. You've been to the soul society. You've been to hueco mundo. Welcome to hell.

Good, But The Weakest Bleach Movie
A group of men escape Hell briefly. In that time, they attempt to kidnap Ichigo's sisters. Chad is able to save Karin, but Yuzu is taken back to Hell when the kidnapper's are pulled back in by their chains. Chad is seriously injured while saving Karin, so Ichigo, Renji, Rukia, and Uryuu go to Hell to save her. The kidnappers are stuck in Hell because of the chains that bind them. They witnessed Ichigo's hollow transformation and they believe that he has the power to break those chains. They will return Yuzu if he cooperates. The battle in Hell is intense and the danger of never being able to leave is high. Especially for a weaker girl like Yuzu.

This is a good movie, but it's my least favorite Bleach movie. The other 3 movies had a pretty good bad guy. The 1st movie had a great character, Senna. You can really get into some of the enemies in the Bleach movies. This one is different. The bad guys are really stupid and have ridiculous looking bodies. The main bad guy is ok,...

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Dreamboat

Terrific Clifton Webb film
Clifton Webb is as wonderful and funny and sarcastic as ever. Paired with the Delightful Ginger Rogers, it is a hilarious trip back to the days of silent movies. Typical Clifton Webb film and a wonderful surprise ending. One of his best.

A great Comedy film
Clifton Webb is at his best as a college Prof. who discovers they are putting on silent films he played in 20 years before with Ginger Rogers. It's a film that pokes a bit of fun at TV and silent films and is delightful from start to end. If you're a Clifton Webb fan, then add this film to your collection. You will laugh all the way.

The boat sailed, but some laughs remain.
When 'Deam Boat' first appeared, it was a riot, because the entire use of lampooning of silent films had not yet been exhausted... it certainly was before Carol Burnett knew how to do it with the aplomb. Still, Dream Boat remains somewhat fresh and enjoyable, with a miscast Clifton Webb overriding his persona to give a deft performance a la the Belvedere films. And Ginger Rogers, in a smaller role, is showy and knows, at least here, how to handle a funny situation. The secondary love story of Anne Francis and Jeffrey Hunter does not work, but both look good..and one enjoys the young Francis gaining the experience that turned her into a first-rate actress who has not received her due. Some elements of the plot are stretched too far, but Elsa Lanchester knows how to take a silly role and turn it into something enjoyable. Film is still worth looking at, although my memory of laughing hard is now a thing in the past.

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B.E. Taylor - Christmas Live at Heniz Hall

KARI JOBE knows how to worship!!!!
"Where I Find You" is great for worship and love to the Lord. Sometimes I dance, and I'm 71 years old.





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Curse of the Titanic Sisters

Curse of Titanic Sisters
While the overall documentary was entertaining, the facts of the 3 White Star giants were either over looked or lacking in substance. The research & production seemed sacrificed to lend the film more drama than it truly needed. As a historian,
staying with the facts would have given this film much more validity.

O.K.
for a documentary, it was extremely helpful in understanding how the TITANIC (ship) came about that led to it's tragic end.

Curse of the Titanic Sisters.
This DVD was very interesting but than I can't seem to get enough of Titanic information I just find it facinating.

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Joy Luck Club [Blu-ray]

A Heartbreaking and Powerful Testament to the Human Spirit
"The Joy Luck Club" is a ground-breaking film with universal themes that anyone can relate to regardless of age, gender or nationality. Truly epic in its scope and haunting vision, the movie is also deeply heartfelt and familial, enhancing its ability to speak to the audience in myriad, boundless ways. This is an intimate portrait of two generations of Asian women - the mothers who risked everything to create a better life for their daughters in the United States. At this juncture in American history, the movie resonates more than ever by reminding the viewer of our fore-mother's immigrant experience. In doing so, "The Joy Luck Club" serves as a vibrant contemporary document on freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

Ming-Na Wen (now known to millions as Ming-Na or Deb Chen on NBC's top rated drama "ER") is superb in the central role of June, greiving for her recently deceased mother with the 3 "aunties" who miantain her place at the mah-jon...

Joy Luck Club is of best quality
Having not seen it since it was in the theater, I forgot just how good "The Joy Luck Club" is. The story of each of the women is personal and engaging. Different lives and pasts leading to the same destination, each road is harsh and lined with perils. The film is a nice blend of period piece and modern drama.

I love the dialog ("She will know I am waiting like a tiger in the trees, now ready to leap out and cut her spirit loose.") Visually, the film is almost too pretty. The women are all heart-breakingly beautiful, and each setting is dream-like in it's perfection. However, what could be a flaw is a strength, due largely to the quality of the actors. Each of the characters is strong and individual.

It is a very touching story of mothers and daughters, of hopes and fears. One of my favorite character actors, Victor Wong, even has a small part. A good film all around.

Wonderful!
This tearjerker adaptation based on the book by Amy Tan, is about four Chinese mothers and their American born daughters, and how the distinct cultural chasm in their upbringing, play into their daily lives.

The flashbacks into the young lives of each mother is masterful storytelling filled with rich imagery.
But it is the everyday struggles of modern life with their daughters and the conflicts between them that most will easily recognize. In this way the movie does not exclude the general viewer from identifying with their own personal relationships with their mother, spouse, or friends.

This is one of the best technically engineered movies I have ever seen. The way in which the lives of the characters are weaved together is nothing short of genuis, and the movie slides flawlessly from the present to the past and back to the present again

The story of each mother's youth is both heartbreaking and wonderful at the same time, and with their somewhat broken english offer...

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Hitler

Hitler ~ Richard Basehart~ Hammy but worth watching once~
PLOT: 1962 MOVIE WITH RICHARD BASEHART AS ADOLPH HITLER ~ HAMMY~

Richard Basehart (Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea) as Adolph Hitler as Hitler made in 1962 and available on VHS only~ Basehart is VERY good but the script and cheesy sets make this a bit lack luster~ but worth the watch once~ Basehart has the rages, stiff body movement and "voice" inflections down pat~ he is good~ he deserved a better script~ This version focuses on the psychological obsessions of Hitler who has a mother fetish and was impotent so at times it drags~ but Basehart keeps is watching. JOHN BANNER is a second banana (Sargeant Schultz on Hogans Heros) is fun to watch as a die hard Nazi Hitler underling Strasser~ and always fun MARTIN KOSLECK who is nearly always "cast" as Dr. Goebbels~ from his sneaky looks he he also good~

Basehart is a very underated actor but even he cannot save this one also try~ HE Walked By Night and Decision Before Dawn for two very GOOD movies and excellent...

Bad, but not the worst of the biographical films on Hitler...
1962 U.S. film (later re-released as "Women of Nazi Germany"). It starred Richard Basehart as Hitler. The film depicts Hitler through the years, beginning with the 1923 "Beer Hall Putsch" in Munich. It focuses mainly on his private life, in particular, his relationships with niece Geli and longtime mistress (later in April 1945, his wife for less than 2 days), Eva Braun. Simply, a low budget, fictionalized account with many inaccuracies.

It is still not as bad as the 1973 British TV production, "The Death of Adolf Hitler", which I would rate the worst. Thereafter, the presentations of Hitler got better in a factual sense. Next in line, after the subject film, from worst to best would be: "Hitler: The Last Ten Days", which is almost a parody of the facts, as well. Then would come the HBO production "The Bunker", with Sir Anthony Hopkins. The best and most accurate film to date on the subject is the German feature film, "Downfall" (A/K/A Der Untergang). See my reviews of all...

Id pass.
Richard Basehart missed the boat this time as awful Adolph.A better version is 1944 The Hitler Gang,Robert Watson is much better as the deviant nazi dictator.From his days at the close of WW1 to his power rise due to double crossing and murders.
Roman Bohnen is especially good as brown shirt chief Ernest Rohm.Martin Kosleck repeats his role as Goebells.
Narrated by Walter Abel and Albert Dekker.
Dir by Hohn Farrow.

