Sharp as Marbles

The Name Says it All
Sharp as Marbles. Sounds like it could be worth a laugh. And it had it's moments, as cheesy and predictable as they were. But the movie was slow, never gaining much momentum. This is another movie that I'd have preferred to rent, but the local rental places didn't have it in their selections. So I bought it. Definitely not worth the cost.

This movie would not have even been on my radar screen if it hadn't been for the lead actor in the movie, Adam Gregory. As a country music fan, he is one of my favorites. So I gave the movie a shot.

He is one of the two redeeming qualities of this movie (hence my two star rating). The second redeeming quality probably won't have much of an impact on many people because it's the location. The movie was filmed in Langley, BC - the place where I was born and raised. I've eaten in the restaurants some scenes were filmed in, I went to the same bowling alley . . . No matter what happens, where my life takes me, I'll always...

Funny movie
Is not that I think that is one of the most funniest films in the market, but it made me laugh for sure. It may have some parts where you are expected to laugh and you know is not gonna happen, but after all I would say this is a funny movie. Just by the title you can realize that it must be at least a little funny.
*Sponsored Post

sharp as marbles, silly but funny silly.
I think this film is really dumb but it's dumb enough to laugh, and kinda ponit to the person next to u about a line that rings true.
A,

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Heathcliff: New Cat in Town

Two New Toons
First off I'm a big fan of cartoons and Heathcliff was one of my favorites as a kid, so I like to relive that era sometimes. That being said, I don't understand why cartoons don't get more respect especially when considering the way the releases/DVDs are packaged. Distributors always seem to package the old with the new and this one is no exception.

This DVD contains 5 Heathcliff cartoons, three of which can be found on Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats, and two I've not seen released before. The old: The Great Pussini, Rebel Without Claws, and Heathcliff's Middle Name; the new: Heathcliff Pumps Iron and Big Top Bungling.

So the long and short of it is that if you bought the 4 Disc set, like I did, you get two new cartoons with this DVD.

To distributors: stopping messing with us and just release complete sets of these cartoons or seasons like live-action TV shows. Other cartoons are...

The resurrection of some excellent childhood memories.
N-Circle Entertainment is definitely one of my favorite DVD companies at the moment, and has been for quite a while. They have managed to bring back a lot of classic programs that aired back when I was much younger (I'm 20 years old now), and have been remarkably respectful of the original content by not altering//butchering/changing anything around or putting in their own little 'edits.' They left Heathcliff untouched on this DVD, and that's most certainly something that I respect. From the original opening sequence to the title cards to the content of each episode, nothing has been manipulated (and you can even see slight traces of film grain and deterioration on some of the footage, which lets you know that they got this straight from the original master tapes). I also like how the 1984 DiC Vortex logo appears on this DVD; unfortunately, if you choose to watch all of the episodes in a row, you won't see it until the last episode has ended. It doesn't come on after every episode,...



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The Easter Bunny Is Coming to Town

Animagic Holiday fun from Rankin/Bass
Microjoe review: Another stop-motion Animagic hit from the holiday entertainers, of Rankin/Bass Studios, the kings of holiday TV specials. This 1 hour show was released for the first time on April 6, 1977 on ABC television network. The storyline is very similar to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", from the same studio - and by that I meant that part of the story explains all the traditions of Easter and how they began, such as why we eat chocolate bunnies, or why we color eggs. The show opens with a newsreel showing kids asking these questions. Fred Astaire reprises his role as the singing mailman S.D. Kluger and gives a great voice performance but he has a bigger role this time. He has traded in his snowmobile mail truck for "the little engine that could", voiced by Robert McFadden. In the story we go back in time to the beginning of the children's Easter traditions to answer these questions, to a hidden town called "Kidville". There is a scary bear named Gadzooks who hates holidays,...

Another RANKIN/BASS Classic!
It's hard to believe that ARTHUR RANKIN and JULES BASS were able to Produce another GREAT 'ANIMAGIC' Easter Special after HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL....BUT they did! They were able to do it with the help of FRED ASTAIRE as the narrator and once again ROMEO MULLER as the writer. As far as the music goes, one reviewer is way off base here. One of the most memorable RANKIN/BASS Songs is the theme to this one "THE EASTER BUNNY IS COMIN' TO TOWN TODAY" sung by FRED ASTAIRE and of course "Someone's Gotta Be First." This has also become a family tradition at my home and it's hard to believe the Networks (ABC) stopped airing it. Who forget GADZOOKS the bear? WARNER BROTHERS is to be applauded for this GREAT clam shell cover featuring the ANIMAGIC characters.....now if it could just be released on DVD with THE FIRST EASTER RABBIT starring BURL IVES! Rick Goldschmidt RANKIN/BASS Biographer/Historian

A childhood favorite!
This is a Rankin/Bass classic and one of my favorite Easter specials. The use of the Mailman character from "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" creates a wonderful link between the holidays. I easpecially love how all of the Easter traditions are explained in such a whimsical manner!

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Rendition

A serious film about a serious topic that will make you cringe
This 2007 film is scary. That's because the theme is about the practice of interrogating suspected terrorists in a foreign country where laws against torture do not apply. This practice is called rendition and this film makes it real. It's hard to watch.

The film opens in an American middle class suburb. Reese Witherspoon is playing with her small son when they get a phone call from her husband, Omar Metwally, an Egyptian citizen who has lived in America for 20 years. He tells his wife and son he is on the way home from a business trip and they plan on meeting him at the airport. All seems well.

When he gets off the plane, however, he is detained at the airport and questioned. He is a chemical engineer and the questioners are asking questions about a terrorist bomb plot. He denies everything. He seems clean but Meryl Streep, playing a high powered Washington decision maker, orders him to be put into rendition and he is whisked away to an unnamed middle...

Guilty by circumstance
This well acted drama is a wakeup call to the horrors of the alleged practice of "extraordinary rendition", where persons suspected of being involved in terrorist activities are apprehended and sent to another country to be interrogated (translate: tortured)

Based upon one cell phone record and an Islamic name, chemical engineer Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally) is removed from a flight from South Africa to Washington D.C. and sent to an interrogation centre, where he is questioned, beaten and abused for proclaiming his innocence.

The movie uses flashbacks and lots of switching between characters to illustrate the chain reaction that results, and how it affects not only El-Ibrahimi, but also his wife (Reese Witherspoon), his family, an observing CIA analyst (Jake Gyllenhaal), and even his torturer, Abasi Fawal.

In a gripping sub-plot, Fawal's daughter secretly becomes romantically involved with a young man, not knowing that his brother had perished at...

You Get A Lot For Your Money Here
There's a lot on this DVD, almost all of it interesting and informative.

The movie itself is a dramatization of a composite case in which a traveler with a Middle Eastern name and heritage gets flagged as having possible terrorist ties, is waylaid by US/coalition authorities, and is sent to an "undisclosed location" where he is subjected to brutal bouts of questioning and torture. All this happens because of what might have been a simple cell phone mix-up.

However, to the movie's credit, while making a moving humanitarian appeal against such treatment, it does not foreclose on the possibility that this traveler might have some al-Qaida ties. The movie also tries to give at least some weight to our State Department's arguments for the necessity of extracting information by any means. Meryl Streep makes the Government case with chilling pragmatic efficiency.

So this movie does recognize some of the complexities involved. It is not a simplistic good guys...

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Saving a Species: Gorillas on the Brink

Portman serving the world
Thought I tend to watch documentaries more then anything else (at least in preference), I'll admit to staying on this film as opposed to skipping past it because of Portman. She strikes me as genuine.

The film does what is supposed to. It shows that these animals seem to have qualities that mimic our own. It shows they are suffering like many of our own. It shows that it doesn't take many people to really make a difference in the world.

These gorilla's are in essence becoming Refugees.

4 stars for the film + 1 star for the host

/s refugeeX

A lot of Natalie, A little Gorilla
I thought Gorillas on the Brink was well-produced with beautiful shots of Africa and good information on the things that people are doing to save the gorillas. Natalie Portman is an interesting, sincere host. If you like her as an actress, you will probably like this DVD.

The only reason that I give it 4* instead of 5* is that I wish there was more footage of the actual gorillas. There are a significant number of segments where Natalie is interviewing/having conversations with conservationists and experts, but there isn't a gorilla in sight. Since this isn't shot in a zoo, you have to remember that the camera-people are trying to get shots of the gorillas in their natural habitat, and sometimes it is hard to get close enough to get that perfect shot. That said, there is an especially interesting segment where Natalie, Jack Hanna, and Natalie's mother are standing and observing a group of gorillas (in very close proximity). Great shots and also great tension during this...

