Gary Unmarried: The Complete First Season

Cute, though somewhat generic, sitcom
Having become a fan of the funny Jay Mohr during his time on "Ghost Whisperer," I was excited to learn he'd gotten a show of his own and really had high hopes for it. However, while it does have some better episodes/moments than others, I do have to say that for the most part, there's really nothing to make this show stand out from scads of other predictable sitcoms.

The premise of the show centers upon Gary Brooks (Jay Mohr) having recently divorced his wife of many years, Allison (Paula Marshall). The two share custody of their teen children, Tom - a typically goofy, slightly lazy young male like his dad in many ways - and Louise, an overachieving perfectionist. Gary is self-employed as a painter, while Allison is a stay-at-home mom. While Gary is just beginning to get back into dating after many years of marriage, Allison has already found someone new, and is already engaged.

Many of the show's conflicts and humor stem from the differences between Gary's and...

I'd only watch this if nothing else was on. It's funny but not enough for my time.
Gary Unmarried - The Complete First Season TV on DVD Review
20 Episodes on 3 Discs Widescreen Edition (2010)

"Gary Unmarried" is a sitcom about a single dad paint contractor, Gary Brooks (Jay Mohr) who has a very workable relationship with his ex-wife, Allison (Paula Marshall) as they take care of the kids and fight. Paula is engaged to their marriage counselor Dr. Krandall played by Ed Begley Jr. and Gary is trying to date again after fifteen years of marriage and has managed to find another single-mom hottie Vanessa (Jaime King). Their son, Tom (Ryan Malgarini) is just getting interested in girls and their daughter, Louise (Kathryn Newton) is trying to save the world and has a crush on Al Gore.

I haven't watched comedy sitcoms since Home Improvement, Family Matters, and Seinfeld when I was younger so the first thing that struck me watching this first season of this show was the canned laughter. It takes a lot to get used to again, it just feels so phony...

Very Impressed!!!
I would've never started watching this if I was in the U.S. when I first saw it. I would've never caught my attention. Since I was deployed to Iraq, there were limited shows that came on TV and this was one of them. I watched it because the other shows were shows that were over 10 years old and I've pretty much seen them all. And I must say, it is a VERY good and entertaining show. I was truly impressed with it. It was the first show/series that I looked for on DVD when I returned from deployment. Needless to say, I was disappointed because it wasn't out on DVD. Now that it is (soon), I will be one of the first to get it. This is a must buy and a great adult show. Side note: Many kids under 13 may not get some of the jokes, but it's not really geared towards that audience.

A+

Semper Fidelis!

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Sarah Silverman Program: Season Two, Vol. 2

WHAT THE HECK?
I love Sarah. I really looked forward to this release. The one star is for the discs. This is supposed to have 10 episodes, 5 on each disc. Instead I have 4 episodes on the first disc, and 1 episode on the second. Where are the other 5 episodes? Are they hidden and I am too dumb to find them? Is this a joke that I just don't get? Or is this just a really stupid mistake? Did I just pay 20 bucks for 5 episodes? Somebody help me here!

sabotaged collection
i bought this dvd set expecting the usual best and there's an episode missing from each disc(10 episodes 2 discs?) no commentary track no animated shorts no behind the scenes as described on the packaging and the broadcast of the new season is being sabotaged already! i think i may be done with this show!!

nice little collection here
I really love this show, but i was worried when i read about people having problems with the discs. i placed my order regardless and found no problems at all. the 2 discs are loaded with content, including 10 episodes (4 on the first disc and 6 on the second), a behind-the-scenes kind of thing called "odds'n'ends" and some animated shorts. i enjoyed all of it. seriously, every minute. the overall package is very complete. i definitely recommend this purchase.

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The Patty Duke Show: Season Two

"More Patty Duke!"
Right on the heels of the DVD release of "The Patty Duke Show-Season 1" comes word that "The Patty Duke Show-Season 2" hits store shelves in February, 2010. I couldn't be more happier! Shout! Factory, who is releasing the classic 1960's series, has proven again that they are dedicated in bringing back pure, family television from a decade long ago for new viewers to enjoy. Although not as popular as season 1 (the show fell out of the Top 20 shows in its second year), "The Patty Duke Show" continued its reign as one of network TV's most well-written and well-acted sitcoms. The second year began on September 16th, 1964 with the opener entitled "The Green Eyed Monster" in which poor Patty is torn between two boys at school. Other highlights this season are the episode called "Practice Makes Perfect" where Patty decides to take up the tuba much to the chagrin of her family. In "Patty and The Peace Corps" Patty wants more out of life and joins the Peace Corps. Finally, in "High Society"...

On to Season Two
Thanks to Shout Factory, the followup to the first set of "The Patty Duke Show" is set for release in Feb. 2010. Season Two brought a slightly revised intro and a different version of the theme song (but with the same lyrics) as well as Patty's new interest in the music of the day; namely the British Invasion. Brits Chad and Jeremy play Nigel and Patrick, a duo Patty discovers. Patty sings this season, including an episode where she is backed by The Shindogs, the house band for the teen music show "Shindig" which followed "The Patty Duke Show" on ABC back in 1964. Lots more fun from Brooklyn Heights with Patty Duke and company. The first set proved to be a delight, and no doubt this followup will prove a worthy successor.

I enjoyed the First Season of this set and the quality is very good. It's great to see the
I enjoyed the First Season of this set and the quality is very good. It's great to see the entire episodes at their full length of about 25 minutes. I was hoping for the bumper advertisements ("the Patty Duke Show is brought to you by... Breck", and other stuff like that), like they did on that 8 episode Laser Disc set released years ago, which I still have. That set had Patty and Cathy doing a couple of the Breck commercials. Oh well, we're lucky to finally get The Patty Duke Show on DVD at all. Beggars can't be choosers. The best TV shows are always released last. The junk always comes first.

I have watched all 6 discs of Season Two. Discs 1, 5 and 6 have no problems, but discs 2, 3 and 4 have a minor glitch. I have this same problem on another DVD player so it must be these 3 discs. At the menu on disc 3 there is a choice of PLAY ALL or EPISODES. If PLAY ALL is selected, that will take you to the intro teaser and beginning credits of "Best Date In Town". Then...

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Naruto: Shippuden, Vol. 6

Great dvd
Great dvd for the price. Also love the cover art with all the akatsuki members on each dvd work fine and happy to add them to my collection

Naruto Tradition Goes On Strong
A good continuation to the original saga with all characters now 2 years older. Action and storyline are interesting and keep you eager for answers. Only thing that bothered me is that the plots are drawn out a bit too long and sometimes makes you wonder how much you could have saved if this is was not done. On the flip side is that the series would have been shorter and the studio would have sold less DVD's.



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Dare

The Truth About Dare
Not since Threesome (1994), which born-again Stephen Baldwin has since disowned, has there been such a daring coupling of two men and one woman on screen. The tagline of that earlier film, "One girl. Two guys. Three possibilities," might have been adopted for Dare as well. The elephant in the room is the excellent Dare (2005) short included on the Blu-ray disc. While the swimming pool "dare" scene that is most of the short also appears in the new film, it has been truncated for no obvious reason, and it is not one of the deleted scenes. The new film also suffers by comparison because the chemistry between Johnny and Ben seems stronger in the short.

The new film is really not a gay film anymore. Alexa, who is peripheral to the short, drives the new film from the opening frames. Johnny's backstory of a distant father and a youthful stepmother certainly explains his vulnerability, but his friends are not...

A must see - becomes a must own
There is an accepted lie that is told by Hollywood teen films: That everyone falls into types. The Geeky guy, the Jock, the hanger on, the bookish girl, the slutty girl, etc. as reliable as the characters tropes in a WWII men on a mission film. You know what you are getting, and everyone fulfills their roles in the formula. And its a winning formula every time From "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", to "The Breakfast Club", even lesser fare like "Bring it On" make this work. And its a fun fantasy.

DARE exists in the Twilight Zone of those films. We start in the very familiar teen film world Soccer Star; Stage Crew nerd; Star Student, and act by act, character by character deconstruct it all until we are left with three very real and very vulnerable teens who are in over their heads. It doesn't matter if you were like the one of the characters (and chances are you were) someone you know was.

Emmy Rossum shrugs off her Hollywood training and digs deep for all that is...