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Six Film Epic Romances

Six Film Epic Romances
I was surprised that some of the movies were in B&W and were produced during the forties. But those movies were great.

Six British films
My girlfriend loves the period dramas this item got two enthusactic thumbs up. I will be ordering more of these types of collections for her.

Quality was not a part of these movies
The Quality was TERRIBLE!!! I REALLY WAS SURPRISE AS MOST MOVIES I RECEIVE ARE GREAT. I have never
seen such a terrible quality!!

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MLB All-Time Bloopers DVD

Funny Movie
Great item for baseball fans , makes for fun family time , Any time you can add laughter to your life is a good thing .. I highly recommend this DVD ..

Bloopers
This video is well edited and has great scenes.This video is hilarious!!! It has kept my family and I in stiches.

The kids love it
I played this at my son's baseball-themed birthday party at the start and end during "dead" time. They loved it! My son has watched it a couple times since.

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Deadly Dares: Truth Or Dare IV

Horror maestro Tim Ritter's still got it!
After more than a decade, it's once again time to play!

Things haven't been going so well for Turner Downing. He's lost both his job and his girlfriend on the same day. Despondent, he turns to a friend for a little moral support. That is when he is introduced to a twisted website where members dare one another to commit strange and unusual acts--and then share these acts with the world by posting detailed videos.

It is on this website that Turner meets the beautiful and enticing Dara (played by Jessica Cameron, a newcomer who is quickly making a name for herself in the world of low-budget horror). The game is taken to the next level when she convinces Turner to embark on a bloody rampage and post the videos documenting his violent crusades privately--just for her.

In a world where straight-to-video slashers are flooding the market and forgotten within weeks of their release, DEADLY DARES is a breath of fresh air. Tim Ritter has created a...

Excellent grass roots indie horror flick!
Tim Ritter, the independent film-making mastermind behind such classics as 'Truth or Dare?', 'Killing Spree' and 'Wicked Games' is back with a vengeance with his latest entry in his 'Truth or Dare' series which began back in 1985. The focus of this one is a down on his luck man by the name of 'Tuner' who ends up playing demented games of 'truth or dare' with a webcam chick with a thirst for violence. I don't want to give anything away because if you're familiar with Tim Ritter's prior films, you know that there's many twists and turns and it would be better to just go into the film and surrender to the experience that Tim and his team have cooked up. The film has all the required elements for a low budget exploitation film and also features 'dare segments' from directors all across the USA. Highly recommended to fans of Tim's legacy of films and to those who can't get enough of those low budget regional indie gore flicks!



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Silent Night, Deadly Night: Parts 1 & 2

GARBAGE DAY!
Ah, SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT, that little slasher movie that pissed off a lot of critics and PTA groups in half the nation (it was pulled before it reached the West Coast) since the killer was dressed as Santa. Incidentally, it's easy to see why it was so controviersial, <PUNISH!> since the story is told from the point-of-view of the killer and it focuses on the factors that cause his murderous rampage. <NAUGHTY!> Gee, didn't producer Ira Richard Barmak or TriStar Pictures learn anything from the brouhaha that surrounded MANIAC (an excellent movie)? Didn't they realize that <PUNISH!> any horror movie where the murderer is the main character and not just a plot device, especially when the movie involves a sacred holiday (it worked for the excellent BLACK CHRISTMAS), <NAUGHTY!> will incur the wrath of sensitive moviegoers? (Hello, parents, it WAS rated R anyway; kids wouldn't be able to see it anyway, although those TV spots must have been scary to unwary kids.)...

A perfect "stalking stuffer"
Whoever said horror was supposed to be "controversial" wasn't kidding! Yes, I love the holidays, but "no," I wasn't offended by SNDN. In my opinion, a rarity in the horror genre! "Old school" horror without question! Watching it to "let off (some) steam?" Why not!

Silent Night is right, very silent and eerie.
After hearing about how this film was banned, I, like anyone else HAD to see it! There is kind of an eerie silence throughout the movie which gives it a unique kind of feel. I think the Santa Claus could have been much scarier if he had some twisted/ugly face but instead it's a good looking 18-year-old saying things like "Naughty" and "Punish". The gore in the movie is quite good and scary, mostly using an axe to do his dirty work and also uses a bow and arrow and hammer to kill among other tools. I have yet to see Part 2 and the other sequels but am looking forward to seeing them! You can't beat the storyline of a killer Santa Claus, it distinguishes this movie from the rest!

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The Big Show

another Pan & Scan from Fox Cinema Archives
This is a review only in the sense that I am
complaining that Fox has to stop releasing
widescreen films on dvd in pan & scan.

I have been sending emails and calling:
1. 888. 223. 4369.

Please call Fox and register your complaints.

good movie,
I had never seen this movie before. It is not her usual song and dance. It is a very good movie. Good acting and a good story. One of my goals it to have all of her movies.

The Big Show
Esther Williams is my favorite movie star plus the movies is rather exciting if you enjoy circus acts. Plus a love interest that leads to marriage. Good to see the many thrilling acts also.

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Hannah's Law

Beautiful Scenery, Some Good Acting, So-so Story
Dodge City this ain't! Filmed in Alberta, Canada, this gorgeously backdropped film forces us to leave reality and history at the door and wait for the big time shoot-out finale.

Sara Canning("The Vampire Diaries") plays a woman turned bounty hunter out to revenge the killing of her family- seen at the beginning of the movie. Like "Quick and the Dead" with Sharon Stone, one has to accept that this young, lithe woman can match up with the toughest of the hombres. She goes to Dodge, meets and romances Wyatt Earp, Grayston Holt("Lost Boys"), and Doc Holliday(Ryan Kennedy- who plays it sounding very much like Val Kilmer in "Tombstone").

Danny Glover(Hey, where's Mel?), Kimberly Elise(toting a shotgun), and Billy Zane help out as suporting cast. It's kind of a fantasy played for real in an alternative universe. And it's fine overall to kill, so to speak, an hour and a half.

Not rated: there's a lot of dialogue, controlled western violence, limited...

Good western for mixed company!
It is not a hard and fast grubby western that men usually like but has enough for men and women to enjoy it together! Good story line. I think most who like westerns, will like this movie so recommend to them.

Great Movie
Watch many tv movies and this is one I am happy to find come out on DVD. Had to find this by actress name and wasn't in the usual dvd listings.

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Girls: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

A Divisive HBO Sitcom: It's All About The Ladies With Frank Talk, Open Sexuality, And Finding One's Voice
HBO's "Girls" seems to be one of those love-it or hate-it propositions and I'm not quite sure why. Its creator and star, Lena Dunham, burst onto the scene with the micro-budgeted indie "Tiny Furniture" in 2010. Embraced enthusiastically by critics, the young talent was branded a new voice in contemporary comedy. But as the picture became more widely seen (it is available in a 2-disc Criterion edition), the backlash began. "Girls" has some of the same situations, concerns, stars, pacing and humor as the feature film and all of the supposed negatives that applied to "Tiny Furniture" have followed Dunham to "Girls." The show is still a huge critical success, it just seems to lack universal appeal. The most common complaint, I suppose, is that it creates a very insular world populated with pretty self-involved characters. It's a fair point, to be sure. But for everyone who says that Dunham doesn't "speak for their generation," I say that she never intended to. She speaks about her world,...

As a "Girl" I just don't like it...
I'm 20, slightly younger than the "Girls" on this show, but close enough in age that plenty of their problems are relate-able for me. I was really excited for this show - it was like Sex and the City but with younger characters; characters who didn't have great jobs and were NOT yet in a place where they would be really looking for husbands or ready to have children.

Sadly, the first episode left kind of a bad taste in my mouth and so did the following ones until I let the series go about 3/4 the way into the season.

I think my main problem is the central character, Hannah. I really just couldn't bring myself to like her, which is odd because I think the actress who plays her (also the creator of the show!) Lena Dunham is lovely, and I'm taking a leap by assuming she based a lot of Hannah's personality off of herself.

You see, in the first episode she tries to convince her parents to keep financially supporting her by claiming she "feels that she is to...