Wonderful Documentary!
I bought this documentary with expectations and doubts, but now I can assure is really espectacular!... I enjoyed very much the good quality of image and sound and the story itself. If you are curious and interested in documentaries about wildlife conservation, this is one for getting. It is shown in the new format (widescreen), very far from those bored documentaries related to wildlife... In conclusion if you are interested in mountain gorillas and to know the reality around the conservation of these creatures, if you like to see beautiful landscapes, as well as to enjoy a good story beside natalie portman in a different face to her traditional work in the cinema... I recommend you this documentary 100%...

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Welcome to the NHK Vol. 3: 3rd Conspiracy

A Manic Love Story?
22 year old Satou is a NEET, and a hikkikomori. He never leaves the house. He just sits around drinking beer, smoking, and watching TV. On top of all this he is also delusional. He convinces himself that a group called the NHK (Nihon Hikkikomori Kyoukai) is out to get him and turn the entire country into NEETs. One day a pretty high school girl named Misaki visits him and offers to give him counseling to cure his hikkikomori condition. The 2 become closer and begin to rely on each other. As their relationship strengthens Satou is able to venture out and do things on his own. Lot's of drama and comedy ensue.

This anime is completely different from anything I've ever seen. It dark and methodical vibe are complemented by the main characters hilarious paranoia and perverted imagination. The production is top notch. Animation and music are all very good. It also stars 2 of my favorite voice actors, Chris Patton and Luci Christian. Given Satou's perverted imagination, this anime...

Nice Cliffhanger
While it's taken a very long time to get to this point, the series has finally managed to engage me in a way that it had yet to do. The characters are now dealing with real conflicts between other characters and their own personal agendas and the story leaves off on an interesting cliff hanger. With new goals put into place and the characters left in limbo, the next volume becomes required viewing for anyone who has made this far into the series.



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Disney's Little Einsteins - Race for Space

Still the Adorable Little Einsteins
GOOD: Three episodes go well together, typical Little Einstein fare, good lessons

BAD: One weak episode, no coverage of planets / space, DVD extras are worthless and not subtitled.

Little Einsteins: Race for Space comes with three episodes, one of which hasn't aired as of the DVD's initial release. One person reports it aired in Canada, however.

I understand the disappointment from other reviewers. The DVD case does say that it's two episodes plus one new one -- nothing about being an original movie like the other DVDs. The DVD also doesn't go into depth about the planets as one might thing from the title.

The never before aired episode, "The Treasure behind the Little Red Door," has kids and Rocket tracking a stolen treasure map to Hawaii. The art of the day is the Hawaii Ki'i (hula) statue and the featured song is "Funeral March of a Marionette" by Charles Francois Gounod.

After stealing the treasure map from the gang, Big Jet...

No new episodes, misleading title (not space oriented)
Be aware that this DVD is not a new full-length movie, but rather a collection of three episodes. According to the packaging, one of the three episodes is nevore-before seen. However, here in Canada all three have been previously shown on TV, so none of them were new to us.

For those of you not familiar with this series, two DVD releases have full one-hour movies (Our Big Huge Adventure and Rocket's Firebird Rescue). All other DVD releases contain 3 TV episodes. Based on the product description, I was under the impression that this was a new one-hour movie, but it is not.

Furthermore, if you're expecting a space-related theme, you'll be disappointed. In the episode entitled Super Fast, they go out in space briefly, but that's it. In my opinion the title for this release is misleading as it is not space-oriented at all.

In short: no new material and overall a big disappointment as far as I'm concerned. Would not buy again had I known.

FYI the...

very disappointed
My son is 5 and LOVES little Einsteins. He watches them over and over again. He was so excited when we finally got the DVD he knew we pre-ordered it and was patiently waiting for it to come. When he finally watched it, he actually started crying-very unlike him. He said the new "space" show wasn't really about space at all. We had expected that it would be about the little Einsteins traveling from planet to planet, learning about each one. It isn't. They just happen to be traveling through space chasing/helping some little pigs. What a missed chance at teaching kids about the planets! Again-we were VERY disappointed.

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Spiral

The Ending Earned This One Another Star
This film was going to get a three star review from me. The office environment where the main characters work was totally unrealistic. The boss drinks on the job and flirts with his female co-workers to such an extent he would have been fired for sexual harrassment. Mason, the main character, is so strange and unattractive it is hard to believe that the woman he becomes involved with would give him the time of day. This film was very different from "Hatchet". It was slow, moody, and very restrained whereas "Hatchet" was all about excess. I have to say that I was never really bored but I was checking the clock a few times. Then, the last ten minutes of the film hit me and earned this film an extra star. The double-twist ending did pack a punch. I think that it saved this film from mediocrity.

A Film With an Identity Crisis (3+ stars)
"Spiral" doesn't seem to know what kind of film it wants to be. Horror? Psychological thriller? A relationship film? A commentary about misfits? The unfolding of this story of socially inept Mason and the girl he hopes will "be the one" is slow and deliberate, with some scenes between them painfully awkward. There are undercurrents of madness, obsession, and psychological torment, although these all have a vagueness that never sharpens into the horror suggested by the film's trailer.

Despite the flaws, "Spiral" remains an interesting film. Joel David Moore seems to get inside Mason's skin, although he overdoes Mason's tortured personality so it hardly seems believable that he hangs out with the people he does. Amber Tamblyn is thoroughly likeable as . . . Amber, but the chemistry between her and Moore never quites succeeds. The cinematography is adept, with its hues of orange and red, and the use of rain.

The extras offer nothing special (except the...

Spiral
Mason is an introverted artist who is thrust out of his isolated existence by an obnoxious co-worker that has taken a real liking to him. Just as she begins to break down his barriers and he begins to show signs of life while painting her portraits, Amber discovers that she may not be the first person to see the tip of his paintbrush, though she may be the last... Joel David Moore is perfectly fitting as Mason, delivering the cold and empty performance that the role required. The steady build allows Amber and the viewer ample time to get in to Mason's head, but just as he starts to open up to become a likable character, a sudden reveal immediately ramps up the terror and turns the tables on our social misfit. Moore's writing and direction under Adam Green's supervision demonstrate a great deal of potential here, and are aided by crisp visuals and expert framing. Mason's declining mental state is alluded to on screen in a series of visual metaphors seen in the approaching storm,...

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Charlie Chaplin (2pc)

NICE TIN, but...
I found the previous reviews of this item lacking, to say the least, so hopefully this one will help any potential buyers out there.

If you're a collector, as I am, you will be pleased with the embossed tin that this 2-DVD set comes in. It is made of good quality metal and will be a nice addition to your DVD collection.

Inside the tin are 2 DVDs in regular-size keep cases that are housed in a cardboard slip case that matches the design of the tin.

Disc one contains "Shoulder Arms" (45 mins), "The Champion" (20 mins) and "The Kid" (60 mins). Video quality is actually very decent, although I'm sure no remastering was done. As for the audio... well, it sounds like someone put an old vinyl album of ragtime piano on a turntable and let it play along as the videos were being transferred. The music is not bad at all (Scott Joplin maybe? I'm not sure.), but it is complete with the pops and scratches inherent to vinyl. And if the music follows the action...

Lousy.
When the selling point of a set of films is the box they come in, that's not a good sign. These prints are lousy, and often simply copied from official sources, meaning this is basically a pirated set. Speng the money to get the real thing - you won't be disappointed. (Kino company for the Keystone, Essanay, and Mutual Films, and the Chaplin Family Trust for the rest.)

Buyer beware
A comment that was left following my review of The Kid (2 Disc Special Edition) reminded readers what set I was reviewing, because Amazon has reviews for certain films showing up with unrelated editions. This eight DVD box set is an example of a collection that includes a poor quality edition of The Kid, and an uneven collection of other material. Many of the reviews appearing with this collection at the time I wrote this were for a completely different collection of 57 films, and with the rest of the reviews, I can't tell what collection they are reviewing.

With over 50 titles, it's hard to be an expert on which ones are presented in the best way in which set, but if you are looking to build a Chaplin collection, start off with his better known feature films. This particular collection includes only two films that were well known enough that the compilers chose to list them on the front cover. The rest...