The Kids Are Not All Right, But they Will Be--A Surprisingly Effective And Daring High School Drama
With its high school setting and the evocative title "Dare," I was prepared for this film to be either a standard teenage romp or perhaps a cautionary tale about alienated youth causing mischief. In fact, it is a rather sensitively wrought tale of conflicted emotions and youth struggling for identity. Blurring lines between sex and friendship, "Dare" introduces a somewhat accidental threesome that is as intriguing as it is believable. This non-traditional bond is purely unintentional with each party seeking something from the relationship that will never be fully realized. Earnest, and even heartbreaking, the film grows more disturbing as it progresses--with the teens both liberating one another while causing emotional damage.

The film is split into three parts--one to represent each of the young protagonists. Emmy Rossum effectively plays an overachiever who doesn't quite click with the popular crowd. When paired for an assignment with rebel jock Zach Gilford, she...

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Vegas: Season One

Cheaper to buy 2 volumes separately
Good series; however, if you plan to buy the combo set, be sure to check on buying vol 1 and vol 2 separately. It is often cheaper. Buying the combo set seems to be just a trick to get the consumer to pay more just to have a cardboard box to keep the two sets in. There is no different in the amount of time on the sets. Vol 1 has 567 minutes and vol 2 has 589 minutes. Combined that's 1156 minutes, the same as this set. But then going up in price on this combo might be a trick just to make the two volumes seem reasonable in price.

Finally
I have been waiting for this for ever, it is finally here. I was born in Las Vegas and watched this show being filmed as a teenager. I forgot how many times they filmed in front the old Kim ranch house. All the old local celeberties in the background. I love seeing Las Vegas from the good days. Too bad it won't ever be like that again.

Great Classic Show
Great series. I love seeing Las Vegas like it was 30 years ago. Has lots of good action and interesting characters.

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Brain Fitness Frontiers

A very useful book
I saw the PBS programs and wanted to capture them for future study. The entire series is full of wonderful new knowledge and understanding for me.

DVD Purchase
I received the DVD in Excellent condition and in such a short time. I am one happy customer. Thank you.



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Midgets vs. Mascots

Teaches Valuable Lessons About Labels
Despite its crude, disgusting and vulgar content, Midgets vs. Mascots has the soft underbelly of teaching people not to put labels on one another. For instance, it is WRONG to use the term 'Midget' - they're LITTLE PEOPLE.

Aside from that, this is a film like no other, and a comedy like no other. I had the luxury of meeting the cast and crew at the Tribecca Film Festival in April, 2009 (though it wasn't very pleasant to meet Gary Coleman, who put his head down on a table and didn't speak to anyone). These people had the time of their lives making this movie, which I'm sure was just as fun to make as it was to watch.

This movie isn't for everyone, like those who don't appreciate toilet humor, but for those who do this is bound to be one of the funniest films they have ever seen.

Hilarious!
I bought this movie over at their website before christmas and it's really really funny. they call it a Borat meets Jackass type movie and I'd say that's pretty spot on. There are ridiculously shocking stunts and some absolutely shocking moments that had me seriously laughing out loud.

I wasn't sure if Gary Coleman was acting or not, but he seems like the angriest little person there is (pun intended). Acting or not, Gary has some great scenes kicking the crap out of one of the main characters that's a complete a-hole.

My favorite character was Taco. The "i'm going to touch them anyway" line rocks. He's a sicko that has some of the best one liners you'll get out of a movie.

In case you were asking for my opinion, don't wait for this pre-order and just go to the [...] website and get it now. Plus they send these little "midget condoms" as a gag gift.

uh
I can't believe, I bought this. It's bad enough I was in it. I am the big truck driver guy in the MMA fight scene. We spent a day going over what we were going to do. Shot the fight scene twice. Now I am wishing they cut my entire scene. This is the sickest most repulsive movie I have ever seen in my life.

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Adam

A True Picture of Asperger Disorder
I cried during a lot of this movie....my young son has Asperger Disorder, and this is the most accurate depiction of a person on the Autism Spectrum that I've ever seen. I cried tears of joy that someone finally "got it," and will make others aware of the challenges and gifts of persons affected by Asperger's. I cried because I know my son's life will be more difficult due to his Asperger's. I cried because the world will present obstacles to him that I will not always be there to help him with. I cried because when we left the theater, my son was staring thoughtfully and I asked him to share his thoughts and he said...."Wow, I didn't realize that I would still have Asperger's when I grow up." I hope this movie brings awareness of autism to a large audience, and people will open themselves to getting to know a person with the disability....to become friends....and to realize the beautiful treasure that having a friend on the autism spectrum is. Too many people with Asperger's are...

I have Asperger's
I have Asperger's and I think that the portrayal of Asperger's in this film is wonderful. It is nice to have a movie I can relate to. Anyone who wishes to understand Asperger's better should see this film. It outranks Mozart and the Whale.

Overlooked gem
Overall, I found this to be an engaging, sweet movie much like the main characters in the film. As a parent of a young son with autism, I'm pleased Hollywood has evolved from "Rainman" to portraying a more realistic look at life on the autism spectrum. For those unfamiliar with or untouched by autism (unfortunately, more of us are), don't worry - the movie doesn't set out to educate the masses on the disorder. Also, the filmmakers don't betray the characters or the story by supplying the standard happy ending. Instead, the end is genuine, satisfying and most of all hopeful for all of us, especially my son.

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Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases, Vol. 4

As always lots of fun
Daughter loves these Tom and Jerry series and its an hour or so worth of peace time at our house.

Tom and Jerry Greatest Chases vol.4
I grew up on Tom and Jerry watching them as I ate my cereal before walking to school. Now in 2011 my 3yr old daughter saw a few reruns recently and now she loves Tom and Jerry so I bought this dvd for her. She watches it over and over and over and over...lol So I would say she gives it 2 thumbs up !!!

Great Fun
These DVD's grouping Tom and Jerry Cartoons into categories are a good idea. My grandchildren love them, and I sneak a peak occasionally.

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More Than a Game

An inspiring tale beyond basketball
The title More Than a Game is more than a little cliché, and the most basic summary of this documentary's premise does little to refute that initial impression: the story of five inner city youths who forge something beyond friendship while pursuing their high school hoop dreams. But the journey of the "Fab Five" who made up the core of the St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball team in Akron, Ohio earlier in the decade is not exactly your average sports saga, filled with extraordinary characters and equally extraordinary circumstances that Hollywood could craft no better in any feature script. Any filmmaker blessed with such serendipitous narrative riches would be content to simply recount the not-so-tall tale, but director Kristopher Belman takes it an added step: bringing the larger-than-life back down to a universally relatable scale.

Figures hardly come more larger-than-life than LeBron James, the Fighting Irish alum who (as the world over has come to know) first...

Amazing Insight Into What Shapes People
Let me start off my review by saying that I have not been an active fan of basketball for several years now. I wound up watching this film because it received excellent reviews and my students are always talking about Lebron James, so I took it as an excellent opportunity to learn more about this young man at the center of all the hype. Having watched the dvd, I am just amazed at not only the skill and athleticism displayed by Mr. James, but the caliber of the character demonstrated by him, his teammates and his coaches. This is more than a basketball documentary , it's a life-lesson documentary that provides the added bonus of amazing footage of someone whose skills as a youngster clearly out-ranked many who play the sport professionally (to say the least, Mr. James is clearly most worthy of the praise heaped upon him). If you have kids, get More than a Game and use it as a sounding board for honest discussions with your kids. If you just love sports, get it because the footage...

Get ready for action ... get ready for learning and building character!
I have to admit, I am not a big fan of basketball. BUT because of my son's love of basketball, I brought this and a few other DVD's which showcases his favorite NBA players. (Note: I am still learning the techniques of basketball.)

The highlight and pivotal point of this film, "More Than A Game," was when the team (St. Vincent-St. Mary) coach gave a serious speech to his young men and devout his faith in prayers (along with them) in a call to the Almighty Saviour. Both messages developed a strength of character to the young men whose lives are expectedly in a vacuum filled with wild excitements (promiscuity, alcohol and more). This to me was a turnaround for the young men. Although it was the coach's last and final year to train them (in their last year of high school), Coach Dru Joyce and the team thought they would win the championship. They didn't! BUT, because of their hardwork, faith, character (thanks to Coach Dru Joyce), friendship and love, these young men...

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Shaquille O'Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam - Live from South Beach

The Other One Was Better...
Which isn't saying much because I rated it a 3. DL was funny and Lavell Crawford was funny. Everyone else was just blah. I was disappointed by Arnez J. He's usually very funny, but this routine was weak. He tells these stories that aren't funny at all, and then he told that same recycled joke about his brother Rodney. He needs some new material. Interestingly enough, I've never considered DL funny but he was really funny on this. The female told some funny jokes but her delivery was wack. It was like she was reading a que card or something. I watched about 3 minutes of Earthquake, got sick of hearing the "f" and "b" words so i skipped through the rest of his, so I don't know how funny he was. Lavelle was the star of this one! He was soooooooo funny. His joke about McDonalds salads was hilarious.