Ehhh....
I bought this as a result of all the hype surrounding this show, and was completely disappointed. I forced myself to finish it out, thinking surely it would get better/more interesting as the episodes went on, but no such luck. I am a huge fan of Lena Dunham & loved her film Tiny Furniture, so I thought this would be in the same vein. As much I love Lena, I've got no love for this show.

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Purple Noon (Criterion Collection)

The Talented Mr. Ripley with a French accent
I saw this before I read the Patricia Highsmith mystery novel from which it was adapted, and before seeing the recent and excellent The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) directed by Anthony Minghella and starring Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow. Here the accomplished French director René Clément has Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet and Marie Lafor

Avenging Angel (1995/TV)

One Great Movie hits hard
While this movie is written as fictional, it has so much historical accuracies that except for a few of the names being made up, this could easily be categorized as Historical and factual. Tom Berenger is OUTSTANDING as Miles Utley, the Avenging Angel. James Coburn was also up to the task in what was one of his last films. He portrayed the TRUE to life Avenging Angel, Porter Rockwell. Violence in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' early history is all too often overlooked or ignored completely in our history books. But, the Mormons(a nickname placed upon the members of the LDS Church) were treated horribly for the first 25 years after their founding. Porter Rockwell was one of the few people of any faith or persuasion that could and did give his all to protect the Members of his Faith. Berenger portrays an apprentice of Rockwell's but in reality, the movie is really about the Young Orin Porter Rockwell, the original and most love and feared Avenging Angel. I can not...

The Avenging Angel
I watched The Avenging Angel when it was on TV and taped it. I watched it many times over the years and then have searched for it on DVD for several years now and was so happy to finally find it on DVD. Tom Berenger was great as the protector of Brigham Young in this movie. There was so much action in it that it keeps you interested all the way through. The quality of the DVD is great since it came from a TV movie. I would recommend this move to anyone that loves movies with Tom Berenger and Charlton Heston(playing Brigham Young).

Hurrah! Finally available on DVD
I watched this (and taped it) when it was first broadcast on TNT (boy, they used to make great movies . . . why don't they anymore?). Over the years, we watched it over and over again, and never got tired of it. The tape finally gave out a few years ago, and we thought it was gone forever. But now Amazon makes DVDs of it on demand. THANK YOU!!! By the way . . . it's a great movie. Tom Berenger & James Coburn chew the scenery, and Charleton Heston is perfect as Brigham Young. Weakest part of the movie is Kevin Tighe (yes, Roy DeSoto of Emergency!), whose overacting as the villain is the only thing that detracts from the film.

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Bleach: Uncut Set 15

Solid episodes
Plenty of fighting in these episodes and the filler are mostly great in their own ways. The best part about this is that its all canon episodes and if they keep the same number of episodes per set it would appear that the non-canon arch will be contained on its own sets.

I would greatly prefer if the price got closer to 20 bucks a set, but keeping non-canon episodes into their own sets would be my second want.

This set is nothing but great Bleach, the two or maybe three sets that follow it though will be pretty painful.

Again, just so good...
This set is simply fantastic. As in my other Bleach reviews I'll say that the price and visual complaints about these sets has been argued to death and I have nothing new to add. Therefore this review will simply be based on the content of these episodes, which is just great.

The episodes turn away from Ichigo's mission in Hueco Mundo and focus on the fights between the Soul Reapers and Arrancar. I really liked that they gave some time to Soul Reapers who really hadn't had much time in the spotlight like Kira, Hisagi, Sui Feng, and Yamamoto, all of whom we really haven't seen do much until this point. There is very little idle time in these episodes as they are largely devoted to the battles which I thought were very nicely done.

The last couple episodes are fluff but not terrible, certainly better than the Bount Arc. In one it shows what was going on right before the first episode of the series. In another the Soul Reapers go to the beach. And in the last...

A great DVD set
The battle against Aizen's forces continues. Yumichica, Izuru, Captain Sui Feng, Rangiku, Shuhei, Omaeda, Toshiro, Ikkakku, and Captain Komamura all get to fight in this volume. The battles are intense, and new powers are discovered. We also learn that Ikkakku's Ban Kai is not as big a secret as we thought. Even though the Captains are starting to get involved, the enemy is mostly just sending in their fracciones. The Aspada and the 3 Soul Reaper Traitors are mostly standing by. Until Toshiro engages Harribel in battle, and Kyoraku engages Coyote Starrk. Harribel reveals herself as the #3 Aspada, and Starrk as the #1 Asada. Rangiku also takes on Harribel's 3 fracciones alone until Momo shows up to help. Momo and Rangiku are defeated but Yamamoto stands in on their behalf. There is a ton of action in this volume. Once the 1st several episodes are through with, the series gets way more intense.

Unfortunately, as soon as the action reaches it's peak, we get to "enjoy" another...

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Darken

Lots Of Action and Scares !
Stars Syn DeVil

This actually a decent action packed urban- fantasy about Good Vs. Evil .

An honest man just trying to survive being ` Joe Average' in a vicious world.

John Johnson has some chops and fists and some fight-a-bility (c) ,Not really much to look at,Sorry Bub,But dude can kick some arse when pressed.

Whisper Nicole really is quite something to watch,First thought she was an angel or wood nyph and then the BIG SHOCKER about The Unicorn and some scenes to prove it.

The villian is truly pure evil and his hench-people really enjoy their tasks.

There is voodoo,creatures unseen and this assassin with a bad eye and attitude to match

darken
An average-Joe bar bouncer, tormented by recurring nightmares of the moment of his own death, uncannily learns that until that very moment, he is mystically protected from harm. When his path crosses with a mysterious beauty fleeing a tycoon who wants her for unholy purposes, will his destiny be revealed? A different Sy-Fy movie, I enjoyed it, worth the time.

great service
Got here faster than expected. Would buy from again. The movie itself I didn't like. Expected to get a great B movie. The 5 stars rating was a bit over the top.

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Own the Night World Tour

Concert at Little Rock
I enjoyed this concert which was filmed at Little Rock, Arkansas. Lady Antebellum's appeal extends beyond their country roots. To me, they sound more rock than country. I hear some or just a little country in their music. It's like a rock band (but not heavy rock) with country influences. That's probably why they have a broad appeal.

The blu-ray concert contains songs, plus some very short stories (or mini-documentaries). The short stories offer a quick window or glimpse into Lady Antebellum. The only recommendation I would make is to have an option to play only the concert, without the short stories.

Concert is over an hour and 30 minutes (1:34.18).

Here's the set list.

1. Intro
2. We Owned The Night
3. Stars Tonight
4. The Road To Here - a brief of when they were starting out
5. Love Don't Live Here
6. The Red Piano - choosing the right shade of red for the piano
7. Just A Kiss
8. Rebuilding...

Good for one viewing...but no more
This should be purchased as a documentary with concert clips rather than as a concert. The format will leave you thinking, "I should have rented this," as it's simply not something that you will want to watch over and over. There is great content on here, but, it would be awesome if you could simply watch without commentary. I've not found that I can listen to the songs only. The band is phenomenal, but this release is too chatty to be watched more than one time. I'm ready for a real LADY ANTEBELLUM concert to make it to Blu-Ray. I was pretty excited to get this one, but, it failed to fulfill.

Very disappointed
Love their music, but was disappointed in this Blu Ray. The commentary was too much, leave it to a documentary. Only half of the songs were the good ones. The venue acoustics were terrible, a smaller enclosed stage setting would have played better. They should take a lesson in sound quality and editing from the Dixie Chicks, Don Henley, Moody Blues and others.

