The Spanish Moss Murders

At long last the wait is over
Before "The X-Files", Darren McGavin was reporter Carl Kolchak whose news stories would focus on the supernatural and science fiction aspects of a story. "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" only ran a short (it was only about 20 episodes)season on ABC. Although it lacked the creative fire power of the two TV movies (Producer/director Dan Curtis, director John Moxey and writer Richard Matheson were not involved with the series at all), the best episodes had a sharp sense of humor and a couple of young contributors that would make their mark elsewhere (the creative team behind "Back to the Future" and the writer-producer of "The Sopranos" were both contributors to the series). I realize that writer/creator Jeff Rice ended up suing Universal over the TV series but do wish that an interview with him or commentary tracks had been included.

Released to coincide with the new "The Night Stalker" TV series produced/written by Frank Spotnitz ("The X-Files", "The Lone Gunmen"), the series is...

To have and have not
Just for the record I want to make it clear that I am reviewing the DVD box set of the TV series 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker' unlike at least half of the other reviewers on these pages who have reviewed the original Telemovie.

As for my review, let me add my voice to the chorus in saying how wonderful it is to finally have all 20 episodes of the series on DVD. The show has been a favourite of mine since it's initial run in Australia, and has never lost its sparkle, largely due to excellent performances by the cast.

I'm not going to cover the actual content here, other reviews that were on the right subject have done that well enough.

I am VERY disappointed in the manner the series has been released. Universal needs to understand that double sided DVDs are a thing of the past. I hate them; they are difficult to look after, and due to the 4-pass process, more prone to failure.

Surely with the cost of media today, it would not have made a...

Another great example of how "not" to do a film to DVD transfer!
First let me say that I have worked in the video industry, Broadcast, VHS Duplication and now DVD authoring and replication business for 15 years. I understand video and quality.

Secondly let me say that I love the Night Stalker Series and was anxious as hell to see it released some day on DVD.

The day that this set came out I bought it and that night started watching it.

Now the bad part: The quality of the film to video transfers are some of the worst I have seen. The light levels of the projection device were so low that all night scenes are so dark that nothing, absolutely nothing can be seen in some parts. Other parts are so dark that only vague shadows can be seen. I took the discs to work and scoped them out. The white and black levels are in acceptable ranges of 100% white and 7.5% for black. This is not the problem. The film to video transfer had insuficiencent projection level to resolve the images.

Night Stalker looks like a bad...

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Camino Al Infierno

Camino al Infierno
I order this movie because I couldn't find it in any other place. However when I received this product, the product was incomplete. In other words content was missing. It was not a complete movie. Why? I do not know. But I am just not happy that what I order is not complete. Thank you very much.





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Big Nothing

The worst laid plans
This is one of the more enjoyable "bumbling amateur criminals" movies that I've seen.

It's a UK/Canadian production but it's set in the U.S. and it stars David Schwimmer in my favorite movie role of his to date. His lugubrious manner is perfectly complimented by bouncy, James-Cagney-like Simon Pegg, a British comedian donning a perfect American accent. Their screen chemistry is wonderful.

Joining them is another Brit with another perfect American accent plus tremendous sex appeal, Alice Eve, playing a third kooky wheel in this unlikely team of extortionists. I gotta say: the acting by everyone (Brit, American, and Canadian) is top-notch.

The script by Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Andrea and American Billy Asher tries to avoid cliches -- or at least improve on them -- and Andrea's direction gives the film a slightly surreal touch altho the film retains a down-to-earth quality.

That surreal touch plus its dark quality may limit this film's appeal,...

A gothic comedy!!!
I loved this film. The first "gothic comedy", I would say! It's very funny, yet surprisingly dark. So you'll go from laughing your head off to jumping in your seat thinking "WTF"? A very original movie based on a classic premise. Pegg rocks, as usual, I'm a huge Spaced fan and wasn't disappointed! Definitely a geeky yet intelligent movie, worth watching a few times. Laughs and shocks guaranteed in equal measure. Awesome soundtrack too, are they going to release it?

A whole bunch of dark fun
Just a joy for me to watch! I haven't ever been let down yet by Simon Pegg (the guy from Shawn of the Dead) and his wit plays off of Schwimmer's drollitivity(?) perfectly. The chick is dynamite and she mentally kicks the crap out of the two men who are smart enough to acknowledge it with just the right amount of self deprecation. The plot constantly twists and turns and the comedy is all black. That's key for me. Give me laughs couched in morally questionable (or directly sinful) situations and I'm happy as a clam.

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Gray Matters

Funny and light, it's not for cynics
This movie was fun, and refreshing because it was not an upchucking of dismal lesbian social commentary or the ' happily ever after isn't part of the lesbian culture' message being sold by cynical women directors seeking like and kind in their audiences.

Instead, it's refreshingly light but only just as believable as any hetero mainstream romantic comedy and thus it doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is. The lesbians are no more realistic than Julia Roberts was as a hooker in Pretty Woman, meaning you'll believe them only if you want to believe them.

Understanding what a romantic comedy is, we dove in with very little reservation and popcorned our way through to an ending that came after some surprising lifestyle insights in a "I wish my family had said that" kind of speech.

After watching this movie the first time, we showed it to a number of our straight friends and they enjoyed it too. There is a message in that. Drop the 'our lot in life'...

Gray Matters is Great!
Great is all I can say. I have been so bored with every romantic comedy that has come out in the past five years. Finally a movie with heart, soul and originality. The cast is superb, the writing is fantastic and it's a great postcard of New York City. I laughed and I even shed a tear or two! This should have been the comedy of the year. I highly reccomend it. Molly Shannon is also hilarious--some of her funniest acting yet.

DVD
Excellent movie with good performances from two of Hollywoods most beautiful and talented actresses, Heather Graham and Bridget Moynahan. A funny lighthearted romantic film.

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Ricky

Finally, The Incredible HULK is on DVD Season wise
After being accidently exposed in his laboratory to a massive dosage of gamma radiation, David Banner (A Research Scientist) physiology was dramaticaly effected.

Normally peaceful, quiet man, David now found that once angered, he turn into the Incredible Hulk, a huge, powerful seven foot greenish, manlike monster of immense strength and primitive passions.

David knew and remember what happened at the start of his transformation but had no recollection of what he had done when he was the creature. He searched for a cure traveling around the country taking all sort of odd jobs in order to provide food and clothes for him self and in the same time avoiding the pursuit of investtigative reporter Jack McGee who suspected his secret but had no solid proof.

The Incredible Hulk was based on the 1962 comic-book character created by Stan Lee.

After two pilot movies in 1977, "The Incredible Hulk" a two parts first movie originally aired on November...

Read People....
With the exception of the two 1977 pilot episodes, there is only one(747)episode here in season 1 already in the "Ultimate Collection, the other 9 episodes are not, they are previously un-released episodes, & I personally am glad to see more of the "Hulk" on DVD, when season 2 is released, that might warrant a gripe about already released episodes in the "UC", but for now, this is not exactly a waste of money.

Complete with GREAT remastering
Like so many other Hulk fans, I WAITED a few years for the complete season to finally come out. I ignored the "Ultimate Collection" set issued in 2003, in the hopes that a season by season box set would arrive. It finally did, and I'm thrilled. Although there isn't much in terms of bonus material, (the interview with Kenneth Johnson is the same as the intitial release of the pilot episode) the quality of remastering is good. Picture is very clean and clear and the sound is good mono. It would have been nice to have some commentary from the celebrity guest stars. Though they were not well known at the time (Loni Anderson, Gerald McRaney) it still would have been nice to have them reminisce about their appearances on the show. Despite these minor quibbles, it's nice to have all of season one COMPLETE without the cuts and edits when it appeared on syndication. Great set for Incredible Hulk fans!

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Knight of the Phoenix: Part 2

The Best Sci-Fi show of the 80's now on DVD
Knighr Rider a shadowly flight of a man, who does not exist. Michael Long (David Hasslehoff) is a Las Vegas police Lt. who gets caught up in a scam by a man and a beautiful woman. They shoot him point blank and leaves him for dead. An esentric millionare who doesn't have much time to live finds him, saves him, and gives him a new Idenity as "Michael Knight". The man who saves him is Willton Knight a self-made millionare who was affected by this man and woman as well.

