Hannibal: Season One

A Psychological Slow Burn: A Show That Stays Remarkably True To The Legacy Of Hannibal Lecter
I think it's fair to say that Hannibal Lecter became an American horror icon for most people with the Oscar winning film "The Silence of the Lambs." Personally, I discovered Lecter back in 1981 when author Thomas Harris introduced him in "Red Dragon." As a kid, I read this novel with a sick fascination and it was easily the scariest book I had read up until that point. Michael Mann adapted it into the film "Manhunter" in 1986 with character actor Brian Cox in the Lecter role, but it wasn't until 1991 and Anthony Hopkins that Lecter became incredibly popular. Hopkins revisited the role with another interpretation of "Red Dragon" and then "Hannibal," and has owned the role ever since. When I heard that NBC was helming a drama based on Lecter, I thought it was a disastrous idea! Network television is no such place for such evil! But I must say that the program has far exceeded my rather limited expectations. Created as a prequel to the events of "Red Dragon," the show has a...

Fascinating
Its hard not to compare this show to the Following with Kevin Bacon. On the surface, they're very similar. Tortured main character, gruesome murders, creepy psychopaths. Yet, they are, in essence, nothing alike. Bacon's character is a cliche. Will Graham, the protagonist in Hannibal, is so beautifully drawn, I can't take my eyes off him. He is a "special investigator" with the FBI. Those who work with him see him as fragile, so much so that they all seem to be holding their collective breath, waiting for him to shatter. The thing that makes him weak in their eyes is his stunning depth of empathy. This is how he solves crimes. Hannibal Lecter, a psychologist (and future notorious psychopath) who works with the FBI and Graham, has a different perspective. When Graham asks "how do you see me?", Lecter replies, you are "the mongoose I want under the house when the snakes slither by."

The production quality is high, the supporting cast is great. The show is smartly written.

I Savor This Show
Absolutely brilliantly done with a cast of characters whose acting talents are far superior to nearly every other on network television. You cannot surpass the level of depth of character development, the writing, where as they discuss real theories of psychology; build up, and character development between Will Graham and Dr. Lecter is unlike anything else on television and cannot be done with a movie.

Eventually we will view shows like this one not to be just a show, but rather a series of movies, each telling a story, where at one point a 2 hour movie will not be enough anymore to satisfy our palate for something as savory as this series.

This will become a classic.

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Beverly Hills Cop [HD]

an 80s classic that is a time capsule AND timeless
This is one of those simple movies that is so deceptively good, you don't realize how good it is. I have probably unintentionally seen this movie 30 times. Every single time it is on TV, I end up stopping whatever it is I was doing and end up watching it to the end, even though I know who the bad guys are and how it ends.

Murphy is Axel Foley, a Detroit police detective. His boss, Inspector Todd, is portrayed by real life Gilbert Hill, a semi-famous police detective in his own right. "Mad About You" creator and star Paul Riser has a small role as Foley's fellow detective. Todd is always threatening Foley with termination due to his costly methods of crime busting.

When his friend Mikey Tandino (James Russo) arrives from Beverly Hills to Detroit to visit with his childhood friend, Foley, Mikey gets murdered. Foley is hit on the head during the hit on his friend, but is otherwise unscathed.

Because of his relationship with Mikey, a guy with a lengthy record of minor...

Saturday night live on Rodeo Drive...
Although his present career may be waning Eddie Murphy will always be remembered for his role as Axel Foley, narcotics detective. Sadly it may also be due to films such as this that the paying public will never see him as a serious actor. Despite these negative aspects Murphys performance in this rip roaring satire on the Beverley Hills lifestyle never fails to raise a smirk and possibly a little envy. To remind those readers who may have forgotten the plot Murphy plays an out of state detective, Alex Foley, who travels to Los Angeles in his leave time, and against his superiors direct orders, to suss out the suspicious death of a close friend. Inevitably he meets up with his dead mates former associates and along the way uncovers a drug smuggling ring. Enough said.

Although Eddie is the star of the show and does a good turn he is unforgettably upstaged in two memorable scenes. The first is with "the banana man" at the hotel, Damon Wayans in a brief but comedic...

Murphy's Best Role - A Unique Fish-Out-Of-Water Comedy!,
Detroit cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is in Beverly Hills for a few days to investigate the murder of an old acquaintance. Axel assumes the suspect is a local tycoon, but no one seems to believe him - including the police force, being semi-run by Ronny Cox (in one of his rare good-guy roles).

