Penalla - El Gato Montes

Placido Domungo
Anthing he does is superb. The true sense of Spanish color and culture was in "Gato Montes" at all times. What a wonderful zarzuela! Please, MORE ZARZUELAS!

Delightful Spanish zaruela/operetta. Terrific music.
I really love "ethnic operas", by which I mean works from a specific region, written in that language, using their folk idioms, and stories and characters. In this group I include Czech opera, Polish opera (Moniuzcko), Mussorgsky, Finnish opera (recent), and the Spanish zarzuelas. The local color, language, characters, and musical language of each of these really catch my attention.

This work by Manuel Penella is certainly a fine one. I have seen it called an opera, an operetta, and a zarzuela (a Spanish form of opera with spoken dialogue, much like the French opera comique). No matter. It doesn't matter what you call it, just enjoy the pleasure of the music.

This dvd is from a performance in Los Angeles made for PBS television, and it is very good. Placido Domingo (who apparently performed one of children's roles when he was about 8), is terrific as the matador "El Macareno" (NOT the dance) in love with Solea. She loves him back.

BUT into the...



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Lots of Monster Trucks 2 DVD Set w/ FREE Poster AS SEEN ON TV!

grandsons birthday gifts
this item was part of grandsons birthday gifts and he loves it. if he says its great then i take his word for it!

Excellent compilation of monster truck footage
This is a very entertaining DVD that features footage from the Toughest Monster Truck Tour, which I consider the best arena monster truck show out there.

Son Loves Them!
My two-year old son loves these DVDs. He wants to watch them everyday. I will be buying other Lots Of DVDs.

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Salute to the Marines

New WW2 movie joins us WW2 dvd collectors
I have been collecting WW2 movies for years. I had never seen or heard of this one till I saw it the other night and checked it out on Amazon. They had it and I bought it then and there. I have watched it 3 or 4 times already
and it is now part of my militaria WW2 dvd/VHS collection.

Good to finally see it.
My uncles platoon was used in this movie. I never got to meet him but at least now I can see him

Great fun for a propodanda film
I had my eye on this film for some time, and finally scored a copy. First off it stars Wallace Beery, playing Sgt Major William Bailey, a soon to retire Marine whos disgruntled that he's not seen actual combat despite his years in service. Set around 1941, we see Sgt Bailey training his men, offering advice and trying to get into a better situation, like that little party currently in China.

But no, he's denied and forced to retire after his years of service. but retires to the Philippines with his wife and daughter. There he tries to settle into retirement, but finds himself training the locals in village defense. Look for the young Robert Blake as one of the village kids. But no, the Japanese decided invade the Philippines (surely you recall that, it was in all the news!) Here Sgt Bailey finally gets his wish for combat and helps take on the invaders bravely.

I cannot give this film 5 stars due to serious errors, First, its 1941, and the troops are wearing...

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Masters of the Universe - 30th Anniversary Limited Edition

Warning defective disc - otherwise good
UPDATE*** January 15th 2013 ****

I receive the replacement disc and it works just fine.

The only problem (minor) that I have is that this disc is from the separate complete season 2 set that was made available in 2011. Tha artwork on the disc is not the same as the disc from the 30th anniversary collection. On the artwork of the disc it is printed 2011 contrary to the collection being written 2012, Also, the small writing on the back of the disc does not say 30th anniversary collection. All of this are minor setback because I'm happy to have all the episodes working correctly. However it does confirm, at least to me, that the disc 3 of season 2 in the 30th anniversary edition as an encoding problem and that as not been recognize or really resolve. But again they gave me a working replacement disc. So I'm happy.

END of UPDATE ***

I don't give a perfect score for htis release because it has a defective disc that is in all the sets and Mill...

This Collection HAS the Power
UPDATE:

As many may have noticed, DISC 3 of SEASON 2 in the collections that were sent out does not play properly. Many disatisfied customers have contacted MillCreekEntertainment and received replacement discs (the replacement disc does resemble DISC 7 of SEASON 1 but it is, in fact, the defective disc, just from its individual release). The replacement disc does play perfectly but the fact that so many collections have the same defective disc suggests a major oversight on Mill Creek's part that could have been avoided with attention to detail. Hopefully, Mill Creek understands the problem in future releases and will correct it. Anyway, on to the original review...

I bought this in honor of the 30th Anniversary of Filmation's most successful project (and because my BTC-BCI discs are starting to show signs of scratching).
Anyway, the film and sound on these discs are CRISP and CLEAR! Weighed against my BTC/BCI sets , these seem to be IMPROVEMENTS on what was...

Mill Creek Entertainment quick on shipping replacement DVD
The previously mentioned problem on Season Two, Disc Three of "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" DVD does exist, but Mill Creek was outstanding in their replacement - very quick and timely.

If you have already purchased this set or are holding off due to the possible product defect, Mill Creek will handle the replacement with ease. Just send an e-mail outlining the issue to support@millcreekent.com and have the disc replaced. I received mine without hassle and good as new.

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Legend of Heroes Complete Collection [Blu-ray]

Anime was Good
its came in good condition with no problem it is an excellent anime and it was amazing to watch and see

May not be a "complete" collection
Perhaps I'm being paranoid, but Amazon says this is the "Complete Collection" but nowhere on the case (front or back) does it say this. So, there is a chance they made a mistake.

Also, if you search for the title in Japanese on Amazon Japan, there is no such title. The closest are volumes 1 and 2 of an OAV that was released 2011 and 2012. I guess this could be volumes 1 and 2 bundled together -- I'm not sure. If so, there could be other OAVs after; so probably 'complete' would not be correct.

I'm not sure if I can post links here, but if you search for "oav" and the Japanese title, then you should find the Japanese publisher's web site which has trailers, etc.

Legend of Heroes
Romance comes first to mind with me... Warriors defending the world from evil and only one place defends itself. But during their work one really awesome boy grows up forgetting his memory until he comes to him somehow and he needs to break away from his best friend you is a young girl growing up and they find love beginning to surface but he wants to go his own way and clear up his past before he moves on so he kisses her with a sleeping drug and slips away...

Many months go by but she keeps looking for him and finally she joins him with so much action and adventure it is like i am falling off my seat seeing her get thrown off a cliff and he comes to rescue with a hook and line and swings her around to safety under the enemy's nose... Really cool moves they both develop while separated but we find she does not plan to leave him once she returns a real kiss! This makes it cooler and more impressive but i have to wait for more films to be made ? rats i want more!

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This Land Is Mine

A good look at today
Charles Laughton had a unique ability to reflect the mores of any period in time. In this movie he was reflecting the moral choices faced by a country occupied by the Nazi invasion.
Watch it and see today. Listen to the German ubermeister and hear the rant of today.
Enjoy the movies, think about the message.

Great film!
A truly great film. Very hard to find in DVD in US format. This film should be shown in high schools to teach the importance of the freedoms we have in this country.

1 of laughton's best
this really is 1 of laughton's best. a great cast & a great script. it's a shame it's not on dvd. it's set in france during the nazi occupation, but the messages of truth, freedom and courage are timeless and universal. the monologue delivered by laughton at the end must be 1 of the singular most outstanding scenes i've ever seen. i pray for this to return on dvd format b/c it's too great of film for a whole new generation not to see it.

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The Tractor Mac Show

Fun DVD
I met Billy Steers a few years ago in LaPorte Indiana, stayed at the same bed and breakfast the year of the tornado. What a great guy, sat in on a couple of his classess, interacts well with the kids as well as the grownups. Very educational.

Tractor Max DVD
This was enjoyed by adults as well as my 2 1/2 year old grandson. He has the stories memorized page by page. It was interesting to see how the pictures were drawn. Tractors are his all time favorite. I have a couple more books to buy to complete his collection.

Good show.
Watched it with my preK son who enjoyed it. Same format as John Deere series with same type music. Good illustrations from the books.

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One Nation Under Dog: Stories of Fear Loss and Betrayal

This Will Stay With You for Life
I knew going into this documentary that it was going to be a tough one to get through based on the content. I had no idea exactly how much it would make me sad and angry and guilty but then also passionate about this cause. You cannot watch this documentary and walk away afterwards as the same person you were before it. It is honest and brutal and something that everyone needs to see. Pets are forever and the disposable mentality that exists is sickening. I foster dogs so I see first-hand how many amazing and otherwise perfectly healthy animals are thrown away like trash.

In a perfect world, anyone surrendering an animal would have to watch this documentary first and see exactly what happens to their one-time beloved pet that was part of their family. Truth is, in most places, half of the HEALTHY cats and dogs do not make it out of the shelters alive. The ones that are dropped off with preventable and treatable conditions are pretty much given a death sentence on the spot...