I liked the other one better than this. Rent before you buy.

HILARIOUS!!
I'd usually prefer to rent comedy specials but after seeing this on Showtime I was convinced that this is a must have stand-up DVD!! D.L. doesn't disappoint as host! Arnez J and Melanie Comarcho do a decent job but Earthquake and Lavell absolutely murder the stage!! I've watched this 3 times since purchasing! It doesn't get old and it's a great DVD to throw on whenever you have some company!

LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE it!
I saw this on show time and i absoulutly LOVEE iT! I watched it 5-6 days in a row atleast twice a day! it waz soooo hilarious all the comedians are funny except the girl but every one else was funny im am definatly buying this!!! i would recomend to anyone if they want a good laugh! :)

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Tailgate Party

Great for Larry's Hardcore fans
The DVD was great if you are a hardcore Larry fan. If you are a casual fan, the material didn't offer anything groundbreaking, so the video might be dry and boring. If you love Larry and want to fill 90 minutes of your life with some funny stuff, then I recommend it. If you are getting tired of the same old stuff and looking for something new then, I would recommend just renting it or finding it on Comedy Central sometime-don't waste your money.

Funny
Laugh harder every time I watch this video. Well worth the money and your time to watch it. Love it.

Larry still rocks...
Larry still keeps you rolling again and again. One of the best "Larry's" to date.

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TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Romance (Splendor in the Grass / Love in the Afternoon / Mogambo / Now Voyager)

Wilder's Parisian souffle
With two of Hollywood's most glamorous stars, and (despite the silly plot) a sharp and witty script, this film is an evergreen, and one I never tire of watching.
Audrey Hepburn is enchanting as the spunky "Thin Girl", a cello student who falls in love with a millionaire playboy bachelor, played with grace and charm (and quite a bit of humor) by Gary Cooper. Hepburn was 28 at the time, and looked younger, Cooper was 56, and looked perhaps older, but despite the age difference, their chemistry together sparkles and sizzles.

The romantic cat and mouse game played by Hepburn to intrigue and win Cooper's heart is all very innocent and sweet, and I always shed a few tears at the magical ending.
Maurice Chevalier as Hepburn's father, a private detective specializing in matters of love and deception is fabulous, and gets most of the funny lines, and John McGiver, as one of Chevalier's jealous husband clients, is also very amusing.

The b & w cinematography by...

Gary Cooper too old? Blasphemy!
The common criticism of this delightful film is that Gary Cooper, one of the icons of Hollywood, was "too old" to play the lead against the youthful Audrey Hepburn. This is, quite frankly, ludicrous and almost laughable. Though Coop was 56 when the movie was filmed, he was still incredibly handsome, well-preserved, thin and as sexy as he had been in his prime. There isn't a single moment where the viewer would doubt that this man wasn't utterly believable in the role or womanizer and seducer extraodinaire. Audrey Hepburn would have been a fool to turn her nose up at this choice male animal, even if he was 30 years her senior.

Coop and Hepburn's scenes together are all marvelous, especially the famous film-ending train scene, this one still makes one's toes curl, even after 20+ viewings over the years. Maurice Chevalier is also charming in his role as Audrey's father. The music, script and stellar direction by Billy Wilder make this an essential movie to watch, to own, and to...

Romance has a 50/50 Chance in this Classic Four-Pack, Classic Hollywood DVD Set
Turner Classic Movies' classic movie series continues with this two-disc set showcasing four beloved films with romantic themes. Intriguingly, while two movies have the requisite happy ending, the other two close with former lovers resigned to the wisdom gained from relationships that could not endure. All four have been presented in pristine print condition.

Splendor in the Grass (****1/2): Director Elia Kazan was able to extract a searing performance from Natalie Wood in this classic 1961 melodrama about youthful sexual repression in rural 1920's Kansas. She has never been more affecting then she is here as Deanie Loomis, the local butcher's daughter deeply in love with Bud Stamper, the son of an oil scion and the high school football hero. They are the senior sweethearts everyone expects to marry, but both have to battle constantly with their sexual longing and their grasping parents...

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Yo Gabba Gabba!: Birthday Boogie

Episode Titles
All are Season 2 episodes:

Birthday
Dress Up
Talent
Ride

1st Birthday Present for Our Daughter
Our 1 year old daughter is OBSESSED with Gabba! It is the only show that holds her attention and she will actually sit down and watch an entire episode uninterrupted. We record the shows that air on Nick Jr. but we have never seen 3 of the ones on this DVD - Birthday, Talent & Ride so it was nice to see some fresh episodes. The birthday one is very cute. Our daughter loves the DVD as she does all her Gabba DVDs.

Good fun for kids
I bought this movie for my great neice! She loved it alot. She really loves this show and it was a perfect gift for her birthday!

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Hard Rain [Blu-ray]

Hasn't stopped raining for days
Shot as 'The Flood' in 1996, re-shot as 'Hard Rain' in 1997, and released into cinemas with virtually no publicity in 1998 it's a shame that this film sank with out a trace (pun intended). But you have to wonder why the studio abandoned it when it took investment from multiple backers to keep the production afloat (pun intended again).

I recall seeing publicity shots in 1997 for scenes (and characters) that aren't even in the movie. I guess we'll never know what Graham Yost's script was originally about. Paramount figured that the public had had enough of disaster movies and re-tooled 'The Flood' as a heist flick midway through filming. I can't say if it's for better or worse, but Hard Rain is still an exciting action ride.

Yes, the characterization is thin, but it avoids the cliche of making them all annoying as a quick way of defining them (something Twister, Volcano, and Dante's Peak were guilty of). The stragglers caught in the deluge as Huntingburg, Indiana...

SOGGY BUT FUN
HARD RAIN is enough to make you never want to see it rain again. Filmed entirely during the horrific storm and with the threatening collapse of the local dam, this movie requires some squinting of the eyes just to tell who's who. Director Mikael Solomon keeps things moving, and if the whole plot wasn't so darn preposterous and absurd, this could have been a classic. There are some great chase scenes, double crosses, etc., etc. It's just not very believable.

Christian Slater's laconic performance is reminiscent of a young Jack Nicholson, but he seems awkward and clumsy as an action hero (ditto BROKEN ARROW), but he's pleasant. Morgan Freeman reprises his bad guy role from CHAIN REACTION and the future NURSE BETTY with his usual grace and precision. Morgan's probably never given a bad performance. Randy Quaid is grim and vile as the sheriff gone bad, and Betty White/Richard Dysart provide some fun comic relief as an elderly couple who refuse to leave town. (Wonder...

Fun action flick
Yup - the plot does stretch your ability to suspend disbelief, but it stops short of actually asking you to hang it by the neck until it's dead - the story is unlikely, but there are no obvious plot holes to disrupt the fun.

Morgan Freeman dishes up his usual excellence in this role - a crook looking for a retirement fund, with a typical crew to help - a screwup 20s rowdy, an unemployed high school science teacher, and a scripture-quoting pro.

Christian Slater is, well, Christian Slater - I've been a fan for years, and this is yet another appearance of the wisecracking, intrepid guy that Mr. Slater plays so often. It'd get repititious if it weren't so much fun. He's at the end of a "clean out the banks before they're flooded" run, with $3 million in the truck when it's stuck in a deep spot in the ever-present water.

Minnie Driver does a fine, if understated, job as the woman who stayed in town too long, preparing a church she's been restoring to...

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Soul Eater: Part One

Your soul is mine
"A sound soul dwells within a sound mind and a sound body." If a soul becomes evil, it has the potential to turn into a demonic kishin -- which is when the meisters and their shapeshifting weapon/partners come in. "Soul Eater Part 1" is a solid beginning to a well-written, deliciously Halloweeny fantasy series, with solid writing and a twisty-turny subplot that promises to get even better with time.

The meisters of the DWMA work for Lord Death to keep the world from being overrun with kishin -- they get rid of evil souls, kill monsters, battle witches, and try to collect souls so that their weapon/partners can become Death Scythes. Among their number are Maka and her scythe Soul Eater, narcissistic ninja Black Star and Tsubaki, and Death's OCD son Death the Kid and his twin pistols Patty and Liz.

But nabbing the right combination of evil souls isn't their only problem: they have to grapple with zombies and mad scientists, the legendary sword Excalibur, a...