Michael wonders after getting his strength back what everyone is doing coming in and out of a place all hours of the night and so he goes to investigate and finds his car, or is it? It infact is the "Knight Industries Two-Thousand" or K.I.T.T for short. A talking car that helps him to take down the women and men and four years of adventure begins.

New Knight Rider is a cool as ice
It's hard to match the original classic series, but the new Knight Rider manages to be fun and cool. It's a little lightweight, to begin with. This is pure saturday afternoon popcorn TV. So don't expect Lost or the new Battlestar. I like Val Kilmer as the voice of Kitt, and I also warmed to the Mustang after a while. The new lead actor is good in a different way to Hasselhoff was, he seems a little more vulnerable.

If you like shows with cars, good looking women and fun action storylines. You'll like this.

Knight Rider on DVD - This quality set comes fully equipped
Since I have been an avid Knight Rider fanatic since I was six years old, I picked up the first season DVD boxed set on release day. I have to say, I am very impressed. You might expect a $40 set of DVDs from a campy '80s TV show to be equally campy in their presentation (think Columbia House's own Knight Rider DVD knockoffs), but you'd be wrong. This is a top-quality set. There's a good number of cool extras, the menus and navigation are fantastic, and the video and sound quality of the episodes themselves are astounding. Knight Rider DVDs are finally here, and to my great relief, they did them RIGHT.

The four discs in this set are double-sided, so the publishers were able to save money on the cost of printing discs, keeping the price of the set low. Points to them for that. When you first load up a disc, the unforgettable KR theme music starts and your options are provided in a cool, perspective-shifted layout that has an effect like KITT's scanner behind it. Once...

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The Road to Calydon

Double-dip needed? Maybe not...
If you already own the Anchor Bay (AB from here on out) release of "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" - Season 1 you may want to hang onto it.

This release has only the series. The 5 made-for-tv movie "specials" which introduced the character and truly started the series are *not* included. These were on the AB season 1 release. There is no word on whether these will be available separately.

The AB release had the 13 season episodes on 4 disks while this release uses only 3. This indicates there will be more compression, but the jury's still out on whether or not the episodes have been cleaned up beyond what AB did.

On the AB release, the sound was remixed into a 5.1 Dolby Digital while this release is 2.0 (which was the original sound mix). This may or may not be a drawback depending on your outlook.

The primary draw for this release is the use of subtitles which the AB release did not have (the major drawback of the AB release IMHO)...

Protector of the People
Hercules Season One, an 8-disc DVD Collection, collects all 5 TV pilot movies and the 13-episode first season (1994-1995) of the syndicated action series based on the popular Greek mythological figure.

THE STORY

The critically-acclaimed �Hercules the Legendary Journeys� aired in syndication for 6 seasons from 1994 till 1999. Based on the popular hero from Greek mythology, the story followed the adventures of Hercules and his friend Iolaus as they traveled the earth defending mortals against the tyrannical gods who plagued them, namely his step-mother Hera, Queen of the Gods and his half-brother Ares, the God of War. The series� brilliant combination of action and adventure, special effects and adaptation of Greek mythology was a critical as well as commercial success, drawing strong ratings and a cult-following.

THE DVDS:

Disc 1:

Movie 1: �Hercules and the Amazon Women� � Hercules and Iolaus embark on one last great adventure...

Hours of entertainment at a good price.
I pre-ordered this set as soon as I found out about it and I'm glad I did. I watched Hercules (and Xena) for years while it was on TV and miss it, so I get my fix when I need it now. Hercules and Iolas have a positive buoyancy and a "nothing is sacred" humor that is sadly lacking in a lot of hero action series so it's also refreshing to watch. This set has all the Action Pack movies as well as Season 1 (which includes the Xena trilogy), pamphlets, etc and supposedly a commemortive coin (though I found none in my package and there was no customer service number to call inside either, that was one downer). But the quality is good, the beginnings are the original beginnings, which is fun, and you get to see Zeus when he was played by Anthony Quinn, Lucy Lawless when she was playing bit parts, and Ares before Kevin Smith personified the role so well. In fact, though a Xena fan (and I know I will be making some Xena fans angry when I say this) I must say that the Hercules set is much...

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The Abandoned

The Real Deal
I didn't know what to expect when I put in the Abandoned. 2 other movies from the horrorfest that I'd watched were good, but not great. Also the older protagonists were a welcome change from the usual teenage/early 20's players that are the formula these days.
The setting is the creepiest house you've ever seen. I was scared as soon as the main character arrives on the grounds of the old family house she has inherited. This was one of the few movies that actually had me hiding under the covers as I watched.
The story was unsettling, the direction and cinematography were excellent. I loved it.

Death never runs out of time...
Abandoned reminded me quite a bit of an Asian film called The Echo (aka, Sigaw) -- and a few others; it's nothing new in the genre, but aside from a severely sagging midsection, the horror and suspense aspects are far from, er, abandoned by first-time director Nacho Cerdà. This is no doubt a low-budget film with a lot of spoken supposition, running and hiding; however, when the creatures are shown, they don't disappoint. The makeup is well-done, and special effects are wisely kept to a bare minimum.

The gloomy, yet sharply rendered imagery from cinematographer Xavi Gimenezs (The Machinist) adds to grim terror experienced by our protagonists, as does the jangling dissonance of the original score by Alfons Conde.

While I will admit I was pretty bored during the middle of the movie (I don't mind when things get talky, but nothing new was added to the suspense via the dialogue), it rallies in the end and has a satisfying, fittingly unsettling conclusion...

will give you the willies
Relentlessly creepy, albeit long and slow on tempo, The Abandoned streams in the viewer into unexpected trippy parallel worlds and freighting doppelganger ghosts. If you notice the reviews are mostly positive, with a few negative which seem either to have short attention spans thus bored by the slowness, or they are expecting a different movie. (the advertisement led me to believe, I would be seeing some sort of spooky, decaying doll-- one reviewer states)

So these facts tell you that this movie will put you off guard which is one mark of a great film. I was at times saying WTF (in a good way) trying to figure out the mystery. When the reveal happens its outright acid flash back. The Abandoned is more conceptual than anything so of coarse there are a few whom won't get it and there are some unbelieveable parts but I suggest go with it you will have more fun. If you believe in the concept this movie works on all levels. Few films are perfect and when you rent this realize...

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Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious

Headed for the Carlin/Hicks/Rock pantheon
4.8 stars

By far the best stand-up performance I've seen since Chris Rock's perfect Bigger And Blacker, this is one hour of extremely edgy yet somehow good-natured comedy. Tosh spares nothing and no one, least of all America in general. And he does it all so slyly, with that engaging grin and flashing eyes that say, yeah, you know I'm right, admit it.

The material here is twenty minutes longer than what the Comedy Chunnel shows from this dvd. They cut a lot of the best, most over the top bits, so it's a treat to see them here. What really distinguishes Tosh is the intelligence and subtlety of some of his lines. He's skewering all of us, and our selfish society, and does it with so much verve and bonhomie that you hardly notice how deep the cuts go.

I enjoy a comedian who can get straight to the heart of things, and Tosh is a master at that already on his first dvd. He's one of the few stand-ups I've seen in years who clearly has the goods in spades,...

Hilarious and UN-PC!!!! Loved it!!!!
Just watched this free on Prime Instant Video and it was GREAT!!!! I have seen his Tosh.O show a couple times, but never thought that much of Tosh as a comedian. After this I am a HUGE fan. Everything he said was true, but offensive, which is ok. I think most people are too PC these days. It reminds me of "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia", in that they say the things we are thinking, but are "ashamed" to say. I liked how he wasn't afraid to make fun of his crowd, and thought the jokes about the Midwest were hilarious (I live in Missouri). If you like shows like "Louie" or "It's Always Sunny", then you will LOVE this standup special. Give it a try.

Very Funny
This is so amazing, I did like it better than happy thoughts. Just because you don't find him funny, doesn't mean he isn't, someone you know will find this funny. Would recommend for anyone, unless you can't sit back and just laugh away.

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Super Brawl Greatest Hits

Finally, the Culture Club videos are HERE!
Don't let the April 28 posting deter you. With all due respect, it was based on the 20 minute Amazon clip, NOT a viewing of the actual DVD.