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Chaos

An Interesting Twist for an Action Movie, Interesting but not Novel
According to one reference source, 'The name "chaos theory" comes from the fact that the systems that the theory describes are apparently disordered, but chaos theory is really about finding the underlying order in apparently random data.', and to enjoy the ride in this action film, understanding the chaos theory is helpful if not essential. In writing and directing CHAOS, Tony Giglio (as he explains in one of the featurettes on the DVD) worked to make an action movie that was more than just pyrotechnics and killing (though those are in abundance in this film!), and instead return to the atmosphere of older 'French Connection' type crime dramas. To accomplish this he uses the chaos theory to create just enough twists to keep the audience surprised. If the film doesn't open new doors for the genre, it certainly supplies enough entertainment to make it worth watching.

The film opens on a bridge in Seattle where an incident involving detective Quentin Connors (Jason...

Entertaining!!
I enjoyed this movie as it had more than it's share of twists & turns. The action is great, I like the actors & it's less than $10 for the Blu-ray right now, that's even less than the DVD! The video quality looked great on my 106" screen through my 1080p Mits HC5000 projector. Grab some popcorn, your favorite drink, sit back and enjoy the ride....with a little chaos along the way! :-)

I wouldn't watch it again.
There was much not right with this film. I kept thinking while watching it that it wasn't smooth - that the actors were uncomfortable with the screenplay. The dialog came across as clipped too, almost like hearing a joke, and waiting for someone to laugh. And the editing was 2nd rate as well as I noticed a couple flubs. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend spending money to purchase. And it truly doesn't deserve 3 stars (2 1/2 at most). Just run of the mill.

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Curious George: Goes to the Doctor and Lends a Helping Hand

Great Curious George dvd!
My 2-1/2 year old son loves Curious George & has watched the show for almost a year. We have all the dvds and this one is his favorite. He watches it over and over & could watch it all day. This dvd includes the following episodes:

Doctor Monkey
Housebound
Curious George, Stain Remover
Curious George Fixes Betsy's wagon
Curious George on Time
Curious George, Plumber's Helper
Grease Monkey in Space
Curious George Gets All Keyed Up

These are all great episodes, and I enjoy watching them with my son.

My son loves these cartoons
These are great cartoons for little kids - just didn't realize they also had the clips of kids talking about George and doing projects like the show does on PBS - my son doesn't mind them but my nephew always tries to fast forward through that part.

another great title from the curious george series
Couldn't wait to get this title to add to our collection. We just love that little monkey.

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Lust, Caution (R-Rated Edition Widescreen)

Lust with Caution
Ang Lee breaks through again with a masterful adaptation of Eileen Chang's short story, Lust/Caution (like what he did with Annie Prolux's similarly brief story, Brokeback Mountain). While the hype seems to be mostly misplaced on the controversial acrobatics displayed by Tony Leung and Tang Wei in bed, Lee's storytelling leaves one breathless.

The love story unfolds against the backdrop of 1930's Japanese-invaded Shanghai where tyranny and suffering were synonymous. Nubile Wang Jia Zhi played by Tang Wei joins the resistance movement and gets herself drawn into the role of a spy to crumble the traitor, Mr Yee. In between the espionage and wild climatic trysts, both of them unknowingly embroil themselves in love and deceit, much deeper than they would have liked themselves to.

Tang Wei, as a newcomer to cinema, is impeccable. Her evolution from a wide-eyed country girl to a seductive temptress is enough to make the hardest of most men, in this case, the...

My New Favorite Movie Of All Time!
I saw this movie twice in the theater - very unusual for someone as critical of movies as I am. The first time I went by myself, and the second time I took my husband, who was not initially interested in the story line (espionage and all). He also liked it a lot (though he did not have as much of a personal connection as I did with the film). I was like in a zone for a few days after I saw the movie. It really shook me to the core in a sense. A very powerful movie in and of itself, it moves me particularly because I am orinigally from China and Eileen Chang was one of my faovrite writers when I was a teenager book worm. Having grown up surrounded by the communisit propaganda, I found it refreshing to watch a movie so artfully done to create a theme about love, sexuality and loyalty. It shows how innocent and ignorant the young revolutionaries could be (something that was obviously omitted from our history lessons). This is a movie about powerful human emotions, like all the other...

Great Cinema in spite of the Hype
I first heard about Lust, Caution, like many others, due to its NC-17 rating by the MPAA. As this rating has tended to be an oracle of box office failure in the past, most studios due whatever needed to avoid it in theatrical release. Undaunted, director Ang Lee creates a film whose story and essence require scenes depicting the intimacy and emotion of very graphic sexuality. However, the film is not pornography, not sex and genitals for the sake of sex and genitals, but is rather an attempt to tell a story with the inclusion of sex for emphasis and impact--something all to often done with violence and completely overlooked in film ratings.

The story takes place in 1930s Shanghai, a Chinese city under Japanese occupation. While this setting is necessary to the plot, it also immerses the audience in a time and place completely foreign to all but the oldest generations in China today. Rations, checkpoints, suppression of movement and goods are all elements weighing on the...

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The Brave One (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD)

Vengeance is Mine...but Who am I?
Trauma, severe trauma, can unleash aspects of the human personality that may appear as a stranger within. Such is the premise for this well-constructed film by Neil Jordan (screenplay by Roderick Taylor and Bruce Taylor), and while the neither concept of trauma-altered personality or revenge tales is new, THE BRAVE ONE alters the vengeance idea just enough to make it credible and to even draw the viewer into believing that what the character is doing is justified and right! And that is perhaps the most frightening aspect of this terrifying film.

Erica Bain (Jodie Foster) is a night radio talk show performer, a woman who walks the city of New York gathering sounds and observing the mysteries of the 'safest big city' and relates her observations poetically to a large radio audience. Erica is engaged to young physician David (Naveen Andrews) and the couple are very much in love. One night on an evening stroll with their dog they are attacked by thugs, beaten with pipes, and...

Dark, Entertaining Foster Revenge Film
The Brave One continues Jodie Foster's recent foray into the thriller genre. So far, she's produced some pretty good results. She shouldn't be embarassed by either Panic Room, Flightplan, or The Brave One. The writing, directing, and co-stars (Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews, etc...) are all excellent and Foster is Foster.

Foster plays Erica Bain, an engaged NPR-type radio show host. One night, she and her fiance are walking in Central Park, and are viciously robbed and attacked. Her fiance is killed, and Erica is basically robbed of her happy existence by being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Deciding that revenge is the only way for her to cope with her loss, she proceeds to buy a gun and go on the prowl for her attackers, while developing a friendship with a cop (played by Howard) working on the cases she creates with her vigilantism.

The Brave One shows how a traumatic event can leave psychological scars that are much worse than those of the physical...

"There are plenty of ways to die, the hard part is finding a way to live"
Going into a Jodie Foster film is like visiting an old friend. You typically only see her every few years or so, but you know when the time comes what an awesome experience it will be. Flightplan and Panic Room were enjoyable, lightweight thrillers, but this one is my favorite Foster film since The Silence of the Lambs because of its more dark and serious tones. Even Jodie herself admitted that this was one of her best in years. It was actually only one of two films I saw the entire 2007 year. Jodie has become an actress I have developed a great deal of respect and admiration for and so I trust what she chooses. I have never been disappointed. The film may have some minor flaws, but it's a 5-star performance all the way as to be expected. Jodie received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress this year and was also awarded the Sherry Lansing award for being one of the most powerful women in entertainment. Another worthy film to add into your Jodie collection. And even though it's...

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Ready Set Learn: Try, Try Again! (Vol. 1)

Love Paz!
We love Paz, but the others characters don't interest my 2-year old little girl as much. I'd rather have a Paz-only version with more content. Good video, though. She does watch it often.

Good DVD
My son has always enjoyed watching these shows on TV in the morning. I bought the DVD for a long plane trip (16 hours) and am so happy I did. The shows are enjoyable for him to watch and they teach good values, so I feel comfortable with him watching these shows. I also REALLY love the play all function on the video so that I am not having to constantly pick another show on the menu. Play all will play a Paz show, then a Wilbur, then a Save Ums, then do the second set, so there is some variety. You also get a few extra shows in the bonus features, which is great, because my son also loves Meteor. Since my son will actually sit still and watch this DVD, it is worth the repetitiveness of the shows when he watches it over and over again.

Great Service!!!
I was pleased to find a Video with Wilbur, my daughter just loves it and you can't find it anywhere. Thanks for the great product and awesome service. I received it on time.