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A Man Vanishes

One of the Japanese Greats
A Man Vanishes (1967) is a fascinating film from one of my favorite Japanese directors, Shohei Imamura, that is difficult to categorize. It is intended as a documentary but takes on elements of fiction and staging throughout. However, it is the mystery of how so many people can disappear in such a small country-at the time of the film Imamaura states that in the last year 91,000 were disappeared in Japan. This film looks at the case of the disappearnce of a plastics salesman named Tadashi Oshima. Imamura and his crew set out to discover what happened to Tadashi by interviewing those who knew him best—his co-workers, friends, and his fiancée Yoshie. All the while gathering contradictory information concerning his character. But as their investigation delves deeper into Tadashi's dubious business ventures and his enigmatic relationship with Yoshie and, possibly, her sister, the line between filmmaker and subject, fact and fiction, blur. It can be said to be radical in its...

U.S. Release this fall
Icarus Films will release this on DVD in the United States later this year. In the US TV system (NTSC).



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Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over / Adventures of Sharkboy [Blu-ray]

Amazing "pop-out" 3D; Inventive, Kid-Friendly Action Movies
This 3D double bill unpretentiously features some of the best 3D imagery ever, including some great "pop-out" effects. The Spy Kids romp might be more appealing to adults because its cast includes Sly Stallone, Salma Hayak, Antonio Banderes, and Ricardo Montalban.

dp
nice movie for kids,3d graphics are really great,and price also great,my kids love to see again and again,i also ejoy

Family fun
This is definitely a Comic Book / Video Game type films. There are some fun sequences that are aimed at kids. Adults should find the visual effects interesting. Each is more of an amusement ride than a normal movie. These films are more like watching someone play video games.

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Mr. Bricks

Bad Troma Flick
I could not make it through 10 minutes of this Troma floating turd. The music makes the paint come off my walls and my dog howl at the moon.

I have watched around 40+ Troma movies in my life, and yet this was the worst. I would rather clean my toilet than watch this movie!!!

Unique, exciting, surprisingly complex: Mr. Bricks is a sheer joy to watch
Mr. Bricks: A Heavy Metal Murder Musical, directed by indie newcomer Travis Campbell and produced/distributed by cult hitmakers Troma Entertainment, may be deceiving on a first look. With a DVD cover that screams campy horror-comedy and a title that says just about as much, one might expect just another cheap-and-cheesy exploitation film, light on story and heavy on gore and bare breasts. Having gone into Mr. Bricks with exactly those expectations myself, I'm here to tell you that it's much more than that. That isn't to say it isn't funny--it has a sharp, witty sense of humor. That also isn't to say that it doesn't have its fair share of gore and bare breasts--it certainly does, although frankly less than one might expect. It is to say, however, that Mr. Bricks is a gritty, entertaining, surprisingly-deep revenge story that's guaranteed to take you by surprise.

The story follows Mr. Bricks, a heavily-muscled tattooed madman, who wakes up with missing memories and a missing...

hard working hard core
I am Tim Dax & I am Mr. Bricks. I promise every minute of this movie is made with commitment to art, heart & soul. The entire cast and crew all creative minds coming together for a Killer First for many fronts. I love this movie. It is the beginning of great careers. thank you. dig it. it's cool, peace. ;)

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Complete Video Collection

9 beautiful and talented angels
Whole family loves it. 9 beautiful women who are truly gifted musically and talented without having to be overtly sexual or wear the skimpiest of costumes.

k-pop rules
i enjoy k-pop and girls are one of the top 5 groups you cant go wrong with this dvd they are very talentinted and beautiful. so if you buy it cant go wrong

Only for the dedicated fan!
While a group of quality videos, this is far from a complete collection. One should notice that of the 26 videos, 14 are performances of only 4 songs and of the 26, 14 in Japanese comprising an entire disc. The entire third disc is just an interview with the group watching the videos. This was basically a package put out for the Japanese market. This is best suited for only the most dedicated fans even at the discounted price!

Disc 1

1. GENIE [Japanese ver.]
2. GENIE (Dance ver.) [Japanese ver.]
3. Gee [Japanese ver.]
4. Gee (Dance ver.) [Japanese ver.]
5. Run Devil Run [Japanese ver.]
6. Run Devil Run (Dance ver.) [Japanese ver.]
7. MR.TAXI [Japanese ver.]
8. MR.TAXI (Dance ver.) [Japanese ver.]
9. BAD GIRL [Japanese ver.]
10. Time Machine [Japanese ver.]
11. PAPARAZZI [Japanese ver.]
12. MR.TAXI [from Japan 1ST Tour Re-EDIT]
13. THE GREAT ESCAPE [from Japan 1ST Tour Re-EDIT]
14. Gee [from Japan...

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Mashiroiro Symphony: Color of Lovers Complete Coll

What is the color of a good show?
When problems in a school district affects two schools, a plan is to put into action to integrate the Yuijio and Karabusa schools into one school. However there is a small problem, Karbabusa is a co-ed school while Yuijio is an elite all girls school. So to smooth things over a group of Karabusa students, both male and female, are send over to test the waters for integration. However the girls of Yuijio are not exactly welcoming to the male portion of the group, especially the daughter of the director. Shinjo and his sister are part of this group, and when he realizes that the fight will be hard, he starts to make friends with not only Airi (the daughter), but also the campus student maid, the man hater, and the third year president of the Neco Club (who help out hurt animals and releases them). But as the year proceeds he not only helps integrate the student body, he does not realize that several girls will develop strong feelings for him . Can he truly help make the plan work,...

Mashiroiro Symphony
Disregard the underwear art on the back or,if you got the other cover with a girl starting to hoist her skirt,be advised,this series has none of that;the cover and the large figures on the back of the case do not exist in that pose.There are three explicit nude scences,two involve the quirky sister.This series is not an ecchi/panty fest. In fact,I don't recall any panties except one of about two frames in length. This series is so delightful that any more ecchi/panties would probably sour it.
When the initial cadre' of boys arrive on the hereto all-girl academy,there are as many different reactions to them as there are girls,most of these girls simply have not been closley associated with members of the opposite sex that are also in thier same age group.
How or if they overcome the tensions of changes in thier comfort zones is what this series is about and it is one of the best drawn,acted and colorful series you are likely to find anywhere.
It is not a harem situation...

Beautiful
I absolutely loved this show the characters the story everything. Its a nice short anime although i must warn you the show has about 3-4 scences that may not be suitable for children. When i bought this i didnt expect it to be an ecchi show but to my surprise i was watching an episode and something happemed ( Fan Service ) . Thats one of the only drawbacks of the show but it doesn't hurt the story. Its minor fan service so it can easily be overlooked. So to sum everthing up its a really great show i highly recommend it.

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Ritual: Tales From the Crypt [Blu-ray]

Not spectacular but pretty darn good!
First let me say that I think I'm the biggest Tales from the Crypt fan alive, so of course I had to have this movie. Ritual has been out on dvd for several years in other countries, I'm honestly not sure why it took so long to get it here. Perhaps the success of the television show's dvds helped spur Dimension into releasing it (or maybe it's because I emailed them like a million times lol). At any rate it's finally here, and I must say I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. It's definitely more of a low budget movie than Demon Knight or Bordello of Blood, but that doesn't detract too much from the entertainment value. The storyline is good, the action is good and the one scene of real gore is done quite well. I cannot in good conscience recommend that anyone pay $30 for it, but if you can nab yourself a cheaper copy, I don't think you will be too disappointed. There is really nothing scary about the movie, but it's a bit better than Bordello of Blood that's for...

Not the same ole' crypt, but still not bad!!!
This movie is not the same formula/format as the previous two (Demon knight & Bordello of Blood). But that is not to say that it is bad. This movie is more of a voodoo thriller than a horror movie... but it still very much holds your attention (more ways than one!) and stil delivers the goods. Tim Curry is excellent in this movie, and Jen Grey... well, just see the movie!

Now this movie is not without faults, but hell! ITs a DTV release! So..sheesh! Plus the cryptkeeper is added in only the beginning and end. But as a rasta-man version.

Overall, I say give it a shot. Its not the same... but its not too bad either!

The Cryptkeeper Is Turning In His Grave
Look at any of my other reviews of the Tales From The Crypt series (I've reviewed them all)...they all get 5-stars (with the exception of Bordello of Blood).