I purchased the European (PAL) version of this DVD last fall (Virgin Records has a tendancy to release the good stuff in Europe first, then it comes to the U.S.). Based on the cover art and Amazon description, this is the U.S/Canada version (i.e., Region 1) of the European release. Thus, it is the COMPLETE video collection PLUS the A Kiss Across the Ocean concert.

It is an excellent compilation with all of the classic music videos and more. I had never seen the videos for Victims, Mistake No. 3 (check out that GIANT wedding cake!) and The Medal Song.

The complete listing from the European DVD:

PROMO VIDEOS:

01. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?

02. Time (Clock Of The Heart)

03. I'll Tumble For Ya

04. Church Of The Poison Mind

05. Karma Chameleon...

Another Missed Opportuntiy To Get It Right!
Not prone to elicit reviews, but simply couldn't hide my disappointment here, for the "visual" Pretenders have always been an important part of their story. Too bad Rhino is offering viewers a truncated version of their rich legacy.

I originally greeted Rhino's DVD release of Chrissie & Co.'s acoustic outing "Isle Of View" with just as much anticipation until I realized it omitted the tracks "Tequila" (one of the VERY first songs played by the original quartet), their great take on Radiohead's "Creep," and the positively brilliant and indispensable "Blue Sun." Now comes "Greatest Hits"...and while I am fully aware that the DVD is supposed to mirror the original 2000 U.K. audio CD, fans (and Pretenders completists like myself) are more than deserving of an 2005 "upgrade." A quick browse of the track listing reveals that the clips for "Tattooed Love Boys," "The Phone Call," "Show Me" (a bona-fide U.S. single), "Day After Day" (a bona-fide U.K. single), and several others are...

Very, Extremely Pleased With This Release
Culture Club fans, run out and get this DVD when it comes out. It is so nice to see the Culture Club videos from the early 80's. Unlike a lot of other compilations (most recenly Peter Gabriel's "Play"), the producers of the DVD didn't screw with the track list. The videos appear on the DVD in order of release date, at least I think they do. The DVD opens up with "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me," which is followed up by the video for "Time (Clock of the Heart)." It is really great seeing the video for "Time" because it seems like this video hasn't been played on VH-1 Classic or other video outlets as much as some of the other videos over the years.

The videos from the first few albums were very influenced by Japanese Culture, most namely, "Miss Me Blind," "Love is Love," and "It's A Miracle." In the video for "War Song," George is wearing red hair and by the video "Move Away," George is sporting short hair. The new (1998/1999) videos are also included. "I Just Want To...

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To Kill A Killer / Matar A Un Asesino (2 Versions)

A GEM...
One gem of a low budget movie, 2 July 2007
9/10
Author: jakeev67 from United States

If To Kill a Killer had been made with a big budget but with the same actors in their roles, it probably would have been some sort of hit.

The premise is pretty simple: Salomon Caramona and Lyndsey Jimenez are a hit-man and his wife who have to flee Mexico to Chicago when Caramona doesn't finish a hit.

Unknown to him, the man that hired Caramona for the original hit, tracks him down in Chicago and is willing to forgive the original hit if the former assassin will find a serial killer that tortured and murdered his daughter.

Uneven at times, the suspense still keeps you enthralled to what is going to happen next. Many twists and turns keep the film from being another boring snuff film.

And Jimenez, wow, in her debut role is outstanding as the cold, callous and even more dangerous wife Annabel.

She could be a star in the...

frustrating, difficult to follow
I found the dialog in this movie often hard to understand - the sound seemed unevenly recorded. I also had trouble following parts of the plot - i.e. how various characters related to each other, and what they wanted. I was unclear why the bad guy was intent on killing the good guys and bystanders. I will not recommend this flick



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The Lives of the Saints

A Canadian/Italian Soap Opera Has Its Moments!
THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS began as three novels by Nino Ricci and became a television miniseries for Canadian TV with a screenplay by Malcolm MacRury under the direction of Jerry Ciccoritti. It is a sweeping epic that covers Italy, Canada, Alaska and other parts of the US over a number of years in a non-linear fashion that weakens the plot progress. But despite the sudsy aspects of the three-hour plus DVD, there are moments of tenderness and memorable acting that deserve attention.

The story opens in Italy where Vittorio Innocente as a child (Flavio Pacilli and as a teen by Joseph Marrese) observes his mother Cristina (Sabrina Ferilli) in the stables, bitten by a snake but obviously having just had a consignation with a soldier with blue eyes. Vittorio seeks solace from his maiden teacher aunt Therese (a luminous Sophia Loren) who consoles him, protects Christina when she becomes visibly pregnant (her husband Mario - Nick Mancuso - has been absent...), and helps him...

The Lives of the Saints
It's great Italian story by great aitalian actress Sopia Loren and talented too, a woman of passionate love of life and family. She dominates the picture as well she should because it is her talent as an actress and her incredible personality that brought her to this point in her career. Her dramatic turns and use of Italian gestures turn this into a joyous romp for both her and the audience.

Deep emotions with great acting.
I have been a great fan of marvelous Sophia Loren since I saw her in Vittorio De Sicas film "Il Viaggio", I was at seventheen years old, and sat in a dark cinema three times. So;-I don't even try to be objektivy, but I'l write what I really feel.
This TV-miniserie called "Lives of the saints" has done with very high level of artistic cinematic solutions; cinematography, colours which emphazise when worm mediterrainian landscape of soul-or cold of Canadian new-comers life, where somethin seems to be missing, specially at their past. Every little details has put on together to move characters with their own profiles- and stil holding story at balance, and focused to the drama of humans life. As a most shining diamond on this warm and powerfull story, is Theresa-playing by perhaps one of the most greatest moviegoddes ever-Sophia Loren. Her performance doesn't need any over-acting or aggressive-attitude; what is so usually to her younger golleges. Her outstanding...

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Dreamland [Slim Case]

Fails to impress
Bruce Burgess is a journalist with time to kill and money to spend. When he's not a passenger in a Cessna skirting around Nellis Air Force Base (where Area 51 is located), or testing the legal boundaries with tepid attempts to penetrate Nevada airports, he is flying to Russia, leaning against barbed wire fences. His motto seems to be, "This is as close as we could get."

Now, I don't fault Burgess for trying. However, he shouldn't present his attemps and near-misses as "proof" of UFOs. Certainly, something strange seems to be going on in Area 51, but we can't quite say based on Burgess's evidence that whatever is going on is unearthly.

Before I critique some of Burgess's evidence, let me ask this question: If a flying saucer was discovered in Roswell in 1947, and if the U.S. Air Force has reverse engineered alien technology, why aren't we using it?

- Now, let's look at some of the so-called evidence presented. We get quite a lot of footage of grainy...

We've heard this all before
Dreamland was a British made documentary (narrated by Bruce Burgess) from 1996 regarding Area 51 in Nevada. I presume this was originally released on VHS (since of course, the DVD was introduced late that year in Japan, and elsewhere in 1997). At least this DVD is very inexpensive, but if you've watched your share of other UFO documentaries, subjects on Area 51, and listened to Art Bell's radio program through the years, this all sounds familiar. You get to hear interviews from the likes of Stanton Friedman and Bob Lazar. Lazar has long been discredited by many, including Friedman himself (he even does so on this documentary, especially when Friedman stated that Lazar is taking security issues way too lightly), but you get to hear Lazar stating he worked at Groom Lake at the end of the 1980s back-engineering alien technology to test fly flying saucers. Of course there are many who felt his records during his stay in Area 51 and Los Alamos were purposely erased, including George Knapp...

Aged but still worth it!
I received this DVD from one of my fiancee's coworkers. I haven't watched anything by this filmmaker before, but I truly applaud this work. It was a refreshing take on Area 51, presenting a lot of evidence including video, former employee testimony and photographs that I've never seen before. The DVD may be 10 years old, so some of their predictions as to disclosure occurring in the early 21st century may not have come to fruition, but, it's still a very informative and entertaining DVD.