An Excellent Documentary
Although a certain portion of One Nation Under Dog is quite harrowing to watch, it is overall an excellent documentary which effectively explores both humanity's insensitivity and cruelty to dogs as well as our (sometimes saintly) compassion for their plight as souls who are often wholly dependent upon people for their wellbeing and survival. The film focuses on the broad variety of human attachment to dogs but, disturbingly, also on what might readily be described as "criminal" indifference to their needs and fate. For me, the most interesting aspect of One Nation Under Dog was its look at rescue workers who quite literally save the lives of unwanted animals by taking them out of shelters sometimes with only days left before they are to be euthanized. The three sections of this documentary explore owners of dogs which frighten and injure people, the intense grief owners may feel when they lose a beloved pet, and the service industry devoted to dealing with the MILLIONS of dogs that...

One Nation Uder Dof film
Sad but true story of the inhumanity in our society. The real photography is hard to watch at times, but the education is needed. It offers a clear expose' on on how we need to be called to take action to protect GOD's greatest creatures, the DOG

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Music for Millions

A unique film.
is it a drama, or comedy, or musical that fhighlights the classics? Yes to all three. June Allyson is part of a Orchestra that travels and plays for our servicemen during WWII. Margaret O'Brien plays her young sister who pays a visit. Without spoiling this film, it's one of the best films I have, made in 1944, and O'brien went on to win a special Oscar that year for this and two other films she made. The Delightfull Jimmy Durante and Jose Iturbi round out the players that makes it a unique film to own.

too much sugar
too much sugar.......I understand it is a movie of war time etc, etc The best thing is lovely O'Brien a million dóllar baby

Oldie but GOODIE
Remember see this as a kid and love it even more as an adult. Fantastic music and Jimmy Durante is great. Would have loved to see him play seriously.

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Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet

Absolutely BRILLIANT!
We were at the premiere of the movie and it was done so well. Jasons story is as much about his music, loving family, and how they have dealt with adversity. You will laugh alot and shed a few tears as well. There is no end to this movie as Jason is alive and well kicking ALS's ass everyday...he is far from writing the final chapter. You will be inspired to live your life a little different after watching this. Appreciate life everyday, deal with adversity, and surround yourself with people who love you. Brilliant movie put together in almost a timeline..baby to adult. BUY IT AND SUPPORT JASON!

Incredible Journey
The movie is a father son story...a family story. A young man with so much talent and raw inspiration that his creative spirit could not be silenced by a disease that took away his ability to move his body. With his mind intact he produces music , records , writes music ,instructional videos, an inspiration to countless Guitarists world wide...this is the kind of film that pumps you up and shows you the impossible is possible. It is one of the greatest documentaries I ever seen..Period. It is a movie you can watch over and over it is that good.

this one is going to stay with me for the rest of my life
I have no words, got the DVD today, and it was a really profound experience to watch it. I have noted every detail, and found new inspiration in this small and often disappointing life. I am going to commit myself to music and to working harder than I ever did, with more discipline than ever, because I know that Jason would say 'dude, you can do all that, DO IT, put your ass in gear and be grateful that you can carry your butt around and play your instruments.'.
I am also incredibly honored to have my name appear in the credits ( I made a small contribution).

Today I have learned many things. I have known about Jason for 22 years and he still inspires me in many ways. Thank you Jason and your wonderful parents and all the people who made it happen for this really meaningful film. This is to me a lot more than an inspiring dvd.

Dont even think twice, buy this dvd and even buy a few copies to give away. It will teach you a lot, and if you, like Jason and me,...

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Own the Stage - belly dance

Is it worth it?
Introduction
Breakdown of moves:
Randa inspired turns
shimmy
choo choo shimmy with arabesque
Bicycle hips
Floor work
The only quarrel I had with this section was that she does not tell which direction she starts off with, and that may be because she wanted you to make the choreography your own. She also does not tell very often about direction in the choreography. All of the moves taught in the choreography are not in the movement breakdown section. I would have liked more emphasis being put on posture but since I highly doubt by the content and minimal breakdown that this is a DVD for beginners I won`t find an issue with that.And that leads me to say , beginners may not be able to keep up with this choreography, If you have a good grasp of basic movement and some choreography experience under your belt you should be fine. Lotus uses simple moves, but she has the ability to make a simple moves absolutely stunning.

Skeleton...

very nice video
I enjoyed Lotus's clarity when she spoke, her simple and effective way of using a loose skeleton for choreography, and the use of other dancers to show how they would choose to use or not use the elements taught in the video. I was hoping to see the instructor break down her process for coming up with a skeleton....such as musical analysis, phrasing concepts, and understanding what the dancer wants out of this dance (high points, tension, etc). I misunderstood the promotional clip and description for this production...that is typical of me when I look for videos. Lotus provides a very nice choreography that you can choose to use as is, or change depending on your own interpretation. I also like her personality and smile. She is easy to listen to and follow along with. So if you are looking for a choreography that you can use now, this is a very nice approach and piece to use. If you want to learn how to put one together for yourself and how a professional dancer approaches the music...



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Cranford

Cranford
I ordered this from Amazon UK to be able to view this prior to its release date. I was not disappointed! Sadly, I had to watch it by myself because my husband didn't think he'd like it. He would have been wrong, by the way. It was exquisite in every way.

I watched it over 2 nights. It's a 5 hour miniseries and it is broken up into five 1 hour-long episodes.

The first 3 hours were very very good. Excellent, even. But the last 2 hours were absolutely perfect.

In Cranford, we meet many of its residents with most of the focus on 2 spinster sisters and their surrounding friends and relatives. Everyone is kind here and look out for their neighbors and generally want to live correctly and do the right thing. Their village has been like this for ages and the citizens have all known eachother since birth. It is an idyllic place and a happy place. They welcome new residents, too, with every bit of friendliness.

Cranford has existed in the same...

Delightful Cranford
"Cranford" is at once a delightful and winning BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's literary works. While lacking the narrative focus of "Wives and Daughters" and "North and South," "Cranford" still comes out to top crest owing largely to a collection of likeable characters played by veteran and other well-known British actors, and also owing to a masterful interweaving of several storylines taken from Mrs. Gaskell's novel "Cranford," and her other smaller works (novellas,) such as "My Lady Ludlow" and "Mr. Harrison's Confessions." What could have been a trite exercise comes out fresh because of these qualities.

At the onset, the bucolic and fictional town of Cranford seems quiet and trapped in a former century. But nothing is ever quiet especially where gossiping ladies are concerned; and no "backward" town can forever stay asleep, not when a proposed railway which will connect it with other busier counties (such as Manchester) is about to disturb the peace and change...

What The Cat Does with the Antique Lace!!!
What a wonderful, rich and cozy experience, but you'll have to wait and see what the cat does with the lace. It's the funniest bit I have seen in a BBC film yet! While this film has not been shown on American TV as yet I was lucky enough to stumble across the entire film on youtube where it was shown in 9 minute segments. Its a quiet film with rich and wonderful characters long remembered. I was afraid that Judi Dench would overpower her role but nothing like it. She was perfect in her poignantly sad but joyfully rising role. It's about the town Cranford, that is fearful of changes being brought by the arrival of the railway. No one of course wants the charm of Old English ways to change and one gets very attached to the warm and sad and silly and funny characters in Cranford. Cranford really is a place one wishes to live and to never leave nor have change. I loved it, anglophile that I am, so this is a creation made just for me and I can't wait to own it when it is released...

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The House of the Seven Gables

Near classic
Vincent Price did not always do horror movies, but he was always a good actor and this film proves it. Price actually does not play the heavy in this film, that role falls to George Sanders who excels in a role where he deals out treachery. Price, Sanders and Margeret Lindsay all give outstanding performances. This may not be Vincent Price's best film, but it certainly ranks up there as one of his best performances. This is not a horror film, but it is a dark film that shows the impact greed can cause. The ending seems a little rushed, but it is still effective. There are no special effects and just simple sets, but the story and fantastic acting make this a great film for a wide range of viewers.

Tall Tale
THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES (Joe May, 1940) is typical Golden era studio-bound Hollywood fare. This DVD release has the film in gorgeous black and white and very good sound quality, but no subtitles at all and no extras.
It is based on a classic story by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This tale of betrayal, time-defying love and revenge revolves around two brothers of very different character, one joyously romantic (the tall and early Vincent Price in his 6th film credit), one greedy and vile beyond belief (the tall and great George Sanders, of many a classic movie). Sanders, strangely, doesn't seem completely at ease with his part, maybe because the character he plays is quite one-dimensional, with no redeeming feature, exhibiting no charm or wit (Sanders' trademark roles have those two elements). It's Price who shines most here, his part requiring him to display a wide range of emotions, from unabashed romantic love to a doomed sense of fate, from sprightly young musician to revenge seeker...

