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This fun-filled western romp about a charming con-man is based on the classic tv series. Features scene access and production notes. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 06/07/2005 Starring: Mel Gibson Jodie Foster Run time: 127 minutes Rating: Pg

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Last updated: August 16, 2009, 1:10 am

Maverick (Snap Case) Customer reviews:

Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 82

(Kay's Gazebo, 2009-09-18) Ok, I have a LOT of material on MJ (to compare this to) THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!!! As other have mentioned here, British production, very 'thrown together' took a FEW film clips we've all seen and planted them repeatedly over & over amongst a handful of psychoanalyst giving their analogy of "his" life, peppered w/ a lot of boring fan-on-the-street comments. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY TIMES THEY RAN THE SAME CLIPS OVER & OVER & ... (w/ REALLY bad music in the background .. No, not MJ's). Thank God for reviews keeping me from even CONSIDERING purchasing this (I was a glutton for punishment and rented it)! WAAAAY better MJ material out there.

(Margret Fox, 2009-09-16) I read all of the above reviews and they told me all I need to know. This is just another false premise look at someone they know nothing about. I include myself in the leagues of Michael's loyal and loving fans. To me and millions of others, he does not need to be explained by so-called experts. Just so much hogwash.

(cinnamon, 2009-09-10) I understand the intention of this video to "protect MJ" from further attacks by saying that "he was a child" because of the numerous traumatic experiences he had to go through as a child star. Although it could hold certain degree of truth, it is considered quite one-sided because in this video, his strangeness is under microscope while his exceptional talent is totally put aside. When you talk about a human being, you need to handle it as one whole package. History shows us that the strangeness and the genius are often strongly connected in a man. You shouldn't just cut apart just one of them and cook it. All the geniuses in history had the experience of being stigmatized by the mediocres as strange because they acted based on their own observation of the world and their own decisions, rather than just following the manual called "social norm". Geniuses are the people who have the spiritual strength to see the facts without biases and think by themselves, while the mediocre does not have the mental and intellectual toughness to do so, and therefore they totally depend on the "answered questions" or "social norm". However, a social norm is nothing absolute. As a manual, "social norm" can ease you to act, saving your time to think what to do, but it is useful only in a certain place in a certain time, and its validity is limited only to "normal" situation. For example, you would not be in the same bedroom with your friend's son if he is doing fine, but what if this boy is terminally ill and confesses you that he cries every night out of fear of death? A person who thinks by themselves might then think that holding him through the night is the right thing to do. He might think that leaving the devastated boy alone to play safe is a hypocritical deed. "Social norm" does not work in those emergency cases. So analyzing everything in the light of social norm is a dangerous mistake we tend to make. Remember what happened to Galileo? Remember how Michelangelo was condemned to paint God and saints showing their whole bodies? Remember how Mozart's Figaro and Bizet's Carmen were criticized for being vulgar? Those geniuses just saw the reality with non-jaded eyes, and just expressed the truth just like the child who said "But the King has nothing on!"" Calling him as a child is okay, I agree that MJ had amazing childlike quality in him, but then, you also need to analyze how important it was, is, will be to have a child eye to be a great scientist, artist, or a philosopher.

(Deborah Keeton, 2009-09-09) i should've read the reviews before wasting my money on this piece of garbage. The author of this video obviously NEVER met Michael. Why didn't they talk about all the charities and people he helped all over the world instead of his plastic surgeries and the FALSE allegations that were brought against him? This is nothing more than all the tabloid fodder compiled into a dvd. Trust me.....save your money !!

(Natce, 2009-09-01) I had expected something interesting from Moonwalking - when in fact this video is quite crappy. DO NOT waste your money. Seems as if this video was made to show all how different he was and did not emphasize the person he truly was- a humanitarian who loved all and cared about the human condition. In addition, there is minimal footage of Michael Jackson. I'd have to say in total there's probably less than 4 minutes of footage of him on the "entire" DVD. This also comes with a small book of which I haven't read - but after seeing the video, I do not have the desire to do so. I repeat: DO NOT PURCHASE DO NOT PURCHASE DO NOT PURCHASE!!

(Ted M., 2009-09-19) This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. "Last Year at Marienbad", directed by Alain Resnais, released in France as "L'Année dernière à Marienbad" is a film about a man who attemps to convince a woman he just met that they had a love affair a year earlier. The film takes place at a Chateau and includes some very interesting scenes. There is a famous surreal scene with some people casting shadows while the surrounding trees do not. The film itself is very impressive and won many awards. The Criteiron Collection version has some great special features and the packaging is very minimalist in style. The picture of the cover shown here does not do justice to its appearance. The release is a two disc set and includes a booklet with more material. Disc one contains the film and the original theatrical tralier with a re-release trailer. Disc two contains an exclusive interview with Alain Resnais, a new documentary on the film's production, an interview with film scholar, Ginette Vincendeau, and two documentaries by Resnais. "Toute la mémoire du monde" is a documentary about the National Library of France and has an in-depth tour of the stacks and how books are catalogued and shelved. The second documentary is "Le chant du Styrène" is about the molding of plastics. I found the documentary about the French National Library to be very interesting, in part, because I work in a college library. This DVD set is the best version of the film available and a must for cinephiles.

(Joshua N. Carnes, 2009-09-12) (This review refers to the Blu-Ray edition) Criterion has done it again! The beautiful black and white imagery of this haunting film is presented in a flawless transfer. Incredibly sharp and detailed image for a nearly fifty year old film. The booklet has three or four interesting essays, plus there are the usual informative extras. There has been plenty written about the film, i.e. what it means, etc. so I won't go into that except to say that if you want to watch something totally different, then this film is for you. Fans of non-linear plots step to the front of the line! I also reccommend going to Roger Eberts site after you watch and read his essay under 'great movies'.

(Bartok Kinski, 2009-08-31) "Last Year at Marienbad". This is a Boring, basic "French" movie, although I wouldn't put it in the same sentence with "The Seventh Seal". It's a movie with questionable Claude Levi-Strauss language in spots, some meaningless New Wave scenes, no character development in others, and a somewhat predictable ending that altogether serves to pass the time away and/or play in the background while you do something else. Not exactly a landmark of French film making. Technically speaking, this movie is well made, which somehow makes it even worse.

(Doreen Appleton, 2009-08-29) Marienbad falls into the category of the movie that had to be made, like Repulsion, like Deliverance, a few others, the movies that opened a door through which other filmmakers (not to mention poets, artists, writers) were grateful to walk. A movie that says something about consciousness, about human experience, that hadn't been said before. These films are not pleasant to watch, and they lend themselves to pastiche (especially Marienbad) but they serve a purpose. You have to give Resnais credit for having the idea and getting it financed. To me the movie feels like a depiction of a dream. Situations are seen, seen in reverse, everything is repeated, everything is contradicted, always with the same verbal refrain: "Try to remember. You love me." Many dreams feel like this. Delphine Seyrig falls onto a bed in five different ways in one scene. Resnais is making a point about repetition and variation. The Russian guy with the game that no one can win -- in my opinion he was put in so that someone would come into the theater and see the movie, rather than no one. Something for people to talk about.

(Glenn Gallagher, 2009-08-25) After the first 30 minutes of the film Last Year at Marienbad I thought it was the most pretentious film I had ever seen. For some reason, I stuck with it, and by the end of the film, I had decided it was one of the most brilliant films I had ever seen. Don't look for a linear, simple story with a discernible plot. Let the film wash over you like waves on the beach, and just accept that what is happening on the screen is not necessarily supposed to make logical sense. My feeling on the film is that the characters are not even alive, they are probably in limbo between life and death, and that is why they appear to be trapped in a world they cannot leave, and why the woman cannot remember what happened to her just a year ago. The beautiful thing about this film is that it allows you to form your own opinion on what is happening to the three main characters - the director himself said the film had no meaning, although I think he was being disingenuous. The film has plenty of meaning, but it's a little like holding up a mirror to the viewer, you see what you bring with you. The film is all about mood, atmosphere, and setting. This film made me think more than the average ten films put together. Highly recommended if you like experimental cinema and want something different than the usual Hollywood movie of the week.

(Antonio Grazie, 2009-11-07) After forty years, I discovered "The Band." What a delight! I remember references to their name, but did not realize that is what they called themselves. I remember one or two of the songs that made it on the radio in the sixties. At that time, I was totally into the Fab Four (John, Paul, Ringo and George). These gentlemen are accomplished musicians. I enjoyed their "story songs" and how they meld varied styles, e.g., rhythm and blues, country, rock, and rock and roll to name a few, into super sounds and words. Most touching, however, is the palpable feeling of connection between these gentleman and their polished ensemble playing and singing that Scorsese's filming and direction reveals. The sound is great, and this is one film that I will watch over and over again.

(Arthur J. Bird, 2009-11-05) I FIRST SAW THE MOVIE ON LARGE SCREEN, THEN BOUGHT THE ALBUM,AND NOW I HAVE THE DVD JUST A GREAT PERFORMANCE BY ALL ENVOLVED I WOULD SAY A HISTORIC PERFORMANCE!!!

(Belerophon, 2009-10-30) I remember when This first came out. I saw it in the Theatre and had it on tape and DVD before finally getting The Blu-Ray version. I love music deeply and I remember "The Band" and those early days of Rock and Roll. I have been in and out of Music myself and have some small appreciation of what it is to make music and what it is to have and run a band. This Movie is a wonderfull collection of roots music with some of the best talent in the world comming together to celebrate one of the most influential groups of the Era. The performances are stunning and the range of talent that came together for this "LAST WALTZ" is like a phone directory of Who's Who in the Music business. The filming and lighting and sound are fantastic. Even if you are not old enough to remember these guys and this type of music may not be your cup of tea I highly reccomend it anyway. You will get a sense of things from a unique perspective and a beautiful one at that. Also there are quite a few short interviews with some very interesting Tid bits about Music, the business, other musicians and various events that make this like a little biography complete with music and Video. Its a music lovers dream especially if you were alive back then. This review is of The Blu-Ray version But if you dont have a Blu-Ray player I have owned The regular DVD version and it is of very good quality but The Blu-Ray is the best because Scorcesse recorded this on 35mm film which really makes a difference when you master a film to Blu-Ray.(they had originally planned to record the event on 16mm) On a side note This film was done as a colaboration between Robbie Robertson and Martin Scorcesse. There are a lot of people who have a beef with this because some band members later on aired their dirty laundry after the film came out, But I think its totally irrelivent about the internal politics and personal rubs inside "The Band" itself. Anyone who has ever had a band will tell you that its like a family and Families usually have lots of quarrels and disagreements and do terrible things to each other behind closed doors. Also there is usually one person Who calls the shots. Bands are usually like that too. Robbie Robertson was the leader and owned most of the rights to the music. Thats why the documentary focuses on him more then the other memebers (as you would expect ......if your sensible.)

(J. Mohr, 2009-10-14) I read the reviews and bought this based on that it was a behind the scenes band interaction and then some of their concert. The bulk of it was their concert and songs - which I didn't care for and the movie was so boring, I got halfway through and stopped watching. Unless you are a fan of this band, and want concert footage, this isn't worth watching.

(Matthew D. Scherba, 2009-09-21) Wish I could have been at this concert, all the legends plus the ultimate band "The Band".

(G. Dochtermann, 2009-10-29) Highly recommended. An inspiring look into the life of the late, great Les Paul. Les Paul was one of the few modern innovators who could hold a candle to great inventors like Edison and Bell, and he smoked on the guitar! What he did for the world of music recording is also impressive, and anyone who records a note of pop or rock music is indebted to Les Paul.

(L. Power, 2009-10-27) Quite often the word genius is bandied about, and given to people who barely deserve it, people who will be little noted nor long remembered. Let it not be so with Les Paul, one of the most musically innovative people of the twentieth century, whose innovations with sound have inspired generations of musicians. When you listen to the Rolling Stones or The Beatles or Eric Clapton or many other recording artists, the guitar sound you are listening to may be coming from a Les Paul Gibson guitar, or a Les Paul designed pick, one of the first electric guitars ever made, which enabled a revolution in sound, and the evolution of rock and roll. If you listen to The Beatles Eleanor Rigby, Paul McCartney double tracking his own vocals, with 'Ah, look at all the lonely people,' this is thanks to Les Paul's innovation in creating multitrack recording. Similarly, when Michael Jackson multi tracks his own vocals on 'Leave Me Alone'. Similarly Paul McCartney's first album McCartneywas entirely recorded on a 4 track Studer multi track recorder, with McCartney playing all the instruments. Les Paul started out as a musician, and became an outstanding one, learning his craft as a jazz musician with greats such as Django Reinhardt, and then becoming a recording artist, even collaborating with Bing Crosby, and having numerous hits with his own wife Mary Ford. He had a desire to multilayer his own musicianship, and his wife's singing, and this inspired his many innovations in sound. You may be familiar with one of his number one hits 'How high the moon,' and if you listen, you can notice his riffs are so quick, dazzlingly fast. If you're like me, you may find this movie inspiring, and next time you listen to a recording you may wonder what aspect of it may have been made possible by an inventiness and enterprise, and the genius of Les Paul. I hope this review is helpful to you, and I hope you enjoy the movie.

(J. Blackburn, 2009-10-03) The DVD is described well by others here but I watched it last night and just wanted to add another positive review. Talk about a person who operated without any creative or innovative boundaries. Les is the man. And this DVD addresses his ability to multitask at the very highest levels in a very complete and organized way. I also found it every bit as interesting for the insights into the life of Mary Ford. She was the perfect collaborator for him and the ground breaking music they made together utilized her intelligence, creativity and natural musical gifts as much as it did Mr. Paul's. Great DVD. And apparently there's another hour and a half of "extras" that I still get to watch. Les Paul certainly deserves a lifetime achievement award and thanks to both Les and Mary for some really amazing music.

(C. Eggers, 2009-01-20) This video, correction, this Man (Les Paul) has changed the music industry forever! How we listen, how we record, how we play. This man has more inventions under his belt than NASA. I would recommend this movie for any person into music. This is one movie to have in your collection.