Another Great Anime For All Of Us To Own
This series was a nice mix of Bleach, Full Metal Alchemist, and Naruto both with the action and comedy in the series. The characters are all great giving a nice mix of bravado, hilarity, seriousness, and loyalty to their teammates and each other when teams are paired up or join forces to complete a mission. The characters you meet in this first set are Maka a feisty young female Meister(Fighter and true human of the two person team), Soul her young male partner and weapon as he turns into a scythe for Maka to fight with in their missions, Black Star a young boy assassin in training, Tsubaki Black Star's slightly older female partner and also his weapon to help him, and finally Death the kid the son of lord death and his two female partners Patty and Liz Thompson who transform into twin pistols for him to fight with. All these characters attend lord death's school for young students to train them to retrieve keshin egg souls before they mature into true keshin, the series shows...

A Series Where Its Journey Is Better Than Its Destination
Soul Eater sits in a special place amongst current anime. It gives us a world that isn't terribly original, but it handles it in a way that seems fresh. It gives us exceptionally predictable character types, that in the end you come to like and believe in. It gives us an ending that, unfortunately, disappoints much to the chagrin of the excellence that preceded it. Yes, definitely there are great things to like about this anime, and even with a cliché ending, the work as a whole will leave you happy and refreshed that there still hope for this genre.

I won't go into too much detail about the plot itself, as many other reviewers have stated that above, and you could always look at the show notes for a brief summary. What I think would be good to note is the great things that this series does. Primarily, the best thing about Soul Eater is the characters. Yes, they do follow some standard character types that we've all seen before (Black Star could easily have...

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The Red Green Show: The Infantile Years, Seasons 1991-1993

The rough & raw early years, rarely re-run on PBS & most not on the "Stuffed & Mounted" DVDs
This is truly the Infantile years as Steve Smith develops his Red Green Persona. Reds voice is a lot lower & slower here and the show is still finding its way. The formats change slightly but by year 3 they find their way with a new Canadian network at the helm.

This is not to say that these early shows are not fun, they are. But you will see the show develop & progress as you enjoy their antics.

An all to brief Steve Smith introduction is repeated on disc 1 of all three years in this set, yes the very same introduction, and he states that the Canadian network was trying to make the show a sit-com in year two, but fortunately they dropped the show & a new Canadian network bought it allowing year 3 to develop into the show we know today.

But don't worry, even in these early years, the gang is here: Harold, Bill Smith, Ranger Gord, Hap Shaughnessy & others. By year 3 Harold is running his own 'network' and there is a live audience. So sit back & enjoy...

WHACK-O NUTTY SERIES FROM THE WOODS & LODGE
This is a 'MUSK' for Red Green fans who found the folly of Red only after the beginning of its 15-year run. 3 whole years of fruitcake entertainment from the creation of Steve Smith (Red Green) & Rick Green (Bill). 72 1/2-hr shows plus extras. If you're new to Red Green, this is the place to start, at the beginning.

See the boys of Possum Lodge almost yet in their pimpled puberty.
See the 1st Handy Man corner (Belt Sander) where Red "would NOT recommend using it to sand your belt unless you're really into celibacy."
See the 1st use of duct tape "Handy Man's Secret Weapon" "Spare the duck tape-spoil the job."
See the 1st moment of the phrase "If women don't find ya handsome, they should at least find you handy."
Hear Red explain nephew Harold (Pat McKenna) "Uncles can't be choosers." & "Speaking of misconceptions, of which you are one."

This set is the beginning of the hilarious dull-witted back-woods red-neck show that continued for 1 1/2...

Its a classic!
This has to be one of the most entertaining shows of all time. The humor is a little slow in these early episodes compared to later ones but is still well worth the purchase. All of your favorite characters appear and to learn their backgrounds is so funny. For those who love this show, the next 3 seasons are coming out Nov 2, 2010 as "The Toddlin Years" I'll be first in line for that as I can't get enough of the show!

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Dynasty: Season Four Vol. 2

"Well Worth The Wait!"
Finally, Paramount will be releasing "Dynasty- Season 4 Volume 2" in February, 2010. After a 10 month wait we "Dynasty" fans will be able to see what happens to Blake, Krystle, Alexis, and the rest of the Carrington clan since the last batch of episodes were released on DVD in April, '09. Still, despite the wait we fans should be thankful that Paramount is releasing these classic shows: look at the shoddy way Warners is treating "Knots Landing" fans! Only 2 seasons worth of episodes were released on that series and there is no word if any more will be available. Anyhow, this "Dynasty" set features the last 13 episodes that aired in the 1983-84 TV season. The series finished at a whopping #3 in the national Nielsen ratings, just behind the powerhouse "Dallas". In the next year "Dynasty" would solidify its place as the #1 rated show in the country knocking "Dallas" out of the top peg. In these last 13 shows the drama wasn't so much about what happened on the screen, but off. Many cast...

I had just about given up!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well its about time!!!!!! I was seriously giving up on Dynasty. Its been so long since the release of vol. 1 of season 4. Im glad that Paramount is still releasing Dynasty but I wish they would stop releasing it in volumes and just release it in full seasons. At this rate we wont finish the series for years to come. We are only up to season 4????????? I mean we have like 5 more seasons to go. I guess Dallas is way more popular and that show lasted for like 13 years and they are almost finished releasing it all. Paramount please consider releasing the rest of Dynasty in full seasons. People will buy it. But if u keep doing it this way then people will get sick and tired and not buy anything!!!!!!!!

GOD BLESS JOHN FORSYTH!!!!
Let's face it , John Forsyth was one of the coolest guys in Hollywood a wonderful decent man and terrific actor.Thank you sir, you shall be missed!

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Air Bud: Golden Receiver Special Edition

AIR BUD - Greatest of All
Not many sequels are a good as the first, but this is an exception. When Bud appears in his uniform you react much like if the band just started with a John Philip Sousa march. Bud makes you swell with good feelings. Like the first movie, the dog shots are real and not just special effects. You do not need to like football to be cheering. I find the only time ball games are a good spectator sport is when Air Bud is starring. But then I have a couple of golden retrievers and 10 other dogs. You don't need kids to love it.

New Guy For Mom and a New Sport
In this second movie based on real-life character Air Bud, Josh (Kevin Zegers) has a hard time dealing with his mother's attempts to date. His mom and the new vet hit it off and he gives Josh a football. Josh seems insulted but Buddy wants to play.

Things change when Josh discovers Buddy can catch footballs. Then he decides to go out for football as revenge against his mom's new guy. But it would not be an Air Bud movie is someone wasn't trying to get a hold of Buddy. This time it is a comic pair of Russians (looking like Boris and Natasha) who are stealing animals to put together a circus.

In the end this one works better than the other sequels. Unlike World Pup or Seventh Inning Fetch, we don't have the parents attending a game while being unconcerned about their missing children. This time the game goes on and only Buddy is missing. Also unlike the other movies, the rescue is not made by one of the kids.

All in all this is a fun movie, which...

As good as the first!
A wonderful first sequal!

Josh and Buddy are back in the high quality sequal and are still Basketball players for Josh`s school Basketball team!

Everything is going very smooth for Josh and Buddy the dog until his mom,who is played by someone else this time,starts dating a guy named Patrick and Josh just does not feel right possibly having a new dad.Patrick gives Josh a football and that gives Josh an idea how to get away from seeing Patrick and his mom together in the afternoons.He gets this idea from a good friend from school who tells him that football practice is in the afternoons,the same time Patrick comes to visit!Now,don`t get me wrong,Josh does not hate Patrick at all,but he just does not feel right for some reason!Josh signs up for football and really likes the coach,who is a nice,chubby man who loves all the kids who play on the team!

I swear I won`t tell you any more because I don`t want to spoil anything but remember.........see this...

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Let's Play Music

excellent!!!!
My daughter loves music @ 1 1/2 yrs old. She never gets tired of watching this. It has a variety of instruments.

Lots of Music!
My 2 + year old watches this one over and over again. He seems to have a natural draw to music. He loves Elmo too--a great pair! Definitely recommend, especially if your child loves music.

Fun for the little ones
Gotta love Elmo shaking his groove thing. My little guy, 1 1/2, loves it but it also gets my 5 year old dancing too!

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The Shining

A great family movie!
The Shining is a wonderful story about Danny Torrance, a lovable little boy, and his family who are trapped in a haunted hotel for the winter. They soon discover that the combination of Danny's (previously hidden) psychic abilities and an ancient curse set on the hotel summons forth the ghosts of its former guests. The Torrance family quickly finds themselves face-to-face with a motley crew of hilarious and mischievous ghosts. But with the big help of Lloyd, the hotel's former barkeep, Danny's Father Jack may just figure out a way to control the chaos and become a hero in his son's eyes. Can Jack restore order to the hotel before all the ghosts destroy it?