Vincent the great
I am glad I bought a copy of this DVD. I must admit the menu thing does not work like typical DVD copies but the movie transfer is of enough quality to me. The transfer comes in original Standard format and no subtitles are provided. As far as the movie concerns, I really enjoyed Vincent Price in his betrayed brother role. I really think Vincent Price was a top drama actor not only suitable for horror films. I think many people would enjoy the story. It has everything, brother to brother jellowsy, impossible love, and sweet revenge, all that without the need of special effects. Great movie.

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Rendez-Vous

Brava, Nana
I love every moment of this CD. Nana has recorded these songs before, and she returns with beautiful arrangements and reinforcements--different singers on each song. Nana sounds rejuvenated, and I can't decide which I like best, the slow beat of 'La vie, l'amour, la mort' with Lara Fabian, the melodic 'Here's to You' with Joan Baez, 'le ciel est noir' with Garou, 'Pauvre Rutebeuf' with Alain Delon, 'Grande, Grande, Grande' with Julio Iglesias,' Guantanamera' with Francis Cabrel, 'Tous les arbres sont en fleurs' with Lenou, 'C'est bon la vie' with Alain Souchon, 'je chant pour toi Liberte' with Herbert Leonard, 'Suzanne' with Graeme Allwritght, 'Adieu Angelina' with Roche Voisin, 'Quand tu chantes' with Martinho da Vila, or 'le temp des cerises' with Dave.

I have a selfish hope that this CD is so successful that Nana continues to record more and more duos. She obviously enjoys singing with others, so I'm hoping for more duos with French singers, then duos with German...

Simply, wonderful !!
This is a wonderful album, created by our loved Greek singer. Nana Mouskouri presents new versions of some of her greatest songs. She sings in Spanish, in English, in French, in Portuguese as usual but this time she is accompained by some great artists and friends of her, including her daughter Lenou.
What a beautiful voices, what a beautiful instrumental score !
Don't miss it if you love the very good and fine softlistening and of course if you are a true Nana's fan.
And also look for the German version of this album, highly recommended !
This is the fourth CD I buy for pleasure and for giving as a present.
The first one was bought in Paris and I listen it once and once again. The second CD bought, by Amazon is still sealed for the comming time ...in order to preserve this wonderful treasure.

Welcome Back Nana
Every cut on this album is ecxellent. It amazes me that whenever I mention Nana Mouskouri to people I know they say--Who? Good thing the worlds largest selling female artist did not have to depend on the US to sell records. This album is a welcome surprise and all the Duets work. Nana's voice is as beautiful as ever.

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The List of Adrian Messenger

Kirk Douglas & George C. Scott in gripping mystery thriller
"The List of Adrian Messenger" is a superb thriller starring Kirk Douglas and George C. Scott. Adrian Messenger (John Merivale) is mysteriously killed in a plane crash and Anthony Gethryn (George C. Scott) who is a friend of the family is asked to investigate. Gethryn had been given a list of names by Messenger at the house prior to Messenger's fatal plane journey. The men named on the "list" are all being murdered one by one and Gethryn has to use all his investigative powers to try to track down the killer and stop him before others on the list are also murdered. More murders do take place and Gethryn is assisted by Raoul LeBorg (Jacques Roux) and Lady Jocelyn Bruttenholm (Dana Wynter) to solve the mystery. Your enjoyment of the film is enhanced by the appearance of several famous stars in cameo roles (all heavily disguised) and part of the fun is to identify who they are before the final "unmasking" at the end of the movie! Kirk Douglas also appears in...

Outstanding Crime Drama..!!
This is a VERY unusual movie in that all the stars wear makeup to hide their identies until the end. The fun is trying to identify each star as they make their appearance in the movie. The "List" is a group of names on a list that Adrian Messenger has in his pocket when the plane he is flying in crashes. A fellow passenger is with Messenger when he dies. Together with a retired MI-5 agent played by George C. Scott (and a friend of Messenger) they investigate the crash and determines the crash was a planned murder of Messenger. The hunt is on to find the killer and his motive for killing Messenger and the people on the list. Stars Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. A 4**** movie!!

Another vote for the DVD
I echo the positive comments made about this film. It is interesting, fun, and a tad creepy in parts. Kirk Douglas and George C. Scott are at their best in this movie. Overall, it is an excellent film and really should be available on DVD. There are so many garbage films on DVD - that pander to the lowest common denominator - and worthy efforts like this film are only available in VHS. Hopefully, this wil be corrected soon.

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Resurrection

An Absolute Must Purchase
This woman has a near-death experience and finds she has power to heal. The use of the power without calling it the Holy Spirit gets her is to all manner of trouble. The movie really shows the difference between religion and spirtiuality. After you finish watching the movie, get back on line and buy a copy of An Encounter With A Prophet and you will get more insight into the difference between religion and spirtuality.

Finally! A Jewel is Resurrected!
If you haven't seen this beautifully-crafted movie, run to get a copy. It is intimate, well-paced, utterly charming and full of small miracles of acting. Nominated for two Academy Awards (Ellyn Burstyn for Best Actress, Eva LaGallienne for Best Supporting-Actress, in her final film, so don't miss her!), it is an emotional trip into the big questions of life and death and what comes after that? Look for Madeline Sherwood and Richard Farnsworth as luminous actors in brief parts (there are no small parts. . .)who join Sam Shepard and the totally believable cast of real people. This movie can be watched over and over,and you grow with it,like a favorite book can be revisited and re-understood as you see things with different eyes in your own growing up. At last, with its reissue, we can see and share it again and again. Highly recommended!

Death is not necessarily the end of life...
This was on SKY movies only the other day, I had seen it when it first came out in the early 1980s and you'd expect it to be somewhat dated, but even after over 20 years since it was made, this movie still manages to pack a wallop.

The very under-rated Ellen Burstyn plays Edna McCauley a young woman tragically widowed in a car accident that leaves her in a wheelchair.

In her grief she returns home to the family farm, to her wonderfully warm and loving Grandmother and her cold and distant father who has never been able to tell his only daughter he loves her.

Edna isn't aware of it in the beginning but having a near death experience in the accident that left her a widow she now has healing powers which she uses, first on a child who has horrific nose bleeds, and then on herself so that she can walk again.

But Edna is aware her gift is special, her Grandmother, worldly and quietly religious tells her Granddaughter to her gift for the good of...

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Death Takes a Holiday

Meet Prince Sirki
Sixty-four years before we met death disguised as "Joe Black"(Meet Joe BlackBrad Pitt - see my review for film details of this one), Prince Sirki amused himself among the living for a three day holiday. Although not quite the lavish production of it's remake "Meet Joe Black", "Death Takes a Holiday" is a wonderful romantic fantasy from 1934, and is shot beautifully in black and white cinematogrpahy.

A wealthy and aristocratic family, and their houseguests, are visited by the 'grim reaper'...'the old man'...DEATH! Only the head of the household knows who Prince Sirki really is, and why he is there. They strike a deal, and the Prince has 3 days to learn why he is so feared by the human race. For those three days, he lives among them, experiencing and taking in all he can of human ways, and what's more..NO ONE dies while Death is on holiday. Weapons of war malfunction, accident victims walk away without a...

Saw orginal, and both remakes,Original Best
I was a young lady when I saw Fredic March in Death Takes A Holiday, I was a young mother when I saw the remake with Monte Markham and now as a grandmother I saw Meet Joe Black. Which one is the best in my mind? Mr. Pitt and Mr. Markham Can't hold a candle to the style of Mr. March.The ending is still as touching and chilling as it was the first time I saw it. I have seen it many times since and it still has the same effect on me. It's a wonderful movie, a bit dark but consider the era in which it was made just adds to the effect the movie wants to parlay to it's audience.It's a timeless treasure, not to be missed. You've seen the rest now see the best!!!!!

Romance Through a Glass Darkly
From the moment a strange shadow seems to be following the car lovely Evelyn Venable is riding in the mood for this beautiful and darkly romantic film is set. When death itself takes on physical form to understand better why humans fear him so, the stage is set for a rich and unusual film experience.