Demon Knight, the first Tales From The Crypt feature film, is also 5-stars. It was the exception to the rule...the rule being that the Tales From The Crypt episodes would be 1/2 hour shorts that mirrored their EC Comics versions of the stories. Demon Knight got full length feature film treatment and it was well deserved.

Bordello of Blood, the second feature film, was a complete failure. It took a great formula (1/2 hour shorts) and added senseless length and detail to a story that could have made a great 1/2 hour episode.

Ritual was scheduled as the follow-up to Bordello, but when Bordello failed in the theatres, the full length theatre release of Ritual was scratched. In fact, the Tales people abandoned their commitment to Ritual, but apparently the legal eagles found a way to keep the Tales...

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Beasts of the Southern Wild [Blu-ray]

A Beautiful Elegy to a World That is Dying
I am a coonass. I am from Southwest Louisiana and am a part of the joie de vivre culture of South Louisiana. This world has embraced me and rolled up in its cocoon of love of place, of family, of celebration all my life. Beasts of the Southern Wild comes the closest of any movie I have ever seen to expressing the truth of the sheer beauty of life in the swamps. Through the devastation of hurricanes, the opression of the wealthy, and the well-meaning of outsiders, we survive. And yet our world is dying. We know it as surely as we can see the trees dying on the marshes as the salt water moves further inland, because our buffers are dissappearing. We know it when we drive the roads and watch the waves lap against our tires or roar against the sides of our cars. We know it when we fish and see the open water where once there was land.

This movie, better than any other, cherishes these truths and films them. I'm grateful that Zeitlan chose not to embrace Cajuns in this...

Everything you hope for in a film
A good film is a confluence of many variables. A good director orchestrates these variables into a finished form. Beasts of the Southern Wild is such a film and Behn Zeitlin is such a director. And the brilliance of Zeitlin is that he manages to take all manner of seemingly contradictory elements and make them,as a nameless boat captain says in the film, cohesive.

One such variable is story. Hushpuppy is a six-year-old girl who lives with her father on the wrong side of a levee in a fictitious Southeast Louisiana town called The Bathtub. The film follows her point of view, and the world of her active imagination and the real world around her often intertwine on screen. The film is your standard coming of age story, but it is this unique perspective of Hushpuppy and her understanding of the world around her that is the foundation of the film and its magic.

Another variable is music. The director worked closely with his friend and composer Dan Romer in creating the...

Like 'Whale Rider', a Powerful Performance from a Child in a Great Film
BOTSW is easily the best movie of 2012 so far (although I loved 'Moonrise Kingdom' too), and the stars should get ready for Oscar season. The pacing may be off-putting to some, but if you can handle artsy fare, you're sure to love it. The story tells the tale of eight year old Hushpuppy, who must save her father, friends, and herself from mysterious beasts in what may or may not be the end of the world. The lines between fantasy and reality are very blurry, which makes this movie a great discussion piece for a group. One thing I will note is that while everything about this movie is exceptional, the score is one of the best I've heard in a long time. I went to a screening with the film's director and two stars, and they spoke to how organic the entire film process was, and how elements in the script were rewritten for each of the leads so the dialogue would sound authentic to the deep south. Every detail is watched carefully, and this is truly a must-see.

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Deathtrap [Blu-ray]

A Hit To Die For
When DEATHTRAP was first released, the poster--reproduced on the cover of this DVD--offered a graphic akin to a Rubik's Cube. It is an appropriate image: originally written for the stage by Ira Levin, who authored such memorable works as ROSEMARY'S BABY and THE STEPFORD WIVES, the play was one of Broadway's most famous twisters, and under Sidney Lumet's direction it translates to the screen extremely well.

DEATHTRAP is one of those films that it is very difficult to discuss, for to do so in any detail gives away the very plot for which it is famous. But the opening premise is extremely clever: Sidney Bruhl (Michael Caine) is the famous author of mystery plays, but these days he seems to have lost his touch. After a particularly brutal opening night, an old student named Clifford Anderson (Christopher Reeve) sends him a script for a play he has written. It is called "Deathtrap," and Sidney recognizes it as a surefire hit. Just the sort of hit that would revive his...

It's no SLEUTH, but it ain't bad...
I first saw DEATHTRAP on television well over ten years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. I finally purchased the DVD to give it another go and came away almost as pleased.

Caine gives his usual wonderful performance as a playwright who has run out of hits and Reeve is better than I've ever seen him, before or since, as an aspiring playwright seeking Caine's guidance. Cannon is irritating as Caine's wife, but she's supposed to be, so I do not feel that her performance weakens the piece at all.

The Plot: Reeve approaches Caine with his first attempt at a play, seeking his idol's criticism. Caine finds the play to be incredible, a surefire hit, and, desperate for such a hit for himself, begins scheming (as only Michael Caine can scheme) ways to get Reeve out of the picture and claim the play, DEATHTRAP, as his own. From this point the picture starts on a rollercoaster ride that doesn't let up until the end. Fiction and reality cross and...

More twists and turns than a roller coaster
I first saw "Deathtrap" in the theater when it came out in 1982. When VCRs became big, it was a film that I rented a few times, eventually buying my own VHS copy. Now I own the DVD. It's a great film.

The plot can't really be discussed here without depriving first-time viewers the opportunity of experiencing all the unexpected twists and turns for themselves. And there are twists and turns aplenty!

Christopher Reeve does a great job of breaking his "Superman" stereotype in this, his first post-Superman role. Reeve plays a homosexual playwright who's just written a sure-fire hit Broadway show, and Michael Caine plays a once-successful playwright, Reeve's mentor, who'd kill to have another hit. From this inauspicious beginning, the twists start coming fast and furious, and are a delight to watch.

If you've never seen "Deathtrap" you can still safely buy it sight unseen; I guarantee you'll enjoy it. Or maybe you saw the film years ago and want to see it again. Either way,...

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Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry [Blu-ray]

A Social-Networking Trickster
What a fascinating story! Ai Weiwei is the Chinese Artist/Dissident who boycotted the 2008 Chinese Olympics as a protest against the government's treatment of the people displaced by the Bird's-Nest Stadium in Beijing (he had been an artist/consultant for the project). After people's homes were condemned and demolished, they were hustled out of town for the duration of the Olympics because they weren't acceptable photo ops for visitors.

As he mastered the power of social network tools (he LOVES the Internet!), the government shut down his blog but he switched to Twitter and went to the site of the horrific Sichuan earthquake, where almost 5,000 school children died in shoddily built schools. Weiwei and his acolytes were on the spot, video cameras and cell phones in constant use. They gathered every name (most victims were an only child) and not only posted them on the wall in his studio, he coordinated an amazing project where people from everywhere contacted his Twitter...

The Breadth of Art: Ai Wei Wei's Never Sorry
The Ai Wei Wei movie, Never Sorry, is eyeopening for those who care about Art. After viewing it, I knew I would be thinking about it for a long time. Ai Wei Wei is a man of enormous energy and charisma and charm mixed with real intelligence, whose art is more than pictures or color or shape, but includes action and response and challenge. And, a call to action. To watch him respond to the mindless bureaucratic enforcement of a police state is dazzling and comic and moving. The intelligence of his response is eye-opening and just amazing. And, the Sunflower Seeds exhibit at the Tate were revealed to be an emotionally moving work of art.
I long to find a dvd, which I assume must vecome available because I want everyone I know to see it. Never Sorry captured me. Not only is AWW a rare individual, he raises issues of cultural history, activism, politics, and really, the breadth of Art. I was struck by thinking, despite his family history, Chinese politics and our reaction...

Good Access, but the Final Product Is Unfocused and Not Especially Informative.
"Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry" explores the recent life and politics of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who came to international fame in 2008 when he repudiated the Olympic Games in Beijing, even though he had contributed to the architectural design of its "Bird's Nest" stadium. Filmmaker Alison Klayman focuses on the years since then, as this is when Ai entered the public consciousness, though she does explore the artist's background in interviews with his brother and mother and a report on the time he spent in New York in the 1980s. Ai's recent political causes are interwoven with explorations of his art and a personal portrait. Klayman had very good access to Ai Weiwei, and he generally seems forthcoming, but the film's lack of focus and unwillingness to ask intelligent questions make it more of a fan documentary than an informative one.