2001 DVD vs 2007 DVD
I own both the 2001 and 2007 DVDs of this film. I really don't have any interest is who is 'right' with the aspect ratio argument, I compared both versions and found that you're missing some of the video image regardless of which version you buy. I took screenshots of both DVDs and overlayed them on top of each other. I found that with the 2001 release, you get the 1:33:1 aspect ratio where the far left and right of the screen image is clipped. With the 2007 release, you get the 1.78:1 aspect ratio where the top and bottom of the screen image is clipped off. You can see what I mean by viewing the 'customer image' I posted, above. The blue border is for the 2001 release and the red border is the 2007 release.

Both DVDs are 'digitally restored and remastered', however the 2007 release is noticeabley brighter and more vivid. The 2001 image seems faded and dull.

This release has all the other special features of the 2001 DVD release, with the addition of optional...

Heeeere's Johnny! A modern horror classic on DVD
It's tough to believe that Stanley Kubrick received a Worst Director Razzie nomination for "The Shining." While "The Shining" may not be given the classic status of some of his other films like "Dr. Strangelove" and "2001", it's actually the least polarizing of this highly-praised and atypical filmmaker's work.

This atmospheric thriller is sure to creep you out with its pacing, eery editing and cinematography (those tracking shots are highly effective), and Jack Nicholson's powerful performance as Jack Torrance. Horror films often tend to divide audiences into genre fans who follow the gore and those who laugh in the face of so-called scares, insisting their own resiliancy to cheap thrills and lamebrain plotting.

Fortunately, "The Shining" doesn't make you take sides, because its chills come from plotting and character study as much as they do from odd sights that will make you jump. It may stray from Stephen King's book and not...

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Lean on Me (Keep Case Packaging)

'Crazy Joe' goes Hollywood...
`Lean On Me' has become one of my favorite inspirational movies involving real people and events, despite the simplified and sometimes sappy-sickly-sweet Hollywood `feel-good' treatment it's been given, along with a happy ending that ties everything up a bit too neat and nice. The forces trying to stop Joe Clark's straightforward efforts to turn Eastside High School around has been simplified for the movie, basically involving just a disgruntled parent and the city mayor. Even the many heated arguments between Clark and his faculty & superiors are less than sophisticated in wording and tone. None the less, I've always loved Morgan Freeman's performance of Clark.

Clark's expulsion of the most delinquent students was a pretty neat scene, and was something of a surprise when I first saw it. Anyone who'd attempt that nowadays would probably get sued penniless. And the rooftop scene where he tells expelled crackhead student Thomas Sams to just jump off the roof of the school and kill...

The Reformation of Eastside High School
The movie, Lean On Me, focuses on the vigorous efforts of one man, Joe Clark, to clean up Eastside High School and make it a safe enviroment conducive to learning. The Joe Clark, portrayed by Morgan Freeman in the movie, began his task with a domineering, aggressive manner that held the ideal that the positive outweighs the negative. With a transactional leadership quality, Clark immediately gains control of the schoolthrough "challenging the process" as he reprimands the school's faculty for the current state of the school. His next step was to expell students deemed as undesirable trouble makers. Altogether, 300 students were told that they were no longer welcome at Eastside High School. The antagonist in the movie is a mother of one of the expelled students who immediately begins plotting Clark's demise, and continues to do so throughout the movie. While reforming the school and working to raise student test scores, Joe Clark not only transforms the school for the better,...

Should be required viewing for principals
There's much to learn hear about leadership, management, and discipline. All of which seem to be in short supply in many of our public schools. But that may be more of a result of lethargic school boards rather than faculty. Morgan Freeman is transformed into Joe Clark, the brash, hard nosed, take no prisoners principal of the all too real East Side High. His principles are straight forward. 1) Discipline. No cigarettes, weapons, mouthing off, grafitti, drugs, tardiness. 2) Personal responsibility for both teacher and student alike 3) Pride in yourself, your race, your community, and your institution. 4) Hard work. And perhaps most importantly 5) the value of an education to affect your opportunities in life.

Joe Clark listens, encourages, chastises, and directs students and faculty. And perhaps most importantly he is accessible. Walking the hallways, attending classes. Although his measures may have been at times extreme and not in keeping with popular sentiment you...

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Surrogates [Blu-ray]

A very unoriginal movie, made watchable by Bruce Willis
The essential premise behind SURROGATES is interesting, although perhaps not entirely original. It is the not-too-distant future, but 98% of the human population is living through a surrogate. These robots do everything for you, AS you. You can sit in the safety of your chair at home, getting fat and wearing pajamas all day, while your avatar, with a face (even gender) that you've chosen stands in for you. You see and feel and hear everything...but there's no danger to you if you want to try something crazy. You'll always look attractive and young.

Thus, in surrogates, no one is quite what they seem. The 2% of people who refuse to join the "fun" live in ramshackle, electronics-free zones scattered around the country. They live lives that resemble nothing more than hippie colonies...the fact that they not only rejected living through surrogates but apparently ALL forms of technology is never really explained.

They are led by "The Prophet" (original name!)...

A Character Movie Posing as an Action Film
A movie about a robot Bruce Willis fighting crime? Sounds like an action-adventure extraordinaire!

People who watch surrogates expecting "Die Hard" with a Sci-Fi twist are going to be disappointed. But if you watch the movie without any expectations at all, you'll find a very interesting character piece that explores a bifurcated existence for the entire human population that is an obvious metaphor for how the internet simultaneously unites and divides us. The movie explores how a safety-obsessed culture, aided by technology, becomes universally agoraphobic, and what effect that has on human interaction.

The year is unstated but from the look of the film it is in the not-too-distant future. A technological advance allows people to control a robotic body--a surrogate--from the safety of their own home. Originally intended to help handicapped people get around and carry on in the real world free from their physical impairments, surrogates are rapidly adopted...

Blu-ray: An action-packed sci-fi action film which looks and sounds very good on Blu-ray but story-wise...falls a bit flat.
In 2009, the film "Surrogates" directed by Jonathan Mostow ("Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", "U-571') and starring Bruce Willis ("Die Hard" film, "Sin City", "The Sixth Sense", "Unbreakable") was released in theaters.

An adaptation of the five issue comic book series of the same name by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele featured top notch special effects and the film budgeted at $80 million received mix reviews and made only $60 million worldwide.

Despite failing short of breaking even, the film will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on Jan. 26th.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"Surrogates" is presented in 1080p High Definition (2:40:1). Picture quality is actually quite interesting because a lot of the special effects went into making the surrogates look not like actual humans. Director Jonathan Mostow explains how they purposely removed any blemishes, acne from the skin of the surrogates and with that being the case, you don't really see too many...

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MI-5, Vol. 7

Spooks and Spies...the British edition!
MI-5 (or Spooks, its original title) is a long running, award winning British spy series that has enjoyed continued success in Britain and abroad. In the US however, A&E, PBS and BBCA have tried broadcasting the series (seasons 1-4) to universally disappointing ratings. It is no wander though: in order to accommodate commercials, each original episode was mercilessly cut down by a quarter of its running time (from 59 min to 45 min !!!), making it virtually incomprehensible. Thankfully, we have DVD's and can enjoy the series as it was intended! ;o)

Another good news is that Season 7 is the best yet and can be easily followed even without the benefit of the prior six seasons. In episode one we are introduced to a new character, Lucas North, a senior case officer released in a Russian-British spy exchange after eight years in a Russian prison. His story arcs thru entire season 7, though most episodes are self enclosed and deal with subplots relevant to today's viewer. We have...

spooky
As a long-time time fan of spy flicks and Le Carré novels, I've awaited each new season of MI-5 (Spooks) with mixed anticipation and low dread. Surely, I think, it can't keep up the standard of excellence, both in plotting and production values; surely this season won't be as compelling as last; thus I surely I inoculate myself against disappointment.

And once again I need not have bothered. This season of MI-5 is a nail-bitting as the first, maybe even better. As other reviewers remark, it's not at all necessary to have seen the first 6 seasons to enjoy these episodes. That's one of the many benefits of the ever-changing cast. The other, of course, is realism. In that business, the players don't survive indefinitely. Whether it's casting by choice or by default - several actors have used this as a springboard - the turn-over of the team keeps the plots fresh and keeps silly stuff to a minimum.

In the last several seasons it's been interesting to...