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Classic Bonanza Vol. 1 3 Disc Collector's Edition

3 Disc Set Collector's Edition
Has the exact same episodes sold in the 2 Disc 10 Classic Episodes Bonanza Collection





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A Global Warning? (History Channel)

A Very In-depth look at the Issue
The documentary A Global Warning? (History Channel) provides a very thorough look at the issues of climate change in every sense. Shown on the History Channel in November of 2007, it spoke on all the issues of climate change in scientific and practical terms from ice caps stretching across the northern hemisphere to frozen fields of methane underwater. Every natural occurrence of global warming and cooling throughout the history of Earth is explained and all the possible changes to come man-made and natural are illuminated. Even possible solutions to the problem are explained in-depth (and almost makes you sick that we still drive gas-guzzlers and use fossil fuel power plants).

The only downside to having this much information is having this much information. If you want to know the truth about the issue without and bias or politics getting in the way, this is the way to learn it.

Documentary film review
' A Global Warning ' (History Channel Documentary) was well-organized with a wealth of supporting scientific evidence. I also found it to be balanced in its perspective indicating global climate change is influenced by both natural events and human-induced activity.

Reality speaks...this is EXCELLENT
This is one of the best, most extensive documentaries I've seen. So many concepts, once only theories, have now been proven. Those who view this will have a different view of what, in reality, is going on. How wonderful if everyone on this planet could view and understand this great production. Cutting edge information.

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Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand

Sound the horns...finally some new music that doesn't suck
First off, I'll start out with the obligitory fair warning: You'll hear Franz compared to almost every band that has had some success in the past 2 years...everyone from The Strokes to Interpol and beyond.
Truth is, although Franz Ferdinand pays an agreeable nod to a few bands that have come before them, they have developed their own unique sound and comparisons will undoubtedly fall short. The best way to judge would be for you to see what kinds of music I really like. If you like these bands too, you'll thank me for suggesting Franz Ferdinand.
I'm kind of bummed that the album finally came out in the states...I imported a copy after hearing a download from the bands website a few months back. Here's to hoping that the band doesn't attract so much attention that their reputation preceeds their musical prowess.
I love the Smiths, first and foremost...I think they're one of the best bands that ever came together to record music. I like The Cure. I like Gang of Four,...

A Unique And Strong Debut!
When they released their self-titled debut album in the UK in January 2004, Franz Ferdinand were hailed as the first great new band of the year. Unbelievable hype swirled around the new Scottish four-piece as they burst into the charts with their unmistakable debut. Their debut single garnered many pleasing reviews and made the band one of the most talked about of the year. With heavy-guitars and loveable beats, this is essentially post-pop melodic fun with hints of rock from the punk scene - all mashed together in a rebellious, yet fun-loving, way. The album itself doesn't even manage to make the 40 minute mark, clocking in at 38:49, yet with this album it is definitely more quality over quantity.

Franz Ferdinand have made an impact because they are different from anything else out there. Their beats are repetitive, yes, and their lyrics are simplistic, but it's the way the band are 'marketed', and I use that word lightly, because they are definitely not a manufactured...

Take them out
No, this Franz Ferdinand is not a person. Rather, it is a Scottish quartet who produced some of the most entertaining rock-y pop of the past year in their self-titled debut, shifting from U.K. stardom to the U.S. charts as well. It's undeniably a guilty pleasure, but it's also fun, catchy and fairly original.

The self-titled album starts off on a strong note with the bass-heavy pop "Jacqueline," the kickoff to a slew of rock-tinged songs (the catchy, heavy "Take Me Out," the slithery "Darts of Pleasure"), vaguely arty pop (the addictive "The Dark of the Matinee"), before finishing off with the quirky percussion, riffs and "la la la"s of "40'."

There is also a bonus CD, which has a few songs tacked in from their "Darts of Pleasure" EP. Among the stuff on this bonus disc is a low-key remix of "This Fire," the overwrought "Shopping For Blood," and the geekily gleeful glam of "Van Tango." The demos aren't nearly as enjoyable -- they're rough, which is to be expected,...

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Alive: Music & Dance

Terrific!
Just watched the program on television. Great to see young people expressing themselves in dance. The program is a terrific combonation of instrumentation, choral music, and dance. I liked it so much on tv that I immediate came to Amazon to buy the video. You don't have to be Christian to enjoy it, but if you are, you'll especially like it. Don't let that scare you away if you aren't -- chances are you'll still like it if you like global rhythms and a variety of dance styles.

all ways 2 praise
Definitely going into my worship library. So few arenas are exploring the use of all of the performing arts in singing His praises and enjoyable by whole family although it showcasing young people

Music and Dance
Wonderful, thoughly enjoyed.Ordered a second copy to send to my grandaughter who is avidly into ballet.

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Saturday Night Live Lost & Found: SNL in the 80's

A new perspective
I caught most of this program when it aired on NBC a year or two ago, and I was fascinated by the turmoil behind the scenes that almost killed SNL and the developments that revitalized it in the mid 80s, when I fell in love with the show. I was excited when I learned the special would be coming to DVD so I could put it on my shelf next to the similarly excellent "First Five Years" special.

Besides being a solid documentary overview of SNL in the 80s, we get a sampling of important moments, candid commentary and excerpts of the wide range of musical guests over the decade. I was particularly amused to finally see the infamous moment where Charles Rocket uttered the most unmentionable word on television.

The package notes an "Bonus Featurette" which turns out to be nearly an hour of extra interviews and clips - essentially deleted scenes from the main show. Nice value!

The Rejects of SNL
Obviously the 80's were a rough go for the revolving door of writers, directors and cast members of SNL, this restrospective puts that to the forefront, but leaves you feeling a little sad.
Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy are credited as saving the show from total obscurity and ridicule, retaining rhe praise of their co-cast members as team players and generally talented people. While Jon Lovitz is shown as the only cast member beloved enough to survive one cast literally going up in flames at the end of a season.
The interviews are not complete downers, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss is pretty chipper about the experience (obviously she had some success afterwards), Kevin Nealon recalls his time at SNL with great fondness and Victoria Jackson's memories are just fascinating to listen to.
The sad part is watching the footage of the sketches, which were just words being thrown into the air and the audience seemingly laughing at the hope of hearing something funny.
Also Gilbert...

SNL in the 80s Lost and Found..sort of...
After the spectacular run of the original cast, it was mighty difficult for any new cast to look good compared to them. They tried, but oh, how awful and oh how mediocre it was. But Eddie Murphy was worth the price of admission, (Gumby, Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood)and Joe Piscopo was adequate, with moments where he showed that he had some talent. All in all, if you are an 80's survivor, give this a look.

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2008 Allstate Sugar Bowl TM0384

Great DVD for a GA fan
Here's a lowdown for you since I was really worried about this not being in widescreen since someone said the LSU vs. OSU DVD was only 4:3. This DVD does present itself in 16:9. Even says so on the back of the box. The picture quality looks really good also. Sadly I can't tell you what it looks like on my Samsung 61" DLP, cause I'm in Iraq right now on a computer watching this. But the ratio looks good (16:9) and the PQ looks better than the 4:3 stuff on the disk. So I'm pretty sure it's got a decent picture since I remember the game looking great live on HD Cable.

1st qtr - 42:39
2nd qtr - 39:34
3rd qtr - 54:51 (10+ minutes worth of challenges made this qtr so long)
4th qtr - 40:56

Talk about a great game if you are a GA fan. I won't lie, I was a little worried about Colt Brennan and Hawaii. Maybe they were as good as there stats said they were. Sadly though, for Hawaii at least, their Cinderella story didn't turn out so well at the big dance...





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Into the Wild

A Wilderness of Adventure and Emotions--Sean Penn Crafts One Of The Year's Best Films
When I read Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild" approximately ten years ago, I was mesmerized by the tragic real-life tale of Christopher McCandless. But as much as I loved the book, I never even thought about a film adaptation. Maybe that was shortsighted of me. Recounting McCandless's life and reconstructing it with minimal data and much introspection, "Into the Wild" succeeded as a cautionary adventure of idealism gone awry. Much of McCandless's life was lived alone and much of his story was pieced together though brief encounters or recovered writings. So what was a thoughtful portrait on the page never really seemed like it would translate to the screen--certainly not with the same impact. Luckily, though, Sean Penn thought otherwise. Adapting and directing Krakauer's fine book, Penn has fashioned a sad, funny and exciting film with tremendous emotional resonance.