One of the great films of the 1930's, it is not as well-remembered as it should be. There is a strange and almost haunting atmosphere to what in the end is really a romantic look at love itself. Fredric March gives a solid performance as that which we most fear but do not understand. He is appropriately over the top and out of place on earth. Evelyn Veneable is memorable as the girl, Grazia, who Prince Sirki (March) comes to love; he experiencing for the first time what it means to be human.

But the world becomes chaotic while Death is on his vacation and Sirki must return to his grim duties. The question is whether the lovely Grazia will still fear him or choose...

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Forrest Griffin: The Ultimate Fighter

Forrest Griffin: The Ultimate Fighter...
It might be because I owe so much of love for the UFC, and MMA in general, to the original Ultimate Fighter season but this DVD set was a wonderful trip back over memory lane as well as a pretty fun documentary. Now, if you go into this documentary expecting the same kind of production that was involved in Chuck Liddell's documentary, "Ultimate Iceman", you'll probably be disappointed. It's not that the production level is low or bad but the difference is the personality of Griffin. If you're buying this set, or at least interested in checking, it out then I'm going to assume you're a fan of Griffin. You know that his sense of humor is almost every part of the charm that probably led you to be a fan of his in the first place. The only problem may be is that it seems to be such a dominating aspect of his personality that he has a hard time getting away from the self-deprecating guy that we know him to be, even though this is a documentary that's focused on him. Although I say...





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Pocoyo: Super Pocoyo W/Fitness Dvd

Incredibly cute, my son and I both love it
Pocoyo is an animated series that comes from Spain (though you can't tell by the english version). Fortunately for this series of cute 7 minute episodes, the english version is narrated by the incredibly talented Stephen Fry.

Pocoyo has a very cute toddler voice (when he speaks!), and the narrator tells most of the story, often through talking to Pocoyo and friends. Most of the time curious Pocoyo interacts with his friends Duck, Elly the Elephant, Loula the dog, and Sleepy Bird as they do things like flying an airplane, going camping, and playing hide and seek.

The educational side of TV shows are important to me, and this one educates very subtly. It teaches my 3 year old about friendship, loyalty, sharing, caring, and more.

It has simple 3D animation with a white background, witty storytelling and exceptional narration, and great characters. I absolutely love it too because it's so clever and adorable.

Example from Super Pocoyo:...

Cute and bright!
Super Pocoyo is a collection of small Pocoyo episodes which are great for kids with small attention spans or just as something quick to watch. In Pocoyo there is a narrator that talks but other than that the characters only make a few sounds/words every now and then. It is a cute and simple show great for preschoolers. My 2 year old actually cracked up when watching this DVD and then I laughed because I couldn't figure out what he was laughing at! The animation is bright, colorful and full of fun shapes but as far as a plot goes there really isn't one. The show just has Pocoyo and his friends doing simple tasks and small adventures. It is not really meant to be educational but rather "learning through laughter" and showing friendship.

Perfect for children, and a solid DVD!
I bought our first Pocoyo DVD after seeing a Pocoyo cartoon with my 4 year old nephew while on vacation. He was mesmerized, which surprised me because he is a very energetic child.

I bought this one because of how much he enjoyed the first one (till he "lost" it), and he's going through a superhero craze right now. This DVD is broken up into 8-10 smaller stories. Running time is about an hour and a half, though you can choose how much of it your child watches from the menu. You can play them all or select individual ones.

The stories are very simple to understand, and are done with almost no dialogue (all are narrated). Pocoyo and his friends perform simpler tasks, play make believe, and have small adventures. It's all very gentle, but not boring. There is excitement in the color palette (bright characters on a white background), in the music, and in Pocoyo's mannerisms. The emotions taught are realistic, as are the reactions of his friends.

Overall, I...

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Dragnet (1954)

Just the facts . . . The best Dragnet collection!
While there are numerous DVDs with public domain episodes of the original Dragnet television series on the market today, this set (from Brentwood Home Video) is the one to get. Here's why . . .

1. Quantity - The 20 episodes included on this set represent the largest single collection of original Dragnet episodes released to date (August 2003).

2. Price/Value - At a retail of [$$ it is amazing].

3. Variety - There are some very well-known (and "common") episodes included like The Big Seventeen and The Big Producer, but there are some rarer episodes and one, The Big Frame, has not previously appeared on DVD. Since Amazon did not list the episode titles, I am including them below for Dragnet fans so that you can compare this collection of episodes with others:

Episodes - Disc 1/Side A

1. The Big September Man
2. The Big Seventeen
3. The Big Show
4. The Big Break
5. The Big Hands

Episodes - Disc 1/Side B

1. The Big Betty
2. The Big Thief
3...

Dragnet -- The First, The Best -- Jack Webb lives!
Those of us who grew up with and loved the 1960s version of Dragnet are in for a pleasant surprise. The 1950s version is grittier, more true-to-life, and even more "no-nonsense" than the later series. The black-and-white photography makes everything look downbeat and harder, and truly portrays the underside of society, rather than sunny Los Angeles. It's detectives in hats, records in pen and ink, milk in bottles, and cigarettes everywhere. High-tech means sending out a "radiogram." You don't get Friday lecturing hippies, but the 1950s series is, in my opinion, better.

I have many original Dragnet episodes on VHS, but this DVD set is quite a buy. Although some of the episodes have incorrect titles, you cannot beat the price. Fans of the 1960s series will enjoy seeing a rather young Virginia Gregg, a very young Peggy Webber, as well as Art Gilmore, Harry Bartell, a very young Bill Boyett (Sgt. MacDonald on Adam-12), Natalie Masters and assorted other actors who formed...

Old "Dragnet" made new
Kudos to Universal Vault series for their bringing this 1954 Warner Bros. movie classic to DVD. I had an old BETA(!)copy that was poorly transferred with washed-out colors. The DVD corrects all that and makes available a classic "police-action" concept from the '50s enjoyable to watch, with all its dated dialog and action intact. Great fun!

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Blue Lagoon: The Awakening

Chaste Teen Romance Blossoms On A Deserted Island: Corny Fun For Free On TV, Not Necessarily A Must-Buy DVD
Admit it, you were clamoring for a new interpretation of "The Blue Lagoon!" The 1980 original with Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins is probably more notorious than it is actually good, but that's okay. It tapped into a primal innocence and a fascination with sexual awakening that seems to have connected with viewers over time. In many ways, I think that revisiting this topic might be a good idea. A modern telling might bring a bit more frankness to the table. If, however, you are going to modernize a tale this reliant on sexual themes--the Lifetime network probably isn't the best bet to make the subject compelling or believable. "Blue Lagoon: The Awakening," thus, plays more like a chaste opposites-attract teen picture with a dash of Swiss Family Robinson style survival thrown in. Nothing of consequence is really at stake and the conclusion is never in doubt.

Indiana Evans plays a privileged teen beauty queen who happens to just fall off a boat. We won't discuss the...

Sorry, this one just doesn't measure up.
Perhaps if I had not seen Brooke Shields in the original Blue Lagoon I might have given this one two and one half stars.

New age love story
This is not the Blue Lagoon from yester year. This is a modern day Blue Lagoon love story about a boy who is an outcast of sorts and a prim-and -proper OCD girl who are on a school trip and catastrophe happens. They end up on an island with a beautiful lagoon. They must overcome the fact that they will probably not be rescued. Long story short, love story of 2 opposites that have to work together to survive.

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Rihanna: Loud Tour Live at the O2

AUDIO IS HORRIBLE
I bought this for my wife as she is a huge Rihanna fan. Well, she is disappointed to say the least. She loves to blast her Blu-Ray concerts on our surround sound and the audio from this Blu-Ray falls way below expectations. Like another has mentioned, there is NO HD AUDIO. Just Dolby Digital 5.1, which is abysmal and Dolby Digital Stereo which makes it sound like Im listening to it through the TV speakers.
To compare, I bought my wife, one of the other Rihanna concerts, on DVD(Good Girl Gone Bad) and the audio on the DVD is MUCH better compared to this one. The songs that have bass do not have any bass and when it does hit, if any, it sounds off.
Video quality is just average, slightly better than DVD.
Also, there is no pop-up menu!
Very disappointed in this, not Amazon, but the audio producers of this Blu-Ray.

Heres a hint for the audio producers: If you're going to offer a concert on Blu-Ray, make sure it has HD Audio!

Worst bluray concert of 2012
MPEG-2 in 2012? 224 kbps DD in 2012 on a bluray! Are you kidding me! I have dvd concerts with 1.5 mbps DTS on a 4.7gb dvd.

This is unacceptable in every sense of the word and the menus are dvd quality too boot! The disc needs to be redone or taken off the market end of story.