Western Promises
Tall, dark and handsome Richard Armitage (North & South) was still filming the final season of Robin Hood: Season Three when he joined the cast of MI-5. Taking up where Viggo Mortensen's character left off in Eastern Promises (Full Screen Edition), RA portrays Lucas North, a MI-5 agent imprisoned in Russia for several years. Swapped for a Russian spy in the first episode, North has sexy prison tattoos *check out Gnothi Seauton* and a burning desire to re-assume his rightful place in the intelligence agency. However, where do Lucas' loyalties really lie?

Tortured by flashbacks of harsh interrogation methods, North's readjustment pains are further heightened by the presence of his Russian former wife who has moved on with her life while he is haunted by the...

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The Best of Lidia

Highly recommended for aspiring chefs of all skill and experience levels
The Best of Lidia is a DVD collection some of the most beloved recipes by public television chef Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, best known for her sumptuous Italian cooking that the whole family can enjoy. The Best of Lidia features recipes from Lidia's travels across Italy, from zesty starters to quick pastas, main courses, and desserts fit for a prince! A wonderful addition to culinary DVD libraries, The Best of Lidia lives up to its title with easy-to-follow instructions for preparing delicious recipes, and is highly recommended for aspiring chefs of all skill and experience levels. 85 minutes, widescreen, closed captioned.

For Lidia Fans.. but not as useful as could be
If you are a fan of Lidia B. ( I always misspell her last name) the NY restaurateur and celebrity chef on PBS, you'll probably want to get this DVD which combines highlights of her series called "Lidia's Italy". Each of the televised shows covered a complete meal from appetizer to dessert. Here the producers re-edited it so you get a grouping of appetizer, then entrees and then desserts. You can watch Lidia change her clothes - or even try to match three courses by remembering what she wore! - as you go through the courses. There are brief scenes of regions of Italy as Lidia tells you where a certain dish originated.

Unlike many TV celebrity chefs, Lida is not big on providing details. When she says "we'll add a little butter" it can be a half-stick or a half-pound. A "little olive oil" can vary a lot. As for cooking times, they are rarely given and the show is not presented in real time. "Let's put in the oven until cooked" is a typical comment. (To be fair the DVD does...

The best, yes I agree.
A variety of recipes, tips and more. Lidia is the best. If you love cooking you will love this dvd.

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Saw VI (Widescreen Unrated Edition)

Redeems the Franchise!!!
I still remember seeing the first Saw, and the shock and gossip about the hacksaw scene that followed. I was pumped for number 2 and actually enjoyed it quite a bit, I thought were climbing a hill of movie goodness here. Saw III followed and was interesting to say the least, I was happy it improved over on the 1st and 2nd and kept me interested in 4. Needless to say 4 and 5 plummeted the series like a skydive gone wrong...I was officially done with Saw after seeing 5.

Last week I fell to the curiosity of Saw 6 and decided to see it that weekend. I went into the theater with my 6 dollar soda, and 5 dollar skittles, sat through the 4 or so teenagers next to me giggling and talking through the entire 91 minute movie...then came the end credits.

I can honestly say after all was said and done my friends and I looked at each other with ear to ear grins. I was very happy with this 6th installment, and didn't feel so bad about the 20+ dollars I had spent to see...

The Best Piece of the Puzzle Yet!!!
Jigsaw's 6th puzzle piece was awesome and one of the best in the Saw franchise! It was a lot better than the previous film. There are a bunch of new and terrifying traps and twists. They tie up a lot of loose ends like what was in Jill's box, what Amanda's letter from Hoffman was about, and much more. Tobin Bell does another amazing job as Jigsaw who's legacy continues long after his death. Hoffman sets up a new game for William Easton, an executive at a health insurance company. He decides who to cover based strictly on probabilities of health or illness, which turned down Jigsaw when he had cancer. William must make impossible decisions such as who should live and die in the Carousel Trap, and who is more worthy of living. The game comes full circle! I highly recommend SAW VI!!!

Gross-Out Good Time With Political Undertones
Seeing the "Saw" films has become admittedly a sick tradition of mine. The films are consistently clever, but often ultimately disappointing. "Saw 6" was however one of the best in the series, as it maintains its integrity to the early entries while creating a convincing healthcare themed story that is both twisted and relevant. Don't expect the increase in quality to mean a decrease in gore - as this has its fair share of squint-n-squirm moments, but hey - you go to a "Saw" movie, you cannot be angry when the blood starts to run. If you like any of the other ones - even if you've been disappointed in the franchise lately, give this one a try. You won't be let down.

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Perfect Strangers

Jeannie in TX
I have to admit to being a big Ginger Rogers fan. She could really dance and she could really act. She had the ability to make you believe the full range of possible emotions. I don't believe this is her best movie but is is a good movie. It is definitely worth watching/adding to your collection, especially if you enjoy the old classic B&W movies. This one has a jury, which always provides a wide range of characters, who interact with each other, sometimes in unexpected ways. I think individuals who enjoy people watchings will really like this film. It's not about the trial--it's about the people, invested very quickly in their opinions. Sometimes it's just plain hard to find the truth.

Perfect Strangers
I enjoyed this movie, Rogers and Morgan are great. Story is a little sad but I would recommend this movie due to the stars in it. So far have only watched it once but I will definitely watch it again and again. It's in my collection now of Ginger's films. I'm big fan of hers.

A GOOD FILM NOIR
This film is excellent. The acting is wonderful especially Ginger Rogers.

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SECRETS and THE RESTAURANT

SECRETS and THE RESTAURANT
I watched both of these shorts and they are both GREAT! The Restaurant is an emotional love story, but I don't want to say much and give it away. I just wish it was longer. The best one is Secrets, and it is an emotional roller coaster ride. There are adult situations so you want to be careful about the kids seeing it. It really gets into the head of a rapist in a way I have never seen before. I give two thumbs up to both of these shorts! They are both on one dvd, so be careful about the kids seeing Secrets, but The Restaurant is okay for the whole family.





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Hurray for Huckle: The Best Outside Fun Ever!

Richard Scarry Does it again!
So I haven't watched or read anything Richard Scarry since I was a kid, and this DVD brought back good times. Richard Scarry has been entertaining and educating kids with Busytown characters, including Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm and Hilda Hippo. It has great graphics and it is not at all cheesy at I expected.

There are six episodes on this DVD so you can watch them separately or watch them all at once! I know we prefer episodes because my boys can't sit for the length of a whole DVD usually, so this is perfect for them to watch a few episodes, play, and then come back. Although, this DVD is so cute they have watched it in its entirety. The episodes also are wholesome and perfect to get your kids in the mood for springtime! I also don't mind watching it with them and I know that they are watching something appropriate.

Love Richard Scarry!
Fabulous DVD! We watched this together and my son was just as enthralled as I was reading the books about thirty years ago. The quality is perfect and an absolute wonderful match to the Busytown world I imagined so long ago.

This is not one long movie; it's actually several episodes compiled into one DVD. Perfect for the car on short errands.

Great movie!
The movie was in great quality and came in excellent time. The picture looks great and my son was thoroughly entertained throughout the whole movie.

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Threat of Innocence

Threat of Innocence
A movie that was good from the start and got better all along. really good plot and they played there parts well. Also,the seller was great,delivered before the due date too. Now tell me,where's the bad?

Still worth seeing
I am a fan of Richard Crenna and while this is not one of the best stories he is always good.

love Richard Crenna movies
It was pretty good. However, I had been looking for the DVD of Richard Crenna's role as Janek. Since I could not find that, this was the next best thing.

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Fireball

Ong Bak, B-13, Rollerball, and The Venoms Series Combined
Matrix Fan broke this flick down perfectly so I'll just toss in my two cents. Fireball is an entertaining gumbo with elements of Ong Bak, B-13, Rollerball, The Venoms Series, and other fight films tossed in. The action scenes are very gritty and will have you on the edge of your seats. I didn't think the basketball/fight club combo would work but it is very convincing. To sum this all up, buy it if you collect Martial Arts films or rent it for a quick action fix. Offbeat goodies like this never end up on cable television's so-called action channels.

Bring on the BASKETBRAWL!
When I stepped into my local video store last week, I was looking for an action movie, but I couldn't decide what to choose. About halfway down the shelves, my eyes settled on this movie's cover and I saw the words:

"Basketball as an Underground Blood Sport"

Basketball _and_ Thai Boxing? I couldn't think of a better combination since Reese's combined chocolate and peanut butter! I had high hopes that I would be watching an epic brawler - and I was not disappointed in my choice.

PLOT:

We start off with the main character, Tai, getting released from prison. His twin brother, Tan, put up a sizeable amount of money to make this happen. Tai soon learns his brother earned this money by playing an illegal sport called Fireball - and Tan is now in a coma from being beaten within an inch of his life.