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Rocky Mountain Hideaway

Rocky Mountain Hideaway
This is a stationary scene with moving water, and plants. It is "living art" as described however, I thought it would have more than one scene to choose from. Rocky Mountain Hideaway appears to be more like a tropical place such as Hawaii, from the horticulture, than any of the outdoor landscapes that I have seen in the Rocky Mountains. I grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. I think it is relaxing and I like the music and nature sound options. You can either listen to music, music and nature or nature only. The picture is high quality and very picturesque. I will enjoy entertaining with this as a background scene or using the scenery for meditation or relaxation.

Glad I did not pay a lot for this
I thought it would be a video of a waterfall out in the mountains. It is a closeup video of a waterfall yard decoration done in someone's back yard.

bringing a bit of nature inside
calming, beautiful, have it on now, while working on computer,can put this video on a large screen tv as well.

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Escape To Canada

Informative and illuminating documentary
The legalization of marijuana and gay marriage are not my issues. The world has many bigger problems. But freedom is my issue. This film does a fine job of presenting a perspective on the energetic and relatively effectual fights for individual freedoms in Canada, versus the US where the fights are made to seem rather ineffectual. This is obviously one perspective, but that perspective is developed so well through interviews and film clips that intelligent adults will find it well worth pondering. I found myself motivated to do more study of these issues and to try to better understand Canada, which is terrific!

This is not a film that was made for kids. The film presumes that a few words here and there will remind you that there are reasonable Canadians who do not share its producer's perspectives. Again, that should be enough for intelligent adult viewers who have been educated to try to weigh a variety of perspectives fairly and to sample different points of view, but...

Freedom, Canadian Style
This documentary reviews the changes in the Canadian culture, percieved from both at home and abroad, that has occured since about 2001. From being a "boring" country that nobody really could say anything definitive about, to becoming one of the leading countries for freedom in the world. Canada is starting to stand up to the United States, and is thus getting a reputation for being "cool".

Highlighting the landmark 2003 Summer of Freedom which saw in Canada the legalization of both same-sex marriage and marijuana, the film traces the change in mass acceptance of these controversial areas through the Bush era. Canada seems to have come of age in its standing up to the United States for what it believes is right, in contradistinction to its previous little brother subservience to the American hegemony. In short, The United States is no longer the leader of freedom, and Canada has stepped up to the role.

Certainly Canada has a way to go, but the film points out...

educational and even entertaining at times--a very well done film
Escape to Canada is a rather interesting documentary about the struggle for gay marriage and the legalization of marijuana use in Canada. The documentary starts out making fun of "boring" Canada; but the rest of THIS tale is anything but boring. We get great interview footage with Canada's "Prince of Pot;" Canadians and how they feel about gay marriage and pot legalization; footage of lawyers who fought for a society with more freedoms and equality and much, much more. The footage is well edited and so the story moves along at a very good pace without ever being dull; and it also points out differences between our political system and our views as opposed to the Canadian points of view and the Canadian experience in general.

We see the Canadian struggles for gay marriage and marijuana legalization; and there is discussion about the medicinal benefits of marijuana that led to one lawyer's being able to make pot legal in Canada. There is footage of gay couples getting married...

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Davey and Goliath: Vol 3 Learning About Forgiveness

Wonderful Children's Show with Timeless Moral Themes!
This is safe viewing for even the youngest toddlers and preschoolers, and is an exceptionally well-written children's collection, packed with timeless moral themes. There are many wonderful "takeaways" to be gleaned from the adventures of Davey and his big, goofy dog, Goliath -- humor, love, learning, music, friendship, simple examples of God's hand in our everyday life, honor, philanthropy, integrity, stewardship, servitude, and even some real-life lessons in the School of Hard Knocks.

I am no expert, but I believe this is what was commonly referred to as Claymation. Despite having originated in the 1960s, these renderings are of decent quality and have been very well received by my children. We have the set of four DVDs and enjoy watching them over and over again. In total among the four DVDs, there are (22) 15-minute episodes, and (4) 30-minute specials.

Highly recommended; watch them together and be blessed!

Simple Lessons
Davey & Goliath present wholesome tales with a strong moral message.
Cute Claymation animation by Art Clokey works well here.
Voices include none other than Hal Smith - best known for his role as Otis on The Andy Griffith Show.
Recommended for kids of all ages.



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Campfire Memories

campfire memories
campfire memories, very soothing w/ the natural sounds, nice on an evening w/ a fire going in your own fire fireplace, w/ company, at dinner time..chili, and s'mores fore dessert. gather around for campfire and ghost stores after dinner





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Endless Beach

So relaxing!!!
For years I had wanted to capture an audio recording of the waves on the beach but the wind in the microphone was so distracting. This DVD is the best sound and visual to relax or sleep by. You will love it too!!

Poor quality dvd
I originally bought video at a big box store; it worked well for background & I was not displeased. However, the DVD cracked after only a few uses and would not play, something I've never had happen before. I ordered another copy online, and IT cracked after playing for only a few hours. Tried to contact company online without success; not worth dealing with snail mail. I'm just going to try a different DVD.

Perfect way to relax, calm, become peaceful
Actually I saw it before I purchased it and knew it was a MUST HAVE. I have trouble getting to sleep at night and the restful waves are calming and before I know it, I'm asleep.

When I am nervous or jumpy, it puts me in a better place. You're going to LOVE it like I do.

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The Secret of NIMH (Two-Disc Family Fun Edition)

Excellent animated tale
A captivating story; smooth, clean animation; and an outstanding musical score combine to make this film a rewarding sensory experience.

Set in the tradition of Disney animated movies (from where Mr. Bluth came), yet this film's flavor is a shade different. I would almost say more "realistic". Not to knock any Disney films (which I love to watch), this movie deals with a problem set on a 'it could happen' level. No search for a Prince Charming here -- just a person (mouse in the film) attempting to deal with the real world problem of how to relocate the Brisby family's home under emergency conditions when one of its members is too ill to move.

The story has charm and wit, and yes, even a bit of mortality thrown in. The art and animation are top notch, and the plot flows without a lot of irrelevant detail for padding. Very young children may not follow exactly what message is being sent to the audience, however, they will probably enjoy the show all the same. For...

"Courage of the heart is very rare..."
Mrs. Brisby is a newly-widowed young mother with four hungry mouths to feed. She's also a tiny field mouse who scrapes out a modest living for herself and her family among the other small animals who live in Farmer Fitzgibbons' field. Harder times have fallen upon the meek and selfless little mouse, however, as her youngest child, Timmy, has become ill with pneumonia just as the family is forced to find a new home before the farmer's plowing begins. Doing anything and everything in her power to help her son and discover a remedy for her moving woes, Mrs. Brisby visits an ingenious little mouse named Mr. Ages who provides her with medicine for Timmy. Unfortunately, the danger comes sooner than expected, and Mrs. Brisby must find a faster solution. At the suggestion of her friend and neighbor, Auntie Shrew, the desperate mother takes her plea to the Great Owl. This is a dangerous task indeed for a tiny little mouse, but Mrs. Brisby will stop at nothing for the welfare of her children...

Great movie, awful DVD
This movie has intense sentimental value to me, since I grew up with it as a child. When I discovered is was available on DVD I lept for joy and quickly baught it. However my joy has quickly fallen to disapointment. This is a pathetic DVD, no better then the VHS, from which I think it was transfered. Pan & Scan with a stereo audio track. The film is extreemly grainy and full of scratches. MGM is notorious for making horrible DVDs, and this is a classic example. Secret of NIMH isn't that old of a movie, I find it hard to believe they couldn't find an original print to do a good transfer from, rather then just copying the VHS. I sincerely hope they reevaluate this release and give us a remastered widescreen version in the future.

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Call Him Mr. Shatter [Slim Case]

Call him Mr. Shatter!
Back in the 70's, England's Hammer Studios contracted with the famous Shaw Brothers to produce a few movies in Hong Kong. Only two ever came from the union, this tepid movie and the much better Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires (1979). I think the idea behind this movie was to combine the action of kung fu, whose popularity was in full swing thanks to Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon (1973) and the grittiness of Mario Puzo's The Godfather (1972). This hybrid fell short of this lofty goal. Actually, it didn't even come close to the mark, as this movie really sucked rotten eggs. I hesitate to mention this movie with those two, truly wonderful achievements in cinema history, but I wanted to give you an idea of what you're in for here.

Craggy faced actor Stuart Whitman, probably best known for his television work from the early 50's through the 70's, stars as Shatter, a hit man contracted to kill an African dictator. He completes his assignment, returns to Hong Kong to...