Her bluray concert from 2008 had DTS-HD and AVC and looked fantastic on a BD-25! A BD-25 is more than enough room for great audio and video of concert material. The DTS-HD track is over 5 mbps for most of the concert.

For those that got the deluxe edition of her new cd a sampler of the concert is on a dvd. The sound mix is totally different and sounds much better. The dvd uses .19 kbps 2 channel DD. The bluray uses .224 kbps 5.1 DD and .12 kbps 2 channel DD and the bluray sounds noticable worse with both tracks than the dvd. Be prepared to turn up your receiver as well. Mine went up by 10+ db. MPEG-2 averages around 18 mbps for video.

Amazon quite selling this for good...

Poor audio degrades great concert
This is a difficult blu-ray to review. The main reason for buying it is obviously Rihanna's performance and there is nothing wrong with the show itself. The show is great and is everything you probably would like to see in a Rihanna performance.

Show/performance: 5 stars

It is the poor quality that went in to the production of this blu ray that is the problem. I cannot comprehend how Def Jam/Universal Music were able to mess this one up in the way they did. Surely they must have sufficiently qualified people to make a decent product.

Video: it feels like an upscaled DVD version. The image is sharp, colours are a bit flat and some compression is noticable. Compared to her previous blu ray, video quality is not as good.

Overall video quality is fair: 3 stars

Audio quality is a different story. No HD audio content and the audio they did use is low quality, outdated, 128Kbps stereo and 240Kbps 5.1 The overall result is a very flat...

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Man's Best Friend: Dog Adventures - 5 Movies

Beware of past release
Beware of purchasing this, for I got the 2009 release and the quality is not watchable. The movies themselves are good, but the quality of them are not. TGG has released some DVD is great quality, but the 2009 release is a stay away.





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A Bronx Tale

Very Satisfying!
This film is an underrated gem. If you're looking for a bloodbath mobster movie, this is not it. A Bronx Tale is a movie with heart--and it just so happens to be about mobsters.

Kudos to Robert De Niro on his directorial debut (may he direct many more movies). He did an outstanding job of presenting a slice of life in the Bronx of the 1960s. Though his role as Lorenzo Aiello is rather small, its effect is felt profoundly throughout the movie as Lorenzo's son Calogero struggles between right and wrong. Lorenzo, representing the upstanding, hardworking Everyman, wants the best for his son and doesn't want him to choose life with the mob. Sonny, the neighborhood mob boss, also wants what's best for Calogero, or C, as he nicknames him. The moment in the film where this struggle is most keenly felt is when Lorenzo and Calogero are at the boxing match sitting in the "nosebleed" section. One of Sonny's henchmen invites Lorenzo and Calogero down front at ringside, but Lorenzo...

Real Life of Lillo Brancato has Turned Tragic
I am writing this long overdue review shortly after the real life arrest of Lillo Brancato in the connection of a murder of a New York City police officer. He played the young man in this splendid movie which deserves to be seen by everybody. It is a beautifully written and acted production. Brancato portrayed so accurately the challenges of a young Italian-America youth being raised among the gangsters in his blue collar community. I always wondered why he virtually disappeared. Brancato's small role playing a cheap gangster on "The Sopranos" didn't even begin to equal what had earlier been expected of him.

Robert Di Niro is fantastic as the father, a proud bus driver, trying to make sure his only son remains a law abiding citizen. Chazz Palminteri is likewise brilliant playing the role of the neighborhood Mafia chieftain. He also wrote the spellbinding script. "A Bronx Tale" apparently was only modestly successful. I simply cannot understand why it isn't considered...

Fantastic!
This film was absolutely fantastic, this is EXACTLY the kind of material my Media Studies teacher would love, its not a boring film that goes from good to bad and a happy ending. Its realistic. Ive never felt so obliged after a film to write a review, but this film was so good i just had to. The Newspapers gave it 3 stars, and their information about it was totally wrong! This really is a must see film, after seeing it on TV last-night i just have to buy it and show my friends and my Media Studies teacher. I just sat there and was thinking "Yes, this is excelent", which IS so true.
Watch, buy, rent this film, it is so good, you can't miss it.

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Stick

Finally... "Stick" is here!
While I was thrilled to hear that "Stick" was finally being released on DVD, I was less enthusiastic to hear that it was just a 'manufactured on demand' DVD-R. I had never purchased one of these before, so I was a bit worried about the picture & sound quality. However my fears were laid to rest once the disc arrived. The picture & sound quality come across as good as any other standard DVD. As reported by Robbie, there is no menu or special features, so it's just straight into the film. Thanks to Universal & Amazon for this gem of a film. Recommended.

Good 80's Action Movie
This is one of Burt's better films from the 1980's, with a good supporting cast around him. Burt plays an ex-con who gets on the bad side of some nasty drug dealers in Miami. The movie has some comedy mixed with some romance and plenty of violence. Though I'm no expert on the subject, the video/audio transfer from vhs to dvd seems to be really good. My only minor complaint is that there is no menu or extras on the disc. A behind-the-scenes look at the filming of this movie would have been interesting, as there was a great stunt performed towards the movie's ending. Also, on the back of the dvd case, it states that this disc may not play on a dvd recorder or PC. However, when I played it on a PS3, I had no problems. Overall, a good buy.

Fat man..
A classic 80's action movie with perfect cheesey drug deal gone bad storyline and revenge! Besides the movie being great by itself, the soundtrack to this movie is perfect. If you are a fan of synthesizer music from great composers like Jan Hammer and Harold Faltermeyer, then this movie and it's awesome soundtrack are for you! This is a DVD-R and not a standard pressed DVD, but don't let that scare you away..the quality is exactly the same as a pressed DVD, though it may have problems in some DVD-ROM drives on computers. This is the widescreen edition of Stick, a film that belongs in any action fan's library!

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Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain

Strong adolescent female protagonists make this movie.
Rare are movies where young adolescent girls are portrayed as independent, spirited, inventive, and adventurous all at once. Here is a movie that breaks a stereotype for young ladies. The two heroines are not chasing boys, and they are not wrapped up in traditional sex roles. This is the type of movie that sets a wonderful example for young women by portraying two strong adolescent female protagonists in the lead roles.

Best child actresses
Anna and Christina are two of the best child actresses I've ever seen act together. This movie symbolizes the meaning of true friendship. By the way, does anyone know when and if it will come out on DVD?

Don't give this movie 2 stars give it 5!!!!!
I rented this yesterday and this is the second time I've seen it the first time I've seen it was on TV on ABC and let me tell you this is one of my most favorite films I've ever seen I think Christina Ricci is great in this film you should buy this or rent it it's one of my favorites if you don't get this you'll regret it believe me it is one of the best films that you've seen!!..

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The Words

A film about writers for writers
Lay aside the critical reviews that have filleted this movie, and perhaps even your friends and family that didn't get it.

If you are a writer, you will get it.

The meat of this movie is as much about the struggles living up to expectations as it is about plagiarism. The pressures to have a "real job" and the approval you seek from those around you and what price you are willing to pay to hang on to that approval. When you feel it is your calling to be a writer, you constantly are filled with self doubt. Will I ever be good enough? Will my writing ever be good enough?

Because these are the driving forces of the film, of course it isn't some after-school special aimed at bringing an end to plagiarism. It is structured around the choices we make in building our lives. What are we willing to sacrifice for success?

While the nested stories could have gone very wrong, the film is well-executed and not hard to follow. And while Dennis Quaid...

Literary lovers delight, my wife and I enjoyed it on the screen
Already my wife wants another viewing. I'm prone to agree. We're 2 book addicts, drama film lovers, and this film's depth is not often seen in big screen theater. It's about sacrificing integrity for fame and money. It details how an unscrupulous decision can implode and create collateral emotional damage to cherished people. The Words is presented in storyline layers, woven together like literature, not easily tracked by those simply looking at action, FX, and adventure. THE WORDS is intellectual with a capital WOW.

Hammond (Dennis Quaid) writes a story about an ambitious, but not stellar, young writer Rory (Bradley Cooper) who has ripped-off an unpublished manuscript written by an old man (Jeremy Irons) over 60 years earlier. If you don't understand `plagiarism', stop here and don't bother viewing. It's the entire plot in one word. The story progresses in the same fashion as a bestseller novel, layers woven together, scenes jumping from 2012 to 1940 Paris, and back, from...