(Timothy S. Coffey, 2009-01-14) What an extraordinary video! I grew up in part of this time, but had no idea he did so much in the music industry. His influence is still felt today and will continue to be felt for musical generations to come! If you love music, you will love this video!

(Simon Davis, 2009-10-16) I've always been a huge fan of Arabian Nights tales and no matter what age you are they always provide (even if it is only for an hour and a half) a much needed release from the stresses of life. Those exotic tales of far away places populated by beautiful damsels in distress just waiting to be rescued by dashing princes seem to have always been favourites with general audiences of every decade too. Certain performers such as Sabu and Turhan Bey are automatically associated with this genre of film making however on the "B" movie level one of the most loved screen teams in this field in the 1940's were Maria Montez and Jon Hall. Paired in a number of colour filled and exotic escapist yarns far from any reality audiences would ever know, they were the perfect medicine for wartime audiences trying to escape the harsh realities currently being played out in the real world. Maria Montez had the exotic looks that combined perfectly with the very masculine and virile appearance of Jon Hall and despite the limitations of each's acting skills the pair struck an immediate cord with audiences in exotically titled films such as "Arabian Nights", "White Savage", "Sudan" and especially in their biggest hit together "Cobra Woman" (badly needing to be released on DVD!). Here we have one of their best teamings in Universal's lavish "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" made right at the peak of their popularity and it's easy to see from this production the great faith that Universal Studios had in this acting team. It is a wonderfully lavish production filled with grand sets, a stirring musical score, breathtaking costumes and hundreds of extras all rolled up in a hugely enjoyable romp never for one moment to be taken seriously which is the best way to enjoy it. I have a great affection for this childhood favourite and this superb "Universal Backlot Series" DVD release of the film certainly does it proud. The storyline as in most of these tales is pure hokum of course which is partly what makes it such fun. After being driven out of Baghdad when his father the Caliph of Bagdad is ruthlessly betrayed and killed young Ali (Scotty Beckett) is forced to flee and finds refuge with the famous "forty thieves" who have a treasure filled cave as their headquarters and are determined to drive out the Mongol Khan (Kurt Katch) who is inflicting terror on their country. Ali grows to manhood (transforming into Jon Hall in the process!) and he sets out with the help of the forty thieves to revenge his father's death by ridding Baghdad of the evil Khan and winning back the hand of his childhood friend, the beautiful Princess Amara (Maria Montez) who has been tricked by her traitor of a father into marrying the Khan against her will. Real Saturday matinee fare is the best way to sum up the appeal of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves". Of course no one in the cast looks even remotely Middle Eastern (gravel voiced Andy Devine playing an arab thief called Abdullah??) and everyone looks a little too well scrubbed for a story taking place in the desert but put the logistics aside and you are sure to be swept away by this rousing tale. Maria Montez certainly earned her famous title as "The Queen of Technicolour" in this epic and by the time this film came along she and Jon Hall, aided by Turhan Bey in another of his exotic roles, were a well oiled team who combined perfectly together on screen. Universal's new DVD line being released under the title "Universal Backlot Series" is proving to be sensational in bringing some very obscure and hard to come by movies from the 1930's and '40's back into the spotlight. Although "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" has been previously released on DVD, this new edtion is really wonderful and a definite improvement over the older release with great care taken on the overall restoration of the film. Colours seem much brighter and vivid and the rousing musical score has never sounded better. In fact the film as presented on this disc couldn't be faulted as it looks like it was made yesterday. The only drawback to this DVD release is the sad lack of any extras to make this deluxe presentation complete. I would have liked for example to have seen a documentary prepared about the screen team of Maria Montez and Jon Hall and the impact they had on audiences in the 1940's complete with some biographical information on both performers as well. I'm also a big fan of the wonderfully talented Turhan Bey and I feel he is also long overdue for a proper retrospective on his highly successful career in Universal's fantasy and horror films throughout the 1940's. This would have made another great extra for inclusion on this disk. Despite this short fall however all lovers of these Universal fantasy films like myself should be very pleased here and the obvious care that has gone into restoring the film makes me hope that more of the Montez/Hall teamings, especially the camp classic "Cobra Woman" will see a DVD release sometime in the near future. While not acting "Oscar" material "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" is great escapist entertainment and it's excitng to see the film returned to all its gaudy technicolour splendour in Universal's new DVD release in their "Universal Backlot Series". Enjoy!

(Kevin Blumenstock, 2009-09-27) This is in color and in perfect condition, remember its before Robin Hood and if you go way back as a kid growing up in Brooklyn this is for you this high quality movie....kevin

(Stan V. Sprengert, 2009-09-17) i was about 12 yrs old when i first saw this movie, blew me away with the special effects..but i couldn't understand why he would say "open sesame" until later years when i saw it on television that they said "open says me" wow i felt like a doop..but when this dvd became available , i jumped on it..the acting is great and jon hall was a very good hero of course maria montez..oooo lah lah ... anyway if you wish to be entertained well this is the movie for you..enjoy it .oh, andy devine is just that devine..

(E. D. Deuss, 2009-09-13) This is another pairing of Maria Montez and Jon Hall in the Universal series of Arabian Nights-type action and adventure films. The plot is slight (who cares?) but we have the most gorgeous Technicolor ever, with the babelicous Maria Montez! The music is quite good, and the overall effect is quite a handsome film. I recommend it for nice escapist entertainment. I hope Universal Home Video releases the rest of the Hall/Montez series -- they are well worth your viewing time!

(William R. Ray, 2009-07-17) The DVD transfer is very good. The original Technicolor is well preserved. The detail is all there and the richly colored costumes show up just as brilliant as the first screenings of the film. The evil leader of the Mongol Horde, the Haluga Khan (Kurt Katch) overruns Baghdad with the aid of Prince Cassim (Frank Puglia). The good Caliph (Moroni Olsen) is killed but his son Ali (protrayed later in adulthood by Jon Hall) escapes to find the secret cave of the 40 theives. He is immediately taken in by Al Baba, the older, who adopts Ali, hence the name Ali Baba. 10 years later, enter the Lady Amara (the beautiful Maria Montez). Ali falls in love with her thinking her only a slave girl. Meanwhile, Amara'a father, Prince Cassim, has offered Khan the lovely lady's hand in a political marriage. Ali Baba, now leader of the 40 thieves is determined to free the Lady Amara and drive the evil Khan from Baghdad. We see some incredible horsemanship from the 40 thieves as they ride through the streets of Baghdad at breakneck speed. We also see that these are singing thieves as their song proclaims they steal from the rich and give to the poor. We get dancing mongols waving sabers and a great sword fight between the thieves and the mongols. Humor is supplied by Andy Devine as Abdullah, 1 of the thieves. There is some mild violence, no gore or graphic violence so a little parental guidance is probably needed for kids under 7 but kids 7 to 13 should enjoy this film very much. Parents too! High recommendation for: families with kids, grownup kids, movie fans, Maria Montez and Jon Hall fans, and anyone looking for a little good old escapism. This is really good Universal classic film.

(Leif Sheppard, 2009-06-26) It was in the early part of this decade, when I was in my late teens, that I first began my obsession with movies. In was in these formative years of film study that I first compiled my list of favorite actors, both of the leading and character variety. Though the list continues to grow to this day, there still isn't an actor I favor more than Richard Harris. I find it immensely fascinating how he could convincingly portray the supreme ruler of all Rome, Marcus Aurelius, in "Gladiator" and also so believably give such a nuanced perfomance of the poor, simple farmer Bull McCabe in "The Field". Then there was the soulful portrayal of the brilliant yet haunted Abbe Faria in "The Count of Monte Cristo", and the brief yet scene-stealing role of English Bob in "Unforgiven". Yet, while I had loved each of these performances, they all fell somewhere within the twilight years of his career. I was more than curious to see the early work of Harris and felt that the 2008 Criterion Collection release of "This Sporting Life" would be a perfect place to start. Harris was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance here, the only time he was so honored until he received the nod for "The Field". It's a crime he never won either time, because there's no question that he deserved the trophy for each film. "This Sporting Life" is, in a word, a masterwork. Though I must mention Lindsay Anderson's adept direction, the lion's share of the credit must go to Harris, who portrays miner-turned-rugby-player Frank Machin. It's definitely in the top ten pantheon of film performances because Harris wholly inhabits this role. When he's passive or downtrodden, the depths of his troubles are etched on every line of his face. When he's upset or angry his intensity is electric! The DVD cover captures one of my favorite moments from the film, when Machin is observing himself in the mirror and thrusts a punch into the air. There's a raw masculinity to his demeanor, so much so that his destructive spirit is at once intoxicating and repulsive. I find it difficult to write about the plot of the film, because when the film is over the broad details seem immaterial. The sole reason to watch this film is for Richard Harris, though it bears mention that all the supporting actors turn in strong performances (especially Rachel Roberts performance as Margaret Hammond). Concerning the plot, it's interesting to note that the film is complex enough that audiences are nearly always divided on who is the "villain" of the piece. Personally, I placed great sympathy with Machin, even though he plowed through his world with reckless fervor and often displayed little consideration for the feelings of others. In many ways he was, as Hammond so succinctly phrased it: "just a great ape on the football field". I'm amazed this film isn't more iconic than it is, the themes presented resonate with me to this day - particularly as a young man. Machin embodied a more pure 'rebellious youth' than films such as "Rebel Without a Cause" because he was dealing with reality head-on. There was no placement of blame on a broken marriage between his parents or that he moved somewhere that he didn't like. It wasn't because his puppy died or a kid at school bullied him. Machin had very real and very serious problems. It took nearly all he had to confront them, and often, he seemed to be unable to. The sheer weight of it all was too much too bear at times, he would shut himself off from the world and those around him. But, in the end, Machin was still a good man at heart. The picnic scene is beautifully shot and clearly portrays that Machin's humanity is very much intact, particularly in his energetic and playful interactions with the children. It could be argued that Machin was driven to his destructive tendencies as a manner of coping with the fact that Hammond simply could not return his deep affection for her. By the same token, it could be said that Machin drove the poor widow mad with his overbearing presence and lack of emotional intuition. It's these dense layers within the film that make is so compelling to watch, even though it's utterly depressing to watch two people burn out so quickly and violently. It feels starkly realistic because 'till the bitter end there is little hope of something better. The Paul Newman film "Hud" was once my favorite character study, but these days it takes a distant second to "This Sporting Life". I've seen the film three times so far, and each time I don't feel melancholy afterward, but rather a sense of relief at the notion that - perhaps - things are better for both of them in the end. Maybe, just maybe, the end result isn't so bad after all. I suppose it's a testament to the impact of the film that I'm so completely swept away with it that I delude myself with fantasies of a happier conclusion.

(Mike Crestwood, 2009-06-24) As a rugger I wanted to enjoy this movie very much but was very disappointed. Richard Harris' Frank Machin character rocks back and forth between angry tirades and sadness, with no nuance at all to the character. The actress playing the lonely widow with whom he lives displays almost nothing but contempt throughout the film, and their first romantic scene (a semi-rape) seems incredulous. The story becomes convoluted: in the next scene, which takes place the next morning, he flies into a tirade as she snubs him. A little later they're happily dating, and then a scene or two later she rejects him after he acts stupidly in a restaurant. It doesn't hang together; it's as if the director filmed a bunch of angry scenes between the main characters and then pieced them all together in a string,losing the flow of the storyline. Another few examples of poor directing: In an early scene Machin refers to an old man friend as "Dad" and then moments later in the film walks up to him like he doesn't even know him to ask for a tryout with the local rugby club. Later the character is completley dropped from the film. Also, the rugby club manager befriends Machin early on, but later comes to hate him without any explanation given. As for corruption and greed affecting the poor working class, there is none mentioned. All the viewer sees is over-acting and bad directing. I really wanted to like this movie, but was disappointed. Save your money and get another movie instead!

(Charlene, 2009-06-23) One of the best British dramas I've ever seen. Sad, dark, gritty, realistic performances by the entire cast. A must-see.

(Perry, 2009-06-11) Two great performances by Richard Harris and Rachel Roberts (their best) but the film is very gloomy, did poor business in 1963 and ended the brief flourish of gritty realism that included Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and A Taste of Honey. It was Lindsay Anderson's feature debut and one of his better films. This Criterion DVD is as ever informed and packed with extra material, justifying the high price.

(Craig Connell, 2009-06-05) The film also went from a tight, action-drama in the first half hour to a straight drama the second half hour to a melodrama over the last hour. It had a tightness in the beginning, an edgy feel to it, whether it was "Frank" on the playing field or trying to make headway with "Margaret" and her two small kids. Then, it slowly got almost into a soap opera mindset but still kept my interest if only to find out what wound happen to this "couple." Kudos to Richard Harris and Rachel Roberts ("Margaret") for keeping it interesting because it's a fairly long film and there is a long segment where very little happens. Both Richrd Harris and Rachel Roberts were up for Academy Awards. I thought Harris was the standout here. It's hard to be a loutish rugby jock on one hand and a tender, caring guy at the same time, but Harris pulled it off. He made "Machin" a very believable character with that tough-soft combination. He even looked the part: a rough guy who could (and did in real life) muck it up with the best of 'em in a very physical sport. Harris was so good that one minute you really rooted for him; the next minute you'd think "the hell with this moron." Roberts evoked similar emotions. You wanted this bitter and angry woman to be happy, yet sometimes you thought she didn't deserve someone who seemed to care. As a man, I felt Frank's frustration in trying to get to this lady, who might have a lot to offer (besides sex) if she'd just let go of the past and her anger. She's also upset about being a "kept woman," something this generation doesn't understand. In Margaret's day, you didn't stay in the same house with a man unless you were married. The neighbors were talking, and she was shamed. Roberts, I am told, had many demons in her (real) life and didn't have the career of her co-star, but she was a fine, fine actress. Both these man characters were simple and complex, at the same time. This is why I looked at this film as a character study of two people, instead of a depressing melodrama, which some have labeled it. Yeah, it's not "Mary Poppins" but I didn't find it that depressing. I also enjoyed William Hartnell as "Dad" Johnson. I wish his role had been bigger. He was a very intriguing guy. The rugby team's owners were portrayed - as many were back then - as nothing but exploitive. Another big part of the reason I basically enjoyed the film was the excellent direction and photography, and the fantastic DVD transfer given to us by Criterion. This is a pristine print: no spots, now flaws - just a fabulous picture. If you enjoy the cinematography of film noir, you'll like this. If you appreciate powerful human dramas, you'll find it worth your while.