Bulletproof.
Everybody trashes this movie it seems, even its own director (Carreras) hated it. But how anyone can hate a movie blessed with the presence of Cushing is a tall question indeed. -He's wonderful in a rather small part, one I understand he even did more or less as a favor to Hammer boss Carreras. The action scenes involving gun-fights and car-chases are nice to watch, but because the Shaw Brothers co-produced we sadly have to endure some martial arts stuff as well. Not only is this a Hammer film with the great sir Peter, but two other faves of mine are also featured; Stuart Whitman and Anton Diffring. By no means a great movie, but most certainly not the terrible mess some would have you believe, either.

Quite good for fans of Stuart Whitman.
The print is excellent but what makes this DVD worth purchasing is the audio commentary. The uncredited director Monte Hellman offers some insight into the trouble bound production. Stuart Whitman's commentary is recorded in a hotel room and is not as clear as I would have liked,though his stories are fascinating.

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Inside Out

great movie
some of the other reviewers are right, this movie will keep you guessing until the end. what exactly is going on? is dr peebles really a bad guy? but he is so likeable of a character. the ending in not pointless but very moving, if you like drama movies. check this out..

Love this movie
Chose 5 stars cause this is another crazy movie I love eriq La Salle he play in good movies. I love everything about this movie. I would recommend this to people who love a good thrill.

Excellent twists and turns, great thriller
the movie starts off one way, than just gets where you beg to know whats really going on. than when you find out, of course its not what you expect. thats what makes it great. I think the other reviews are mad because it was not what they wanted it to be. It is a great thriller in the fact that it had me going one way, and fooled me good. gotta love a movie that can do that. wow, wish they all could.

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Davey And Goliath Volume 2: Learning About Caring for Others

Simple lessons
Davey & Goliath present wholesome tales with a strong moral message.
Cute Claymation animation by Art Clokey works well here.
Voices include none other than Hal Smith - best known for his role as Otis on The Andy Griffith Show.
Recommended for kids of all ages.

Wonderful Children's Show with Timeless Moral Themes!
This is safe viewing for even the youngest toddlers and preschoolers, and is an exceptionally well-written children's collection, packed with timeless moral themes. There are many wonderful "takeaways" to be gleaned from the adventures of Davey and his big, goofy dog, Goliath -- humor, love, learning, music, friendship, simple examples of God's hand in our everyday life, honor, philanthropy, integrity, stewardship, servitude, and even some real-life lessons in the School of Hard Knocks.

I am no expert, but I believe this is what was commonly referred to as Claymation. Despite having originated in the 1960s, these renderings are of decent quality and have been very well received by my children. We have the set of four DVDs and enjoy watching them over and over again. In total among the four DVDs, there are (22) 15-minute episodes, and (4) 30-minute specials.

Highly recommended; watch them together and be blessed!



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The Joe Louis Story [Slim Case]

Realistic depiction of the great boxer
The casting was excellent. A boxer named Corey Wallace played Joe Louis. He looked like him, except that he had a belly. Louis was trim. In some of the big fights, Schmeling, Baer, Carnera, they show actual fight footage, so you see the real Joe Louis. The actor who played Louis's trainer Jack Blackburn was a young guy in a ridiculous bald wig. The movie begins with Marciano beating Louis up, then goes to the happier, earlier days. It's a good movie about a fighter who has his supporters for greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. I shut it off rather than watch the sad parts at the end.

Heavyweight box-opic
THE JOE LOUIS STORY is a highly episodic picture that stars credible lookalike Coley Wallace as the fighter from Detroit who held the heavyweight title for 12 years. Cameoing in an early scene is Joe's first trainer, Shorty Linton. Ossie Davis has an uncredited bit part. Archive footage includes bout clips with Primo Carnera, Max Schmeling, Jimmy Braddock, Max Baer and Rocky Marciano.

The film opens with newsman Tad McGeehan (Paul Stewart) writing Joe Louis Barrow's boxing epitaph after his final defeat against contender Marciano. McGeehan's narration throughout keeps the story moving briskly, from Louis as a teen quitting violin lessons for tutoring by Linton, to gym sessions with 'Chappie' Blackburn (James Edwards) and Joe's simultaneous introduction to future wife Marva (Hilda Simms), golf as a pastime and of course the professional ranks, with actual fight clips that favorably show Wallace's resemblance to the soon-to-be champ.

Joe's inexperience becomes...

I CAN'T BELIEVE NO ONE HAS REVIEWED THIS!
i'm reviewing the 1953 film, not the dvd.

ok, i don't actually have the words for it all at the moment. it's pretty late. i can absolutely say that this film deserves proper attention for such a prolific figure in our recent past.
the film, production-wise, could've used a more loving touch, but it was a film about black people, starring mostly blacks in serious roles. this wasn't exactly expected to be a blockbuster for this reason, i'm sure, which is certainly a shame. this film is very deep. i can't help but watch it whenever given the chance.

i guess [...] sums it up very well: "The life and career of Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis, who held the title for 12 years--longer than any other boxer in history--and who had to not only battle opponents inside the ring and racism outside it."

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KKK [Slim Case]

Intolerance, ignorance, injustice ('I's that are blind)
EASTWEST slimcased DVDs have no subtitles or extras beyond plot synopsis on the case's back cover. As with all such bargain brands, dubs are "best available source" with quality that varies from only fair to very good.

.
Note: PARAMOUNT's 1999 videotape is still the most complete version of KLANSMAN. All subsequent releases are edited. This retitled version is purportedly missing two minutes of violence.

.
Because of its grim and touchy subject, three decades of political correctness virtually guarantee KLANSMAN could never be made today. Its racial slurs, hatred and stereotypes are far too repulsive for modern audiences. The setting is a small Alabama town where whites are a minority who intimidate black citizens with Klan activity and extreme gang violence.

Some of the more repulsive moments:
Two blacks walking home from a bar are jumped by a large group of armed...





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The Alfred Hitchcock Collection: Sabotage, Blackmail, Number 17, The 39 Steps, Young & Innocent, Man Who Knew Too Much

Hitchcock British-era six-pack
The manufacturer of this 6 film set, EASTWEST is a budget line purveyor best-known for their slimcased two-fers. Like most such outfits, dubs are "best available source" with quality that varies from only fair to very good.

RANDOMNESS--
"The Man Who Knew Too Much" is an espionage nail-biter that features both a kidnapping and an assassination plot.
"Sabotage" is Hitch at his best. A Scotland Yard detective tries to catch a saboteur who plans to explode a bomb in London.
"Young and Innocent" is a mistaken identity story. A man wrongfully arrested for his girlfriend's murder escapes and goes on the run.
"Number Seventeen" is the address of a gang of theives' hideout. They are tracked to their safehouse by a detective.
"Blackmail" was released in both silent and sound format. The "talkie" shows signs of its non-sound origins: overdubbed noises and stretches of silence.
"The 39 Steps" is a spy film that's been remade three times and is scheduled...





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Black Fist

Black Fist [Slim Case]
1974 blaxplotation movie had a decent plot of a L.A. street fighter from the slums with dreams of making it big as a champion boxer works for gangsters to make ends meet. The film transfer here is awful,so awful in fact that at times hurt my eyes to look at.I picked this up for a dollar at a dollar store along with Black Terminator. One dollar is exactly what you should keep your budget at when buying anything that comes in slim cases.

Great New Format
They formated the widescreen to fit the 1.33x1 screen. What is the wrong to format the 1.33 screen to fit the widescreen tv. Is not better than having black bars. I like the new format, and by the way it does not come in slim case..



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Video Aquarium - Moods of Nature DVD

Tranquil and relaxing
First saw this at my doctor's office. I thought it was the perfect place for it: my doctor's office is full of screaming kids and folks blowing their noses etc.... Something relaxing and peaceful to distract me while waiting was most welcome instead of Noprah or other daytime TV dribble. I bought a used copy on Amazon for 50 cents or so and enjoy putting it on once in a while. It has mellow fish scenes and some new age dreamy type music.





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Moods Of Nature: Fireside Reflections

Hilarious
Living in the Florida Keys suggest a heavy duty air conditioner but at Christmas time a big fireplace during my Christmas Boat Parade Party was a huge hit and everyone wanted one....lol. Thanks for being so inventive!