Ai Weiwei came to the attention of Chinese as a political figure not long before he erupted onto the international scene as a "dissident artist",...

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Silent Victory: Submarine Warfare in WWII - Embossed Slim-Tin Packaging

Don't Let the Cheesy Packaging Fool You!
"Silent Victory" is terrific! It is a well-produced, professional effort, a great documentary betrayed by terrible packaging! I'm guessing this twin-pack (also featuring another winner, "Devil Boat, the Saga of PT 658") is available at "Big Box" electronics stores with other "shut-up" or "impulse-buy" DVDs and had I encountered it there my response would likely have been "nah!" and walk away, the previous and enthusiastic review had me ordering this right away. As I said, this is a remarkably professional effort, the writing, direction, and editing are all top notch and the original film employed is fantastic! There is much use of really well-preserved color as well as clean black & white footage. The music is complementary and unobtrusive, the scripting accurate and concise and the animated graphics are also well done! Interspersed within the film are "on-camera" anecdotes by many veteran submariners, including USS TANG survivor Jesse DaSilva and even some pilots, including Alex M...

I was hoping for a little more, but.......
The DVD about submarines lasted for 94 minutes - the DVD about the PT boat lasted 66 minutes. While the story of the PT boat was fairly interesting, I could have done without it - if that meant more time had been devoted just to subs. Like another reviewer, I would have liked more coverage of sub construction and layout. I learned some things, but I had been expecting more. I don't regret buying it, though.

Update: I just lent the discs to a sub vet from WWII (Pacific theater). He was most appreciative, and said it was the best documentary about subs that he had ever seen. He even recognized some of the people who were in the interviews. So I just changed my rating from four stars to five.

Fantastic viewing for sub nuts
If you are interested in American submarine warfare in the Pacific during WWII don't hesitate to buy this DVD. I was a little put off by the cover art, the low price, and the fact it was bundled with a DVD about PT Boats. Now that I have watched the video I can't believe I waited so long to order. There is a significant amount of color footage of the fleet boats in action, outstanding commentary by WWII sub vets (including Ron "Warshot" Smith, Jesse DaSilva, Ken Ruiz, among many others), and the maps and graphics are as good as anything on The History Channel. More than anything else, however, I appreciate the fact that it describes the evolution of both operations and doctrine over the course of the war - a really comprehensive overview of the service history, warts and all (the "skipper problem", the torpedo scandal, materiel limitations, etc). You can probably tell from my glowing review that I give this DVD an enthusiastic "thumbs up"!

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McMillan & Wife Complete Series

"One of the Best TV Series Ever"
Universal has announced the entire series of "McMillan and Wife", all 6 seasons (although the last didn't feature Susan Saint James) comes to DVD on October 18, 2011 and features all forty 90 minute telefilms as the series was more like a movie-of-the-week that aired on a rotating basis on NBC Sunday nights with "Columbo" and "McCloud". This was really the last great acting gig Rock Hudson ever did although he would state in later years he hated doing the series because he didn't like the scripts. He and Saint James remained close friends until the day he died in 1985.

Unfortunately, like the individual box sets there are no bonus features, but the telefilms look impeccable and have been restored to pristine condition.

The following is a list of all 40 telefilms of "McMillan and Wife" along with their airdates:

1. "Once Upon a Deadman", Sept. 17, 1971
2. "Murder by the Barrel, Sept. 29, 1971
3. "The Easy Sunday Murder Case", Oct. 20,...

Purchased from VEI directly for $99.99 + $2.98 shipping right here on Amazon.
Whine Whine Whine - Season One was released in 2005, 7 years later you are complaining that the rest of the series is being released? You should be clapping that the rest of the series is coming out!

This was a great show, Netflix had many of the seasons available to stream for awhile and I enjoyed watching them immensely! I can't wait to get the complete series in my hands. I will donate the Season One set I bought 6 years ago to my local library so that others can enjoy it as much as I did!

Buying from VEI and saving some cash! It ships from Canada, and won't be here in time for Christmas, but for a fifty dollar savings, I'll wait.

Will review sometime after Dec 25th!

Well, it finally came! It's great to watch this classic series again! Starting with Season 3 the Henry Mancini "NBC Mystery Movie" theme starts each episode. You remember that, it goes something like Ewww Weeee Ooooooo. There is a guy walking with a flashlight on an "orange"...

McMillian and Wife Complete Series
The whole series wrapped into one box, along with an extra -- one season of the Snoop Sisters! Great DVD set!

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Wu Dang [Blu-ray]

Treasure hunting in 1920's China
"Wu Dang" takes place in 1920's China. There is a rumor that secret treasure is hidden in Wu Dang Mountain. An American man, greedy for gold and riches, brings his daughter, a prodigy in martial arts, to compete for a championship title in kung fu combat, while planning to find and steal the riches for himself. It won't be easy. Fierce competition, dedicated protectors, and unexpected romance block the path to the Wu Dang fortune. The closer the treasure hunter gets to his prize, the more elusive it becomes.

This is strictly a movie for martial-arts fans. There is plenty of well-staged action, a simple plot, and passable visual effects. In Mandarin, with English subtitles, the movie begins promisingly enough, but soon sinks under the weight of a weak script.

There is a making-of featurette on the Blu-ray release.

Interesting Cast, Nice Production Design, Average Action and ... Poor Storytelling
With costumes by Oscar-winning designer Emi Wada, "Wu Dang" is a martial arts action movie that looks great, but lacks in most other ways.

Tang Yunlong (Vincent Zhao) is a treasure-hunting archaeology professor and martial arts fighter trying to locate seven artifacts and one holy sword. Tang Yulong and his daughter Tang Ning (Xu Jiao, who was Stephen Chow's young "son" in "CJ7") travel to a monastery in Wudang Mountains, where a martial arts tournament is about to be held. But there are other warriors looking for the same treasure, including a beautiful female fighter Tianxin (Yang Mi).

The story, which is set in a fictional China in the 1910s, looks like a cross between "Indiana Jones" and "Dragon Ball." Directed by Patrick Leung, the adventure film starts pretty well, but loses its momentum when the competition gets under way. With one dimensional personalities and non-existent back-story of characters, the film does not know what story it is trying to...

watch for fight scenes only
This film reminds me of the line from The Godfather: "Don't insult my intelligence." Michael Corleone would have definitely given this film the Don's kiss of disapproval. The storytelling is so bad it seems intentional. It hurt my brain to watch the plot crash around like it did. It would have been more graceful to have the actors tie their shoelaces together and trip over their own feet instead of saying their lines.

For the most part, I found fight scenes to be good and enjoyable to watch. But no swordfighting for Vincent Zhao? He is unrivaled with the sword, yet the only times he picks one up in this flick is (1) to break into pieces and (2) scrub the rust off. For most of the rest of the movie he's running around playing Indiana Jones.

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Brazil (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Gilliam classic remastered worth picking up (this review is for the single disc edition DVD)
Terry Gilliam's classic satire returns to DVD in a spiffed up edition from Criterion. Featuring a high definition anamorphic remaster the picture looks great (and it has been enhanced for 16x9 TVs so it will fill the screen)the sound has been remastered as well. Is it worth picking up again? Absolutely if you're a fan of the film. The single disc edition is basically the same as the first disc in the three disc set--it includes Gilliam's commentary track as part of the package as well as the "Final Cut" version of the film that runs 142 minutes (vs. 131 for the regular DVD release).

The good news is that unlike the previous edition,"Brazil" has been digitally remastered with special attention paid to cleaning up the film so we don't have all the bits of dirt and debris that occasionally marred the original DVD transfer (which was essentially a DVD transfer of the original laserdisc version).

If you purchased the three disc set and want to upgrade you could just...