Axel comes into trouble with the law his first day on the job after getting thrown through a glass window by some thugs. He is arrested, and when released finds himself hounded by a pair of inept police officers around the town for a few days. After outsmarting them (in one of cinema's most delightful moments - ever) Axel gets hooked up with an old friend and manages to roam the streets looking for clues - which, of course, he finds very easily.

Before this film Eddie Murphy had starred in one film that had launched his name into Hollywood: "48 HRS." But by all reasonable comparisons this is a much, much better film, and it's also much, much funnier, too. What's most...

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Friends: The Complete Seventh & Eighth Seasons

Love it
ery excited about this purhase. Products were shipped fast. Product had no scratches and played without skipping. Would reccommend to others.

Quite a buy
Great value that is not common in the market (at least around my area). The bundled deal came in original packaging, no damage and correct. Excellent deal for ten dollars a season on a wonderful series.

Great price
It's cheaper to buy this set than to buy seasons 7 and 8 individually! Product was shrink wrapped when it arrived and brand new! Works great and would definitely buy again.

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Suits - Pilot

Elevating The Formula With Smarts, Sophistication, And Uncommon Wit
The courtroom drama has become such a staple of American television, it is impossible to imagine a program with a completely unique approach to the legal genre. Yet, you always hope a show can tweak the formula and give you something you haven't seen a hundred times previously. While USA Network's "Suits" certainly isn't revolutionary television in its casework, it has brought something quite unexpected to the defense table. Spending more time in the boardroom than in the courthouse, this remarkably engaging show has brought a sense of smarts and sophistication to the proceedings--and trust me, I haven't used the word sophistication to describe a basic cable TV show in some time. A lot of elements work just fine here, but there are two specific things that elevate this show to the next level. First, the dialogue is snappy, genuinely funny and filled with clever wordplay. Second, the two leads (Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams) have uncommonly good timing in serving up that dialogue...

Suits is brilliantly entertaining
The script, acting, and quality are all flawless, as far as television goes. If you're looking to be highly entertained, then look no further. The subtle humor, creative plot, and enjoyable dialogue entices the viewer more with each passing moment.

If you're into legal shows that include all aspects of human nature, including compassion, then Suits is for you.

Hopefully this show continues to have the opportunity to thrive; it has definitely drawn me in and I won't miss a second of it.

An Intelligent, Sparkling New Television Series
SUITS is smart, sassy, clever, sophisticated, timely and immensely entertaining! The new series debuted with a full 60 minute story that establishes the characters very solidly, opens pathways for many story lines, and boasts an exceptional cast of fine actors. Here is hoping it makes it as an ongoing series, especially since it is not yet another crime drama! Not that Criminal Mains, The Mentalist, Without A Trace will lose their place among the best show on television, but with all the spinoffs on the crime shows, the available choices have been dwindling lately.

SUITS is a lawyer show. Set in New York (captured, by the way, in beautiful cinematic vistas) it focuses on a very successful law firm, managed by Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) who balances the talents of her two top lawyers, the smarmy Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) who is a control freak, and the very brilliant but egotistical Harvey Spector (Gabriel Macht). There is a particularly appealing and very bright...

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Braveheart [Blu-ray]

Braveheart - Mel Gibson's crowning achievement!
"Braveheart" is quite simply, one of the best and most successful movies ever created and a huge part of that success comes from the efforts extended by Mel Gibson, as he wore three different hats for this masterpiece, those being producer, director and star. The one oddity about this movie for me was that I pretty much wore out my VHS copy of it and had, a couple years ago, purchased the DVD but only just recently took the opportunity to watch it again and no matter how many times you watch this movie, it is still a stunning, compelling and extraordinarily intriguing film that draws you in to the life of William Wallace despite already knowing how it's going to end.

The one thing that drives this movie is the spirit that Mel Gibson puts into his character of William Wallace and it is of no surprise that "Braveheart" won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture of 1995 and Best Director for Mel Gibson. The only true surprise was that he wasn't among the top...