(Sreema Vikanth, 2009-10-25) The DVD along with the book can take your training to the next level. Make sure you get both though since a lot of things covered by the book are skipped in the DVD and vice-versa. The best way to use the book and the DVD in my opinion is to set it up in your gym and try out the exact movements as described when you are watching it. It also helps to make a few quick check points that can help when you are actually working out.

(Smart Clicks, 2009-09-14) It has been awhile since I have down some power lifts I was all about the P90X workout for a year but then like everything became bored with the program. I bought the DVD so I could see the techniques and I have to tell you I didn't think the DVD was going to be this good. Great Detail that makes you perform the excercises properly. I also love the program short and sweet and a lot of fun. Also my arms have increased in size without doing any curls. This was something I was a little worried about. I am getting bigger everywhere and I like the newly added strength I have gained. Great DVD for any age buy it.

(Iron Steve, 2009-09-11) Complements the book very well over all. Took 1 mark off as there is a fair fews reps obviously performed with poor form that Rip gives the OK on. apart from that, its great

(S. Siemer, 2009-09-05) No matter what your body type, this DVD is for you. It details from multiple angles, each move; and with an array of different sized men AND women. I personally have never been great with trying to imagine just what is being explained in a book. With this DVD I saw and heard the moves explained and was able to follow along in my own living room with a simple stick until I was able to get the form down. The DVD is a must for anyone into weights. If you are a veteran or a novice, this speaks directly to you!

(Bodybuilding Ben, 2009-08-07) I have read Starting Strength and found much value in the book. This DVD is a great tool if you are a visual learner. I will reference the DVD more than the book, but would recommend both. The video/audio quality is decent, but the instruction of the athletes of different backgrounds is very helpful. The video is over 2 hours and is an excellent value.

(Robert Spofford, 2009-10-01) Understand first that I am a liberal, a passionate environmentalist and someone who spends enormous time working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote more sustainable living. So, I should love this film, right? Sorry, but this is the kind of pretentious enviro "art" that gives the movement a bad name. True, some of the photography is stunning, but the painfully minimalist narration and moaning "native" music (reminds me of the theme from "Battlestar Galactica") are like a bad political commercial: all emotion, no facts. Actually there are a few facts offered, but as others have pointed out, many of those are flat-out wrong. (Last time I looked, our species had been on the planet for around a million years, the first cities were created around 7,000 years ago and the Grand Canyon was in Arizona.) I know a lot of Greens who get off on guilt, and they'll probably enjoy this immensely, but it certainly won't educate anyone, change any minds or do anything else to help save the planet.

(Andy Roberson, 2009-09-08) I found this program to move too slowly to hold my kids (ages 5, 9 & 13) interest and the educational content was not adequate to hold mine. The photography on the other hand was stunning. May be better for background viewing with the sound off. It would be of great benefit to those who are skeptical or unaware of man's impact on Earth unfortunately, they aren't the likely audience.

(Marina B. Cattai, 2009-09-08) This is a wonderful, wonderful documentary. The images are very impressive and it is a very good opportunity for people to understand global warming. I love it! I also love "The Earth From Above" of the same author... I just wonder why it is so hard to find these documentaries in English.

(Brian N. Kosich, 2009-09-08) Beautiful cinematograpy is marred by an arrogent, uninformed, dangerously ignorant narration. This movie is Anti-human, and as I happen to be a human, I find it ridiculous that this movie is believed by anyone. Turn off the sound and enjoy the beautiful visuals.

(Ann Barnes, 2009-08-24) The photography is magnificent, the narrative excellent and the overall message goes straight to the heart. Everyone should watch this film and do their bit to protect what remains of our planet before it is too late. The soundtrack was also very dramatic and in perfect harmony with the visual effect - I wish it was available as a CD.

(vikingscool, 2009-09-23) This DVD have closed-captioning on color and B/W version only but not on special features including video commentary.

(Jerry Hodge, 2009-09-12) Jane Russell--wow! Apparently the original negatives are not available, but if this is from a print, it's better than the last two or three I've purchased--and discarded. This is a keeper, until, and if, there's one from the original negative.

(Gwen Mahan, 2009-10-02) I was disappointed with Pure Barre: Pershing Square 1 because it wasn't "pure barre". The workout is great but I was looking for something with real barre work. I am a dancer and was looking for something that I could follow along at home with when I'm not in classes; barre excercises that would challenge me. If you are not a dancer, this is a great workout but if you are, it's nothing but a workout and has little, if anything, relatable to barre. If anyone knows of a good at home barre workout dvd, please post a review response and let me know.

(J. Benton, 2009-09-27) This is a tough workout. Not for anyone who is new to barre workouts. I have almost all the barre workouts available and this is defiantly the toughest. My only complaint, I wish it had a little more upper body work. Get both, you won't regret it.

(Shoppaholic, 2009-08-23) I have and LOVE the first Pure Barre workout. This workout (Carrie with 3-4 PB instructors) looks to have been filmed in a nice bright room with lots of windows with Carrie instructing and giving tips. Much brighter than the original PB. This workout does not disappoint in any way! It is a non-stop burn fest for your thighs, glutes and hip area. After the traditional barre type warmup (knee ups), it's right down to the mat for some plank work, tricep dips knee pushups and back to standing at your support. Carrie uses a small ball to be held behind knee as you squeeze and pulse in familiar barre moves. There are more done without the ball. Having to hold that ball in place really cranks it up a notch and gets into the hamstring intensely. There is also some inner thigh standing work (popping the heels). Carrie and class hold onto the side of a wall for support, you can use a chair or anything really for a support. Working the same leg, you move to the floor and continue frying with various lying moves extending the leg from the hip. My hip was begging for mercy. There are also some quick stretches thrown in between. After you repeat on the other side, you move on to abs holding on your ball. I prefer to use my pilates ring for this ab series. I have done it using a ball and feel it intensely but I just feel like I get a better grip and squeeze going then with the ball. You could do it with nothing and still feel the abs working intensely :) There is a nice soothing stretch at the end. The DVD also has some extras where you can get more tips on form and is chaptered. I have been rotating Pershing 1 & 2 and I have to say I love them both but I find myself most sore from this one and I think that's from the lying floor work. The 2 DVDs compliment each other -- get both!

(S. Rutigliano, 2009-08-11) A great new challenging workout from the Pure Barre series. I was very excited to find this since I LOVE the first one!

(Mac Bender, 2009-10-01) I watch A LOT of TV and I can honestly say there has never been a show that was so riveting and so gripping from beginning to end as Breaking Bad. This show is a masterpiece through and through. During the first season, we come to see how Bryan Cranston's character (acted brilliantly, by the way) could not be any more desperate. And just when you think things couldn't get more low, in comes season two with more problems and more desperation. I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen this season, but my God, if you haven't seen it, get this DVD collection it will be so worth your time.

(Triforce Of Power, 2009-09-18) I wrote a rave review for the first season because of how incredible and sublimely perfect it was. I also pondered whether or not that kind of magic can be duplicated, and feared season 2 would have to be a letdown after a blockbuster first season. I was so wrong. Season 2 blew season 1 out of the water. It was better in so many ways. Aaron Paul deserved the Emmy nomination because he was fantastic, Cranston once again was light years better than any performance you will see on tv. The editing, cinematography, music cues, scene location, and direction were just so perfectly blended. Everything about season 2 was great. But it starts with the story, of course. And naturally youre left, after season 1's finale, wondering what direction the show is going to careen off into and carry a mesmerized audience. The conclusion of season 1 left us with a pretty good idea of what was going to happen, and then season 2 went break-neck speed further past that and well beyond. I was stunned at how beautiful and tragic some of the character developments evolved, such as the scene where Jesse's girlfriend dies, the scene just prior to where Walt is at the bar with (unknowingly) the girls father, and then the action Walt takes to save Jesse from his despair. Its madness and yet its so touching. Definitely one of my favorite sequences. Or the scene where Tuco has Jesse at gunpoint and Jesse mans up and truly breaks bad by actually overpowering the lunatic Tuco. Real solid character development that had me howling for Jesse's triumph. You can have your reality tv, your lame game shows, your crime dramas your adult swim whatever. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING compares to this masterpiece. There has never been a show so engaging, thrilling and groundbreaking as this show, and you will never see a show like this as long as you live. Everything pales in comparison, so enjoy this ride while it lasts, because it seems to me Season 3 may just be the end.

(Gwen, 2009-09-14) If you've never watched Breaking Bad, you are missing out on one of the best series that has hit the waves. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are excellent and interact so well with each other. You will definitely get hooked if you watched one episode. Excellent writing.

(Reconnecting To My Childhood, 2009-08-30) ***No Spoiler's Here*** The second season of this AMC series starts right where the first dramatic season left off. From there it winds down a dark path where you can't see what's coming while still managing to up the stakes and get you more involved with the characters with each passing episode. While I wasn't prepared for where this season ended I have high hopes for the third season that will premiere this winter and highly recommend the first and second seasons to fans of well made television. This 4-disc DVD set will contain the following episodes from season 2 of Breaking Bad: Seven-Thirty Seven Grilled Bit by a Dead Bee Down Breakage Peekaboo Negro Y Azul Better Call Saul 4 Days Out Over Mandala Phoenix ABQ 'Seven Thirty-Seven' is an amazing season opener that leaves one anxiously awaiting the rest of the season. 'Grilled' provides a level of tension and excitement so high it leaves one wondering how the rest of the season will follow. While it does level out excitement-wise from there each episode is amazingly well crafted and dramatic from beginning to end. Other stand out episodes for me this season were '4 Days Out' and 'Mandala'. Truly though, every episode stands out as excellently entertaining television making. The first season DVD set included commentaries by the cast and creator Vince Gilligan as well as some interviews and behind the scenes with those responsible for the show. Special features for this second season haven't been announced yet but I will update this 'pre-view' to include them once they are. I will also update this 'pre-view' once I have seen the actual special features but for now I have seen this episodes and as is evident from above I highly recommend them to any fan of well made television drama. Thanks for your time. *Rather than further clutter the review page I have included a list of episode summaries in my comments section for those interested. Thanks.

(P. Bales, 2009-08-17) I concur with what has been said before (especially by Bullard and Padillo). I missed the first season and my interest was piqued by the promo announcments that AMC was going to show all the Season #1 episodes back-to-back-to back, etc. I stayed up that night and watched all the episodes. I was hooked! I made sure I saw the first episode of the 2nd season and watching BREAKING BAD became a Sunday night must do. Kudos to AMC indeed. That network should be commended for taking the chance to air this series. I'm chomping at the bit for Season #3. It's a great and compelling show. Bryan Cranston is very deserving of his Emmy. The character of the DEA agent and the dealer "Tuco" are and were outstanding pluses for the series. I hope the 3rd season continues the high quality of this show.

(Jacques COULARDEAU, 2009-11-02) That film is one of these classics we all know about but we most of us have never seen, in full or in parts. And that was my case. That film of 1952 looks back at the great shift in the cinema from silent movies to talkies and the drama it may have represented for some artists who could not adapt. This film adds to that some nasty aspects of that change, of silent films (and that has not really changed), how everything is artificial and nothing but a glossy appearance. Those actors and actresses love one another in so bizarre ways at times, and they have to cope with producers and directors. But the film is funny because so many elements are shown as ironical, humorous or just plain hilarious, not to mention some cruelty here and there. Then the plot is sentimental and even romantic with a complete rift between a fake mediatic love affair and another secret and deep love that is no affair at all but a passion. The film amplifies that rift by giving to the mediatic mistress the voice of a goat and her impossibility or rather unwillingness to train herself into some kind of drinkable vocal sound, drinkable for the audience. So the studio invents dubbing and the actress is dumb enough to want to speak to her audience who liked the voice on the screen so much. The shock is so hard that they require a song and then the dubbing has to be revealed and that is the end of a career that gets silent and mute because it should have stayed silent and mute, but vanity requires adulation and worship and then a voice has to be put on the nice face and it is the discovery of the lie, of the illusion and the public never takes it with a grain of salt when they discover they have been fooled. That film is famous for one song though it is a singing and dancing treat from beginning to end, an allusion to the career of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and some others, but with a touch of realism in the behavior of these Hollywood people. And that touch is the best fun of the film: vanity has no limits and vainer than I you die. A real treat of entertainment and an important page in the huge history book of the cinema. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Paris 8 Saint Denis, University Paris 12 Créteil, CEGID

(Joan D. Harrington, 2009-11-02) bought this for my son who is doing this as their high school musical play. Funny because he didnt realize all the dancing! absolutley loves it and just happens to be one of my favorite movies. one we will watch for a long time.

(R. Margolies, 2009-11-01) I got this for my boyfriend as an anniversary gift because he needed more musicals in his collection. Bought it without a hitch. Love this movie so much!