An affluent and likable young man, McCandless graduated with honors from Emory University and then set a course...

Magnifying the Joy and Angst of Coming of Age
Christopher McCandless, in becoming 'Alexander Supertramp', holds a mirror to us all, a meditation on what the ideal life completely in tune with nature, surviving only on ingenuity and adaptation skills, leaving the increasingly burdensome conflicts of society behind in order to become at one with the universe. Based on Jon Krakauer's reconstruction of McCandless' journey from his diary, from letters, and from notes found after his death at age 23, IN THE WILD has been transformed into a Waldenesque film by Sean Penn who provided both the screenplay and the direction. While some may argue the very loose technique of relating this story, few will come away form this film untouched by the sheer dreamy valor of a youth determined to find his own connection to the meaning of existence.

The bright McCandless (Emile Hirsch) graduates from Emory University and faces a celebratory dinner with his wealthy but dysfunctional parents (William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden) and his...

Superb Film about Looking so Far for Something that is So Close
Into the Wild is one of those movies whose images stay with you after the screen goes dark. This is a tribute to the subject-- a tragic and confused young pseudo idealist, Christopher McCandless-- and Sean Penn and his crew.

McCandless has just graduated from Emory University. He's bright, well-liked, talented, the world is his for the taking-- it seems. Then he chucks it all, burns his money, abandons his vehicle, donates his graduate school fund to charity and hits the road. He's a leatherfoot, hoofing all across the country from Atlanta to South Dakota, on to California and finally to his goal of the utopian loner's dream world of "Alaska". Alaska is quoted here because it represents far more for McCandless than just a remote place full of emptiness and nature. It represents the "wild" - that gorgeous and challenging place where he can find himself, or so he thinks.

He's on a wild goose chase with himself but doesn't quite understand or realize it. He thinks...

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My Friends Tigger & Pooh - Friendly Tails

Repeat episodes
My daughter really enjoys the series, but lately has gotten bored of watching the same episodes. We loved the Christmas DVD, but this DVD had two episodes which were already shown of TV. Only one episode was new. It was rather disappointing.

It holds attention but if you are looking at this you probably watch disney so read on...
My wife and I decided to get this for our daughter. The Pros: it holds her attention as it is her favorite show. The Cons: it repeats many of the same episodes that Disney already airs on TV. The Tigger delivery service, the Darby tail episode as well as a few other we had already seen are part of the DVD. The actual exclusive episode is standard length and it has about an hours worth of preview and Disney commercials....also it loops the menu only stay on for about 2 minutes and then the whole thing previews and all begin again....it works for when she wants to watch Tigger and Disney's not airing it.

Loveable characters, compairable learning
This and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse are my daughter's two favorite shows on Disney Channel. Mickey is obviously orientated for the very young while My Friends Tigger & Pooh is better for 5-7 or so, not that younger won't enjoy it as well. It is not as interactive as some of the other young Disney Channel shows but I like that it repeats the problems solved at the end. Repetition is so important in teaching! It is a very cute show and does not bore the rest of the family when my daughter gets to watch it!

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Justice League: The New Frontier

A Nostalgic Treat for Silver Age DC Fans...
I admit, I'm a child of the Silver Age of DC Comics! I grew up on Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, the Atom, Adam Strange...and especially the Justice League of America. So I admit, "Justice League - The New Frontier (Two-Disc Special Edition)" brought a lump to my throat...it was like being a kid, again!

Based on Darwyn Cooke's remarkable, nostalgic reworking of the birth of the Silver Age heroes during the transitional 1950s, the animated film homages the characters I grew up, loving (especially test pilot/Green Lantern Hal Jordan, the Martian Manhunter, and police scientist/Flash Barry Allen), in the context of the era, a decade of Communist paranoia, McCarthy witch hunts, the birth of the Space Age, and struggle for racial equality. One element Cooke 'lifted' from Frank Miller's "Dark Knight" epic, that of the government ordering superheroes to 'stand down', fits this saga exceptionally well, with Superman as the only 'approved' hero, Batman...

The Beginning of The Justice League
First of all, I will say this about this production...They cram a lot of DC comic history in less than 80 minutes of cartoon. The question is "Is it worth it?" I dont know

Second, I will say this has a big name cast to fill the boots of these Characters. Kyle Maclachlan bring a different to Superman. Neil Patrick Harris (who did the MTV version of Spiderman) is the Flash. Lucy Lawless (Xena) proves she is a vocal amazon as Wonder Woman. David Borenaz (Buffy's favorite vamp Angel) lifts the chracter of Hal Jordan to new heights. Miguel Ferrer and Kyra Sedgwick are wasted in the roles of the Martian Manhunter and Lois Lane. Law and Order Jeremy Sisco put a new spin on Batman.

They also have vocal stunt casting of great audio talent who have a throw away line or three. People like Joe Mantegna, Phillip Morris and Brooke Shields are part of this large cast, but are wasted with a few throw away lines.

The story is faithful to Darwyn Cooke's two part...

A more than solid take on Cooke's New Frontier
The New Frontier, Darwyn Cooke's loving homage to DC's Silver Age, gets the animated treatment in this highly anticipated DC animated movie, Justice League: The New Frontier. Taking place in the early-mid 1950's, at the height of McCarthy-ism and America's fear of communism, an evil force called The Centre (voiced by Keith David) is coming from the underground to wipe out all of humanity. In the middle of all this is jaded pilot Hal Jordan (voiced by David Boreanaz), who will soon discover his destiny as the Green Lantern; then there is Barry Allen (voiced by Neil Patrick Harris), known as The Flash, who finds himself being hunted by the government; and then there is the Martian Manhunter J'onn J'onzz (voiced by Miguel Ferrer), the last of his kind who feels The Centre approaching. All of whom soon enough stand united with Superman (voiced by Kyle MacLachlan), Batman (voiced by Jeremy Sisto), and Wonder Woman (voiced by Lucy "Xena" Lawless, which seems like a no-brainer) with the...

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Barney: Animal ABC's

My favorite Barney video
I am pretty new to Barney, but this is my favorite Barney video of the 5 that I own. I am kinda confused by the other comment stating there are mostly make-believe animals, since there is only one imaginary animal for all the letters of the alphabet. There are 25 other real animals on the video and a songs for almost every animal. My son loves this DVD.

Great for little ones; annoying for adults!
My two-year-old niece ADORES this DVD - she would watch it fifty times a day if her mother would let her. Like another reviewer's little one, she is already saying her ABCs (yes, all the way through) because of this video - seriously impressive! The bits about the animals are cute and educational, too.. I also didn't like the Barney that was on TV when I was a kid, but this particular "movie" is much more educational than the older TV episodes. The reason I took off one star is because the songs can get very annoying if you are an adult who has to listen to this all day... *And you will not be able to get them out of your head*. At least they're catchy, I suppose. :)

Barney with ABC's
I never really liked Barney when my children were growing up. Now that I am a grandmother things do change. This DVD has a new approach to learning. Young children could easily learn without even know it. It also has a special feature of FiFi & the Flowertots. Dalyla just loves. So we got 2 for the price of 1.

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The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD)

An Homage to Western History in a Moody Daguerreotype Style
THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD is one of the finer films about the history of the Old West 'heroes' such as Jesse James. It is difficult to describe the degree of high quality of the way in which this film has been created: the script (adapted by Andrew Dominick from Ron Hansen's novel) is as poetic as it is gritty and flows like a Shakespearean tragedy both in narration and in dialog; the exceptionally fine cinematography by Roger Deakins captures the flavor of the times, shot in subtle lighting whether in darkly intimate interiors or on the vast plains at times heightened by snowlight, but always in the feeling of the quality of daguerreotypes; the musical score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis is strangely apropos without seeming to borrow from any previous source; and the cast of fine actors play the film as a true ensemble work. Director Andrew Dominik has accomplished a masterpiece.

The story begins subtly in the last year of the James gang...

A Haunting Character Exploration Of Idolization And Self Diginity. This Is A Masterpiece.
As a fan of the western genre I look forward to pretty much every western I hear is in the works since they come so few and far between nowadays. I am also a huge fan of Sergio Leone and Terrence Malick; two directors who use extremely long takes with exquisite deep focus photography. I had never heard of Andrew Dominik until I researched this film, and when I checked his history and saw that he had only done one other film called Chopper I felt skeptical as to what he would do with The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford. Then I saw the trailer which sent chills up my spine and even made my eyes water, and this film became my top priority for the fall.