There are a few I think who missed the point.
In order to maintain the appearence of objectivity, I was going to rate this movie 4 stars. But I just couldn't. It really deserves 5, and it's going to get every one of them. This movie features some of the most stunning cinematography I've ever seen (scenes of particular brilliance include the deer-hunting scene and the slo-mo shots right before Gibson's first rebellion), impeccable acting (I don't know why the British have been hiding their actors from the American film industry - every one of the British/Scottish actors in the film was amazing, and Patrick McGoohan (sp) gave an incredible performance as Longshanks, not to mention newcomer Sophie Marceau), a magical musical score, and on and on and on and on. Physical elements alone qualify this work for the title of Best Picture.

Yet, a number of people chastise Gibson and the movie for a number of reasons, primarily its departure from historical accuracy. I do believe these people have missed the point, for I do...

Blood, bravery & idealism in an epic fist punch to your gut.
On a whole number of levels, this movie shouldn't have worked for me. It takes considerable license with historical facts, not only in order to supplement details that are not part of William Wallace's legend but actually, wherever convenient. ("We stuck to history where we could but hyped it up where the legend let us," actor-director Mel Gibson admits on the DVD's commentary track.) It is graphically and unabashedly violent: from throat cuttings to battle scenes that have film blood literally splashing onto the camera, beheadings, a traitor's head smashed with a
wrecking ball, and fully 15 minutes of Wallace's "purification by pain," it shows some of the most brutal behavior conceivable. It also engages in some of the most blatant gay profiling in recent film history - not just in the drastic end administered on the lover of King Edward I. "Longshanks"'s son, but equally in the portrayal of both characters and their relationship as such. Last but not least, Mel Gibson...

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Like Crazy [HD]

BLU RAY UPDATE: 4 1/2 stars for an honest depiction of young romance
There have many films over the years about long distance romance including 2010's cute romantic comedy "Going the Distance." In that film it involves one person in New York and the other in L. A. The characters are put in circumstances that bring a chuckle or two. That way, the angst of the difficult romance is lessened. In this film whose title comes from a line "I love you `like crazy'" our lovers have more obstacles including distance. Jacob (Anton Yelchin) is a teaching assistant at a Los Angeles college where Anna (newcomer Felicity Jones) is a student from England. She has eyes for Jacob and leaves him a rather lengthy note on his car windshield. We only see glimpses of the note, but Jacob appreciates the effort and the humor of the contents. They go out and begin dating and eventually fall in love. During this section of the film we of course get to witness what I refer to as the "falling in love part". That is, running on the beach, eating ice cream, riding bumper...

Some of this movie just doesn't make sense...
Okay, let's start with Jacob's plywood chair company. Every time he started to draw a new plywood chair idea on a napkin, I had to laugh. Leave the plywood chairs to IKEA and other mass manufacturers.
I found some moments in this movie compelling, but for the most part it was agonizing to watch Anna and Jacob torture each other and their other partners with the ebb and flow of living together and living apart. Jennifer Lawrence does an admirable job portraying Jacob's other very admirable love interest. Felicity Jones' Anna seems to take the reins much of the time to keep whatever is left of their relationship from fading into the past. Anton Yelchin's Jacob is a limp, malleable character who goes with the flow probably more than he should.

SPOILER ALERT Ultimately the two have legal rights to live together in the US. When Anna receives the call from her parents' friend Harry (who has toiled for months to get approval for Anna to be able legally be in the US),...

Silence speaks volumes
I loved this movie! It is raw, emotional, and cuts to the very core of how distance and time affect a relationship. It is a movie directed by emotions and feelings, by silences and music rather than words. Watch it with an open mind and an open heart.

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The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Same content as the 2002 release -- and that's good!
Despite new packaging and a hokey new subtitle, this release of Disney's original three Winnie the Pooh featurettes is actually identical to the 2002 "25th Anniversary Edition" -- same video, same audio, same bonus features. And for once, that's good! That earlier DVD transfer was already digitally restored and had some good extras, including "A Day for Eeyore" and one of Disney's better making-of documentaries, but was pulled off the shelves early last year. Now, however, it's back, with the same vibrant colors, sharp focus and near-perfect 5.1 soundtrack.

In other words, this is Disney at its best. "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" is a charming, gentle, quality film that hasn't aged a bit and looks and sounds terrific. Unless you already own the "25th Anniversary Edition," this new release is a must.

Actually, there is one new bonus feature: an episode of the computer-animated Disney Channel series, "My Friends Tigger and Pooh." In case you haven't seen...