(Untitled, 2009-09-30) Unlike many other movies that top various best of lists, I absolytley agree that Singin in the Rain deserves to be tops in many great musical lists. There's something that makes Singin in the rain a magical experience, especially when it's stacked against the competition of musicals that threaten it's reputation (West Side Story blows). Maybe musicals aren't my thing, but most songs are slow, drawn out, boring, and the same thing over and over again in most musicals. Music such as Grease have a pretty weak lack of energy (though sometimes that musical evokes some guity pleasures). Singin in the Rain is fasts moving, sometimes implausable and plot hole-ridden (Who the hell conveices an idea like Cosmo and Don did to the RF?), but when your laughing at Lina's hideous vioce (I tend to go Mystery Science Theater 3000 and insult and answer her questions), feeling the rhythmic tap dancing, being hilarious entertained by the humor of it all, or just simple indulging in the movies extreme energy and charisma, who the ______ cares? I sure don't, which is one reason why I enjoy this knockout movie quite the bit. Singin in the Rain is refreshing for me because of it's songs and topics, a fair and well departure from the tired musicals that feature inane plot lines about characters I don't care about, and heavy, drawn out gabage. There are only two things wrong this with this movie. You are my Lucky Star's great music beneath it is slaughtered by the terrifyingly awful lyrics ruining the singing (corny as _____), and You Were Meant for Me is the same way that is saved by a great instrumental passage. That's it. It absolutely bursts with movie magic, something that I often have trouble finding in movies. Movies like Casablanca evoke no sort of emotion in me, it's kind of sad. But Singin' In the Rain does the exact opposite, it's bubbly as hell, but when I enjoy this great movie, I forget I am an cynic and really sometimes believe in movie magic (then once I think of Disney, my gears start grinding again). The music numbers are all knockouts. Few musicals (I dig Chicago's jazzy numbers as a close second) have this much infectious numbers in abundance, but Singin in The Rain possesses an insane amount of energy. The vocals are all richly sang and extremely vibrant and infectious, and the music itself that backs up the movie is virbant, high energy, and often jazzy or big band ish (and sometimes comes off as cartoony, but I think that's kind of a good thing) If the lyrics are about love, I have trouble hating them, as even somebody who is proud of never succumbing to romantic crap, loves songs such as Dreaming of You, Would You, and Beautiful Girl. The music and singing makes it happen like magic every time. Also, the title track may have been sang after he was supposed to be in love with Kathy, but nuts to that emotion. Seriously, I don't even think about love when rain and the music itself makes the magic without the emotion of being in love. ____ love, you don't need it to enjoy the title track. You will wan to know these songs by heart because You will want to sing along. Oh, and how about that dancing. Gene Kelly and Donald O Conner are both excellent, extremely athletic and rhythmatic, and Debbie Reynolds had a fire light under her @$$ and danced excellent as an outcome. Can't forget the others that dance along, being the other dancers and Cyd Charisse as the gangster's girlfriend. But what really what makes Singin in the rain such a great movie is the story line. The love story is there, but it's trivial and takes a second hand to it's main story line: the movie industry itself. This is about the transitions from silent to talking, and delivers it in a sometimes satricial way and satires many of it's aspects, among those including it's reaction and Reynold's character making fun of the way acting was in silent movies (which, in my opinion, was extremely exaggerated). The period the movie is set is handled with great ease, as Gene Kelly was even said to have studied numerous stills and pictures of the time period to get it terribly right. It also has a refreshing lack of heavy drama (thank god), something that pegs down most crappy musicals. The humor is fast paced, sometimes dry, and the slapstick isn't annoying beyond belief (often funny). I also love watching the hilariously awful debut of the Dueling Cavalier, with a horrible sound design that wuold make Ed Wood's Plan 9 From Outer Space sound as well done as a David Lynch movie. I won't say as much as I should, but this is such a gem that I think that it should speak for itself. Singin' In The Rain contains the best set and renditions of Arthur Freed's excellent music. I'm kind of at loss for words, but please just see this movie, especially if you like musicals. I was surprised that this really seems like one of the greatest musicals that film has brought us. Instead, if you are wondering if you should pay some money for this two disc edition, I say it is pretty great and designed very well. I usually don't care that much for this kind of thing as much as I do the movie itself (I wish I would have got the single disc edition of Goodfellas because the special features felt like filler. You only need the movie to speak for itself). Aside from having the movie itself, both discs flow very well with interseting bits, documentaries, out takes, stills galleries, trailers, and even showing where many of the songs originally came. Some of the things arent as interesting as the others, but having the songs without the taps, for example, is great to hear, because there feature great background music. Perhaps one great treat is Debbie ReynoldsI kind of agree with the commentary, it's not bad, but you never get to hear everybody comment at the same time, which would be a total blast to hear. The people that would contribute would have been something to hear. The only time I think this could be topped is when they release it on Blu-Ray with even richer picture and sound. Also, I like the background music for both discs, which play through the whole song. So you can hear the music if you want to and just stay on the menu. This movie is the kind of movie that makes my day better at times, almost so if I have had my Grande Latte Enema and it hasn't even worn out. if people think I'm too happy or something, _____ em'. Heh, jokes on them if they know me (do you tend to notice that once you get know people, you sometimes like them less and less as much as you like them more and more?). Singin' In the Rain is one of the very few things that I love (among others include Pushing Daisies, the romance story in Dead Aive, Pixar, Tom Waits, and Blue Velvet's optimism which is stunning, and ) that are happy and heartwarming, only many, many other forms of media (*cough* Titanc *cough*)that make me feel absolutely nothing. This is a gem of a movie, and while it isn't perfect, nothing quite comes close to it. The Citizen Kane of musicals? Maybe, only it's actually deserving of it's place on the polls. A- For Movie A+ For the DVD itself

(Norma Cole, 2009-09-11) This heartwarming,funny musical will keep your toes tapping with a smile on your face. The performers are wonderful and talented. They don't make these kind of movies anymore. I can watch it over and over again and not be bored.

(Brian Koontz, 2009-10-15) A wonderful, really bad, movie. You will catch yourself sub-refrencing it for months after watching it. People will wonder what you are talking about.

(G. Carver, 2009-10-05) I read about Soylent Green, in comparison to the new health care bill that is now being debated, and was curious, since I had never seen it. It saddens me to think that our country would ever come to a time when we would even consider such a comparison. On a lighter note, Charlton Heston never dissappoints, in any of his movies. He is great!

(R. Kyle, 2009-09-25) 2022 and the future is bleak. 40 million people live in New York City and everything's scarce. A new vegetable based food, Soylent Green, seems to be the solution to the problem. Detective Thorn (Heston) shares his squalid digs with Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson), an old college professor who insists on telling him (in no small part to remind himself as well) how good the world used to be. When Thorn is called out on the murder of a VIP, Simonson, (Cotten) we get quite a different view of life at the top. Simonson's roommate is an attractive young woman, Shirl (Taylor-Young) who is more or less part of the furnishings of the apartment should the new tenant desire it so. As Thorn continues to investigate, he realizes that something is very wrong at the Soylent Corporation, where Simonson and many of the top officials were affiliated. The idea for this future dystopic originally came from a sci-fi detective novel by Harry Harrison, which was originally titled "Make Room, Make Room!" Harrison's story was one of the initial genre-benders that newer films like "Blade Runner" sprang from. "Soylent Green" was Edward G. Robinson's last film and his performance as a dying old man was by far the best. While the film is one of the great sci-fi classics, many of the effects are outdated. The 'hot pink' blood literally jarred me out of the story momentarily. Rebecca Kyle, September 2009

(Drenn Workman, 2009-09-12) A classic in the truest sense. A future where humanity is reaping the price for it's negligence of nature. Humanity overpopulation and it's effects are vividly depicted.

(Magnifying Glass, 2009-09-11) Soylent Green was Edward G. Robinson's last film. In his scenes, he and the cast and crew had a problem to deal with. You will never guess what it was. View the Commentary Special Feature to find out. You will gain a new appreciation for Mr. Robinson's fine acting skills. The backdrop for Soylent Green is a very crowded, dirty New York City in the year 2022. Civilization is regressing. Life is cheap and disposable. Treatment of women deplorable. This is the future, in which you live. If you are one of the few rich, you work for the Soylent corporation and live comfortably. Not as confortably as you might imagine, since learning is no longer valued, books are nearly nonexistent, and advances in science and technology stalled in 1973. You have an apartment, soap, running water, natural food, air conditioning, and furniture. If you are one of the many poor, you have no job. You stand in long lines for your government benefits. You wait in other lines for your ration of Soylent food, you especially look forward to Tuesday's Soylent Green, arguably the best tasting of Soylent's bland fare. You sleep where you can, preferably someplace cool because it's hot. The green house effect has taken its toll, cold winters are only a memory for some. Plants need special protection to even grow in the hot, smoggy air. No one drives a car, you walk. One night, a rich man is murdered. Detective Thorn (Charlton Heston) is assigned to investigate. He soon becomes a thorn in Soylent's side as he unravels the crime and stumbles onto their dirty little truth. Of special interest, take a look at the vintage 1973 computer space game. Lastly, Warner's reproduction: excellent.

(Walter J. Gordon, 2009-09-04) First saw this on a Delta First Class flight out of Milan, Italy. Never heard of it until I pressed the button for the show's viewing, and--well, I had to watch twice the one and only episode Delta offered. Hilarious, daring, and sarcastically biting. Loved it. Bought the entire disc upon my return to the States, and thankfully Amazon, as always, comes through with every title you might dream of obtaining. Great show.

(Dr. Marjorie Wiener, 2009-08-20) This is black comedy, a devastatingly funny, satiric look at "reality" TV a la Jerry Springer, with crazed guests and equally crazed backstage doings at a TV show. Jennifer Saunders is sensational, and all others in the marvelous cast are also brilliant. Each episode of the six can be enjoyed by itself, but it's best to see them all in sequence. The last episode is the best half-hour I've ever seen on TV.

(Amos Lassen, 2009-05-09) "The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle" Dark and Biting Amos Lassen "The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle" is satire at its darkest and most biting. It is also a comedy but not the kind that we usually see. Jennifer Saunders is Vivienne Vyle, a daytime TV talk show hostess and the film focuses on not only the problems of her guests but on her own problems at home and her love life. Miranda Richardson plays Vivienne's manic producer. The film is of a BBC TV series and it is brutal, tragic and funny as it looks at the world in which we live. It is an indictment of media corporations and celebrity worship and we are witness to regular people who no longer try to communicate unless they do so via technology--TV, the internet or cell phones. The film is disturbing and gives real insight into the world of TV talk shows and celebrity culture. As Vivienne, Jennifer Saunders is ambitious and uncompromising. Miranda Richardson is an alcoholic manic editor of the show which she decides should take a new direction. This film is made up of six thirty minute episodes and each is a balance of comedy, tragedy and an authentic view of the celebrity culture in which we live. "Vivienne Vyle" is very, very dark but it is crafted to perfection. It is subtle and deep and the acting is brilliant. As for the comedy, this is not the usual kind--we do not laugh every few seconds nor do we laugh aloud. There is an anger theme here and it is a satire that is quite raw.

(David Baldwin, 2009-10-31) I checked the credits on the back of the DVD box to see if Jud Apatow had any creative involvement in this flick. Much to my surprise he has no connection to this wonderful flick whatsoever. The mastermind behind this latter day comedy classic is John Hamburg who a decade ago wrote the brilliant "Meet the Parents"(and it's unfortunate sequel). The best comedies tap into some eternal, sometime painful, truths. In this case it's what if you enter a certain point in life and discover that you don't have a best friend of the same gender. Director-writer examines this possibility with comic poignance and tenderness, raunchy and crude lingo aside. Paul Rudd is a throwback to vintage cinema, Jimmy Stewart coming to mind, playing the everyman who finds himself in this dilemna. Jason Segel can hang with me anytime. I didn't buy that his gregarious character was as buddy-bereft as Rudd's. For us boomers it was great to see Jane Curtin and Lou Ferrigno in supporting roles. Only debit: Rush doesn't register on my nostalgia meter.

(David M. Doucette Jr., 2009-10-18) if you have trouble sleeping this is the perfect movie for you. It was so hard watching the whole movie just glad I didn't spend $10 at the movies for this!

(DonMac, 2009-10-15) This a a GREAT little comedy. A lot of laugh-out-loud moments combined with a lot of really honest awkward moments make this a real winner. The cast is uniformly excellent throughout. In another era, Paul Rudd would probably (and deservedly) get awards consideration. He is that good in this. Highly recommended.

(Sasha, 2009-10-14) This movie was somewhat of a letdown after all the hype about it on t.v. Maybe I am too old for this movie to be able to enjoy it? Not all that great but in my opinion was "just" ok. Would not watch again that's for sure.

(PhoenixFiresky, 2009-10-11) I was expecting a stupid-man flick and was surprised by the quality of this movie. It's not a great movie, but is definitely a good one for anyone looking for a lighthearted (but not stupid) look at what it's like to be a sensitive guy in a relationship.

(D. G. Frank, 2009-11-03) Cha-ching! (The sound of money being made in the course of performing a valuable public service.) I spent many years in academics, and I concur with Mr. Stein that the 'ideal' university (where diverse ideas are tolerated and explored), is nearly extinct. One of the foundational notions of tenure is that Professors may argue for various positions, regardless of widespread acceptability, without fear of losing their jobs. Intellectual freedom is supposed to be one of the university's foundational values. Instead, several liberally-biased dogmas tend to reign on most university campuses, and it is extremely politically incorrect to question them. It can easily cost you your job. Mr. Stein gives several examples and interviews with scientists/scholars who were 'Expelled' precisely because they had the audacity to question the current paradigm of evolution. In this documentary, Mr. Stein focuses upon a group of scientists who support the biological notion of 'Intelligent Design' (ID). But ID is just one example; there are many such off-limits topics in the academy, including race, gender, religion, and climate. Instead of open discussion and debate, the strategy of the NeoDarwinism crowd is to ignore and suppress the ideas of anyone who does not 'bow at the altar of Darwin' before publishing or presenting their work. It is comical! So much so, it has become a game for me to find the statement in editorials and scientific papers that 'inoculates' the author from being 'quoted by creationists' or criticized by NeoDarwinists. Try it for yourself, and see if you don't agree with me. The next time you read something regarding a Biology topic, look for the 'bowing' comment or statement. It is usually in the first paragraph. Congratulations to Mr. Stein for: a) Being clever and perceptive enough to recognize what was going on (academic intolerance of an opposing point of view); b) Demonstrating his entrepreneurial prowess while exposing intellectual dishonesty and violations of academic freedom (Mr. Stein is clearly brilliant, and he understands capitalism); c) Giving Richard Dawkins enough rope to hang himself (his interview with "fundamentalist Darwinist" Richard Dawkins is priceless!) d) Bringing attention to a scientific matter that has been infected by politics; exposing this problem could actually end up effecting the progress of science in a meaningful way. AND... all the while... e) Being witty and entertaining. Congratulations, and best regards, Ben Stein!