Quite possibly the reason DVD was invented
Three discs? *Three* discs? That's what you're probably thinking if you're looking at this and *not* a fan of one of the finest films of our time. But this exquisite three-disc treatment is probably the best argument for DVD (and thankfully, for Criterion) that I can give you: Watch these discs, listen to the extensive audio commentary, compare Gilliam's brilliant vision with the Hollywood Studio "Love Conquers All" bastardization, er, sorry, recutting (how many directors would include a admittedly contradictory vision of his film on a DVD set just to *show* how Hollywood can drastically reshape a vision?), watch the documentary...you'll come away from this boxed set experience understanding more about film and directing, and sadly, studio politics, than you'll ever get from reading "Variety" (certainly more than I got from filmmaking college courses!) At the heart of it all, though, the many extras and made-with-care package would add up to nothing if...

Yes, but what about this Criterion box set itself?
There are a million different takes on the actual movie "Brazil," but what I hope to do in this review is actually rate the collection put together by Criterion.

The 3-DVD box set of "Brazil" starts off with the "final final" director's cut of the film, topping out at 142 minutes. (There are eight minutes of footage added to this release.) The film is presented in its original 1.85:1 dimensions. Fact is, the transfer of the movie is so-so.

For all the Criterion hoopla, the print here is flawed. The notes pay tribute to a few digital scratch removers, but I was truly surprised by the amount of garbage in the print (dirt, empty spots, and such) that litter the frames. One of Sam's initial dream flights has considerable gunk inhabiting the lower left corner, and any frame by frame analysis will reveal an endless parade of bits of stuff inhabiting every shot. To be honest, I expected a lot more here and if there is any criticism of this collection, it...

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Thunderstruck (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy Combo Pack)

A Fine Example of the Brilliance of American Cinema
Every now and then, a film comes along and changes our perspective into the realm of logic and life. A film that warps reality, forcing the viewer to completely re think their entire life. A film that leaves you in such awe, words can do no justice. I have seen this film more times than I can count, and every single time I finish it, I want to immediately watch it again.

To start out, the director. When my children have children, they'll talk about the great directors making some of the best cinema of the 21st century. Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, Terrance Malick and now John Whitesell. After previously directing the brilliant Big Momma's House trilogy, which are on par with the Star Trek Trilogy (Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock, The Voyage Home), the Lord of the Rings films, the Star Wars films and the Dollars films. Along with Malibu's Most Wanted, proving that Jamie Kennedy deserves an Oscar, and Deck the Halls with the comedy duo of Matthew Broderick and Danny...

A Good Family Film
Sixteen-year old Brian (Taylor Gray) wants to be on the high school basketball team, but he has no skills. After Brian meets Kevin Durant, his game is perfected.

Although I'm not very interested in basketball, I enjoyed this movie. The beginning was okay, but it became much more entertaining once Alan (Durant's Agent played by Brandon T. Jackson) figured out what happened. Jackson's performance was as funny as I expected it to be. There are also important messages for young people about friendship and 'fitting in' - I liked that.

Thunderstruck is a good family film.
Favorite Line: Coach, is that from Hoosiers?

Like Mike Meets Space Jam
This movie is basically "Like Mike" as a kid, in this case with no basketball talent, gets an NBA stars talent transferred to him. Not through magic shoes though in this case it's just like Space Jam where the talent is transferred through the ball.

The kid is usually picked on but because of his new basketball talent he becomes popular and shows up his bully before he becomes a jerk himself.

The basketball in it is pretty fake as the kid dunking looks like he's flying rather than jumping and the same play is shown a few times but from slightly different angles and supposed to be different plays. Mixed in are some Kevin Durant highlights/lowlights from actual games.

Durant plays himself and it is a good thing they gave him an energetic manager to pair next to him as otherwise his scenes are fairly boring. A Durant fan might like seeing him but he's not in it that much besides shooting poorly in a gym on a few occasions and trying to get his talent back...

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Westerns Unchained [Blu-ray]

The titles included in this set...
...because nowhere can you find WHAT titles are included, these are what's on the set (I received my copy today):

* LOLA COLT (aka BLACK TIGRESS (1967)- with Lola Falana)
* LONG DAYS OF REVENGE
* CALIFORNIA ( (1977)- Starring William Berger & Giuliano Gemma)
* EXECUTION ( (1968)- starring John Richardson)
* KILL DJANGO ( (1971)- Giacomo Rossi-Stuart)
* ONE AFTER ANOTHER (Unknown)
* ADIOS GRINGO ( (1965)- Giuliano Gemma)
* MY NAME IS PECOS (aka DUE ONCE di PIOMBO (1967)- Robert Woods)
* MAY GOD FORGIVE YOU ( (1968)- GEORGE ARDISSON)
* DJANGO: LAST KILLER ( (1967)- George Eastman)
* TWICE A JUDAS (aka THEY WERE CALLED GRAVEYARD (1969) Klaus Kinski & Antoni Sabato)
* TRAIN FOR DJANGO
* GO WITH GOD GRINGO ( (1966)- Glenn Saxson & Aldo Berti)
* RINGO'S BIG NIGHT ( (1966)- William Berger)
* GUN FOR 100 GRAVES (aka PISTOL FOR 100 COFFINS (1968)- Peter Lee Lawrence & John...

Seldom seen Spaghetti
No this isn't the ultimate Blu Ray for spaghetti westerns and the audio does switch once in a while from english to Italian.The only thing Blu about these is the case. There is even a complete movie in Italian but I found all movies watchable and mostly obscure and the few exceptions were better copies than previous releases. Almost every spaghetti fan knows finding them in any watchable condition is the hardest part, All in all, if you want to see some spaghetti that you probably haven't seen before at a cheap price (you can find this set for less than 10.00)then this is well worth it.

Great for what it is
Yes, all the complaints are true. The movies are in good quality, not great, but if you are like me you've gone through many a cheap DVD of spaghetti westerns that looked terrible, at least these movies all look pretty good. Yes, unfortunately it is true that two of these movies are in Italian with no subtitles, a bummer for sure. Other wise this is a cool collection of not often seen movies and the price is unbelievable. If you are fan of Italian genre fare and/or the spaghetti western, this is a good buy.

Check out my reviews at moviezonemagazine.com

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Ninja Scroll [Blu-ray]

Ninja Scroll 10th Anniversary Widescreen...- Beware!!
Ninja Scroll is an excellent work of anime and cannot be praised too highly, but the new 10th Anniversary DVD edition only offers only a false widescreen - they have merely cut off the top and bottom of the view to give the appearance of widescreen. The DTS sound is not any fuller or crisper than the original fullscreen DVD, merely converted to DTS format. In short, this DVD is not worth upgrading to, and the fullscreen side is the only one worth watching. Save your money if you hope to improve on the original DVD's quality - the new anniversary DVD is actually an insult.

a story of epic proportions
First, regarding its name: a more accurate translation from the original Japanese would be "The Chronicles of Ninja Jubei."

Second, regarding the "misogynism" in the film: While I understand how it might be interpreted that way, that's not quite true. Kagero is a fascinating character due to the tragedy of her curse. She plays a pivotal role in the story, but most importantly, the ultimate point of the love subplot is that Jubei's sense of honor is so strong and his heart is so pure that he will not use her as just a weapon or an object of lust, the way everyone else has used her. Even at the cost of his life (you will understand when you see it). That's what makes it such a powerful story.

This movie isn't for everyone, but it's an incredible film. It's extremely intense, so sensitive viewers should beware. The animation is beautiful; the action is intense and intelligently choreographed, not mindless and brutal; the plot is highly intricate and...

Breaking the Samurai Code
One tradition of Japanese manga and anime is based on the legends of Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi, who was a very real swordsman serving the Tokugawa Shogunate at the beginning of the 17th century. Jubei was known for wandering Japan, sometimes as a spy for the Shogun, and righting injustices with displays of his extraordinary swordsmanship. Kind of a Japanese Knight of the Roundtable.