A Magical Movie
People have watched Winnie the Pooh on videos separately from 1966 to 1977, when they made the video we now call "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh." In 1977, Disney brought the videos together to make a wonderful, heartwarming video.

The video contains 4 storybook classics. In "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree", Pooh eats so much honey at Rabbit's house and gets stuck in a hole.

In the Oscar award winning "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day", there is a big flood and Piglet must be saved.

In "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too", Tigger learns that even bouncing can be over done, and gets stuck in a tree.

In "Winnie the Pooh and the Day for Eeyore", Eeyore thinks everyone has forgotten his birthday, but Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Owl, and Christopher Robin throw him a party.

Even though these stories are all good, the best of the four is obviously the classic "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree". I think it is the best one...

WInnie the Pooh.......a family Treasure.....
This is one of the Disney's materpieces. I'm in my 20's and I grew up with Winnie the pooh not only with the movie but with the tv series and the Book. It is hard to imagine a more delightful DVD introduction to A. A. Milne's cherished Winnie the Pooh books than this 1977 short stories, which gathered the Disney studio's original trio of animated featurettes: Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966): Pooh of course goes out looking for hunny and gets into some trouble, the Oscar-winning Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968): the hundred acre woods is flooded and piglet is in trouble, and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Too (1974):this is one of my favorite of the short stories where you meet tigger and you hear him sing his memorable song. Pooh was a pet project of Walt Disney, whose children loved the books about the "willy nilly silly old bear" and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. Faithful to the look and gentle spirit of the books, these mellow shorts do Milne...

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Encounter At Farpoint (Part 1 & 2) [HD]

Even better than the TOS Blu-Ray
Content

Well, it's Season One. Having watched it many times over the years, I can say that certain episodes (Symbiosis, for instance) do not hold one's attention very well. On the other hand, other episodes (Justice, if you can believe it) really benefit from the HD upgrade, making them more appealing as a whole.

If you are somehow a new fan to the series, I still think you should buy this, with the proviso that things get markedly better even with Season Two, and certainly are totally cooking by Season Three. Season One is still a vital piece of TNG, introducing scads of characters and backstories. And there are still some superb episodes to be found (Encounter at Farpoint, Where No One Has Gone Before, Conspiracy, among others), and plenty of average shows, too.

Video

But these reviews aren't for new fans, are they? The question is - is it worth spending $60 or more to buy something you already own? Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes. Yes...

Over 200 customer reviews for a product that isn't released yet?
The policy of Amazon to "fold" reviews together for different variants of a product really sucks. How can there be over 200 customer reviews for a product that isn't released yet?

Because most of them are for the DVD release. But this is the BluRay Release and it's a whole different product! Based on what I've seen on the demo disk ("The Next Level") I assume this Season 1 set will be absolutely amazing, but... I can only guess it, because it has not been released yet!

Dear Amazon, please allow separate reviews for this product, because TNG on BluRay is a *completely different experience*! Even the less good episodes are getting better thanks to the spectacular space scenes, plus you'll feel like being part of the action because it's HD (and in correct colors, unlike the DVD release!).

All About The Fitst Set
Each season of TNG will be presented in a highly collectable box set, with seven discs and a pull-out booklet of episode information and a panoramic montage of the crew (Season 2 will have only six discs due to the abbreviated season of 22 episodes versus 26). The seven box sets will create an attractive library of the entire series.

"Star Trek is one of our most popular and enduring video franchises," said Eric Doctorow, president, Paramount Home Entertainment Worldwide. "We are very excited to be releasing Star Trek: The Next Generation on DVD because we are now offering consumers the ultimate home viewing experience for this immensely popular show."

The contents of the Season One box set are as follows:

Disc 1: Encounter at Farpoint Parts 1 & 2 (episodes 101, 102), The Naked Now (103), Code of Honor (104)

Disc 2: The Last Outpost (107), Where No One Has Gone Before (106), Lonely Among Us (108), Justice (109)

Disc 3: The Battle (110), Hide and Q (111), Haven (105), The...