(B. Stan Mccullars, Jr., 2009-10-29) Last night I watched Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed starring Ben Stein. Following are some of my thoughts regarding the film. I have previously only seen Ben Stein on Fox News so I was not too familiar with him. This guy is funny! While the film was a serious documentary, his sense of humor came through in spades. I particularly enjoyed his interview of Richard Dawkins. Dawkins was very clear about his disdain for all things religious. Christians and creationists are stupid, insane or ignorant. One odd thing from Dawkins came when he was asked to give a percentage chance that God existed. He stated he was 99% sure God did not exist. Stein asked why not 49%. Dawkins said he was very certain God did not exist but only gave 99% as a guess because Stein asked him for a number. Then he went on to explain how life absolutely originated by evolutionary means. Improbability does not exist, at least not in Dawkins' mind, concerning evolution. He said Intelligent Design could have played a part in the origin of life but only if it was aliens who deposited the seeds of life on earth. The aliens, Dawkins said, most certainly originated by evolutionary means. He mocks Christians for believing in God, a belief he equates with believing in fairies and hobgoblins. Yet, Dawkins beliefs aliens could have flown here in UFOs and deposited the beginning of life. Talk about credulity! Several other scientists spoke of Christians in a rather hostile manner, calling us things like anti-intellectual idiots. Ideas given for the origin of life included aliens and crystals yet they called Christians gullible idiots. Stein also interviewed a number of scientists (who were not stupid, by the way) who doubted, to one degree or another, Darwinism/materialism. Most of these scientists had lost their jobs due to their challenging big science. It was noted that scientists often speak about intellectual freedom but that one is only intellectually free if they are on the right side of the wall. They compared such a lack of freedom to the freedom of Germans who were on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall. Stein made a good case for academic freedom and clearly demonstrated, with the help of some rather nasty evolutionists, that the scientific community is hostile towards those who don't walk the party line. I highly recommend the movie for all audiences. In my opinion, everyone (except bitter evolutionists) will find this movie informative and enjoyable. A word about naysayers: It seems many who believe in Darwinism are openly hostile to any opposing views. If you have never taken a look at Intelligent Design books on Amazon.com you should consider doing so. Typically you will find many ratings of 5-star and 1-star with several in the middle. If you actually look into the 1-star ratings you will find many of them have reviewed only books on Intelligent Design and rated them all 1-star. It seems in many cases that these folks have nothing better to do than criticize (without a critical mind) such books. Sad. This DVD is no exception to that rule. Currently, the ratings for the movie are as follows: 5-star: 350 4-star: 67 3-star: 17 2-star: 15 1-star: 191 With so many 1-star ratings you can be sure that it has many Darwinists feeling uncomfortable. Thus, it is a safe bet that the movie accomplished part of its mission, namely upsetting the applecart. My rating of the movie will be the 351st 5-star rating. I agree with Ben Stein. The scientific establishment should "Tear down this wall."

(Seth C. Howard, 2009-10-28) Well , although not a disappointment , movie isn't as 'funny' as trailers might have you believe . Having said that , Ben's information and dry humor do make knowledge FUN . For the 'cerebral' , you will be belly laughing in many parts and interviews ; YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!! WELL WORTH the TIME and money . TITLE is EXACTLY the movie . DUMBFOUNDED is how i would describe your thoughts and expressions thru this film . Ben and company perform a great public service as well as 'film' . I believe this a "MUST SEE!!" and i dont think a week has gone by i dont play this DVD thru past year ; It's that good . pops howard apalachin,new yuck

(G. L. Sinsley, 2009-10-26) This movie is very interesting and worth watching regardless of whether or not you agree with Ben Stein on intelligent design. I recommend that everyone in academia watch this.

(Mark Nolan, 2009-10-25) Expelled tries to make a case that scientists are unfairly having their careers cut short due to their biblical-literalist beliefs, but the "evidence" they present is very one-sided (they never even consider the possibility that the scientists were incompetent as well). Also, one of the scientists wasn't even employed at the job he was supposedly fired from. You can check the Expelled Exposed website to confirm this. There's no nice way to put it: Ben Stein lies.

(Paul Karassavidos, 2009-11-08) History Channel did a great job with this series my only complaint was it lacked battle strategies and tactical overview maps of the warring parties,which would of been sweet! but as it stands they did do a great job none the less.

(Alexander M. Walker, 2009-09-26) Ever wished your favorite movies were documentaries instead of narratives? That Morgan Freeman didn't just offer a few prose passages between Red's time in Shawshank but pretty much read Stephen King's story on an audio track? Or maybe Christopher Walken voicing over the Deerhunter? Really the choices are endless and, to sweeten the pot, imagine the things you'd learn about the characters. Guess what? Apparently the History Channel is doing that now. At least they did it for Kingdom of Heaven, the movie about the crusades starring Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson. Okay, they didn't really do that but you'd never know the difference. The Crusades: Crescent & the Cross plots out the major events and the hidden history of the greatest mistakes ever pursued in the name of religion. The strip of land on which Jerusalem stands has been the most contested area in the history of the world. Tribes have fought and died for it. Kings have politicked and schemed for it. But full-scale war made the Crusades unique in the size of their blundering. Despite being a horrible mistake (three horrible mistakes, really) the Crusades provide an interesting contrast against which to measure the current happenings both within the Gaza strip and across the globe. Watching the interactions of historical figures like Richard the Lionheart or Nur al-Din you begin to see similarities between their attitudes and those of today's politicians. The re-enactments may sometimes feel like an overwrought presentation from the cutscenes of Medieval Times, but the parallels between then and today still hit home. The three-hour presentation offers a sizeable amount of material and quite honestly it feels twice its length. Even with content as interesting as the Crusades, stretching coverage of each to about an hour doesn't sound like too much. But it is. Or at least, it is in a single serving. Sitting on a couch as a narrator bleats on an on with temporary breaks of people in Crusader or Muslim warrior costumes discussing their motives and anger holds interest for an hour or two - two is the max. The three hour stretch is maddening. Where this epic fails in captivating material it succeeds in creating beautiful imagery using hi-definition filming and decent CGI. The CGI might help the special to imagine how things occurred, but the footage is what makes this special something to behold. Wide breaking shocks of open deserts, sparsely populated desert towns and Crusade-age fortresses have been filmed in hi-definition and add a nice counterbalance to the meager dramatic scenes used to drive the story. The History Channel does this a lot. They create these pieces that might have a substandard concept and narrative audio track, but then complement them with must-see visuals that help their presentations jump off the screen. At the end of it all, you'll have grown so used to the overexposed desert scenes that seeing an outdoor shot that doesn't have a harsh yellow glare will just seem unnatural. It's long, but it's beautiful. With that, we have the reason History Channel chose to release this piece on Blu-ray and not just another standalone DVD to get lost on your shelf. The amount of conjecture and hypothesizing in the story allows for some creativity on the part of the producers but in the end that's not what does the most damage to the special's watchability. Three hours. Listen, I am fascinated by the Crusades. I've read lots of books on the subject and yet three hours in front of this special still feels too long. The pacing is far too dry and the narration not at all immersive. Shave off 45 minutes, replace Keith David as the narrator for the piece and rewrite the narration and this piece could be a compelling special worthy of purchase for more than its good looks. Good looks can only carry you so far, and on the History Channel it isn't nearly far enough.

(J. Salzenstein, 2009-09-18) Although George W. Bush may have viewed (and publicly referred to) his "War on Terror" as a crusade, historians (and most of us with at least a middle-school education) know that the word - not to mention the actual events - is much too powerful to simply throw around as a scare tactic. Thankfully the understands this concept as well; The Crusades: Crescent & The Cross presents the story of these wars, which included some of the most bloody and religiously charged battles of history. Although the story is set in the past, the similarities to current conflicts are clear. For while the techniques and technologies have certainly changed, unfortunately the underlying fears and philosophies have not. The Crusades explores the conflicts between two Middle Age superpowers - Christians and Muslims - fought over a period of two-centuries. The aftermath of the conflict decided the fate of the Holy Land - at least for a while - but left in its path the continuing struggles and conflict we have today. Unlike some documentaries that are often full of bad re-enactments and laden with tedious interviews with historians and academics, the History Channel's presentation is alive with excellent cinematography and high quality production value. The modern-day historians who are included provide excellent and engaging insight into the battles and beliefs of the Crusades, and the ancient locations where it all took place. The re-enactments are impressive, the acting solid, and the use of CGI excellent. This is an engaging, enlightening and entertaining documentary that can be appreciated by young and old alike. The Crusades is presented in two-parts, for a total of three-hours. As a television documentary, Bonus Features are not part of the production process.

(Kezilou, 2009-11-05) Great movie for the whole family. A classic. Intelligently entertaining with lots of lines you'll never forget.

(Daniel, 2009-10-24) The Princess Bride is a timeless classic. Filled with "fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles" - who couldn't be entertained by such a movie? It's funny and quotable, easily enjoyed by adults and kids. The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies from growing up.

(Randall G. Robles, 2009-10-14) One of the best movies to share with your kids or family. What makes this movie great is the fact that there is something in it for everyone. True love, sword fights, deception, revenge and all without blood and cursing.

(Thomas S Sherman, 2009-10-06) This movie is timeless. 20 years later it still holds up perfectly. Was excited to view it with my 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter, and they LOVED it. Has become their current favorite movie. Good times for everyone.

(Deborah Earle, 2009-09-26) Courtesy of Rob Reiner's skillful direction, and novelist and screenplay writer William Goldman, the world has been presented with a fabulous screen adaptation of the story of an adventurer(Cary Elwes), and his ladylove( Robin Wright), who is very reluctantly about to become a Princess Bride to the Crown Prince of Florin, the evil Prince Humperdinck(Chris Sarandon). The film adds the element of narration not featured in "The'Good Parts' Version" of S. Morgenstern's "The Princess Bride", by way of an elderly gentleman (Peter Falk) reading a story to his bedridden grandson (Fred Savage), whose apprehension over some of the story's content--specifically the kissing scenes--gradually fades. We are regaled with story story of the fictional country of Florin, where Buttercup (Wright) the most beautiful woman in the world, torments the farm boy, Wesley(Elwes), whom she eventually comes to love. He goes away to seek his fortune to provide a comfortable life for them when they marry, and Buttercup learns he has been killed by the dread pirate Roberts. She is devastated, but five years later, is betrothed to Prince Humperdinck. The lonely bride-to-be finds consolation in her daily solitary ride on horseback. But on one such occassion, she is kidnapped by three men, the cunning leader of the group, Vizzini( Wallace Shawn), the Turkish giant, Fezzik (Andre the Giant), and the Spanish swordsman, Inigo Montoya(Mandy Patinkin), who were actually hired by Humperdinck to murder her, frame the enemy country of Guilder for the deed, and start a war. But a mysterious pirate ship thwarts these plans. After besting Montoya (who is on his own personal quest for vengeance) and Fezzik, and engaging in a battle of wits with mastermind Vizzini that results in his death, the mysterious, pirate, believed to be Roberts, lays claim to Buttercup, who initially fails to recognize him as her beloved Wesley. But when she does, their reunion is poignant, and Wesley's words, reassuring and gentle. They survive the fireswamp, only to encounter Humperdinck and his entourage on the other side. Buttercup surrenders herself to the prince in the hope that Wesley will be spared. Wesley notices that the prince's henchman, Count Rugen (Christopher Guest)fits the description of the man Montoya was looking for. The old adage, "The course of true love never ran smoothly" is reaffirmed in this tale. But traveling this course, we encounter many colorful characters, including Mel Smith's Albino, who helps Count Rugen carry out his torture of Wesley (as the Count makes inquiries about Wesley's feelings in calm, intellectual tones), Billy Crystal's Miracle Max, once fired by Humperdick, but whom with the encouragement of his wife, Valerie (Carol Kane), helps tip the balance in Wesley's favor, the Impressive Clegyman (Peter Cook), who is charged with performing the marriage ceremony, and Malcolm Storry's Yellin, the head of the Palace Guard who fits the book's description of that character. Anne Dyson and Willoughby Gray are the King and Queen whose kindness is once of Buttercup's few consolations in her life at the palace. Amid an alliance formed by former foes, and a bit of humor along the way, the story is brought to its highly favorable conclusion.Striking just the right amount of humor, heart, and intelligence, this 1987 favorite has justly earned the title of "classic", and it will undoubtedly continue to withstand the test of time.

(B. Largent, 2008-01-07) This was a Christmas gift for a young man who loves old movies. He was thrilled with these.

(James J. Rossignol, 2007-11-10) From classic Brando to studied Brando this collection runs the gamut. In On The Waterfront it is him against the mob. In an unlikely turn of events he comes out of it bloodied but standing and the docks turn their backs on their benefactors. The culture of corruption and silent desperation is broken and every one gets down to work. In the Wild One he plays a roughneck gang leader who sneers his way through a small town and the whole picture. He respects nothing,but still isn't satisfied. After a showdown he moves on but leaves behind something to remember him by. In The Freshman he spoofs his role as a mafia head and toys with the head of a young college student. A gila monster plays a major role in the high jinks as it terrorizes wherever it goes. It all seems real until the end when the truth is revealed and it was all one big joke. Brando plays his role deftly and with an understated sense of humor. For the price the collection is well worth it.

(B. Largent, 2008-01-07) This was a Christmas gift for a young man who loves old movies. He was thrilled with these.

(James J. Rossignol, 2007-11-10) From classic Brando to studied Brando this collection runs the gamut. In On The Waterfront it is him against the mob. In an unlikely turn of events he comes out of it bloodied but standing and the docks turn their backs on their benefactors. The culture of corruption and silent desperation is broken and every one gets down to work. In the Wild One he plays a roughneck gang leader who sneers his way through a small town and the whole picture. He respects nothing,but still isn't satisfied. After a showdown he moves on but leaves behind something to remember him by. In The Freshman he spoofs his role as a mafia head and toys with the head of a young college student. A gila monster plays a major role in the high jinks as it terrorizes wherever it goes. It all seems real until the end when the truth is revealed and it was all one big joke. Brando plays his role deftly and with an understated sense of humor. For the price the collection is well worth it.