In order to raise money to get his brother a life-saving operation, Tai slips into his brother's identity and joins one of the Fireball...

Abuse of Editing Makes This A Difficult Watch
I hate when you watch a film that not only feels like a waste of time but when you lament that time could have been spent elsewhere from watching a better film or cleaning the toilet. I knew not to expect an Ong Bak or a Chocolate. Also, I recently enjoyed the Legend of the Tsunami Warrior which was not a great film, but you can see the maturity of the Thailand popular cinema in terms of special effects and film techniques so I was curious on this film. Sometimes curiosity is dangerous.

Many times when you are watching a martial arts film (sometimes this goes with musicals as well) you can forgive an inane plot, idiotic characterizations and pretty much everything else if the fight scenes are sagacious. Usually when they are not it is because you are presented with actors (and/or choreographers) who know nothing about showcasing the proper aesthetics and the artistic ability to convey the beauty that makes martial art cinema great. Sometimes, like in this film, the actors...

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Touched by an Angel: Inspiration Collection - Faith

Why Should I Buy This?
I already own the complete first 4 seasons of TBAA. All I know about this offer is that it contains 4 episodes, but what 4 episodes? Do I already own maybe 2 of them? Why would I want duplicates? Why don't they just release the complete seasons 5 thru 9? That's what I want.

I think TBAA was the best show ever on TV, but I am not going to spend my hard earned money on the slim chance that it MAY contain ONE of my favorite episodes, and it may also contain episodes I already own!

What are they thinking? I guess its the same old problem that plagues corporate America today. Profits before customer. They didn't make enough profit (boo hoo) on the first 4 seasons, so tough luck customer, this is what you get. Take it or leave it. Then they will sit back and wonder why they lost so many customers.

No thank you CBS or whoever decided you no longer care about what your customers want. You don't care what I want so I don't care to give you my money.

Hmm, why am I not buying this when I LOVE the show?
Touched by an Angel is one of my favorite shows. I'd love to collect all the shows on DVD eventually.
So why am I not buying this? First, it's four episodes. I've been buying other season box sets on sale for about the same price as this four episode collection. The actual season box sets for this TV series are sloooooooowly being released in 1/2 season sets costing about twice as much as a they should.
Listen up TBAA people! You have an audience waiting to buy the season box sets if you are REASONABLE! I can get full seasons of Supernatural or Heroes for less than 20 bucks each if you buy them at the right time. Why is a 1/2 season of this show twice the price, or a four episode collection the same price?
A classic show about the love of God and angels shouldn't be so greedy! I'm disappointed. And if I'm voicing this opinion, keep in mind that there are others out there with the same opinion who would never bother to write a review.
All told, there's a big...

Inspiration, Faith, and a whole lot of hope
I am satisfied with "Touched by an Angel". It is a great experience, and you feel like you can relate to the characters-along with the angels. My favorite angel is Andrew, the angel of death. He may be the angel of death, yet I feel that he is the most comforting angel. I think that this show helps to experience and understand what others are possibly going through, or what is happening in some places around the world. The list of episodes include the following:

> "Fighting the Good Fight" (Featuring Guest Star Muhammad Ali)

> "For Such a Time as This" (Featuring Guest Star Joe Spano)

> "Famous Last Words"

> "The Good Earth"

My favorite of these was "Fighting the Good Fight" which was built around the hardships of a little boy. I enjoy the episodes including little kids, for they are both fun and emotional. This disc is all about faith and trusting in God. These make great gifts (I am 13 and recieved this as a gift). God...

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Doctor Who: The End of Time, Parts 1 and 2 [Blu-ray]

Great ending
Great way of showing the end of the 10th Doctor & the beginning of the 11th. Loved how he visited "his" companions.

my first purchase
for the price. it was a great purchase and i got it on time. will be buying more stuff from amazon. thanks

Doctor who!!!!
David Tennant is my favorite doctor along with Tom Baker.This was a great ending to a great series. Time Lords and The Master you can't pass it up!!!!

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Best of Match Game: 30 Episodes

This is Not a One Disc Set
For some reason Amazon is taking the reviews for "The Dumb Dora Edition" which is only one disc and placing them on this product. This version is a reprint of the old "Best of Match Game" set which went out of print. The content of the old set & this set is exactly the same. So if you already have the old Best of Match Game set there is nothing new here. However for those who didn't buy the old set it's nice to see this in print again.

I only gave the product 4 stars because I don't necessarily think the episodes picked are "the best" of Match Game. It seems when picking episodes they went with what famous celebrity was on the panel instead of really funny/memorable moments in many cases. I also think there are too many episodes before Brett & Charles joined in 1973 and then too many episodes after Richard left in 1978. Personally the best for me would be when Brett, Charles, & Richard were all on the panel.

However there are still some great episodes on this set...

List of Episodes & Celebrities
This set is a lot of fun. Here is a list of the Episodes & Celebrities:

Disc 1
Episode 1 (Pilot 1973) "Michael Landon, Vicki Lawrence, Jack Klugman, Jo Ann Phlug, Richard Dawson, Anita Gillette"
Episode 3 1973 "Michael Landon, Vicki Lawrence, Jack Klugman, Jo Ann Phlug, Richard Dawson, Anita Gillette"
Episode 11 1973 "Bert Convy, Jaye P. Morgan, Charles Nelson Reilly, Brett Somers, Richard Dawson, Betty White"
Episode 0051 8/18/1973 "Stu Gilliam, Loretta Swit, McLean Stevenson, Brett Somers, Richard Dawson, Ann Elder"
Episode 0158 2/15/1974 "Steve Allen, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Fannie Flagg, Richard Dawson, Kaye Ballard"
Episode 151 2/17/1979 "Kukla & Ollie, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Eva Gabor, Arte Johnson, Fannie Flagg"
Episode 16-5 8/24/1980 "Charles Siebert, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Phyllis Davis, Robert Donner, Marcia Wallace"
Episode 0827 10-2-1976 "Avery Schreiber, Brett Somers, Charles...

There are 4 discs
I just received the "Mill Creek, copyright 2010" version, and there are definitely four discs.

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No Impact Man

nobody's perfect--but the
great little documentary, if you can learn to tolerate beavan early on. it's been said before, he's a lame-o, but it bears repeating. it's unfortunate the filmmakers were saddled with such a huge obstacle (beavan) as this man totally impacts the film like "the annoying guy your best friend is dating". you just have to suffer thru him.

it pays off though! schein manages to salvage the film with interesting, intimate shots. you walk away realizing "nobody's perfect", that we are all struggling with ourselves, our ideals, our way of living.

the film gets blasted for not being THE eco-primer on sustainable living. well, it ain't. and the truth is, it's a better film for it.
you wanna learn how to recycle, be green? there's tons of info out there, find it.

seeing a man, his family struggle with their conscious, that's a way more interesting story.

Great film
Very well done film and very eye-opening. I saw the premier in NYC and found it illuminating and inspiring even as someone who already lives "green." It showed not only what the family experienced in terms of reducing their impact but also how it affected their marriage and social life which was interesting and added depth to the story. My only negative was actually that it should have been called "No Impact Family" because his wife and daughter participated too and should be given credit as such.

Hypocrisy Now
Upon viewing this film, a few things struck me the wrong way about this man. In no particular order, he:

1)Doesn't seem have much respect for his wife.
2)Comes off as a self-indulgent attention whore, who then resents it when attention goes to something he did for no other reason but the attention- ie, not using toilet paper.
3)To segue off of that, he won't use toilet paper, yet his wife works for Business Week, and he takes on this endeavor in order to publish both a paperback and hardback book. Which, you guessed it, consumed significantly more trees than simply using toilet paper in the first place would have.

Also, I'm not quite sure what going vegetarian for a year has to do with eating locally or sustainably, seeing as how locally, humanely raised livestock that fit organic guidelines would've fit their diet just as much as his plan to eat only local, organically grown vegetables.

What saves it from being a one-star film is that, in...

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Man With a Gun

Man With a Gun has a few good performances.
Man With A Gun is a fairly good thriller, with Jennifer Tilly playing twins and Michael Madsen mumbling through a nothing part. Gary Busey is scary as the crime boss caught in the middle, with a couple of incomprehensible moments onscreen. The real find here is Ian Tracey as Roy, a wannabe that revels in taking charge of the goons and desperately wants a bigger piece of all the action. He is the man to watch in this.

Just wanted to see Ms Tilly.
It's another just watch once movie for me.
As far as Ms Tilly's role, I got to see her enough.