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Spartacus: Vengeance - The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray]

Spartacus Still Deadly
First, for those that may not have seen Spartacus on Starz and are looking to get into the series via DVD based on its popularity, Spartacus: Vengeance is season 2 of the show but technically the third season. After the excellent 2010 5-star season premier under the title Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Andy Whitfield who played the lead role of Spartacus tragically died of cancer. Whitfield embodied Spartacus; he was a believable, imposing, rough, tough character that made viewers feel like they were watching the real guy from circa 70 BC. His untimely illness left the studio scrambling to decide how to or if the series would continue. Ultimately the studio decided to produce a prequel that ideally would give Whitfield time to recover after treatment, but sadly Whitfield relapsed and passed shortly after production of the prequel.

The prequel was called...

By Jupiter's.....beard, they've done it again
Fans of Spartacus: Blood and Sand and the prequel Gods of the Arena: Draw near, that I may break words with you.

Know this in advance: there are parts of this second season (or third, depending on how you're counting) of the Spartacus saga that _you will not like_. But the gods do not favor such thoughts! WE are for Spartacus: Vengeance, preferably on Blu-ray, which has had noticeably better picture and sound quality than the Starz broadcasts. Bend ear, and I shall give good reasons to make purchase:

- The story is on a par with, possibly even better than, Blood and Sand. It's different - how could it be otherwise? - but more complex and on a much grander scale. The same goes for the setting. Spartacus has always featured impressive camera work and CGI, and this time around it is, at times, literally jaw-dropping and...

Did you see that!
I've not bought the blu-ray of season 2 yet but I will. I have the prequel and season 1. I'm a big fan and was devastated when I heard Andy Whitfield was ill and then died. He was perfect for this role. He was awesome. The new guy is doing ok. If he was the original Spartacus I'm thinking we'd all be saying he's awesome but Andy set such a high bar I don't think anybody could have matched or bettered him. Anyway. Season 2 in my opinion is a little different to season 1 for me. I liked seeing the gladiators being trained, fighting in the area and seeing the twisted plots unfold in the house of Batiatus. Now that season 2 is out in the open with so many different locatnions it's obviously not the same. However, season 2 has got better and better with each episode. Last Fridays.... I think episode 5... was the best episode yet! I was yelling OMG! and my girlfriend was screaming!!! really she was. When Ganacus comes back and enters the arena only to fight against....????? I...

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The Cat Returns

I want a kitten.
Let me start off this review by saying the movie itself is a five star treat. I rented, after being on a Miyazaki and Ghibli streak, wanting to see all this Japanese studio had to offer. This one blew me away. It made me renew my love for cats, and I know this is one that my best friend, a feline fanatic himself, will probably be proudly displaying next to his What's Michael? japanese comics. Something the collective asian conscience gives them an affinity for cats, and it helps this movie shine. Anyone who has kids or cat lovers will enjoy this tale, but some may be a little lost. There was a movie before this one called Whisper of The Heart, not translated into english, but it isn't the same storyline, just the same characters, so you wont be missing any info, just dealing with a huge plot. Its worth investing in though.

WARNING!: Long Plot Ahead! (You should probably just skip to the end and then watch the movie, but it's here for the confused)

School girl...

A surprising choice . . .
I am not doing this review based on the Disney release, but on the original Japanese release. This charming little story is a product of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, but it is directed by Miyazaki's associate, Hiroyuki Morita. It is actually a sequel to the excellent and equally charming Whisper of the Heart, another beautiful though very low-key Ghibli product. The strange thing is that Whisper of the Heart has never been released in the U.S.; releasing the sequel before the original is a bit odd.

That being said, a wealth of details about the films (and everything from Studio Ghibli) can be found on the tremendously informative nausicaa.net Web site. Since this film is being released with Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind and Porco Rosso on February 22, it can only be hoped that it will ride somewhat on the coattails of the two better-known Miyazaki works and will have decent sales. It's an excellent family film and is a refreshing change (like all of Ghibli's works)...

Okay but mixed
Fans of Miyazaki-san and Studio Ghibli will appreciate this release, even though, once again, the Guardians of American Culture at Disney have tinkered with the dialog and plot line to suit their agenda. The release seems ham-handed and rushed.

Quite annoying and unforgivable is the use of so-called "dubtitles" to accompany the Japanese dialog. Thus we get the altered meanings, extra conversational clutter and hip dialog revisions of the English dub, instead of a literal translation of the Japanese script. Why no true subtitles? Probably a budgetary/profit margin decision.

Anyway, it's not too bad, even though, as other reviewers have noted, the release to the N. American market suffers from lack of antecedent -- just who is The Cat, and why should we be excited at his return? Return from where, exactly?