'The Words' will speak to you
In The Words, Bradley Cooper stars as Rory Jansen, a struggling writer that stumbles upon a briefcase which contains a story that holds the key to launching his career. Shortly after publishing the story, success launches his career. However, an old man (Jeremy Irons) confronts Jansen about publishing this 'thought to be' lost story and from there a plot line within a plot line within a plot line unfolds - all of which revolves around the overlying theme: fame/success vs. choice/consequence. Yes, there's also some romance. Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde, and Dennis Quaid co-star.

It's easy to say the plot becomes predictable about half way through the film (and it does), but films don't always have to be about the sudden 'twist' ending that nobody saw coming. Sometimes it's nice to watch a film and think about the meaning behind the story - in this case it's about the choices we make that affect our lives and the lives of the people around us. It's especially interesting...

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The Well-Digger's Daughter [Blu-ray]

Moi je n'aime pas le vin bouché!
"I don't like the corked wine", Pascal said. In the movie it is losely translated as "I don't like the fancy wine" which is not quite the same. This sentence summarizes this movie. The pure mentality of the French villager "à la campagne". He prefers his own wine, (they make and cork their own wine from their own vineyards). He doesn't want to buy somebody else's wine. He doesn't want to be like "les Parisiens". He has contempt for the Parisians. He doesn't want to be part of the city "elite". He wants to live peacefully in the countryside with his family, his rules, and his routine. "Vous savez les imp

The Last Remake of Beau Geste

Time for this to be released on DVD
This is a hilarious spoof. Don't forget the scene where Marty Feldman is placed in the Gary Cooper version. It also has several great sight gags. I am looking forward to this being available on DVD.

A british Mel Brooks film
Marty Feldman proves that he learned well from the master parodist Mel Brooks with this humorous spoof of BEAU GESTE. Recommended primarily for fans of raunchy humor, and fans of British comedy. This film has several hilarious bits: the used camel salesman, clips from the old BEAU GESTE films, and Jack the Ripper ("We ask no questions here."), and Feldman's tribute to silent comedy.

A bizarre comedy, good sight gags & every British comedien!
I like it! From the opening gimmic of the 'finger in the sky', which we've all dreamed of, to the 'Damn this thirst' ending it's a feast of the odd-ball. Mr Malten is right, Spike Milligan is superb as the butler but I think the scene stealer is Peter Ustiniov's horse! If you have an interest in British comic talent (yes there is some) then just about all British comedians do a cameo here. The original movie cops a hit as well and why not? This movie is best viewed with normality suspended and the ability to laugh at the absurd jammed on full.

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Stuff

Deeply emotional
This film explores a subject that I have never seen discussed in literature or on screen - all the "stuff" that is accumulated after one passes away, and the emotions that arise from sorting through the belongings trying to decide what to keep and what to throw away. A great commentary on life, death, and family (particularly father figures). Definitely worth a watch!





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UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort

UFC 152...
UFC 152 was a tricky event for several reasons, the first being that UFC 151 was cancelled after Dan Henderson was injured in training two weeks before his fight with Jon Jones. Initially talks of Lyoto Machida replacing Henderson were speculated but then those rumors were dismissed. Chael Sonnen had put his name forth as a replacement for Henderson but those plans were cut short very quickly. After that news broke out it felt like another batch of bad news broke out when it was publicly released that the entire event had been cancelled. There are already so many things that have been said on this so I'm going to skip over that. So, to fix up this jumble Jon Jones was then scheduled to headline UFC 152 with Vitor Belfort. With plans finalized it looked like UFC 152 was going to be a stacked card with a lot to offer.

Things started off in an odd way. Cub Swanson is good featherweight to keep track of because his fights are typically pretty exciting. He doesn't mind...

I WANTED VITOR TO WIN MORE THAN ANYTHING
UFC 152
JONES VS BELFORT

This was the event after the “lost event” thanks to one half of the main event on this card. For those who don’t know Jon Joes was set to defend his title against Dan Henderson at UFC 151. But after Dan had to pull out due to an injury the door was left open for a replacement to fight Jones. From what was said by Dana White no one in the Light-Heavyweight division wanted to take on Jones on short notice. So the very vocal Chael Sonnen said he would come up from the Middleweight division to fight Jones, Jones refused. He said he could not take on Sonnen on short notice. Funny thing is that he agreed to take on Vitor Belfort at this event who like Cheal was coming up from Middleweight and was injured. But on a great note this event would also see the debut of a new title, the Flyweight belt which is at 125 pounds.

Spoilers

1.CUB SWANSON VS CHARLES OLIVEIRA-the first fight of the night on the main card was...

Two Title Fights!
The only other good thing about getting two title fights is seeing a card that's fun to watch. This was a fun show to watch from top to bottom and well worth the money spent to watch.

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The Black Shield of Falworth

GOOD TYPICAL HOLLYWOOD HEROIC MATINEE MEDIEVALISM
This is the kind of colorful adventure that kids must have eaten up during Saturday matinees with a cartoon, newsreel, and second feature. A good-looking hero fights for justice, having to go through a period of training and learning before he is ready to take on his adversary. There is a friendship, a rivalry, a vow upheld, a promise kept, justice served, growth, a romance without sloppy kissing, and some spiffy combat, both man-to-man and large battles.

The story is based on Howard Pyle's "Men of Iron," a late 19th century boy's book that cleans up and romanticizes the Middle Ages. This movie keeps much of the flavor of that interpretation of medieval life. The story touches on such topics as the role of women, the rarity of books, the feudal system, and table manners. As such it is a fun and interesting place to start looking at medieval culture, but being based on a 19th century boy's novel, should not be taken as the last word.

For medieval purists, this movie can...

Great fun...a "must" for your medieval video collection
As a professional Knight by trade, I love collecting every well-made film on the subject of Knighthood (fact and fiction) I can possibly find. Ever since I was a child, this film has been one of the most inspiring for me, and I'm glad to see it out on video.

Set during the reign of Henry IV of England, "The Black Shield" traces the adventures of Miles Falworth (Tony Curtis) and his sister, the banished children of a great Knight who was framed and killed by the evil Earl of Alban. Now, the Falworth name is outlawed, as are any living relatives bearing the same name. Sent to the castle of one of their dad's long-time friends for protection and service, the Falworth duo find favor with the castle Lord. This good fortune, together with Miles' scrappy personality and martial skill, places the young fellow in training for Knighthood under the tutelage of the salty Sir James. A great story follows, knitting Tony with Janet Leigh (yes, Jamie Lee's real-life...

Curtis and Leigh in medieval swashbuckler
THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH (1954) holds the distinction of being the very first CinemaScope production released by Universal. Real-life couple Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh pair up for one of their most enjoyable outings in this medieval swashbuckler.

Farm-hand Myles (Curtis) and his sister Meg (Barbara Rush) enter the employment of Mackworth Castle; he as a knight-in-training, and she as an attendant to Lady Anne (Janet Leigh). Before you can say "opposites attract", Myles and Anne have struck up an inevitible romance, although the Earl of Mackworth (Herbert Marshall) hides potentially dangerous information regarding Myles' parentage, and his rightful place in the kingdom...

Tony Curtis has copped a lot of flack for his performance in THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH. True, he hardly fits the bill as a British knight of the realm, but he delivers a fun-spirited, committed performance in the best tradition of Errol Flynn, helped largely by the support of Janet...

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Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection [Blu-ray] [2011]

Very good product, but a couple of comments
I'm actually very pleased with this product! It's very cheap, and very good quality. There are, however, a couple of things that I feel I should point out.

First, the case that it comes in is a standard mass production case that most multi-disc sets use. Don't expect a lavish collectable case, especially for the price. The case is still very durable, and allows all of the movies to be stored in a small amount of space.

Second, the films in this set ARE NOT THE SPECIAL EDITIONS. They are standard edition, as if the first disc from each movie was put in here. While there are some special features, there are not a lot.

Next, the discs themselves appear to be great quality. All of mine worked extremely well, and there were no defects whatsoever, save one thing. The disc that I received for Deathly Hallows Part 1 is missing a cover. The disc is all black, and the title and copyright information are on there, but there is not picture. This, however does not...

A cheap package with all eight movies... the way I like it.
I like how a lot of fans are slamming Warner Brothers for offering up a box set containing all eight films in one compact package. They accuse how WB constantly does this for the Harry Potter franchise, and to be fair, WB has been doing incomplete Potter boxed releases for years, starting with "Prisoner of Azkaban" onwards. But when the WB actually makes a nice package with all eight films included, they still complain because there's hardly any bonus material. WB did this for their first four Batman movies before the glorious Batman Anthology came to be, so those fans have been waiting a long time that as well.