(Peter J. Antisen, 2009-11-06) the movie was ok if you like war movies....though it's not about fighting in the field...not one of Cruise's best performances..but worth a view anyway

(Kathleen Lee Anderson, 2009-11-04) The Valkyrie started off with Tom Cruise showing the dilemma of an officer with total dedication to Hitler's Germany and his own personal conscious, knowing Hitler's plan to destroy all Jews, gays and gypsies. In the documentary of this courageous man, it shows that he witnessed people being shot over a ditch so it would be easier to bury them. This is why the officer elected to kill Hitler and put an end to the war. Valkyrie was to code name of a group of high ranking officers who formed the plot to replace Hitler and his regime. The plot of the movie centered on the magnificent Germany war machine that not only plotted the death of all leading officers, but their conspiracy to replace the German government head within 4 short hours. This movie eliminated the brutality of the concentration camps and replaced with suspense.

(Jeffrey C. Meade, 2009-10-31) I wouldn't go see this in the theater because I just couldnt get past watching Tom Cruise play a German surrounded by all these other people with British accents. I decided to rent the movie on Amazon and it was worth the money. After you get past the early parts of the movie you completely forget about Tom Cruise and his American accent. When they set the bomb off to kill Hitler you really start to move to the edge of your seat and the movie has a great supporting cast of actors. You don't realize how close they came to actually assassinating Hitler until you watch this.

(AlanC, 2009-10-28) When a two-hour movie spurs you to spend four more hours reading about the event on which it is based, it's fair to say the viewing was time well spent. I didn't expect much from Valkyrie. I mean, we all know how this story ends (I realize schooling isn't what it used to be, but do we really need a spoiler alert here?). So I was pleasantly surprised to find myself, frankly, riveted. So much is top notch here: the production design, the photography, the pacing, and especially the supporting actors. Indeed, every actor -- Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard, even -- seems an inspired choice for their respective role, creating multi-dimensional characters that are flawed, conflicted, and all too human. Or at least, every actor but one. The bad news: Tom Cruise just doesn't pull it off here. In fact, he nearly ruins the show. I've liked Cruise in other roles -- he's underrated in Born on the Fourth of July and his bravado-on-autopilot schtick works well in A Few Good Men. But here he is oddly ineffective. The screenwriters don't exactly help him -- when we first see Cruise, his view of the war and its political leaders is already set, and we never get a sense of how this came about. When he is blown up early in the film, losing an eye, one hand, and several fingers on the other, these grievous injuries are treated like a minor inconvenience. This is a theme that continues through the movie: Emotional events rendered with zero emotion. Everyone else here struggles with the decision to try to kill Hitler. They know it should happen, but they're also worried about the consequences of failing (and not insignificantly, what those consequences will mean for their own skin -- maybe not the most noble consideration, but a genuine one). Cruise's character -- who knows well that if he fails his family will likely be arrested, or worse -- never seems to truly wrestle with his decision to deliver the lethal blow (or, more accurately, blast). The few cursory flicks at indecision, like that last long embrace of his wife, seem staged and rote and insincere. His unwavering dedication to the mission might make Cruise's character a hero. But it also makes him seem fake. I mean, here's a plan where the guy with three fingers is picked to arm the bomb -- who wouldn't have some second thoughts about an operation like that? But Cruise treats this all like he's Maverick from Top Gun: Just give me the stick (of TNT, this time) and let me do my job. It doesn't work. But fortunately, almost everything else in this film does.

(Darren Vineyard, 2009-10-22) Wow what an awesome movie. All the movie stars. Each character was played by the perfect actor. Tom Cruise knocked it out of the park on this one.Very well done. I know I heard all the critics say he didnt fit the part. But you know they say that about all of his movies. he has been black balled for being of a certain religion. Dont we americans call that racism? Anyway it is a movie that was pure entertainment.

(Dennis Shumaker, 2009-11-01) The movie showed Hindus attacking and killing Muslims in the ghetto. One person was the mother of the main character. The scene is particularly brutal. I cant help but to feel there is some lopsided bias in this movie? Perhaps a favor for bin Laden? If anyone knows about Indian history, they should surely know that it has been the Muslims that have been the most aggressive against Hindus for centuries! CENTURIES! Muslims back in the 1400s-1700s were vicious animals towards Hindus. They destroyed some beautiful cities : Hampi! Look it up. The Hindus were never militaristic like the Muslims and the Muslims have been instigate most of the aggression recently as well. ie we dont see Hindu terrorists going into Pakistan to bomb people. I see this movie as an insult to Hindus and I dont appreciate it.

(Ben Larkins, 2009-10-26) A solid film crafted in a unique way that carries a lot of similiar themes to that of Blood Diamonds... not big on replayability, but drives home some very important themes that really open your eyes to Indian culture. Easy to follow, but leaves you still connecting some pieces at the end, which made it all the more enjoyable. Great acting, and a plotline that has to be one of the best and most interesting ways to tell a story. Really makes you feel for the characters, and the country in general.

(IV, 2009-10-26) I can understand why some might be hesitant in watching this film, it's not necessarily a movie one just has a sudden burst of enthusiasm and wants to watch. I rented this movie from Netflix and it sat on my dresser for 6 months before I finally decided I wanted to take time out of my day to watch it. This film is quite possibly the most fluent and engaging film I have seen since No Country For Old Men. I honestly cannot conjure up the right words that explains the superiority of quality, direction, emotion, and beauty that this film delivers to its viewers. After the film, you feel like you have just finished a great journey, and the end of that journey was well worth the time.

(Bob Waskiewicz, 2009-10-25) This is the MOVIE everyone was talking about?This is the MOVIE that won all the Awards?The 2 young stars of the film are great,and the girl is BEUTIFULL,but thats it.The fast cut editing,the predictable story line just doesn't get it."Slumdog Millionaire is over 2 hours of pure hell,but at least PAY the kids that were in the film.The producers made millions,and the young children who made this money for you are starving .

(Melissa Niksic, 2009-10-23) I enjoyed "Slumdog Millionaire," but I don't think it's the revolutionary film so many people make it out to be. The best thing about the movie is the unique way it tells the story. A young man named Jamal wins an insane amount of money on India's version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." He is accused of cheating and is taken into custody. The authorities grill him on how a boy from the slums was able to answer every question on the show. Jamal explains question by question how he knew the answers, and also giving away his life story. This is an amazing story of a young man's life, and I enjoyed the music and the performances by the talented cast of unknowns. However, there were some major holes in the plot, and occasionally the characters' accents were so thick that it was hard to understand them. My favorite part of the movie is probably the credits, which are a lot of fun to watch. I recommend seeing this film, but don't understand why people went so crazy over it.

(Rebecca Maidl, 2009-11-06) While the plot was predictable, the way it was carried out was great. It was such a good movie that the predictable plot could be overlooked and made almost refreshing. The dog reminded me of my dog and the cat reminded me of my cat and the hampster reminded me of my guinea pig. The bonds between them all and the girl just sum up how I feel about a dog's loyalty and cat's personality and the feisty little rodent sidekick. :) As other reviewers have said, the animation and effects/characters/CG is the best Disney CG so far (not counting Pixar/Disney CG in this). They perfected the characteristics and traits of real animals in the animation of the animals, but also was able to personify the animals as well. This is one of John Travolta's best work I think - he did such a good job as the voice of Bolt that I didn't even realize it was him (which when you don't realize an actor is that actor, I think that means they did a fantastic job). I loved the duet between Bolt (Travolta) and Penny (Miley Cyrus) and the little 2-D animation for the end credits - there are just so many things about this movie that I loved - it was all the details and small things they did to make it realistic. It was believable and cute and sweet and heart-wrenching and touching. Maybe it's because I love animals and all the animals in this movie reminded me of mine or others I have met, but I was pleasantly surprised and endeared by this movie when I wasn't expecting much of anything out of Disney (CG) movies anymore. My only regret with this movie was I got to see an early plot/story outline and artwork for the movie back when it was in preproduction (Disney came and did a presentation at my college on the movies they were making and this was one of them), and it seemed so much more original. The cat was supposed to be a mechanic with an eyepatch, and Bolt was a TV star, but more of a pampered one and the film was at that time titled "American Dog" and it was more about Bolt becoming his own person rather than just the "movie star." He was still on a cross-country journey out to rescue his owner (Penny) but there seemed to be more originality to the story and characters. Overall, this film turned out really well, but I just wonder what it COULD have been had it been more original and not so cookie-cutter. The artist that designed and created Lilo and Stitch was also the one to come up with the original story/character designs and while the animals look really similar to how they did in preproduction, I would have liked to have seen his ideas be the ones they used for the final version. I think the area that has the most impact in this movie is its emotional content. If you love your pets (dogs especially) and know that they will do anything for you, then you will also like this movie. If all you care about is a surprising new story idea, then you probably won't like it. P.S. The pigeons' animation (and probably their accents) nailed it.

(Jim Gateley, 2009-10-31) 4 of 5 stars for the animated cute movie Bolt. The movie opens with an exciting adventure segment where our hero, the cute little dog, Bolt (John Travolta), is being chased by bad guys. Bolt demonstrates superhero abilities to save his owner Penny (Miley Cyrus). Well, we later learn that we were watching a movie being made and the abilities (like his super-bark) are movie magic. Well, Bolt manages to get FedExed from LA to NYC and starts his journey home. Along the way Bolt meets several new friends and discovers he is not a superhero, just a cute little dog. I won't spoil the ending. The graphics/animation in this movie are amazing! The most life-like animation I have ever seen. Truly amazing! The characters are wonderful though I was disappointed in the hamster [the movie trailer made the hamster seem more interesting that he really turned-out-to-be]. Even knowing that Bolt's voice was Travolta, it really didn't sound "like him"; yeah it was, just not obvious. This is good fun for the whole family. Even us oldsters found alot to enjoy in this movie. I recommend it!

(JC, 2009-10-20) This is my child's favorite movie. Also, product arrived in excellent condition just as merchant described.

(Denise Moran, 2009-10-19) Totally exceeded expectations, can watch it over and over and over, very heartwarming, reminds kids they are important.

(Kathryn E. Hinrichs, 2009-10-16) ARRIVED EARLY. HAVE NOT OPENED IT, AS IT IS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT. APPEARS TO BE FINE.

(J.L.A., 2009-11-07) Some of the negative reviews are a bit harsh in my opinion. I liked this film. Certainly it falls short here and there...but what do you expect from lower-budget films? With a few tweaks here and there this movie could have been excellent. The main problem was with some of the story development. I'd have liked to have seen more in-depth dialogue and a bit more romance between the father and Chase. One of my main beefs in many of these gay themed movies is the lack of passion between the men. With "Mulligan" you even have one of the actors's who is an out gay man. (Charlie David even wrote this movie) Knowing this, the closed-mouthed, barely passionate kiss really ruined the "big scene" IMO. Overall the story was good. The photography was up-scale and the actors do a fine job given the budget and what I'm sure were time constraints making this film. It's worth watching.

(Darrin C. Smith, 2009-10-26) A Dad Coming Out of the Closet Story; this film spun like an After School TV Drama - oh hum. The story idea could have produced an interesting plot, however I felt this film was lacking in substance; there was barely a hint of Sexual Tension and the Big Moment of Crossing the Lines was anticlimactic {this would have been a HUGE step for anyone who was about to engage such a Taboo, however there just was not enough depth in this scene) and the Dramatic Melody used in the movie was soooo overused it drilled into your head. The conclusion of the film was tiresome and I really could have cared less. I also didn't really care much for Charlie David who played Chase, though he had a nice body, he just seemed to be lacking in substance. I did however enjoy Grace Vukovic who played the young daughter, her character was quite amusing. I also liked Thea Gill from Queer as Folk - it was nice to see her branching out, her performance was fine, however I felt she was a bit limited by a poor script and direction. All and All if you are looking for a Stale, No Brainer, Afternoon TV Coming Out of the Closet Drama, to watch on a Rainy Day, this one might do it for you, especially if you need some sleep.

(M. Nance, 2009-10-06) The movie is perfectly fine. The story is that of a family meeting their college-age son at a lake-side vacation home for a season. To everyone's surprise, the son brings with him a friend. During the vacation the dad (who has homosexual leanings) and the friend (who has only recently decided he was gay) indulge in a brief fling. It's discovered. There's drama. Everyone is happy in the end. This is not some revolutionary story. It's not a "must-see". It won't change the way you think. But you will probably make it all the way through and be left with a warm fuzzy feeling at the end. The acting is not amazing and the interactions between characters oftentimes seem forced, but it is by no means the worst one out there. If you're at the video store, pick it up, but I wouldn't expect it to become your new favorite.

(David S. Kanda, 2009-09-13) I love Charlie David. Ever since he appeared in Dante's Cove, I've been attracted to his sensuality. In this particular drama, The Mulligans, I have to agree, he plays his role well. You can actually feel him struggle with his sexuality and understand the embarrassment of his having come out to his long time friend. In the deleted scenes, you see where an African-American comes on to Charlie but he shuns getting involved with the individual sexually. I would have liked to see him expand on this relationship, but in a different movie with an entirely different theme however.

(Rodney J. Emonson, 2009-09-11) If ever there was a more "corny" badly acted, dull and totlly uninteresting film, it would have to be "The Mulligans" ! Don't waste your money on this American drivel. It is just soooo predictable, so totally unbelievable that it was a real chore to sit through it. DON'T BOTHER

(Amos Lassen, 2009-05-04) "LAVENDER LIMELIGHT" Lesbians in Film Amos Lassen From Go Fish to Paris is Burning to The Watermelon Woman, festival favorite Lavender Limelight goes behind the scenes to reveal seven successful lesbian directors. This is an amazing collection. These talented movie-makers enlighten and entertain as they explore their sexual identity, growing up gay, inspirations and techniques, the Differences between Hollywood and Indie, and of course, love and sex, onscreen and off. The conversations are intimate, the topics unlimited, and the clips from their work enthralling! The film features Cheryl Dunye (The Watermelon Woman), Rose Troche (Go Fish, Bedrooms & Hallways, The L Word), Jennie Livingston (Paris is Burning), Monika Treut (Virgin Machine, Female Misbehavior), Maria Maggenti (The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love, Puccini for Beginners), Su Friedrich (Sink or Swim, Damned If You Don't, Hide and Seek) and Heather MacDonald (Kiev Blue, Ballot Measure 9, Been Rich All My Life). For anyone interested in lesbian film and lesbian filmmakers, this is a movie that should not be missed.