2012 update: okay, I see now that The Cat's Repayment is a more accurate translation of the Japanese original title, which reaffirms anyway that the...

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Toy Story 2

Even more for the whole family than the first one!
My wife and kids (11 and13) actually kind of dragged me to see this one in the theater. Boy was I happy that they did! Toy Story 2 is really a great movie that had us all laughing a lot. It also provides for some very emotional moments (Jessie's song remembering her time as a favorite toy, among others). Many of the jokes refer to the first Toy Story, so it really helps if you know that one. What I personally liked best, though, has become a great "habit" with Pixar: The end trailors where the "stars" get to be their "own self": Here especially "Tour Guide Barbie" was a blast!

Enjoy... I can't wait for it to come out on DVD to once again enjoy the great graphics AND sound effects that so impressed me in the theater last week!

Toy Story 2
I took my Niece to see it and expected it to begood but I was not prepared for what followed. What a terrific movie.Woody and Buz have worked through the problems that existed between them in the first Toy Story and have become the best of friends. I laughed throughout the movie. What humor, I loved the scene where Mrs. Potato Head is packing Mr. Potato Head for his trip to save Woody and she packs his angry eyes "just in case". The depth of the personalities, the humor and thoughtfulness of each of the characters makes me feel as though these are real people. I have put this movie on my list of "All Time Favorites" My Niece is 5 and I am 47 and we both loved it. I am eagerly waiting for it to be available for home viewing so I can own my own copy. Hats off to Disney and Pixar for a job well done.

RE-RELEASE of this DVD DEC.26th!!!
Yep this movie is coming out of the vault on DEC. 26th 2005. So for whoever didn't get a chance to grab this on DVD before (like me) here is you chance!!! I am so excited!!!

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days: Extended Preview

good preview
This long preview helped me to decide to watch the movie. I like to view extended previews. I think that they help a lot.

just a preview ~
it was alright but for some reason i didnt read that it was just a preview was not happy. but ..

Good
It shows the ten first minutes of the movie and the opening credits. Good quality 1080 video. :-) hope you like it This is not the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The Muppet Show - Season Three

Timeless comedy, catchy tunes
"My six-year-old loves the jokes, and runs around the house singing the songs!"

In line at Best Buy, that's what the mom behind me was saying this morning, still half in disbelief that she was buying yet another season of these 30-year-old TV programs. And to me, that one sentence sums it all up. "The Muppet Show" offers comedy that appeals to all ages -- most episodes include MuppetLabs, Pigs in Space, Swedish Chef or other recurring skits -- as well as wonderful old ditties and show tunes that are themselves often staged with a sly sense of humor.

This third season is perhaps the best of all. Digitally remastered like those on the earlier Season One and Season Two sets, these 24 shows from 1978-1979 are the Muppets at their peak. Hosts include a broad range of personalities, from rocker Alice Cooper to Irish comedian...

The Muppet Show The complete third season Episode Listing and Bonus Features
Episode Listing:
* Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge
* Leo Sayer
* Roy Clark
* Gilda Radner
* Pearl Bailey
* Jean Stapleton
* Alice Cooper
* Loretta Lynn
* Liberace
* Marisa Berenson
* Raquel Welch
* James Coco
* Helen Reddy
* Harry Belafonte
* Lesley Ann Warren
* Danny Kaye
* Spike Milligan
* Leslie Uggams
* Elke Sommer
* Sylvester Stallone
* Roger Miller
* Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
* Lynn Redgrave
* Cheryl Ladd

"The Muppet Show - Season Three" DVD Features:
* 24 episodes of "The Muppet Show" - The complete third season with digitally restored picture and sound!
* Muppets on Puppets
In June of 1968, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Juhl and Don Sahlin traveled to Hershey, Pennsylvania to tape a program about puppetry at the studios of public television station WITF-TV. This show, "Muppets on Puppets" aired on NET (National Educational Television...