The set will just have a repressing of the initial releases, and the first three movies include their respective trailers, while "Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2" have deleted/extended scenes, so the "no extras" claim doesn't hold as much water. They have some, as opposed to none. Not to mention the quality of the past three Ultimate Editions' bonus features have...

Just use amazon.co.uk
amazon.co.uk has the three different HP movies 1-8 sets
just go to the site and type in "harry potter 1-8"

ALLL BLU RAY CUSTOMERS can order, as these are region free and with HD media, there is no such thing as PAL encoding.
"Harry Potter - The Complete 8-Film Collection [Blu-ray] [2011][Region Free]"
and "Harry Potter: The Complete 1-8 Film Collection - Limited Numbered Edition (Blu-ray + DVD) [2011][Region Free]"

I live in philly, i ordered the regular set, its going to come to around 40 bucks i believe
the special edition version will be way less than 100 and far surpasses this version sold here

the dvd set is SUPER cheap but it is not region free and it IS in PAL. so most americans wont be able to see it

this is true for most of amazon.co.uk 's inventory. as far as blu ray, as long as it says region free, it will work in america, and it only takes a week to get here, and it is ALWAYS cheaper. and they have WAY more...

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Smooch

The Frog Prince- Live Action
A fairytale, a romantic comedy, and a not perfect Hallmark film saved by the performances, especially, by the child actor.

A young girl(Kiernan Shipka, "Mad Men") saves a frog and imagines that the coincidental finding of an amnesiac "prince" or marquis(Simon Kassianidas) is in fact the frog incarnate. The girl hauls him off in a grocery cart taking him home to hide in her closet- yes, one must suspend reality quickly in this movie- with the plan to matchmake with her lonely, overly organized, widowed mother(Kellie Martin, still alive after "ER").

There's a lot to swallow here. The daughter convinces the mom to keep the man as a nanny- shades of "Family Affair". He is handsome and very properly polite. So, no big deal. Right. And the predictable romance ensues. The problem pops up with his past, and that he is already engaged and of nobility. Will love out?

Kiernan Shipka steals and carries the show; I found the chemistry somewhat lacking between...

Surprisingly charming
My wife and I saw this movie on the Hallmark channel and at first were not going to watch it, thinking it would be too childish. We were pleasantly surprised as the story was cleverly adapted from "The Princess and the Frog" and the acting is great, especially the young girl who is the real star. Highly recommend!

Great Romantic Comedy
This movie is a great romantic comedy. It is good clean fun and movie that the entire family can watch and not have to worry about gratuitous sex or violence. Too much of that in both large screen and small screen today. It is nice when films like this are made! My husband and I would recommend this film to anyone!

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Welcome to Paradise

Wonderful movie & great music for gospel, country, R&B fans
I watched this movie twice. Once by myself and once with my boyfriend who prefers action. He liked it too and was glad I found it. The storyline is meaningful for anyone going through life changes. The chararacters are very unique and interesting. I found the movie and the music more entertaining than I expected. My boyfriend and I both cried during some of the stories told as testimonials. Very moving and lighthearted about what a communinty is capable of overcoming when they pull together. Brian Dennehy and Crystal Benard had some great lines that made you laugh. I could watch it again to remind myself of simple "acts of kindness."

Welcome to Paradise
What an amazingly inspiring movie. Who knew they still made good movies with hope and meaning?! It was refreshing to see a movie like this. I wasn't sure what I was renting at the time, but after I watched it... I fell in love with the characters and the story. And I could not believe the male love interest of Crystal was the same hunk "Hank" from Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Wow.. has he changed and he looks HOT!!! Girls.... if you loved him on the show... check him out now.

Refreshing, wholesome movie instead of the usual trash.
My husband and I watched this movie together, twice. What a pleasure to find a wholesome film instead of the usual trash with foul language, people hopping into bed after the first kiss on the first date and then moving in together the next week. Our culture has degenerated so badly that a movie this clean is a rare find. I loved the quirky characters, the heart-felt optimism, the Christianity at the core of the story, and the honesty about man's ego in conflict with God's total acceptance of human kind with all our frailties. It was refreshing to see characters unblemished by the big-city degradation brought about from illegal drugs and gang violence. When I watch a movie, I don't want to deal with the gritty realities of the sordid life. Instead, I want to be inspired. To me, the greatest hope in this movie was that such places as Paradise might still exist in this country. I really loved this movie.

Reviewed by the author of:...

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The Autopsy Files

Autopsy Files: Autopys & Voices from the Dead
This HBO series is an informative, fact based presentation of evidence from various cases that have passed through the Medical Examiners office. Dr. Michael Baden is one of the top forensic pathologists in the Unites States. His information and views on the cases presented would be an excellent training aid for Police, Fire or EMT's that are going into their respective fields. All in all this is an excellent DVD for anyone that is interested in topics of this nature. Be advised this is not a show for children due to the graphic nature of each case as it appeared at the time of the crime.

Michael Baden Rules!!
I have also been addicted to this show ever since the first episode on HBO. I have it along with Autopsy 2 on DVD. I can't wait until Autopsy 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 comes to DVD. Michael Baden knows his stuff. I love him. He gets right to the point and is 100% accurate.

ground breaking....
First, let me state my overall opinion of this DVD.

"Buy it." If you are at all interested in what the forensic pathologist does, this would be a wise purchase. I did not grow up watching this show and have just discovered it.

But, I must be frank about the contents. This show is going on 15 years old, and while very well made, it is tame by todays standards. There is no actual autopsy performed. This show was really a template of todays csi-type programs found on the cable networks. Many of the actual "body shots" are shown in a muted color scheme to flush out the gruesome hues...like I said it is the prototype of the existing narrative driven mystery-death cases you see a hundred programs of today.

If you are wanting an all out DVD which takes you through a whole autopsy then I would purchase Dr. Naguchi's Autopsy DVD Voices of the Dead.

I am glad I have this DVD in my collection and think if you are reading this review you probably should...

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Sometimes A Great Notion [Blu-ray]

Sometimes a Cinematic Notion
OK, in fairness; I came to this film on the strength of my long, enduring affection for the work of Ken Kesey. Sometimes a Great Notion, the novel, is as dense and intense a read as one can find out there by any (and I mean ANY -- Faulkner, Hemingway, the works) American author. I've read this superb novel many times, and savored every word with every reading.

...then I saw the film.

Again, in fairness; I had doubts that ANY film under 2 hours would begin to do justice to the novel. I was right. I had suspicions that perhaps Paul Newman and Henry Fonda weren't quite, well, BIG AND TOUGH ENOUGH to do due justice to the Henry and Hank Stamper father/son team. I was almost right -- physically, they weren't the looming figures that roared across Kesey's pages. But Newman and Fonda ain't bad either, not by a long shot. Their abilities almost obscure the fact that they don't fully seem like lifelong lumberjacks from the wild coast of Oregon in the middle 20th century. They seem like...

A fine, workable adaptation
Firstly, I cannot stress enough that one read the novel. It is one of the finest American novels ever written.

Kesey's superb epic novel with its shifting points of view and verb tense is far too complex a work to adapt directly to the camera's limited third person POV. Kesey's rich and dense narrative prose, while exceptionaly cinematic in its description and action ironically proves unfilmable.

That said, Paul Newman and his production team created a most admirable and solid, if very truncated adaptation of Kesey's excellent novel. It is near impossible to fit the novel's rumbling narrative into a mere hour and a half.

Unlike the more famous film version of Cuckoo's Nest, Kesey admires this filming of his work. It is important viewing on that note alone.

Sadly missing is the critical sub-plot involving a love triangle between Lee and Vivian. As a result, a great deal of Lee's motivation and narrative tension is lost. According to Kesey, the triangle was filmed but lopped...

The Editorial Review is ridiculous
Don't believe the editorial review by Marshall Fine. That's one of the most misleading reviews I've ever seen. The story is not a "mishmash", and it has nothing to do with LSD or anything psychodelic. He calls Newman an "ultraliberal", which indicates that his bad review was probably politically motivated. However, the story is not political at all. It's really a touching story about a family in crisis. And it's one of Newman's finest moments as an actor. Fonda's too. It was nominated for two Academy Awards. This movie used to play on HBO constantly. And it would probably do fairly well today if it were re-released on DVD.

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WakeBrothers: Season 1

Excellent - great action and very funny.
My daughter loves the wakeboarding action and antics of Bob Soven. The cameo appearances by famous friends such as Dallas Friday and Harley Clifford are a masterful touch to create a (false) reality based show. The house and the wakeboarding is real.

My daughter thought every aspect of the show was real and Bob really had bought Llamas, then again, at thirteen I thought Steve Austin was really bionic.