Ok but. . .
Nice dvd, but does anyone know how to clear out the little video icon in the top right corner? Looks like an old reel projector. I've tried all of the buttons on my remote, but it still stays and detracts from the fireplace scene.

Better than Most - EXCELLENT Music
I picked up this DVD for $3 at my local CVS drug store. I wasn't expecting much, but I wanted something to use as background during the holidays. I was very pleasantly surprised at the several viewing/audio options offered on a budget label DVD and even more impressed by the quality of the musical offerings. The selections by the St. James Harp Quartet are stunning!

BUY THIS FOR THE MUSIC ALONE and you will not be disappointed. The fireplace views are an added value that just happens to compliment the music.

RECOMMENDED!

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Strike Force / Corrupt [Slim Case]

Keitel and Gere as NYC cops
EASTWEST DVD double features offer two films on one disc side, with no subtitles or extras beyond plot synopses on the cases's back cover. Audio levels are remarkably high but distortion-free. Their space-saver two-fers provide a nice variety of lesser-known films for bargain prices. Recommended.

Video quality of these two unrestored movies is acceptable.

FILM SYNOPSES--

STRIKE FORCE
Richard Gere's third film, some two years before his break out performance in LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR (1977) is this failed pilot for a French Connection-ish TV show. Lead Cliff Gorman is a NYC cop who teams with the Feds to battle a drug ring.

CORRUPT
Stars Harvey Keitel and punk rocker Johnny Rotten. Keitel is a country music-loving NYC detective who imprisons and tortures cop-killer Johnny, but the masochistic creep-o only begs for more abuse. An odd, violent little movie and...





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Man With The Golden Arm / Suddenly [Slim Case]

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Disappearances

Disappearances worth sticking around for
What a delight! In a market where we excuse bad lines delivered by flat
characters for a few dozen more explosions, dazzling special effects, and everything else twenty million dollars can buy, I love Disappearances for its charm, its clever script handled by a well-appointed cast, and its beautiful photography.

The movie is thoroughly rural. Like the countryside where it was
produced, Disappearances unfolds itself slowly but magnificently. Do not expect to find your heart in your throat for two hours, followed by a climactic, tidy resolution to the cosmos. Disappearances tells a story of
father and son, and it is rightly more of a process than a particular event. In that regard, the plot development is stylistically closer to eastern European cinema than it is to its American peers.

With only a couple hitches (a couple characters are more prop than talent), Disappearances' strong symbiosis of script and talent is the film's greatest offering. The...

Proof or Poof!
`Disappearances' is an enigma. Taking place during the Great Depression in Vermont, we get an outlaw caper and a tale of the supernatural. The movie is more worthy than not, but when it relies on the former, we get captivating adventure; when it relies on the latter we get more mood than substance. Kris Kristopherson, featuring one of his best performances in memory, leads an assorted cast through peril during the Prohibition.

Quebec's the name and making ends meet is the game. As his family farm loses collaterol and the money to buy hay for the animals, Quebec's stubbornness makes things even harder on the rest of family. After he runs out of honest means, he decides to go back to smuggling whiskey from across the border. The women folk don't like him much, but his son "Wild Bill" is the apple of his eye. Just like his own father, Quebec looks to his next of kin to be as much of a rascal as he is. For schooling, "Wild Bill" has elder Aunt Cordelia (Genevieve...

Whiskey running and mysticism
Kingdom County is still a place of wonders.

Do not expect a straightforward story here. Different realities fade in and out of this movie. People come and go- and death isn't necessarily an end. It is alot like life, or at least life naturally perceived. You have an interwoven fabric of hard natural practicalities and of mystical insights. This is the way native Americans saw life, so too could some of european descent before the mass-brainwashing of the media- and this film is set in 1932 in the north woods before total brainwashing took hold. Kingdom county was disappearing, yet it was still a place of wonders.

This could be a mythic hero tale with William, his father, and their companions travelling North for adventure as much as whiskey- and finding much more than they originally bargained for. In the end some answers are found, some mystery remains, and some things melt away into the beyond.

The character of Cordelia sums up the movie when she...

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Unleashed [HD DVD]

Raw and Brutal, but wait...a sad drama as well.
If you go beyond Amazon's reviews, you'll find the majority of the public and the "critics" giving Unleashed above par to high rankings. I read a bulk of critic reviews and was amazed to find all of them actually enjoying aspects, if not the entire movie. Well, the movie does speak for itself.

Danny (Jet) is raised similar to an abused dog by Bart (Hoskins) somewhere in Scotland. Danny basically lives in a cage with a few possessions: punching bag, blanket, A-B-C book, and a stuffed animal. He knows no social skills, only to obey Bart. His world changes when he comes in contact with a piano which triggers some memory. Eventually, the piano links Danny to Morgan Freeman's character. This is where the movie shifts gears and we get to witness Jet Li's best performance in an English dialogue movie. Without giving too much away, you literally watch Danny's new life unfold as he discovers humanity; tasting ice-cream, going to the supermarket, wearing pajamas, etc. There is...

A good action flick, but...
This was a very good action flick. Decent storyline, fast paced. Easily one of Jet Li's best performances, with excellent support from Morgan Freeman. There is a good bit of humor as "Danny" becomes acclimated to living as a normal human being.

However, this film is BRUTALLY VIOLENT! The fight scenes are not your typical martial arts kicking and punching. Danny breaks bones, breaks necks, rips people apart and the sound effects can be disturbing. The R-rated version was definitely not for the under-sixteen crowd, and I'm sure the unrated cut will be even more so. Cautiously recommended.

Great Action Film
If you love Jet Li and his incredible acrobatic martial art skills, then this one is for you. Being an English speaking picture they had to work around Jet's limited English. The story however is perfect for that. Jet is a killing machine that has literally been raised like a dog by a cruel master who uses him to enforce his extortion racket as well as using him to fight in an illegal combat arena where victory only comes with your opponents death. Li escapes his lifelong captures and takes up with a blind piano tuner(Morgan Freeman) and his daughter who teach him that there is something more to life than killing. But of course his former master wants him back and all hell breaks lose. This is a great action picture with a pretty good story if you suspend a little belief. For example there are no police around despite daylight street fights and gun battles, and no one ever questions why a rag tag Jet Li is walking around with a dog collar on. But don't let that ruin a good...

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Go Diego Go: Ready, Set, Go!

Go Deigo Go DVD
Ever since my 3 year old grandson has had it in his hot little hands he has been watching it - he even thinks he can take it outside with him - great buy!!!!!!

Go Diego go
My twins love Diego. It is very difficult to find this video at such a great price. I ordered the video and within a week I had my product. No disappointments. Would order again from your company .

Diego DVD
Excellent DVD for my grand daughter who loves Diego and Dora. This is an excellent teaching tool that will be cherished for many years to come.

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Life After Death: The Movie - Ten Years Later

It's okay
This DVD is about Lil Kim and Puffy and what they did a year after Biggie was killed. Nothing really on Biggie

Best Rap DVD i seen
It Was the best and kept real DVD i have seen. I didnt think to much about Lil' Kim but after seeing this dvd it shows how kool of a person she is. I liked biggie but it shows who was bummin and who had the money after he died.

A GOOD BUY
THIS DVD WAS COOL. TOO BAD THINGS FELL APART. HOPEFULLY THE CREW WILL SETTLE THEIR DIFFERENCES. BIG IS TURNING OVER IN HIS GRAVE :(

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Uncle P

P Comes Through For The Famlies
If you liked Ice Cube's Are We There Yet then you should enjoy Uncle P, it is a good family movie and good for all ages but really good for kids. Picture quality was pretty good for a Master P movie also!!!!

GOOD FUNNY FAMILY MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UNCLE P IS A GREAT FAMILY MOVIE. I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER LOVED "ARE WE THERE" AND SHE FELL IN LOVE THIS UNCLE P MOVIE TOO. THIS IS A GOOD MOVIE THAT KIDS AND ADULTS AND WATCH AT THE SAME TIME AND BE ENTERTAINED.

Good Movie!
The movie is a great family movie and the romeo video in the special features was cool to because it matched the movie because it was all about the kids.