In 'Ninja Scroll', this part is played by Jubei Kibagami, an itinerant ninja. He is drawn into clan politics when he comes to the aid of Kagero, a female ninja in service to the Yamashiro clan. To save Kagero, Jubei must successfully challenge Tessai, an evil ninja (one of the Eight Devils of Kimon) with the ability to turn his skin into stone, and the strength to chop walls down. Jubei succeeds, but Tessai swears vengeance, leaving Jubei deeply entangled in a struggle with the Shogun of the Dark.

The third player in this contest is Dakuan, the Shoguns spy. He is a deadly old man who recruits...

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The Day I Saw Your Heart

Dysfunctional father-daughter relationship movie
"The Day I Saw Your Heart" (2011 release from France) is the most recent (July, 2012) release in the monthly Film Movement series of foreign and indie films. Please note that the original title of this movie is "Et Soudain, Tout Le Monde Me Manque" (which translates as "And Suddenly, I Miss Everyone").

Michel Blanc stars as Eli, who recently remarried and is expecting a baby with his new (and much younger) wife. Eli has 2 grown daughters, Dom(inique), who is looking to adopt a baby with her husband, and Ju(stine), the free-spirit who cannot stand her dad. Dom and Ju are appalled that their dad is to become a father again, given the terrible job he did with them. Or did he? In the first half hour of the movie, we witness what a complete jerk Eli is, and the toll it takes on everyone around him ("his loved ones" would be an overstatement).

But not everything is what it appears to be, and as the movie progresses we see signs of change in both Eli and Ju. To tell you...

The Foibles of Family: A French Charmer With Laughs And Heart
Jennifer Devoldere's dramedy "The Day I Saw Your Heart" is an offbeat combination of unbelievably quirky characters, farcical situations mixed with real life concerns, and overt sentimentality. There's not much about its plot that rings particularly true, but the underlying alienation that can exist within families grounds the movie in a way that make it virtually impossible not to respond to. It's very much like a grown-up sitcom that packs a surprisingly emotional punch. Perhaps I'm not describing the picture well. I enjoyed it very much. But my head groaned at some of the film's contrivances while my heart embraced its overall mood and message. It probably helped matters that the film boasts a strong and likable cast. Led by the lovely Melanie Laurent (who I still think was robbed of an Oscar nod for Inglorious Basterds), this French trifle has heart and charm to spare.

The movie introduces us to a typical family of comic dysfunction, the Dhreys. It soon becomes...

Loved This Film
The Day I Saw Your Heart is what is right and wonderful about independent film. This is a warm beautiful and funny film. I didn't want this film to end.

Everybody in this film is a little bit crazy, some more than others. Dad, Eli Dhrey, is the craziest but yet the one that loves everybody the most. At one point in the film Eli is talking with a doctor and says, if he was a doctor, he would call himself Dr. Dre. This is funny on so many levels; none of the least is that his last name in French is pronounced Dray, just like the good rap doctor. The film is full of non-sequiturs, people doing incredibly unexpected things. It is hard to imagine that a film in French with English subtitles would translate into a good dozen very funny jokes. The film is genuinely funny up until the day Justine sees the heart. This is always a delicate point in a film, the conflict is built and then the film changes direction to resolve the conflict. The director did an amazing job making that...

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Oklahoma! [Blu-ray]

A riveting reconsideration of a musical classic.
The 1999 London production of "Oklahoma!", directed by Trevor Nunn with choreography by Susan Stroman, was the first major departure ever from the original Joshua Logan-Agnes De Mille production of 1943. It was a gamble that paid off big, for the performance recorded for posterity on this DVD is absolutely brilliant--funny, riveting, and deeply poignant. The dancing is astonishing, and the beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein songs have never sounded so good. Nunn and Stroman know how to stage each number for maximum dramatic effect, so that the songs come across less as songs than as dramatic monologues in music--which is, of course, exactly what Rodgers & Hammerstein wanted.

The cast of this version is so wonderful that it is impossible to talk about them in anything but superlatives. (I might make a slight, regretful exception for Vicki Simon as Ado Annie, who is merely very good whereas everyone else is spectacular.) As Will Parker, Jimmy Johnston--an endearing if improbable...

Wow
I just watched this on PBS and ran immediately to the computer to order the DVD. I grew up working in local summer stock and community theatre--went on to major in theatre in undergrad before going to grad school for something more consistent with regular work. I worked on or was in a couple of productions of Oklahoma, and have seen several--some great, some not. I have always appreciated the wonderful music and the nearly operatic tone of the show. But before tonight, I had never seen this theatrical classic ACTED. It was spellbinding. Who knew what a great piece of drama this show could be? And for icing on the dramatic cake, the dancing was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers quality, and the vocal performances were the best, in aggregate, I've ever even heard ABOUT. The character of Jud Fry worked in ways I never new it could, due to inspired direction and a tour de force performance. Laurie and Curly actually dancing the dream ballet themselves removed a perenial speed bump...

The classic American musical gets the Trevor Nunn touch
Every time I watch a version of "Oklahoma!" there are two conclusions that I always reach. The first is that there is no greater chorus in the American musical than the title song from this show. No wonder as soon as it is finished the cast does it again and then for good measure does it at the end of the curtain calls. It always gives me chills when they do the big finish and it occurs to me that the song "Oklahoma" is our secular equivalent of "The Hallelujah Chorus." The second inevitable thought is that Shirley Jones had a truly great singing voice, perfect for musical theater. Any one who plays Laurey Williams is going to suffer in comparison when it comes to the singing (the test case remains the same: the end of the reprise of "People Will Say We're in Love."

That is not to say that this 1999 London Stage Revival of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is not impressive. Director Trevor Nunn restores the full text and you...

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Legend Of The Golden Gun

Waited Years for the Film to come out onDVD
OMG!! I can't believe this film has actually come out on DVD. I have looked out for it for years. It is one of my all time favourite films. I was able to copy it to DVD from the video some time ago but to have an actual copy of the film is fantastic.

I have always enjoy Jeff Osterhage's cowboy films (The Sacketts, The Shadow Riders) and this one is no exception. It has so many elements to it. Not least the way Jeff's character John is a cross between Luke Skywalker and the Lone Ranger. He is trained to use his 'instincts' like the force and become a force for good. Hal Holbrook is excellent as his mentor who has a secret of his own.

I would recommend anyone to buy this film and just immerse yourself in how westerns used to be made. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Bambi meets obi won derivative
The only reason for this movie (a TV pilot) to exist is to watch Kier Dullea do Custer doing MacArthur.

the legend of the golden gun
I received it really fast and the dvd played with no problems. it brought back memories from when I watched it on tv many years ago. the movie was still great to watch.

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Wild Horse Wild Ride

Horse Lover's Must See
Absolutely the BEST horse movie ever!!! You will laugh and you will cry. So touching and so well done. There is something so magnificent and spiritual about wild horses; about the connection between horse and human. This is an absolute must see for all horse lovers. My husband and I have both been anxious to see it for a second time and can't wait for it to come out on DVD. What a great gift. I will be giving it to relatives as well as our horse loving friends in Switzerland. Yahoo! Don't wait; order it; you will not be disappointed!

more than a documentary about horses
This film is more than a film about horses and horse lovers. It is one of the most moving documentaries I've seen about human compassion and the desire to connect. The various persons followed in this film have chosen to take in a wild mustang, train it and bring it to competition in just 100 days. These are not polished or wealthy people with time on their hands. These are ordinary people who are passionate about horses and willing to take on what at times seems an impossible task. From an old Navajo man who is terrified to get on his horse to 2 young brothers in New Hampshire who learned to work with horses by observing and imitating the horses natural behavior, -every single one has a wildly different approach to achieve the one goal they all share: developing a trust with their horse. At times it is heartbreaking just knowing that all their intuition, creativity, commitment- and the deep love that inevitably develops is all with the purpose of getting the horse to competition...

You WILL be a Horse Lover after this film!
I never thought much about horses until seeing this film and now feel as though I have a MUCH better understanding of these beautiful animals! Well written, directed and thoroughly enjoyable! I've ordered a couple of extra DVDs as Xmas gifts.

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