Review of actual DVD: 2 Thumbs Up!
Same reaction to this one as the other sets; I had forgotten over the years what a fantastic program this was. Stellar guests stars, family-style humor, and creativity that is rarely seen today. This 3rd Season set is no exception. Standout guest stars include Gilda Radner, Pearl Bailey, Jean Stapleton, Loretta Lynn, Liberace (!), Raquel Welch, Helen Reddy, Sylvester Stallone, Danny Kaye, Harry Belafonte, Lesley Ann Warren, Lynn Redgrave, Roy & Dale, Cheryl Ladd, and more. Unlike other variety shows, these guest stars genuinely seem to be having a ball and enjoying themselves. Cheryl Ladd's episode turned out to be one of my favorites; known mainly for "Charlie's Angels," she shows plenty of talent in singing & dancing (even more so than the somewhat stiff Raquel Welch). Her karate duet with Miss Piggy ("I Enjoy Being A Girl") is adorable. Jean Stapleton shows that she can carry a tune better than her famous character Edith Bunker; Gilda Radner also has a pleasing musical voice...

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Mud

"Mud" could've been called "Ellis"
"Mud" (2012 release; 130 min.) is the newest film from writer-director Jeff Nichols, who just last year brought us the excellent "Take Shelter" thriller (starring Jessica Chastain). As the movie opens, we get to know two young boys, 14 yr. old Ellis (played by Tye Sheridan) and his best friend Neckbone (played by Jacob Lofland), in a small boat on the Mississippi river, on their way to an island where they have found something incredible: a boat that somehow ended up high in a tree. The boys think the boat is abandoned and want to make it their playground, only to find out that someone is living in the boat: Mud (played by Matthew McConaughey). Mud is a refuge of the law for killing a man who got involved with Mud's on-again, off-again girlfriend Juniper (played by Reese Witherspoon). Mud gains the trust of the boys and convinces them to assist him in getting the boat lowered from the tree. We also get to know Ellis' family, as his mom and dad are going through tough times and are...

Well-written, well-acted and very well directed!
MUD may be the best movie of 2013 through the end of April. I was thoroughly entertained and captivated from the opening moments until the final shot. The movie is so well crafted and acted. It grapples with resonant themes. This is a small movie that never feels small. It's as gripping as any blockbuster thriller...yet is told on a small, personal level.

It all starts with a great script by director Jeff Nichols (who also did the outstanding, but leisurely paced TAKE SHELTER). Nichols is telling a coming-of-age story...and that's about as worn-out an idea as you can think of. Yet even as portions of it feel as familiar as a Mark Twain novel...it's also never less than fresh and invigorating. Nichols has packed his script full of serious themes, yet he never forgets to tell a good story.

The story is set in Eastern Arkansas, right along the banks of the Mississippi. In fact, our hero is Ellis, lives in a houseboat right on the water. His parents (Sarah...

****1/2
Genre-wise I would say "Mud" is best described as a coming of age drama thriller. Matthew McConaughey sporting the most terrifying prosthetic dentures in film history outside of the horror genre, stars as the title character Mud. As good as he is in his role and as good as the other adult actors are, the film ultimately belongs to the young teen actors Tye Sheriden (The Tree of Life) and Jacob Lofland (film debut). I actually would love to see these boys get noticed come Oscar season but that isn't likely to happen.

Film Breakdown
After a flood in a small Arkansas town, two teenage boys discover a boat lodged in a tree in a wooded area near the river. They quickly discover that someone resides in the boat's cabin area. The boys soon find out that it is Mud living in the boat and that he is hiding out for reasons I won't say in this review. In no time road blocks are set up to try and find Mud, one of the boys lets Mud know of this development and that is when Mud...

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Shakespeare In Love [HD]

A golden film
Shakespeare in Love is a film for anyone who loves art and literature
with a passion. Aside from being a beautiful love story, the film
itself is a "love letter" to the arts. I can only describe
it as a "golden" film, because that's what I think of when I
picture scenes from the movie...pure gold. I love Shakespeare, and
the brilliant screenplay manages to make a flesh and blood person out
of such an enigmatic historical figure - it may not be real, but it's
a lot of fun nonetheless. The acting is superb - Gwyneth Paltrow is
glorious, Judi Dench is fabulous, Geoffrey Rush is hilarious, and
Joseph Fiennes is the hottest thing to come along since his older
brother! I love the ending especially - Twelfth Night is my favorite
Shakespearean play, and the last line just speaks volumes: "For
she will be my heroine for all time, and her name will be Viola."
Perhaps the best thing about the film...