The film follows Robert Ford and two of his brothers as they join the James brothers for one final robbery. Robert Ford played brilliantly by Casey Affleck sees Jesse James as his idol. He followed his stories throughout his childhood and he wants nothing more than to be accepted by this man. Affleck...

The Best Film of 2007
This film is a breathtaking account of the life and times of Jesse James. I am in complete awe that this movie wasn't more widely released because it was the best film of the year. Brad Pitt, Sam Rockwell and Casey Affleck give astounding performances, but Affleck's portrayal of the tormented and obsessive ally to James is beautiful and absolutely unforgettable. It is a shame that movies like this can come out and be mostly ignored...it should at least be nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Cinematography.
This is a must see and once you do yourself the favor of indulging in this epic, you will then know why.

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Beowulf

Holding Out for a Hero
Written around 700 AD and being of unknown authorship, "Beowulf" may be one of the purest fantasies ever told--it was one of the first to tell the story of a warrior who fought demons and a dragon. In the hands of director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriters Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, the story transcends what we might have envisioned when reading the epic poem. This latest film adaptation is a triumph of classic storytelling, giving us a both hero to root for and monsters to be afraid of; it's a story told in the language of entertainment, having the power to capture its audience with compelling characters and breathtaking visuals. It's an honest to goodness fable that tells it like it is, completely free of long-winded setups and complicated details.

Relying on the same motion capture technique he utilized in "The Polar Express," Zemeckis has crafted an entirely computer generated film that has an appropriately surreal look. This is especially true of the characters,...

Blemished as a Version of the Epic Poem, but Still Very Fun
Beowulf is a great story, it would not have lasted over thousand years if it wasn't. This 2007 all CGI version deviates considerably from the original story's truest and perhaps even its most enduring elements. The villain Grendel is portrayed as if we have the opportunity to sympathize with him. I remember upon his first attack in this film thinking that the Grendel from the epic poem would never have been so bold as to attack while his enemies were not asleep. Never would he come face to face with King Hrothgar on his throne. He is a cowardly and vile monster. I also remember studying Beowulf and thinking that this is the ultimate pagan hero. Courageous even if to a fault, boisterously politicizing himself to the gods by listing off each of his own unearthly tasks, challenging any evil no matter what it may be, even if it looks exactly like a naked Angelina Jolie. Most of all, he was to be a shining...

Beowulf - Amazing in 3D, New Take on a Classic Tale
Beowulf is a new version of a classic tale. The animation style really comes to life when seen in Imax 3D. This is one movie worth seeing in the theatre and owning in HD.

There are three groups who will want to see Beowulf no matter what reviewers think: those who loved the Polar Express (same creators, same animation style), those who love mythology and war movies, and those who love Angelina Jolie. And yet the real reason to see this movie should attract a much wider audience: this is a visually stunning "video game" on the movie screen. While any new take on a classic tale will upset purists, this movie is worth suspending disbelief for the entertainment value.

Visual Effects

The animation of the film is very "cartoon" and "video game like." While that may not satisfy those who are looking for entirely realistic CGI effects, it is an artistic form that is very compelling when seen in Imax 3D. Clearly, the technology will improve in future...

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Awake

3.5 Stars for a surprisingly interesting film.
Better than I had expected, but certainly not top-notch entertainment.

"Awake" is not an wholly original idea as Stephen King explored this idea in one of his short stories in which a person is mistakenly believed to be dead and is about to undergo his own autopsy. Here someone undergoes surgery while still awake and learns who his friends really are and aren't. Read the synopsis by Amazon as they did a very good and fair job. I'm going to take the real lazy way out this time and just go to my hits and misses.

Misses:

1. Too slow at points. There is a lot of exposition (with good reason), but it is still a lot of exposition.
2. The acting is not consistent. Some are terrific and others are flat.
3. So many plot twists that one just can't give this film the "willing suspension of disbelief" that it needs.
4. It moves from romance to health crisis, to scientific wonders, to absolute fantasy. It attempts to cover too many genres...

Silly
AWAKE would be better named 'audience wake up' as the minimal novel idea of the story loses credibility so quickly that the development of the subplots become increasingly tedious and silly. Joby Harold both wrote and directed this film and despite the presence of some fine actors, the film remains grounded.

Clay Beresford (Hayden Christensen) has inherited his dead father's multi-billion dollar fortune and shares the wealth and control of his empire with his domineering mother Lilith (Lena Olin). Clay apparently has a genetically determined cardiac pathology, is medicated, and awaits a heart transplant. The only semblance of honest life Clay has is his love for his mother's secretary Sam (Jessica Alba) who, despite Lilith's objections, marries Clay after disclosing their relationship. Clay's beeper warning that a cardiac donor is available cuts short their night of honeymoon and Clay is rushed to the hospital to his constant friend, Dr. Jack Harper (Terrence Howard), who...

"AWAKE" MOVIE REVIEW
Predictable. I really can't get too excited about this movie. Now anything with Jessica Alba is a "man treat" but this one really was just
average. All in all interesting and ok to watch but don't expect to be wide awake at the end.

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Best of Miami Ink - Season 1

The Best Show of Tatto's I've Seen
This is my first Tatto DVD show. I felt that the show is really good and worth buying. The stories are very interesting and as far as i saw not a boring episode in this set. I was dissapointed on the censored episodes but hey it's all good. I definetly recomend this series.

You don't have to wear INK, to enjoy the artistry
While flipping channels one day, I came across the second season of 'L.A. Ink,' with Kat Von D. I don't know how I had been so, out-of-the-loop, to have missed it previously. Now mind you, I'm screeching past, middle-age, and I own NO tattoos, but I was immediately hooked by Kat and her crew, DVR'ing every show.

While researching back-story on Kat, I learned she had started out with the popular series, 'Miami Ink,' which I had not seen either. I wanted to watch Kat's growth, leading to her own spin-off series, a book, make-up, and even a fragrance. This young woman was on a roll! I purchased Season I of 'Miami Ink,' to witness her first exposure. I was pleased, that Kat was in a few of the episodes, because there is a very clear transition from her early appearances on MI, to the Kat of the here, and now. Her appearance has changed, her demeanor, and certainly, her confidence. It was fun to watch Kat's metamorphosis to such celebrity status and success, while defying...

Great Show
How can you beat over 900 minutes of Great Tattoos!!For 20.00 I would highly recommend this

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2008 Rose Bowl Game

Getting Better!
In the past, games have been missing game footage.This DVD has every play.They only edited out one huddle of 32 seconds, but all downs are there.The quality seems like they could put out something better, but it is overall good......I still wish they would just add a 2nd disc and put the entire ORIGINAL feed of the game for sale.They edit out pre game and other things in the game.





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Bratz: Kidz Fairy Tales

Great for Girls
My daughter and her friends, ages 8-11, really enjoyed this movie. This movie kept the attention of four "tween" girls for the entire length of the movie. This was also a great break in the action for a mom trying to host a simple late afternoon birthday celebration. It gave me a chance to clean up one activity and prepare another with no distractions. I didn't find anything objectionable in this video as in some other Bratz movies.

groovy music!
this is so cute, the kids I babysit love it, boys and girls both. cute bouncy music, very funny and it's a retelling of all of the old fairy tales.

Daughter loves this.
My little girl wanted this for Christmas. Of course I purchased this for her since it was super inexpensive and was actually to replace the first one she had.

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Little Playdates: Little Friends

She loves it
My 11 month old loves this it is the only way I am able to get anything done. The baby einstein and baby genius didn't interest her at all, but she will sit through this twice. She doesn't even cry to get out of the playpen. For me it was a lifesaver.

Great entertainment for my 18 mo. old twins
Sweet little video that has a homegrown feel. Lively and upbeat without being annoying. The adults in the house enjoy joining in watching, too. It's nice that it can be set on repeat playback. My babies love listening to the fun classic kids' songs like Old Macdonald and are enthralled watching little kids and babies in many settings including playing with colorful bouncy balls, gently holding adorable puppies and kittens, jumping around on the playground and even petting animals at the petting zoo. Cute and colorful with kids "next door" of all ethnicities and even a child with a medical problem, teaching differences are normal and natural. I will be looking into more videos made by this company, and am very pleased with this production.