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Naruto, Vol. 13

Episodes On This Disc
Hi.My name is Timothy.Im here to tell you about the episodes on this disc.Here they are:

49:Lee's Hidden Strength:Forbidden Secret Jutsu!

As the battle between Lee and Gaara continues,Lee and Gai have flashbacks to when they were training.Lee trained much harder than his other teammates.Lee also remembers about the times that he hit a tree so hard that he had to put bandages on.Then,Lee uses his forbidden secret jutsu,so now it looks like this killer sand village freak might lose after all.

50:The Fifth Gate:A Splended Ninja Is Born

After using his forbidden jutsu and failing while using the prime lotus,Lee is basicallly dead.Just when Lee is about to get killed,Gai stepps in and blocks the sand coffin that Gaara launched.Lee falls back down again and looses the match.As the medical ninja examine him,they say that Lee is no longer a shinobi.

51:A Shadow In Darkness:Danger Approaches Sasuke

The final...

naruto volume 13
i feel so emotional for rock lee he puts so much into his fighting to save the leaf village i think of him as the most hardest working ninja of them all he puts his whole heart and soul into any mission i am so happy he is healed so he can continue protecting the leaf village thanks pam :)

super awesome
this dvd is one of my favorites, because rock lee's and garaa's fight is one of the best and funnest to watch!

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Familia

About "women" more than mothers and daughters
I have seen this twice. It is an enjoyable story about women, who happen to have children. I wouldn't say it is specifically about mothers and daughters....as there are themes of addiction, cheating, and adolescence going on too.

A good chick flick for sure.

Is the lack of stability in a family nature or nurture?
This is a very well written and well acted film about mothers trying to keep their families together despite all the pressures that come to bear on relationships between adults and kids. As a parent of an adolescent girl, I found the performances and questions around the young teens particularly interesting. The central question is whether you can do anything "right" when you're raising a family or whether it is better to be true to whom you are, which a result of genetics and environment is clearly. The two women find themselves in untenable situations that are probably no fault of their own, but must climb out of such dilemmas in less than graceful ways. The other reviews emphasize this as a "chick flick" but I'm one single dad who really enjoyed it. The gender issue in film that seems to make something a "chick flick" seems to be that women are helped by other women (mothers, sisters, friends) when they hit bottom, men are presented as negligent, absent, distant, avoidant, violent,...

very very good film! Highly recommended
Excellent story, wonderful acting!

The plot is very well written and developed,
the relationships between women of different generations, and even men and women are presented in an exquisite way!

For me, a little bonus was the very cute way the Canadians speak French, very enjoyable nasal pronunciation :P

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Something to Cheer About

Superb documentary
My wife and I just saw this movie at a local theatre last night. It was a unique experience on several levels. The movie was excellent and powerful, covering an historic series of events in Indiana that have been largely ignored. The Crispus Attucks High School basketball teams of the early and mid-fifties under the caring, tough, and inspirational leadership of their coach, overcame intense racism to win several state championship basketball titles. The footage of some of those basketball games (which include Oscar Robertson, Willie Merriweather, Hallie Bryant, and other great players) is amazing and the interviews with players, the coach (Ray Crowe), Isiah Thomas, among others are illuminating. At the end of the movie, the director of the film and several of the players came down to the front of the theatre to talk to the audience and answer questions. This was one of the most unique and enjoyable movie experiences I have ever had. My advice: see this movie and buy the DVD...

an aptly named documentary
You don't have to be an avid basketball fan to appreciate "Something to Cheer About," a beautiful and inspiring documentary about the Crispus Attucks Tigers, the first all-black high school team ever to win a state championship - and the team that changed the face of the game forever.

Crispus Attucks High School was an all-black institution that was itself conceived and born out of racism. It was established in Indianapolis in 1927 by the Ku Klux Klan as a means of keeping public schools in that city segregated along racial lines. It is gleefully ironic, then, that such a place would, a mere two or three decades later, have become one of the key focal points for the civil rights movement in the world of sports.

Director Betsy Blankenbaker has assembled a number of the key players from that period (mainly the early to mid 1950's) to reminisce about their experiences both as teammates and as pioneers in the cause of social justice. Of course, these boys didn't...

A Lasting Legacy
I'm not necessarily a sports fan, but something about the description of this movie piqued my interest. I was rewarded with a story that shines with understated pride. The blend of on-camera interviews, archival footage, and voice-over stills and headlines skillfully portrays a pivotal turning point in basketball's history, while simultaneously conveying focus, determination, and character despite the capriciousness of white privilege in the 1950s. Coach Crowe's belief in giving something back to the world was fully realized, not only in the sports world, but in the life-legacy he gave each of his players.

Quieter, undramatized, and of an earlier era, Something to Cheer About nonetheless brings to mind Remember the Titans. For me, hearing Coach Crowe and his players tell their own story, was powerful and immediate. I look forward to the DVD release so I can share it with my school community as well. It will be interesting to explore what's changed and what's the same.

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The Prostate Cancer Men's Club

A Must For Anyone Who has or Knows Someone Who Has Prostate Cancer
This is a "must have" for all who have prostate cancer, their friends, acquaintances, loved ones who are struggling with this issue. Provides an extremely user-friendly overview of the state of the art treatments for this most potentially serious illness, and hope for all afflicted, including significant others. Highly recommend.





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Brain Machine / Astral Factor

1970's film overdrive
Brain Machine (1977)

(spoilers) I love horror movies. I love B-Movies as well. Nothing makes my day more than a cheesy little film about zombies, monsters, murderers, that sort of thing. But to say that this movie was lacking, is an understatement. This movie was pure trash.

I decided to get it only because it looked like it could be okay. The story is pretty basic. Two doctors stick four people in an underground lab and start doing mental tests on them with these brain-machine computers. (Spare the constant "beep-beep...beep-beep" from any TV show.)

Nothing really happens. The film's first twenty minutes is about an escapee from the lab who has a file showing all that goes on. Apparently, these tests are pretty much illegal. He eventually gets caught and killed off. Then the four people (a war veteran, a priest, a girl, and some other guy) are tested on. It's all really boring until finally they all start going mad and either killing themselves, or...





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Auto-B-Good Special Editon: Shifting to High Gear

Wonderful!
These are great well made videos full of Christian character and good moral lessons. Have bought several for my grandson he loves it! If they are going to watch videos/tv this is great as it has a positive influence unlike most of the cartoons on television.

Video Rating
My grandchildren love the series. Order came quickly and packaging was great. Hope to order more of this series for the grandkids.

Derek rates Derek at an all time high!
My son's name is Derek, so it was fitting we bought him the DVD about Derek. He loves it. Better than Cars because we know he's learning more about being a Christian.

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The Big Cube

Not Russ Meyer But Still High Camp
I wouldn't put this on the same level as Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, but then I wouldn't put any film there, except maybe some of Russ Meyer's others, or maybe the Warhol/Morrissey/Dallesandro trilogy, Trash-Flesh-Heat. In any case, this is a highly enjoyable and well done campy romp. Lana Turner is a retired actress who is the only thing standing in the way of her beautiful but gullible step-daughter getting married. The would-be groom is a disgraced medical student who was thrown out of the university for using the lab to make LSD cubes, which he uses to dose people he doesn't like. So the couple decides to spike stepmom's tranquilizers with those funny sugar cubes, hoping to make her go crazy and to thus remove her an an obstacle to their nuptial plans. The psychedelic scenes are completely over the top, and delightfully ridiculous. All the acting is perfect, the set pieces are just what they should be, ditto for the music . . . If you are into 60s acid-laced camp...

wild flashback
wow!what a time warp.I have never seen this film before i ordered it from amazon,and i'm glad i did.released at a time,1969,when the tune in drop out was in,this truley is a time capsule.lana turner is one of my faves, and of course george chakiris.seeing them both under the influance of the big cube is truley a sight to see.I do not recommend drug use, but i do recommend this movie,campy,hilarious at times and truley just fun to see.