(GreatMovieCriticForever, 2009-09-03) A look at the crappy Health Care system in America that about sums it up. This is an in depth investigation of the unproductive health care system in America. Very few will say that the Health Care system is great in this country, by most opinions the Health Care system in U.S. is a giant failure. Of course most of the problems in the health care industry are obvious, but Frontline does a nice job of providing all the facts especially for those still in denial that the health care system sucks. First of the problem is that Health Care system is ruled by greed and profit. In a capitalistic system like the US that plays right into its hands. Premiums are high, the cost is high, even the coverage itself may or may not even cover you. It's such a bad system it's not funny. It definitely wasn't going to be fixed under the corrupt George W. Bush administration which failed to make any headway with keeping health care affordable. Frontline presents these problems in more detail presents several cases with Americans where the Health Care system either failed, misled, or completely ignored their cries for help. The show presents the rather corrupt process of rescinding coverage. How crappy is the health care system in America? Even the Ceo of Kaiser is interviewed who admits how inadequate the health care system is. Imagine that. As mentioned several stories are presented. Probably the most persuasive cases are the Jennifer Thompson story and Nikki White story. Thompson was initially awarded medical coverage even though she might have cancer. Then after undergoing surgery to Thompson's surprise, the medical insurance company said they weren't going to pay for her coverage. Thompson was left with almost a half million dollars in bills. Way to go Health Care!!! The Nikki White story is even more disgusting. A girl diagnosed with Lupus and no medical company will give her coverage. It seems that the practice of a lot of these insurance companies is to award you coverage but only while you are healthy to begin with which contradicts the whole effort of getting coverage to begin with which is to get help for sick. There are idiots who will claim these are isolated cases but the millions of Americans who either can't pay for coverage or are denied medical coverage are living proof that the Health Care system in America sucks and it needs a major makeover.

(T. Morrison, 2009-10-10) I'm not gay but love the show. I have found it entertaining and insightful. Falling in love with the characters and learning about the social issues of being gay. I don't always agree with the opinions of the writers but can understand more about how people who are gay feel. I know if you don't walk in a persons shoes don't judge...I also believe if more people would see with love they would see people as just being people. I believe being gay isn't a choice...that's the way God made them and God doesn't make mistakes!

(Callahan Score, 2009-10-10) okay so to be honest, I didn't watch this show when it first came out (HA-HA i made a funny!!) and that was because i didn't have showtime in college...and boy did i love living with gay bois!!! my housemate had seasons 1 and 2 on DVD so I managed to sit in the house all day and caught a few stragglers along the way and watched the both seasons in one weekend! I fell in love!! the thing i love about this show is that even straight guys (at least those who are secure in their sexuality that is) I know watched and liked this show as it wasn't just about gay sex and all that. it actually had relate able characters and situations that can can be felt all across the board. after seeing how good this show was I was glued to the TV for an hour every...Sunday night (i think that was when it was on...including the Gay Duck Episodes). And i even got my current boyfriend to watch the pilot with me and asked if he would be interested in watching the show and when he agreed I knew he was a keeper as he was open minded that way unlike the previous guy i dated who would leave the room for QAF but would be glued to The L word. The characters each had their own thing and everyone can relate to each of them in one way or another. I consider myself a mix between Emmett and Debbie (YEAH I KNOW RIGHT!!!) complete with the liking to go dancing and standing up for my friends no matter what. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a show that will make you laugh cry and most importantly THINK

(Luna Park, 2009-10-07) I just read a few reviews already posted and have to agree that the packaging is good looking but all of my discs were dislodged as well. I'm only up to season 3 and so far have not had any problems with the discs and hopefully none will occur. The ordering and delivery was simple and far quicker than I had imagined. As this was my first order with Amazon, the initial impression is great. As for the show(s) itself, what can I say? It truly is a great program that continues to make me laugh, cry, think and titillate. I highly recommend this product to anyone who has or hasn't seen or heard of the series.

(Nathaniel, 2009-09-09) My only problem was that the discs kept falling out of place... otherwise very happy with my purchase

(Randy Lee, 2009-09-04) Queer as Folk was, and still is THE defining and groundbreaking piece of television. It changed the way for gay television and non-gay television alike. It is extremely sexual, sometimes vulgar, and shocking, but at the same time a very realistic portrayal of gay life, love, and the events surrounding it. It's just a shame it had to end only 5 years in, but it's probably for the better that the show went out on top, and that it did it with style. Another great thing about this show is that it doesn't judge its characters and the things they do, because hey, it's human. Probably one of, if not the best television series out there, this show is extremely addictive, and it knows how to pull the strings of your heart, and make you laugh, feel anger, and cry. (I'm not kidding about the cry thing, just wait until you see the first season finale.) For its fans, "Queer As Folk: The Complete Series" is a no-brainer must own. For people who have never seen this show, it is a must see, whether you are gay, straight, bisexual, a republican, a democrat, or an independent.

(KathleenBrown, 2009-10-28) This show is absolutely fantastic! Completely different yet equally as exciting, twisted, and thought provoking as Buffy.

(Vic, 2009-10-27) I bought this DVD to catch up on the series as I started watching it in the UK then moved to the US where the 2nd seson was about to begin. I enjoy most Joss Whedon stuff so it was no big surprise that I enjoyed Dollhouse but lots of others have commented on how easy it is to watch. If you're a Joss Whedon fan or just looking for something a bit different that pushes the occasional moral button then you will no doubt enjoy. Acting is good all round and I'm very curious where the series will go in Season 2.

(M. Holtzclaw, 2009-10-26) Excellent deal on the coolest show on television. I ordered this on Sunday and it was delivered with their free shipping the very next day. Amazon, you rock!!!

(J. Landis, 2009-10-26) I love this show and wanted to be able to watch it anytime I wanted to. The unaired episode that is on this DVD is just what I expected from this show and I was not disappointed.

(K. J. McGarghan, 2009-10-24) To whom it may concern: I have no idea whether one tiny e-mail will make a difference, but I write to urge you to support Joss Whedon and _Dollhouse_. Historically, Whedon's series have sometimes seemed to take a year or two to 'find their feet', but if you look at both his track record and the income made on DVD sales both while the shows are running and/or in syndication and after the shows end, you know that Whedon has a thoughtful, intelligent, passionate fan base and excellent word-of-mouth. You will always do better than break even on his work, and sometimes the profits must be munificent. Whedon comes from the same proud tradition of Mark Twain -- a deeply humanist man who uses humor and pathos to convey messages that are worth consideration for hundreds of years. Do not think that Whedon's work appeals only to the young -- I'm a middle-aged literary historicist by training, I make my living in the IT industry, and I am constantly delighted and amazed at the thought and intelligence behind the scripts, the care given by the entire cast and crew of each show to performing truly master work. Yes, there were moments early in many of the shows that make us wince, but these are more than outweighed by the poignancy and power of others. If one lone viewer's voice matters not, please consider that for every letter you receive, there may well be ninety nine more you did not, because the would-be writers may have feared they would not be heard. It is hard to see intelligent, thought-provoking, and, yes, value-laden (in both production and ethical senses of the phrase) series be discarded because they don't yield immediate results. But look at the phenomenon of Whedon's shows and know that ten years from now, Fox will be more proud of this type of envelope-pushing, loving, crafted work than 90% of what is on broadcast television today. You are more than welcome to contact me should you wish to discuss this further. Yours most sincerely,

(Kenneth Brunsen, 2009-10-13) Very good adaptation of William Shakespeare's Rome & Juliet into an Anime style and with a few twists. The drawing style and techniques were very good and I enjoyed the voice talents for the English dubbed. There was quite a bit of character development throughout the series not just with the main characters but with secondary characters as well. I don't remember there being any loose ends at the end with any of the characters which is always a big plus. I don't want to give anything away but will definitely enjoy this set - speaking of both parts together which make up the complete series. Thanks!

(ONENEO, 2009-08-12) Funimation has to be credited for their ability to drop anime DVD collections in a timely manner. After all, patience may be a virtue but who wants to wait around to find out how a story they're waist-deep in concludes? Such was the case with Romeo x Juliet. The first collection (known as the Romeo Collection) hit streets on June 23rd and now the concluding set is at our collective disposal as of August 11. Romeo x Juliet from Funimation breaks the 24 total episodes into a pair of two-disc sets. The second of which (reviewed here) is known as The Juliet Collection and contains episodes 13-24. Packaged within an appropriately artistically decorated cardboard exterior slipcase is a pair of thin disc cases each containing a single dvd (with 6 episodes on each). Total runtime comes in at 290 minutes and the show wears a conservative TV PG (13+) rating, based presumably more on the grander adult oriented themes (we do all know how this tale will end) than it is language, sexual scenarios, or gore. Language options are standard fair sub & dub meaning the original Japanese dialog track is presented (in stereo) as well as the option of instead watching an English dub (in Dolby Surround 5.1). Finally English subtitles are available with either vocal option. Extras include an English actor commentary track over Act (episode) 24, textless songs, and a host of Funimation trailers on the second disc. As was the case with the first collection, the source material here deviates from the original William Shakespeare play while retaining many of the same fundamental concepts of forbidden love, dictatorship governments, and the agony of heartbreak. In this installment Prince Montague sentences the captured Juliet to death, which of course spurs her faithful comrades into rescue efforts. For simply aiding in Juliet's escape, Romeo finds himself exiled to the grueling Gradisca mines. Though ripped apart from one another, both Romeo and Juliet focus their efforts to create a world where they can be together while Juliet cements a Capulet strike against Montague complete with the return of her vigilante alter ego, the Red Whirlwind. While the human factions battle each other for control, Neo Verona itself is crumbling as Escalus, the tree that supports everything, begins to wither and die beneath their very feet. Pacing in the show's second half is much grander in terms of scale and scope when compared to that of the first 12 episodes. The love interest between the title characters definitely blossoms into a more believable/ less forced relationship here even as the underlying chaos that surrounds them builds to a fever pitch. Without giving away too many spoilers, I will say to expect some of the tragic nature of the source material to not only carry over but to become a literal ultimatum faced by the characters by the show's dramatic conclusion. However, I really don't wish to insinuate that the entire Juliet Collection serves as a funnel to the inevitable conclusion; in fact the truth is quite the contrary. Thanks to the fact that this half of the tale once again consists of a full 12 episodes should hint toward the truth that the voyage is every bit as rewarding as the arrival. I was particularly moved by the sequences that focused on Romeo's torture in the mines, as they appear to have been lifted from some of the finer science fiction films of yore and work very well here. Juliet's isolated plots were a bit drier and more politically under-toned but I suspect some may find this to be the more enjoyable. Prince Montague's tyranny really comes into fruition in this installment as well; a credit to Gonzo's ability to paint realistic characters (love them or hate them). Like in the first half, the artistry is by no means spectacular but it does work within this setting with emphasis on textures and background detail, sometimes at the cost of the moment. The musical score however continues to build both in scale and mood. Ultimately, it comes off as a very well constructed symphonic score that manages to impress (even in the show's darker moments). Once again I'm left with mixed feelings on the occasional old-English/ Shakespearean-inspired dialog on the English dub, which may actually be superior to the original Japanese dialog (a rarity in the anime world). It's not quite as glaring an inconsistency as it was in the first installment, but it without fail makes the viewer wonder if it would have worked better to quit resisting and just perform the entire show that way or to avoid any and all references to that era and simply do away with it entirely. The English voice cast commentary track is great in terms of demonstrating just what a highly anticipated project the show was to Funimation. It's funny to hear that nearly everyone on staff did their absolute best in the hopes of snagging one of the lead roles. Of course the producers had to narrow it down and surely there were those lowly voice actors left feeling like the last person on the wall during team selection of a gym class dodge ball game. In all, this is a must have for those who watched, loved, liked, or even just barely got through the first half. For everyone else, this is definitely above average anime as a whole and now that the full 24-epiodes are available, this would be the perfect opportunity to get involved. After all, virtuous or otherwise, waiting for a show's conclusion bites.

(Camron Brandenburg, 2009-10-30) I loved it! I grew up on this show and never knew about these episodes!

(LTSpike, 2009-09-30) There are other reviews giving episode content, and there's no reason to repeat that. After Challenge of the Superfriends (starring the Legion of Doom), these episodes seemed like a step backwards. It's like they stepped back in time to retarget 5 year olds like the very first seasons. Challenge of the Super Friends - The First Season (DC Comics Classic Collection) was particularly nice because it used a large variety of super heroes and villians and got rid of the annoying and useless sidekicks - no Wendy/Marvin/Wonderdog or Zan/Jana/Gleek, just the superheroes. Sadly, this collection has the Wonder Twins, who even as a kid I found quite annoying. Although there are a few scattered episodes with various members of the former Legion of Doom, they are not as much fun as their predecessors, and given all segments are around 7 minutes each, the stories are pretty lame and are targeted towards a younger audience than Challenge of the Superfriends. The Wonder Twins segments typically had a 'message' for little kids like an episode where two bullies were taught the error of their ways or one where two kids jumped a fence into a restricted area and got into trouble - reminded me of the very first series in 1973 but without the charm of those early years. Of course, this style may appeal to some, just not me. As a fan of Challenge as a kid, I just found this series to be of much lower quality in terms of stories, art, format, and even the voice casting, and they were written for a much younger audience (5-6 as opposed to 10-11 for Challenge).

(T. Reid, 2009-08-24) Love the cartoon shorts. They really bring me back to a time when you had a Large variety of cartoons to choose from. But the extras are null and void. Most of the extras on the other Super Friends releases were nothing special but this one has ziltch. A digital comic?...who cares. Where are the voice actor interviews? Not much effort into this one. It's like Disney releases.....NO EXTRAS. Plus some of the remastering was sloppy. Some of it looks like I'm watching a VHS tape recording. I still love it though.