Granddaughter LOVES this!
My granddaughter (now 21 months) has been watching Little Friends since she was about 6 or 7 months. She absolutely LOVES this video and wants me to play it for her over and over again! She also loves the Baby Genius DVDs, but she will sometimes bring Little Friends to me while one of those are on and say "play". I am ordering the other two in this series as well.

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Pumpkin Scissors Vol. 3: Wounds of War

Not The Way I'd End The First Half
What's sneaky about this volume is that while no real new information is revealed, just enough foreshadowing is done that viewers need to watch this volume to keep up. While the episodes on this volume aren't fantastic, they will keep fans of the series entertained at least. Fans of Oreldo and Martis will be happy with episodes that revolve mostly around them and the two part story at the end manages to be just mysterious enough that I still want to know more about what is being covered up.





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The Firm - Tight Buns & Killer Legs

Great instructor leads a fun yet intense lower body workout!
This is one of the newest workouts from the Firm, and I like it a lot. It's not quite as tough as Firm Lower Body Sculpt 1 (an older all-standing lower body workout), but it is more aerobic and still quite challenging. Plus, it was nice to see instructor Kelsie Daniels again--she looks just as good as in her old Firm/FitPrime days!

Kelsie moves very quickly through a 5-minute warm-up (I had a little trouble keeping up with her transitions the first time through). She adds interesting twists to basic moves such as bob & weave, knee ups, outer thigh lifts, and inner thigh touches; the warm-up concludes with a moving stretch for the hip flexors, calves, and quads. The main part of the workout is structured so that you do a toning series on one leg, do a short (30-40 seconds) cardio burst, and then repeat the toning series on the other leg. Kelsie cues either heavy or medium weights for each series; since it was my first time through and I was already pre-exhausted from...

Really great dvd :-)
This is a fantastic workout. It's enjoyable, fun and makes you work hard. It's aerobic interval training and the toning is geared for the lower body. By working these larger muscles, you not only keep your heart rate up at all times, but you burn fat more. It's easy to follow and Kelsie is a good instructor. There are five segments and it takes about a half hour for the whole routine. This is good if you are short on time, but want an effective workout. You need some dumbells and you're good to go.
I like The Firm dvds. This is no exception. Because it's non complicated and fun, this is becoming a workout I do at least every second day. I enjoy it and hope you will too.

Excellent addition to my collection
Kelsey's cues were excellent as usual, tough workout that works your entire lower body, while working up a sweat. Highly reccommend!

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Mega Snake

Best Campy Movie Ever
This has got to be the most indescribable movie I've ever watched. It's a Sci-Fi channel production, and while they hit the mark on a lot of their original series, they kind of fall short with movies. Seriously, though, Mega Snake is FUN. Definitely not the best movie ever, but when you have partially digested goats, cheesy plot devices, and MICHAEL SHANKS, the only answer is to get yourself a copy of Mega Snake, invite half a dozen friends over, order a pizza with everything, and just... marvel. It's one of those movies you can sit there and make fun of through its entirity, and when you get to the end, you haven't really missed a thing. Of course, if you're looking for meaningful and memorable, it's probably a good idea to look elsewhere.

I bought it for Shanks
I bought this movie for one reason, and one reason only - Michael Shanks! However, having said that, both times I've watched it, it's been with like minded friends, snacks and alcohol - the ONLY way to watch it really LOL We had an absolute balst - loved the two hillbilly types who set off to kill the snake, but Michael Shanks was the draw :)

"The Dukes Of Hazzard" Meets "Wild Kingdom"
"Megasnake" is a truly awful film even by the standards of the Sci Fi Channel. The film opens in a backwater church where parishioners are in the throes of snake handling. A family is there, and one son is particularly affected when his father gets bitten but refuses medical treatment. ("Have faith!") Since they don't call a doctor the dad dies, casting a shadow across the Daniels family. Twenty years later the scars still run deep with one brother (Les, the smart one, played by Michael Shanks) abhorring snakes while the other (Duff, the not so smart one, played by John T. Woods) still handles them. The tensions are never far from the surface though ("If prayin' couldn't save Daddy, maybe a little medicine could've!") and only their mother can stop the squabbling.

The dumb brother goes into town to see an Indian named "Screamin' Hawk" (Ben Cardinal) to buy the poisonous "Carolina Pigmy Snake," (presumably the Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius miliarius) but...

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Trading Spaces: Specials

Hilarious!
I bought this only for the "Home Improv" episode, and that's all I've watched. It's absolutely hilarious, and brilliant...and well worth the price of the DVD.

Our family's one disappointment -- and it was a big one -- is that more of the hidden camera footage wasn't included. There had to have been a lot more good stuff that had to be left out because of time limitations.

Bought this as a gift.
My sister-in-law asked for this for Christmas. She really wanted some of the other shows that are currently on HGTV, but was unable to locate a collection. She was excited to receive this, though, as she has not seen these shows and really enjoys creative decorating, organizing, etc. She enjoys watching the ways that a space can be changed - even with small budgets or minimal supplies.

I gave this 4 stars because this really wasn't what she wanted, however, she is pleased with this gift.



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Things We Lost in the Fire [HD DVD]

Sensitivity
Few films released last year have the quiet sensitivity in writing (Allan Loeb), direction (Susanne Bier), cinematography (Tom Stern), and acting (Berry, Del Toro, Duchovny) as this gem of a movie. Taking on a subject of grief after a sudden traumatic death and the way it affects family and friends would seem like a tedious subject for a two hour film, but THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE proves again that care and devotion in telling a difficult story with restraint and tenderness is far more compelling that many of the 'big' movies that fill the theaters with more superficial topics.

Brian Burke (David Duchovny) is a generously warm man to his beautiful wife Audrey (Halle Berry), their son Dory (Micah Berry), and daughter
Harper (Alexis Llewellyn) as well as to his longtime, childhood friend Jerry Sunborne (Benecio Del Toro) who is constantly struggling with an addiction to heroin. Brian is suddenly dead as the film opens and the friends are gathered at the Burke home for...

What was lost in the fire was an opportunity for a better film.
I really wanted to like this film as I'm a huge fan of Halle Berry and the storyline just looked so compelling on paper. However, the delivery of this story just falls flat.

The story is told in present tense, but cleverly spliced in flashbacks fill in the background. Halle plays Audrey Bruke, a mother of two, whose husband Brian, played by "X Files" David Duchovny, is killed (I won't spoil the story by stating how, but we are told he's killed early on). We learn via the flashbacks that his childhood friend, Jerry, very well played by Del Toro, with whom he is still close is now a heroin addict and that Brian is the only friend he has left checks on him regularly and buys him food much to Audrey irritation as she worries about him going to see Jerry in the very bad neighborhood in which he lives.

Perhaps as a way of hanging onto her dead husband's memory or simply out of a selfish need for company, Audrey invites Jerry to "recover" from his addiction at her...

"What's Important in This Life..."
There are many things that happen in `Things We Lost in the Fire;' so many that it has an immediate impact that keeps a flow through the whole film. While most of the movie contains dialogue that makes the movie move so slowly, it saves itself from becoming a trivial soap opera by making every movement deliberate and absorbing.

Brian (David Duchovny) and Audrey (Halle Berry) Burke start the deliberations as a loving, mixed racial couple. He's a successful businessman, and they have two lively and likable children, Harper (10) and Dory (6), who look up to dad, even though he's a bit rough when teaching the timid Dori how to swim. Not a perfect family, but love and prosperity pervade their home. Instantly, we make a connection when Brian tells Dory she is like a fluroscent light, glowing from within.

Creating friction is Brian's best friend from childhood, Jerry Sunborne (Benedicio Del Toro) who is a heroin addict on the mend and attending Narcotics Anonymous...

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Puppet Master 3: Toulon's Revenge

Great film, should have stopped here.
The third film in the Puppet Master series is as good, if not better, than its predecessors, Puppet Master 1 & 2. It's the beginning of Andre Toulon's story and how the puppets came to be, taking place in World War II, with plenty of Nazis and all that jazz.

What's great about this film is that you learn the origins of most of the puppets. You discover who Pinhead was based on, how Tunneler came to be, where Jester came from, and then you find out that Blade (arguably the leader of the puppet group) is based on the villain.

And then it gets better. You're introduced to Six Shooter, the hexa-armed, pistol-toting cowboy with a devilish grin. What an awesome puppet he is.

The story is quite interesting for a 'low-cut' horror flick, and the fact that it takes place in WWII makes it even more... cool.