If you liked "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls".....
Then you should definitely add "The Big Cube" to your collection as a companion piece...It has the same trippy, 60s camp value as Russ Meyer's film. You have to wonder what Lana Turner was thinking by joining on to this (the same could be said for George Chakiris, having won his Oscar

The Prodigal

Lana Turner at her sexiest!
1955's "The Prodigal" was MGM's most ambitious film of the year, filmed at a cost of $5,000,000 with the intention of being one of the "really significant Biblical spectacles of all time." Adapted from 22 verses of the New Testament book of Luke, it was indeed a lavish spectacle. Lana Turner didn't like the script, but was compelled because of her studio contract to star in the movie. Making the most of her situation, she redesigned her costumes to reveal as much flesh as the Production Code would allow, making herself "as sensuous, sexy, and gorgeous as possible." Needless to say, her daring (for 1955) costumes are the best reason to watch this movie!

"The Prodigal Son" is Micah (Edmund Purdom), who honors his aging father Eli (Walter Hampden) by becoming engaged to Ruth, a kind-hearted woman who also shares his faith in God. But when Micah visits Damascus, he sees Samarra (Lana Turner), the high priestess of Astarte, goddess of the flesh, and he is instantly captivated by...

Colorful, daring Hollywood epic
From the Golden Age of Hollywood comes The Prodigal (1955), a MGM release. This "Biblical" epic, based on the New Testament story of The Prodigal son, tells of the adventure of the young man who enters the pagan world and discovers the mysteries and charms of Miss Lana Turner, high priestess of the temple of a graven, cruel, jealous god, and the dangers of forbidden love. Edmund Purdom is the prodigal who is smitten by Turner's Samarra.The story plods along with some over-blown and sometimes trite dialogue, but the costumes and sets are eye-popping. This movie era could only produce such grandier and Miss Turner as the brilliant center, is sinfully beautiful. She reveals more of her self as any much younger actress would dare at the time. And she looks marvelous. See this spectacular entry for what we may never see in today's cinema.

All the bits the Bible forgot!
The Prodigal fills in all those bits in the parable of the Prodigal Son that Jesus omitted, and very entertainingly too. It seems junior (Edmund Purdom) got the hots for the high priestess of Astati (Lana Turner) while incurring the wrath of the high priest of Baal and tyrant of Damascus (Louis Calhern) and frittered away his fortune before coming to his senses and leading the people in rebellion against their pagan oppressors. As you might guess from that synopsis, there are more than a few similarities to The Egyptian, not least Edmund Purdom selling his birthright for a second time for bit of nookie with a pagan temptress (he'd do anything for a bit of skirt, that Purdom: did he learn nothing from his experience with Bella Darvi?), although this is a lot less thoughtful and a lot more fun. A rare 50s epic shot in Hollywood rather than Cinecitta, it falls somewhere between De Mille - the apprentice child priestess in her miniature chariot drawn by a goat could be straight out of the...

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Mystery Men [HD DVD]

We're not your classic heros. We're the other guys.
Being acutely familiar with the source material for this film as I collected many a comic book in my youth, I thought Mystery Men (1999) did a really good job staying close to its' roots. Based on characters created by Bob Burden and showcased within the pages of his 'Flaming Carrot' comic book, Mystery Men highlights those 'not so super' super heroes, the blue collar ones that don't necessarily have the most spectacular powers, but seem to share a desire to protect their fellow man against evil and it's minions.

The film has a pretty impressive ensemble cast including Ben Stiller as Mr. Furious, William H. Macy as The Shoveller, Janeane Garolafo as The Bowler, Paul Rubens as The Spleen, Hank Azaria as The Blue Raja, Greg Kinnear as Captain Amazing, and Geoffery Rush as the villain Casanova Frankenstein. The supporting cast includes Claire Forlani, Lena Olin, Tom Waits, Eddie Izzard, Artie Lange, and Louise Lassiter.

The story involves the kidnapping of Capitol City's most...

In My Opinion: Hilarious
Champion City is the home of one of the greatest superheroes of all time: Captain Amazing. Unfortunatly for him, his crime fighting skills have left him without any publicity left except for the odd toothpaste commercial. Reduced to fighting gangs at nursing homes and steadily loosing his sponsers, Captain Amazing comes up with a plan. Using his alterego, the millionaire Lance Hunt, he bids for the release of one of his favourite arch-villains to be released in the hopes of defeating him and gaining some much-needed recognition. Thus, Casanova Frankenstein is released.

But there is another level to the superhero regime: the Shoveller (whose weapon is various types of shovels), the Blue Rajah (who throws forks, has a fake British accent and still lives with his mum) and Mr Furious (whose power comes from his barely controlled temper and has trouble coming up with suitable comebacks) are all wannabe heroes, who usually emerge from a fight with black eyes. Yet when Captain Amazing goes...

It ain't Shakespeare --
-- so, just sit back and enjoy it! Original, very funny andentertaining movie about a group of superhero-wannabes who bandtogether to save their city's real, yet commercially-sponsored,superhero (Greg Kinnear) from the clutches of the evil Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) and his Bee Gees-loving henchmen. Led by The Shoveler (William H. Macy)and Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), the "Mystery Men" -- a misnomer since the group's person with any real powers is a woman (Janeane Garofalo at her sarcastic best)-- team up with a non-lethal weapons expert (Tom Waits) to save their city. Some really funny moments and memorable lines, especially from the Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), the "British" superhero who doesn't have a shred of blue in his outfit, and the "terribly mysterious" Sphnix ("Dances with Wolves'" Wes Studi). I would have loved to seen more development of Invisible Boy's (Kel Martin) character -- no pun intended -- but less of scenes like...

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Nixon - A Presidency Revealed

About as comprehensive as any bio of Nixon gets
I only wish the biography was longer, more comprehensive of his entire life's work, rather than going on mostly about the Watergate affair. But overall, a must-see, even if you're not at all a Nixon fan. It's pretty fairly balanced, for those who love him and hate him.

The dark side of Nixon
Initially I was disappointed that this production focused mostly on Nixon's dark, "paranoid" (as some who knew him described him) side. But the longer I watched this I came away with a better understanding not so much of the man, but of his administration and how wrapped up in Vietnam and later with Watergate he got. The audio tapes are quite revealing of Nixon's abuse of power.

The downside to this production is that it doesn't go into his pre-political life. For that I suggest one watches the PBS Presidential version of Nixon, a good production that balances this one out. This work starts with Nixon's term under Eisenhower and how he rose to power in the 1950s.

Nixon's daughter is interviewed for this, Alex Butterfield, Sen Bob Dole, Henry Kissinger and a few others, but not VP Ford or others closely working with Nixon. That is fine, though as the tapes we get to listen to in part say enough of Nixon the man.

Sen Dole said it best that Nixon the...

Nixon
I think the video did a good job of explaining the presidency of Richard Nixon. However, I think the video should have focused more on Nixon's good qualities. The video could have dealt more on his early family history. The video could have mentioned something about his stance on Civil Rights early in his career. No one doubts that Nixon did wrong during the Watergate episode. In spite of this, Richard Nixon had a profound influence on American foreign policy. One question I ask is "What would have happened if Nixon had won in 1960?" We probably would not have had the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam debacle. I also think Nixon would have advanced Civil Rights in a more forward manner than Kennedy. The question will never be answered, but it is fun to think about.

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Visions of Horror

Saved the Best for Last
As with any compilation of works from different people there will always be some stories that are better than others, but this will vary from person to person depending on taste. As for me, I thought that the opening scene was done well and has kinda that art house feel and implies more that it states, quite enjoyable. The other scenes were about what you would expect out of Indie Horror. However the one that I liked the most and personnaly makes me feel like the disc is worth buying just to see is the final scene. A crazed killer and a rapist run into each other while pursuing the same girl....now that's an interesting scenerio, leaves you feeling unsure who to root for if anyone, well done, delvelopes at a steady pace leaving you hanging on waiting for the inevitable moment to happen, nice and disturbing to think about.

The disc is better than the box cover art
Typically when I go into Hollywood Video or Blockbuster I get tricked with slick box cover art and a bad movie. The is one of the rare instances that go opposite of that. I saw a cheaply made box cover and took a chance on the DVD cause of Tiffany Shepis. Almost all the short films were entertaining and enjoyable. Visions of Horror is much better than the Fangoria short film collection minus the slick box art.

stab my eyes out please
The only things worse than the horrible story lines were the bad acting and directing. It had to be the worst two bucks I've ever wasted. Which I will never get back nor the time I wasted watching this trashy tasteless flick. Avoid by whatever means necessary.

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