(Michael E. Pajak, 2009-08-19) First, to clarify the number of episodes. This DVD set consists of 8 half-hour shows of "Super Friends" from what would have been their 1983-1984 season on ABC Saturday mornings. Each half-hour show is composed of 3 episodic shorts running about 7 minutes each. A total of 24 shorts (8 X 3) are on this DVD set. These 8 half-hour shows are complete with both their original opening and closing credits. Unfortunately, ABC never aired any of these half-hour shows during their network 1983-1984 Saturday morning season. They did, however, air the first half-hour's worth of shorts the following year during the 1984-1985 season of "Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show". Since then, these 8 half-hour shows (or more specifically these 24 shorts) eventually all aired years later in syndication and have become known as "the Lost Episodes" of Super Friends. Each half-hour usually (but NOT always) consists of: 1. a team-up between two or more primary Super Friends 2. a team-up between the Wonder Twins and one or more Super Friends 3. a team-up between one primary Super Friend and one secondary Super Friend Because the original Superman movies with Christopher Reeve were still fresh in the public's mind, these shows are heavy on Superman and Superman lore. Since the titles of each short are listed by other reviewers, I've decided to list the stars of each short for those of you who are looking for particular heroes in this set: Disk 1: 1.1 Superman and Batman 1.2 Wonder Twins and the Atom 1.3 Batman/Robin and Apache Chief 2.1 Superman, Wonder Woman, and Robin 2.2 Wonder Twins and Batman/Robin 2.3 Aquaman and Black Vulcan 3.1 Superman, Batman/Robin, and Wonder Woman 3.2 Wonder Twins and Aquaman 3.3 Wonder Woman and Samurai 4.1 Superman and Batman/Robin 4.2 Wonder Twins, Wonder Woman, and the Flash 4.3 Superman and Wonder Woman Disk 2: 5.1 Superman and Batman 5.2 Wonder Twins, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern 5.3 Superman and Apache Chief 6.1 Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman 6.2 Wonder Twins and Hawkman/Hawkgirl 6.3 Batman/Robin and Black Vulcan 7.1 Superman and Green Lantern 7.2 Wonder Twins and Batman/Robin 7.3 Aquaman and El Dorado 8.1 Batman/Robin and El Dorado 8.2 Wonder Twins, Superman, and Batman 8.3 Superman, Wonder Woman, and Samurai The animation and storylines on these shorts are pretty much standard fare for this time period of the late 1970's to early 1980's. So those of you who grew up on the 1990-2000's DC animated series will most likely groan while watching these. However, there are some unexpected high-points for comic fans: (1.1) another appearance by Mr. Mxyzptlk, (2.1) Jor-El and Lara when Superman returns to Krypton before it explodes, (3.1) the return of the Legion of Doom with all 13 members, (5.2) Gorilla Grodd and Giganta, and possibly the only appearance of 13 members of the Super Friends together (sort of, and no, I'm not counting the Wonder Twins and Gleek), (7.1) the return of the Phantom Zone villains who travel back in time to Smallville and Superboy, (7.3) Brainiac, and (8.3) the return of Bizarro and Bizarro World. The only special features are two Super Friends digital comic book reprints from the late 1970's that you can page through screen by screen, and the usual trailers for other DC animated DVD sets. All in all, this DVD set is recommended for anyone who is a fan of the Super Friends and/or the Legion of Doom, and for anyone who is a fan of this era of Saturday morning television.

(Fortean Anomalie, 2009-08-12) Why would Black Vulcan volunteer to go on a mission to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean? Why did his powers work under the sea? Doesn't EVERYBODY know that electricity and water do not mix? Other than this I have no complaints (but this does really bug me). It is a solidly good season(even the Wonder Twins seem less annoying in this season).

(! Durrkk, 2009-10-15) If you're in the mood for a really good war flick you can't go wrong with 2001's "Enemy at the Gates." Most WWII films take place on the Western Front whereas "Enemy" is one of only two films I can think of that address the Eastern front, the other being Sam Peckinpah's underrated "Cross of Iron" (1977). THE PLOT: The entire story takes place during the pivotal Battle of Stalingrad. Russian troops are carted in by the literal trainloads as the Germans attack/bomb the city. Once the dust clears the situation settles into a more personal battle of sharpshooting wills. A lowly young Russian soldier named Vassili (Jude Law) distinguishes himself for his shooting skills and is promoted as a national hero to motivate the Russian cause. After numerous German officers are assassinated Major König (Ed Harris), the top German sniper, is assigned to seek out and eliminate Vassili. I saw this film back when it was first released to video and three things stuck in my mind over the years: (1.) The opening sequence where the Russian troops are boated across the Volga River to join the fight. This sequence is just extremely harrowing, even more so than Saving Private Ryan's opening D-Day invasion. This is definitely one of the most realistic, well-done scenes in war film history. The film's worth viewing for this incredible sequence alone! (2.) The city-in-rubble sets with bodies strewn everywhere had a lasting impression on me as did the scurring-like-rats-through-the-rubble warfare. (3.) Some may find this weird, but I always remembered the discreet love-making scene while the soldiers laid in the rubble trying to sleep. I'm not sure why this left an impression, maybe because it struck me as so real -- men & women would be drawn to one another and mate even in the worst possible scenarios. I just saw the film a second time recently and, again, the warfare reminded me of human rats scurring through the debris. What's interesting is that I later discovered that the film was based on the book "War of the Rats" by David L. Robbins. Guess the movie was supposed to provoke the imagery of rats, huh? The cast also includes Joseph Fiennes as the political officer who elevates Vassili to hero status via his pamphlets and articles, while Rachel Weisz plays the romantic interest between the two. Ron Perlman is also on hand in a limited role as Vassili's sharpshooting comrade. As with any film based on historical events there are facts-obsessed critics who decry the lack of authenticity in this or that detail (e.g. "The zippers on the trousers aren't right -- blasphemy!!", but "Enemy" gets the gist right and, besides, it motivates the viewer to research the actual Battle of Stalingrad, at least this is what it did for me. What more can you ask for? The fact is Vassili played a key role in motivating the Russians to victory in the Battle of Stalingrad, one of the major turning points of World War II; from then on it was all downhill for Germany. FINAL WORD: "Enemy at the Gates" is a truly unforgettable war film about an oft-ignored important aspect of WWII, the Eastern front. It has numerous memorable scenes, especially the opening crossing of the Volga and also a clever sequence involving a large shard of reflective glass. In my humble opinion the film's far better than the contemporaneous "Saving Private Ryan" (I'm sure I'll get a handful of 'non-helpful' votes for that sacrilegious statement). GRADE: B+ or A-

(James D. Crabtree, 2009-09-27) Be forewarned. This movie is about snipers. Snipers go for headshots. You do the math. Very well done, with a portrayal of Kruschev sent to the city by Stalin to "fix" things. Stalingrad landmarks are well-portrayed in the film. The actors were good, but in some cases I think they were in miscast.

(K. Lynn, 2009-08-10) Ok so the deul between snipers, great propoganda, not likely though. Did the Nazis want Zaitsev dead? Yes. But there were deadlier snipers in the Red Army, including a few women who had much higher kill totals then he did. Really though the Nazis send a major, head of thier sniper school to hunt Zaiysev? Doubtful. Rachel Wiesz's character is supposed to be Ukrainian, and not jewish. Apparently though every World War 2 movie about Europe has to hammer home the Holocaust in some way. Guess it's a standard receipe in Hollywood. She was according to history a deadly individual who arrived in Stalingrad with around a Hundred kills already, and not the timid, afraid to shoot my gun character portrayed in the movie. A slight to her I'm sure, not sure what's wrong with a strong proud woman in a movie, defending her country, BUT Hollywood seems to not like the idea. No the Russians had pleant of guns at Stalingrad. No need to wait for some poor schmuck to buy it so you could have one. Wrong period in history. Not one Russian soldier has a bayonet, despite a Red Army rule against removing them. History? NO! Entertainment, Yes. I liked Ron Pearlman's character. Too bad he dies quick. Ed Harris is awsome as the intenese German Major. And Bob Haskins as Kruschev is awsome. Yes the line...."I don't care you lost half your men, Lose the other half!" is probably true. Historicaly the Russians have always been willing to accept enourmous casualties in war. Stop looking for history and truth, realize it's a propaganda story, a movie about the horror of war, and it's just entertainment.

(J. Pink, 2009-08-08) This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to end. I believe this movies shows the horror of war as much as the human side as well. A must see! Jim P

(Michael W. Yates, 2009-06-27) great gritty war movie about the seige of stalingrad in ww2 strongly recommendedto war movie collectors

(Denise Escamilla Ortiz, 2009-11-04) Probably the most shocking thing about this tragic love story is that it is feasible. I can relate in so many ways to it. It is scary to discover that you were waiting for Juliet instead for Romeo in your life. And not everyone has the guts to live out this kind of love. I guess this happens more often than what we think. And for some it does have a Shakespearean ending to it. The story is good, and the music is awesome. Some of the photography is really great. And it's a kick to see these actresses at such a young age and see what they turned into as young adults. I did like the movie, although you might want to skip it for a day that you are in a mood for serious drama and tragedy. It's not your usual love-romance happy ending story, but it's worth watching it, specially if you are into lesbian movies.

(Paul Bail, 2009-09-05) Piper Perabo's performance will take your breath away. Her portrayal of this passionate, strong, and flawed girl more than makes up for any shortcomings the script may have. See it!

(R. M. Maynard, 2009-07-30) I'm going to try desperately not to give anything away here, so let's just say literarily speaking I get why people like this story. I get that people like the star-crossed lovers, tragic romance stuff- I do. (In fact, I'm a HUGE fan of it.) But this just seemed like watching a plain crash or a train wreck, because you know the ending's coming the whole time, and all you can do is watch the events (and one of the characters) unravel. It's that horribly sad, gut-wrenching kind of melancholy that some folks really get off on; like watching movies about horrible tragedies, mass attrocities and dying things... Some people like that. Me however? Not so much. Don't get me wrong- I love the emotional quality and depth of this film, the cerebral characters and the intellectual nature of the production. I greatly appreciate all of that. I just think people have made way too much of watching a love (in 2 senses of the word) spiral downwards. Plus, ya can't help but wish that somebody wouldda sat a certain little girlie down and gotten her some major therapy- sexuality notwithstanding. I guess to me it seems they're trying to intimate that homosexuality must be akin to (or bundled inexorably with- if not out-and-out lie within) some serious mental illness. To that I say *zerbert.* :P Free hearts and love requited = good. Untended madness, non-present and/or idiotic adults, hardcore denial and other dismal stuffs, = bad...

(Bobbi Jo Kranz, 2009-06-13) I had forgotten how much I realy liked this movie. I am glad I bought it.

(E. G. Bales, 2009-05-25) I saw this movie for the first time when I was thirteen and just discovering sexuality. It was late and I didn't have school so I stayed up searching through the cable channels until I found this movie. For me, this movie inspired me to give it my all when i am in love. I am not a female, and thus, not a "lesbian." However, this movie made me see beyond the labels that modern society thrusts upon us. I was excited to find that the local video store was able to order it for me. The girl behind the counter actually knew what movie I was trying to describe. The whole character of "Mouse" is exactly like that of every young teenager who gets thrown into this kind of situation, trying to help one friend, Paulie, "win" back another, Tory. The last half, after Paulie and Tory are discovered, was done wonderfully. The ending was extremely unexpected and actually made me cry at the loss of Tory's love. I would recommend anybody to watch this movie. It will definitely make you rethink the title that you project onto somebody else. Whether you call them "gay" or "lesbian," they also have a certain way they approach the love they seek.

(D.H., 2009-09-23) Rounders is the only better movie out there about No Limit Texas Holdem and this movie was made earlier. Probably a bit of inspiration to the makers of Rounders as this movie was a bit more comedy than actual reflection on the game of Poker. Richard Donner and Mel Gibson are a team made in heaven. Mel Gibson always in good form, is the card shark on his way to winning a large poker competition...The early Western version of the WSOP. The problem is that he keeps running into people who in one way or another, don't want him to get there. Regarded as the best Poker player in the West, Maverick must outmanuveur a cunning temptress (Jodie Foster/Annabelle Bransford), a jealous degenerate cheat (Alfred Moline/Angel) and the host of the game and all around scalliwag (James Coburn/Commodore). The cast is on form and the action is always engaging.

(Charles E. Ellevan, 2009-09-15) I am biased as I am a Randy Newman fan, and I appreicate his style. I'm also a soundtrack collector. I'm also a fan of the original Maverick series. The music was good in the sense that it was 'western' style...cowboy music . . . as opposed to 'country western'. Overall I was satisfied with the music, it is pretty much what I expected and I did see the movie, so I knew what I was getting. Watching it again on the western channel inspired me to get the soundtrack. I guess my only disappointment was that some homage was not paid to the original Maverick TV series theme. Maybe it was there and I just didn't hear it. That's my only complaint. If you liked the movie, then get the soundtrack.

(CAB, 2009-07-18) No complaints. Good disk even thought it was used. Shipped fast. I would buy from you again.

(Malorie Reynolds, 2009-04-02) I find this movie as funny now as when it first came out. Mel Gibson, James Garner and Jodie Foster are completely charming and wonderful to watch. It is simply a good time for a couple of hours. Not deep. Not thought provoking. Just a good time and a good chuckle.

(Craig Connell, 2009-03-20) A good mix of comedy, drama, suspense and nice scenery all make this a pleasing viewing experience. (Most people watching this leave with a smile on their face.) This "western" is really a lot more of a comedy, but so was the TV show on which it was based. In the movie, we get some really neat twists at the end, too. Kudos also for including TV's original "Maverick" - James Garner - in this film. Mel Gibson (the "new" Maverick) and Jodie Foster play off each other well in the leads and Graham Greene has some very funny lines as a supporting player. Alfred Molina, James Coburn, Geoffrey Lewis also shine in supporting performances and it is really fun to see all the cameo appearances in here. Included in there were a couple of old-time western movie stars along with country-western singers, all at a big card game at the end. Another plus are the two songs during the ending credits. There is rousing C&W rendition of "Amazing Grace" followed by a good Randy Newman song called "Ride Gambler Ride." They are worth sticking around and hearing. One negative about this film: the message seems to be that cheating, lying and just being a dishonorable person if okay if you can get away with it!! That's the movie business, for you!

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