Not one of Madsen's greatest 'hits'
MAN WITH A GUN is a Canadian-made action-oriented neo-noir that, despite four decent 'leads' doesn't quite gel. Blame either a disjointed script or some injudicious editing for its obvious (and fatal) lack of continuity.

Jennifer Tilly plays twin sisters. Michael Madsen is a 'button' who's ordered to kill mobster Gary Busey's cheating wife (Busey gives his usual scenery-chewing bad guy performance here). The only problem is: Tilly has been cheating with Madsen. She tries to convince him to murder her twin instead, but once Michael meets the sweet girl (who's a total contrast to Busey's brassy wife) he quickly falls for her.

What follows is a lot of hoods armed to the teeth who appear for no reason. Bullets fly thicker than at a Cinco de Mayo celebration. I dunno 'bout dis one, folks. See it only if you're a real fan of Madsen, Tilly, Busey or Loggia.

Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 imdb viewer poll rating.

(4.7) Man With a...

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Ramen Fighter Miki LiteBox

Miki kicks butt nya.
To sum up Miki in a sentence , It's freaking hilarious! If you like comedy then this show is for you. There's no nudity , swearing , gore or smoking . There's just great characters , funny situations and lots of comic violence . If you're looking for something serious it's not here , the only tears you'll get from this show will be from laughing too hard.

Histerical Comedy
Not the best Anime-Comedy I have seen. It tries too much to be funny, though it is at times. It is not bad, but also not great. For comedy fans not funny enough and for martial art fans the fights are not cool enough. But for the price it is ok if you got a little too much time and don't know what to watch.
If you like insane comedies, try "Seto no Hanayome" (My Bride Is a Mermaid), not only for girls, I swear!



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You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

A Classic On and Off Stage
I fell in love with"You're A Good Man Charlie Brown!" when the local theatre did the stage version. I found out soon after that there was an animated version on video. The show is amazing. With cute and funny songs like "The Kite" and "The Book Report," to touching and sweet songs like "The Baseball Game" and "Happiness," "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!" should have a place in everyone's heart.

We love Charlie Brown
This video is cute. I have a record from the 60's with the show. One or two of the main songs seem to be missing but the animation is cute. My daughter loves it and she is 5.

Until We Get a Live Action Version, This Will Certainly Do
I love this musical, so naturally getting this DVD was a no brainer. While the content is taken from the Broadway musical, the animation and the voices are in keeping with the Peanuts TV specials and movies. Translation? They've got little kids and adequate animation.

But that's not a huge problem for me because I love what is here. The emphasis seems to be on the songs with only a little bit of dialogue between them. But since the musical is a collection of vignettes and not a complete story, that certainly works.

And I love some of the songs here. "T-E-A-M" is funny and sad. "Book Report," which finds the gang attempting to write a report on Peter Rabbit, and "Glee Club," which presents a hilarious but not necessarily harmonious take on "Home on the Range" provide the best laughs.

With the emphasis being on the songs, many of the other bits get cut or left out. There is one section that deals with Valentine's Day. And they've got Charlie...

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Carnera: The Walking Mountain

Not Primo, but good
Prior to watching the DVD, I had heard Carnera's name, but knew very little about him. An exchange in one scene mentions the possibility of a fight being fixed and in reading I've done since viewing the film there are frequent allegations of mafia involvement in many of his early fights. The title fight between Carnera and Max Baer is interesting for the fact that Primo was knocked down 11 times in 11 rounds before the fight was stopped. I suspect a great deal of embellishment for entertainment purposes, but the film maintained my interest and I would recommend it to any boxing fan.

CARNERA GREAT BOXING MOVIE!!!!
JUST WATCHED THIS FILM. ALL IS CAN SAY IS... WOW. GREAT, GREAT MOVIE, A HIDDEN GEM THAT DESERVES TO BE SEEN BY ANY FAN OF BOXING MOVIES. FILM LOOKED LIKE THEY SPENT A TON OF MONEY ON THE PRODUCTION.

CARNERA
FINALLY A MOVIE ABOUT THE MAN NAMED PRIMO CARNERA...IT'S IN ITALIAN BUT THE ENGLISH SUBTITLES ARE GREAT AND IT TELLS THE STORY FROM PRIMO'S SIDE...

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Doc Martin, Series 3

Extremely funny, quirky villagers, but beautiful seaside town stories.
Doc Martin Series 3 is lacking only in quantity of episodes. This is too fun a series to settle for so few. Of course Series 1 & 2 helps. Rude, grumpy Doc (Martin Clunes) vomits at the sight of blood. You'll laugh at the sight of other townsfolk in this serene, beautiful, fictional Portwenn (filmed in Port Isaac, Cornwall). Aunt Joan (Stephanie Cole) is sane, almost, as is teacher Louisa (Caroline Cutz). Receptionist and phlebotomist Pauline (Katherine Parkinson) is outrageously funny along with Bert Large (Ian McNeice) and...well the list goes on with the regular cast.

If you love English seaside village views and homespun humor, this is a series that will tickle your fancy, every episode, and make you beg for more. Episodes tend to carry over to the next and all have SUBTITLES. This is some of the best British Doctor's Life Comedy/drama ever produced. The "Doc Martin Series" is to Medical Comedy what "Pie In The Sky" is to Police Comedy. (See my reviews on both.)...

Please! Please! Please!
I have quickly become a HUGE fan of Martin Clunes, and after viewing the first two series of this show, I want MORE MARTIN CLUNES!!! Please, please, please release this show on a Region 1 US edition DVD, so I can continue to get my MARTIN CLUNES FIX. The show is phenomenal, I'm glued to my seat for every episode.I just can't wait to see the next installment of Doc Martin, Complete Series 3.

The best season yet!
If you liked Doc Martin seasons 1 and 2, you will LOVE season 3. The side stories are funnier than previous seasons, and the relationship between the two leads finally moves on a bit. Martin Clunes once again fills the screen with his subtle, hilarious facial expressions. And more so than in previous seasons, Caroline Catz gets the chance to display her own perfect comedic timing, and gives Clunes some serious competition in the "rubber-faced" department! The ending isn't what one would hope for, but not to worry...there are eight more episodes to follow in season 4. Only complaint: Why did Acorn Media change the episode titles for North America??? Doc Martin has already aired in Canada with the originals. I found episode five's change from "The Holly Bears a Prickle" to "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" especially cheesy. Sorry, but the originals were far more clever and quirky...a much better fit, as Doc Martin itself is best described as the definitive clever and quirky...

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Straight Into Darkness

A War Film not to be missed.
I have collected War movies since I was a teen. Now in my 40's I have now seen or own more war movies than most can imagine even exist. I thought Id seen every variation on a war movie you could do. Walking through Walmart a few weeks ago I stumbled across this and even though I had never heard of it decided to give it a try. I was impressed, to the point where I can't get it out of my head. What a jem! Maybe it does borrow a little from the Gary Sinise character in a "Midnight Clear" & certainly offers a little nod to "Castle Keep" but beyond that it is a truly original and surreal story that may not fully fall into place for you until the very end. It is an independent film with a bigger movie feel. (After "Saint & Soldiers" & this I think I could be hooked on Indie war movies).

Set in the winter of '45 the film adresses the horror of war from perspectives that you won't expect and leaves you questioning the motivations of those that choose to fight. An interesting...

A surprising independent find, heralding great films to come
Director Jeff Burr may have defined a career trajectory point with his superb work on "Straight Into Darkness." Like Oliver Stone's "PLATOON" or Terrence Malick's "THIN RED LINE", Burr does not shy away from the graphic realities of war, nor does he skate over philosophical and character themes. As eloquently described in a current FILM THREAT feature story and review, Burr gets the most out of his cast, crew and concept and delivers that long sought after (but seldomly found) independent film treasure. Bravo!

Excellent independent war film.
I had the pleasure of meeting producer Chuck Williams the other day and he was very proud of this little film. I understand why. The movie is set in 1945 at the tail end of the war in Europe. The Americans and their allies have basically won, but not all the troops in the field know this yet. Two American deserters come across a group of freedom fighters that consist of two adults and several children. They are living in an abandoned building in the hills and survive by raiding Germans and stealing supplies. Eventually, a group of Germans surrounds the building and the group must repel wave after wave of Nazi soldiers. I will not give out spoilers, but there is a reason the Germans want to take this building. There is a real beauty to this film. The way it is shot and the music reminds me of early Werner Herzog work. For World War 2 fans, there is plenty of action as well as the Germans and children battle it out for the last 30 minutes of the movie. There is also a beauty to these...

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