This is a great film with decent actors and it's proof that Full Moon should have stopped the franchise here and let it go out on top. But instead they allowed it to spin into...

Herr Toulon Rules!!!
This review is for the very inaccessible dvd version of the film. This part is definitely one of the best. I'll give a quick synopsis since there aren't like, 50 other reviews telling the same thing: The story is a flashback or prequel of sorts, dating back to the WWII era, in which Andre Toulon (played marvellously by Guy Rolfe - the creepy old man in DOLLS) runs a puppet show that bashes Hitler. Needless to say, the Gestapo doesn't appreciate the message so they are sent to investigate and threaten him if he doesn't stop performing anti-Hitler sentiments. Around the same time, the German military has hired a scientist to develop a serum that will re-animate the dead, so when he gets wind of the peculiarity of Toulon's puppets, they seek him out in order to help the Nazi regime aid their plan of world domination. Interestingly, the movie has a little zombie action as did part 2 (to a certain extent) and will satisfy most b-movie horror fanatics.

The dvd itself is...

Probably the best 'Puppet Master' of them all!
To begin, I'd like to claim that I've been a long-time fan of the 'Puppet Master' series. They are fun and original horror movies, which are also very rare to find nowadays (even on DVD!). The puppets are genuinely creepy, each in their own way (My two favorites have always been Blade and Tunneler) and the death sequences are executed nicely! Unlike the first two films, this one is actually a prequel taking place in 1940 Berlin, Germany, telling how it all began with puppeteer, Andre Toulon and the creation of his string-less [and murderous] puppets!

During WWII, A German scientist, Dr. Hess (Ian Abercrombie) is trying to find the solution to re-animating life. Unfortunately , his experiments always end in failure and his only hope lies from the wisdom of Toulon, himself, who's already figured out a way to bring the deceased back to life through his puppets. But Major Krauss (a convincingly cruel and coldhearted performance by Richard Lynch) grows impatient and takes...

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The Kill Point (2 Disc)

Leguizamo and Wahlberg try to get the better of each other in a hostage standoff
"The Kill Point" was an eight-part television series that has the distinction of being the first drama to air on the Spike network. The story is about a group of U.S. Marines back from Iraq who try to pull off a bank robbery in Pittsburgh. They almost get away with it, but then the robbery turns into a hostage situation. John Leguizamo plays Jake Mendez, the sergeant in charge of the operation and who calls himself "Mr. Wolf" in negotiations with the police Captain Horst Cali (Donnie Wahlberg), the police negotiator. In terms of recent television series as points of reference, "The Kill Point" strikes me as a cross between "Kidnapped" and "The Nine," which is not a bad thing.

"The Kill Point" has its fair share of hostage taking commonplaces (except for the television series "Standoff," why are FBI hostage negotiators such idiots?), but having Leguizamo and Wahlberg playing off each other is a major...

Point and Match
Take the elements of Inside Job and Dog Day Afternoon and mesh it together and you have this TV mini series.

Donnie Wahlberg is the cop. John Leguizamo is the robber. They mesh in this piece in such a way. Pacino and Durring did in Dog Day. Leguizamo is an amazing character actor, who comes into his own in this production. Wahlberg proves that his acting in Saw and the TV series Boontown was no fluke.

The story is of a so called botched robbery, but is it really botched? There are a few red herring in this taut drame.

With this production, Spike TV proved that it can do original television and will keep a viewer riveted.

Get this drama and watch a thrill happen

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

An Entertaining Miniseries From Spike TV
This is a miniseries that aired on Spike TV starring John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg as a cop and criminal in a major standoff. As the six episodes progress things become more complicated as we draw closer to final conclusion. It's sort of like a miniature puzzle watching this series, not as great as other shows or movies but very entertaining and different from what we're used to. Spike TV should do more shows like this to go along with their UFC Fights/Specials and many Cop reality shows and help balance out their selection even further.

The six 'episodes' are:

1: Who's Afraid of Mr. Wolf - A group of ex-soldiers rob a bank but the heist goes wrong and they end up in the bank taking hostages.
The situation in the bank takes a turn for the worse when police turn off the electricity and Wolf threatens to kill a hostage.

2: No Meringue - The new FBI negotiator has no intention of giving into more demands, Wolf is trying to get a birthday cake...

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Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief

movie and captions
The movie is OK; it's not my favorite, but I didn't think it was awful. It's probably less entertaining to adults than to small fry, but it has its moments. The closed captions are EXCELLENT, but I couldn't find that any of the extra stuff was captioned, which is a shame because some of the ecology/endangered species material is pretty interesting.

Very nice addition to the Dr. Doolittle series
Very entertaining movie. I really enjoyed it. Kyla Pratt and Lucky are joys to watch. I look forward to the next installment to the series.

Charming movie for true animal lovers.
Even if you have never seen the other Dr. Dolittle movies, you can follow along and enjoy Tail to the Chief. Wonderful comedy with a moral thread.

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The Firm - Core Solutions

Nice Workout
As a newbie to "The Firm" series, I was pleasantly suprised by this little gem. As an intermediate exerciser, I try to workout between 45 minutes to an hour 5 days a week. This workout is great when I'm short on time and is appropriate for all fitness levels as there is one person doing the beginner modifications. The workout consists of (3) 10 minute workouts; standing abs, fuctional abs and traditional abs. I really enjoy this dvd and it has prompted me to try other firm workouts.

good ab workout
This is a great workout. The only thing that I dislike about this is that the 3 workouts are just that- 3 completely separate workouts. There's no way to play all 3 one right after the other. You get done with Standing Abs and the dvd STOPS. So you grab the remote and hit play on the next one (Functional Abs), and when that one is over you have to get up and grab the remote and hit play on Classic Abs. Now, that would be a good option if you were short on time or only wanted to do one 10min ab segment. If you want to do all 3 workouts, keep the remote nearby. I would have given 5 stars if the 3 workouts could be programmed into one.

cece brewer

Great Core Workout
This DVD is a great core workout supplement to any excercise program. I personally use it on days that I run or do cardio. Its broken up into 3 different 10 minute workouts that you can mix up with other DVDs you may have. The intructor is easy to follow, and gives her cues perfectly. I also like the use of light dumbells to add resistance. Thumbs up!

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Storm Hawks Collector's Set: Heroes of the Sky

Good fun for a family of boys or anybody
Storm hawks has become a regularly featured show at our house. Everyone from Mom to the two year old loves this show. It combines some of the best elements from other scifi and fantasy shows, especially Star Wars and the series Firefly. There are also elements of World War I aerial combat, and a little bit of World War II French Resistance fun thrown in. In addition it gives a whole new universe concept. Instead of planets to fly between there are raised pieces of land called terras. These terras are surrounded by clouds and far below is a waste land. Most every thing in this world is powered by crystals. There are crystals for everything from sliming to cloaking. For Dad the best part is the cool motorcycles that turn into planes. Every time they takeoff and land you can't help but want one. All the episodes are great but of particular fun is the episode title "The Black Gorge." The two year old in the family can't seem to get enough of the cute little creatures in it...

Storm Hawks - Fantastic!
I love this show - I caught a glimpse of one of the episodes on TV when I was in the USA back in 2007, and ever since have been fascinated with the style and look of it.

Finally, I buy the first season on DVD, and along with the cool 3D-2D style that it has, its actually got an interesting episodic storyline... Sure, so far its been 'meet a different squadron each episode'-type stuff, but its bound together with a common enemy - the Cyclonians. Each episode, the team gets up to something different.

The characters are very likeable, and there's a really good range of personalities that always lead to often action-packed-yet-comical-situations.

Nonetheless, I got hooked in. Great show, great characters, great visual style and definitely worth checking out the website ([...]) as it has trailers for each episode if you're unsure about what this show is.

Funny and cute, fun for kids and adults
Jaded teenagers full of angst, beware! This is not the show for you. There will be no swearing, no innuendo, no gratuitous violence. When someone gets shot out of the sky, they are careful to show that they parachuted to safety. If someone acts unkind, they are not rewarded for it.

The characters are likable and very interested in being the good guys. There is lots of little quips and moral stories, though its not so overbearing that it detracts from the show.

Nothing deep, nothing adult. Its silly and I couldn't live on it anymore than I can live on cotton candy, but its refreshing. If you're a parent who is concerned with what their kids watch, this is a show you can enjoy with them and not worry about, and you can both enjoy it together.

The graphics are even top notch, better than most kids shows go for today too.

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