Sorry the series ended since it gave visibiilty to a great and relatively unknown sport.

A few times there are sexual innuendos, but the show is appropriate for all ages.

Must see
Great show. Super funny and enjoyable even if you don't wake board.The show is very light hearted and you will love all the different variety of the characters. Hoping for season 2.

WakeBrothers
I'm a huge wakeboarding fan as well as wakeboarder. Even if I wasn't this show is hilarious! This show is awesome!

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Liberal Arts

Wistful And Romantic: A Genial Crowd Pleaser Bolstered By A Great Elizabeth Olsen Performance
It's fair to say that I wasn't a huge fan of Josh Radnor's first film as a writer/director "Happythankyoumoreplease." While the movie had promise and some strong points, it veered a little too far into preciousness and quirk for my taste. I might have been in the minority, though, as the film scored an Audience Award at Sundance. But for me, many of its plot digressions seemed a little too contrived to be taken seriously. In his second effort, "Liberal Arts," I find myself having a similar reaction. Overall, though, the movie works much more cohesively. It strikes some irresistibly bittersweet moments and features some winning performances. But every time Radnor scores with a heartfelt, affectionate, or funny scene, he counters with something too convenient or unbelievable to follow it up. Simply put, "Liberal Arts" is a good movie (sometimes very good) that struggles to find a consistent tone. Radnor has talent as both a writer and director, sometimes he just needs to rein in the...

A Heart Mending Film
With so many heartbreaking films in the cinema today, it is refreshing to encounter and engage with Josh Radnor's Liberal Arts, a heart mending film. A film that dares to say that things aren't that bad, in a time when cynicism runs rampant through the streets. And I don't know about you, but I could use a healthy dose of optimism in the movies I watch. Josh Radnor grabs cynicism by the shoulder and gently leads him out of the movie theater, while calmly embracing compassion, awareness, and unabashed optimism. Josh Radnor may just be the soul that saves all of our weary souls. Josh's innate ability to create and inspire is one of the most over-looked talents today. How is this guy not on the front page of the newspaper every day? If you haven't seen Liberal Arts, then you need to get on that. It is by no means a run of the mill romantic comedy with cliched dialogue and unrealistic dramatic debacles. It is a beautiful symphony of impeccable directorial finesse, precise subtle...

Bittersweet and Intelligent
Now THIS is one to watch for! It is witty, intelligent, well-acted, adult, textured and beautifully acted, with a gorgeous soundtrack. Our 2012 Seattle International Film Festival audience could scarcely contain ourselves as we exited the theater. We had watched decent people trying to cope with the vagaries of growing up, each at his or her own pace, each with his or her own degree of success.

Let's look at some of these nice people:
* Josh Radnor ("How I Met Your Mother") is Jesse, an Admissions officer for a New York City school, called to give a speech for a former professor who is retiring at his old alma mater. He is a bookworm who says a dual English/History degree should make a graduate fully unemployable. He meets a couple of undergrads while visiting his old campus.
* Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene") is Zibby, a young woman wise for her years but who views a relationship with our hero as a possible short-cut to maturity. She gives him a...

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Absent

Fell in love with "PLAN B" (a Romance)...BUT this.......
.....Latest Work is so very much the opposite (well, perhaps there's a "tinge" of romantic love). Instead, we're being
given: A Crush-love...almost a Stalkerish-love.

(( THIS IS ACTUALLY A 3.5-STAR RATING // POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD ))

(( In a comparison, "Absent" is the more accomplished production....both in camera work and locations-wise. And as in the earlier film, here the Co-leads and supporting actors also cannot be faulted. Javier De Pietro, as Gay-aware, swim team student Martin Blanco, delivers an admirable first film performance as a mid-teens young man, who is "crushing" on his team coach. Martin has a "Plan" (but, unlike in Director Berger's preceding film, no alternative, or Plan B, has even been thought of). Single-minded and intensely focused, our Martin has set his sights on placing himself in his team coach's very own bed. Up next, as our unsuspecting object of affection (I mean, obsession), we have the attractive, student-oriented Coach...

To Sir With Love
This is an Argentinean film from director Marco Berger who brought us `Plan B'. It tells the story of Martin (Javier De Pietro) a swarthy, sixteen year old schoolboy, who has a crush on his teacher, which I am led to believe is a pretty common event. Martins' teacher though is Sebastian (Carlos Echivarria) and he is the sports teacher. One day at swim class Martin feigns an eye injury and the Proffessore has to take him to the eye doctor. Martin though has unhatched a cunning plan that sees him getting to stay the night with his teacher and closer to the object of his desires.

Martin just keeps pushing the boundaries all the time but in a kind of innocent way and his teacher just isn't sure what is going on. The following day he starts to realise that Martin is not so innocent and this leads to further complications and gets the emotions of both of them all mixed up.

This film is like waiting for a bomb to explode, it is dripping with a brooding quality of...

"You know I could get into deep trouble for this...."
ABSENT has got to be one of the most intriguing films I've ever watched. A romance flick turned thriller just when you think you know where it's going. The very handsome Javier De Pietro is "Martin Blanco" a 16 year old student who joins a swim team mostly because he is highly attracted to the swim instructor "Sebastian" (Carlos Echevarria)and soon devises a plan of seduction to get what he wants.

What he actually gets is a bit of resistance from the 30-something, engaged instructor who is not so quick to show interest in the student, and is worried about his career and reputation should anyone, especially Martin, find out about his mutual attraction. But somewhere along the way, things take a dramatic twist and lead Sebastian down a road that he just might not survive.

I have to admit this film didn't go where I thought it should. What plays out is a scenario I not only didn't expect, but was certainly not hoping for in my own fantasy, as I eagerly watched, with...

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Rudy Maxa's Korea & Uzbekistan

Maxa's Korea and Uzbekistan video is great!
My wife and I love this video! We both want to go to both Korea and Uzbekistan now as a result of watching this video. I totally want to go to Samarkand (Uzbekistan) now!

Shows always too short!
. Rudy Maxa beats Rick Steeves hands down for traveling in style and comfort, and not traveling on the "cheap," With Maxa's way, you know after a long day of sight seeing and enjoying the area, you can dine, rest, relax, take a shower and sleep in YOUR OWN suite without sharing it with a half dozen smelly, sweaty strangers who also have been traveling the world stage on the "cheap!" If you want to really enjoy traveling and enjoy the end of your day out after enjoying the food and sights, then travel in style like Rudy Maxa does and you'll really enjoy it!



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The Millennium Bug

A hidden gem
I am not afraid of bugs, well, except for that huge one in the hallway of my parents house when I was about 7 years old. That one was scary. Bugs make a great topic for creepy Sci-Fi movies. Over the decades we movie-goers have seen giant ants, spiders and locust just to name a few. Gargantuan bugs are pretty chilling because we tend to feel helpless around the normal size version of these critters. How do you handle one the size of a truck? That is the question in "Millennium Bug".

The story goes that every one thousand years this Buick sized bug bores its way out of the Earth to lay its eggs and die. The eggs hatch and the larva stay in the Earth for a thousand years as the cycle continues. Enter the Haskin Family. They have decided to escape all the Millennium frenzy of Dec 1999 and spend New Year's Eve camping deep in the woods of the Sierra Diablos Mountains. All is fine, battery powered Christmas lights are strung, champagne is opened and now they have bedded down for...

IT'S A GIRL!
The Crawford family live isolated and have some inbreeding issues. They are in need of new blood. Enter the Haskin family. This is the plot of a number of "B" slasher films, some far better than others. This one adds the subplot of a Millennium monster, one that appears every 1,000 years. It just so happens his 1,000 year period corresponds to our calendar. It is a rather huge creature with big teeth and killer tentacles.

There is nothing like combining two bad films into one. This one appeared to be designed to be campy, which it achieves in spurts but mostly sputters with stupidity. The researcher wore a "Crocodile Hunter" hat and mimicked him far too slightly to be effectively funny and campy. The dialouge during the early character build up phase of the Haskin family was boring. It was simply poorly scripted.

A borderline rental.

Parental Guide: F-bomb, near sex. Groped woman. Brief nudity that was rather ugly. Christine Haeberman tied up in...

AMAZING MOVIE!!!!!!!!!
Everything about this is amazing, the effects, the lack of cgi, the MONSTER SUIT! The movie, even without the monster is really entertaining, the rednecks, although repulsive, are very entertaining and they did a great job of getting me to root for the family, once the monster shows up though, it just turns incredible! Lets hope for some sequels, or at least more movies like this.

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