Hilarious, intelligent, irreverent
I honestly did not know what to expect when I first sat down to watch "Shakespeare In Love." Perhaps that was for the best, since this film teems with unexpected moments and twists, turning literary history upside down and giving it a clever and bawdy twist.

Gywenth Paltrow plays a young noblewoman who is expected to be demurely betrothed, but who wants none of the life ahead of her. She yearns for the theater, and, in her headstrong, ambitious drive, dresses like a boy to obtain a part in Will Shakespeare's newest drama. Of course, the two fall in love (hence the title!) and their duplicity leads to plot complications that get more and more outrageous. Literary jokes abound, but you don't need to know a whit about Shakespeare to enjoy this romp. This is a romantic comedy cloaked in Elizabethian times, an anachronism that is thoroughly satisfying.

Paltrow's Viola is gutsy, intelligent, and torn, a portrayal that deservedly earned her an Oscar. Joseph Fiennes...

The Bard would be pleased, methinks
This is the kind of movie the Academy loves and through its love, rewards.

The script by Stoppard and Norman is erudite and cunning, passionate and playful, filled with witticisms by and about the Bard; and the parallels to Shakespeare and his work, especially the play within a play, Romeo and Juliet, and the play to come, Twelfth Night, are marvelous and a bit miraculous. The romantic direction by Madden conjures up an Elizabethan England and its London theatre with enough lusty color to delight the poet himself. The acting is wonderful with Gwyneth Paltrow conquering a very demanding and delightful four-part role as Viola/Tom Kent, and on the stage as first Romeo and then as Juliet! Joseph Fiennes as the young Shakespeare writing his Romeo and Juliet on the fly, fired with the energy from his adulterous love for the lovely Viola, is better than advertised.

Of course what would a Shakespearean play or a great Hollywood movie be without its bit players and supporting roles...

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Das Mouse

Failed World Domination Attempts 101
Spun-off from Animaniacs, 'Pinky and the Brain' has a fantastic concept that constantly bears fruit - Two lab mice ("One is a genius, the other insane" in the words of the theme tune) are constantly thwarted in their attempts to take over the world. Like Wile E. Coyote before them, they seem to eventually lose sight of what they are trying to do and why, and just use more and more outlandish ruses to reach their target (Brain as the Country and Western singer is my favourite).

The concept itself may not have worked if the characters weren't so well written and performed. To my memory there was only ever three continuous characters in the show - Pinky, Brain and occasionally Snowball, a genius hamster and rival to Brain voiced by the late, great Roddy McDowell. With such reliance on a small cast (the rest of the characters featured - the humans - were different every week), the creators worked hard to get them to be well-rounded and likable (although they are essentially...

A must have collection for fans of all ages.
As a long time P&B fan I was thrilled to see the series finally coming to DVD. Many fans and would be purchasers have been concerned that this set is labeled as a "collection" of episodes instead of one or more complete "seasons". Don't worry! As has been noted in other reviews this set (Vol I) contains ALL of season 1 and most of season 2 (the last three episodes are missing) for a total of 22 episodes. Why did they do this?? I don't "know" for a fact but I'm sure it is so that they can release 3 volumes of approxiamtely equal size. The show had 65 episodes total. That means 3 volumes each with 22 episodes (OK, so one of the volumes will have 21 episodes - nitpick, why dontcha!). So if you are a fan of the show, cast away your concerns and pick up this first volume ASAP!

For those of you who have never seen the show, expect to be pleasently surprised. This is one of those rare animated shows that appeals to adults and children equally (well maybe not equally, I'm...

A choice set of Pinky and the Brain
What can you say, its grrreeat!

Episodes contained on DVD

Das Mouse

Of Mouse and Man

Tokyo Grows/That Smarts/Brainstem

Pinky and the Fog/Where No Mouse Has Gone Before/Cheese Roll Call

Brainania

TV or Not TV

Napoleon Brainaparte

A Pinky and the Brain Christmas

Snowball

Around the world in 80 Narfs

Fly

Amubulatory Aide/Mouse of La Mancha

The Third Mouse/The Visit

It's Only a Paper World

Collect 'Em All/ Pinkasso

Plan Brain from Outer Space

The Pink Candidate

Brain's Song

Welcome to the Jungle

A little Off the Top/Megalomaniacs Anonymous

The Mummy/Robin Brain

Two Mice and a Baby / The Maze

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Grease 2 [HD]

Grease is still the word
Grease 2 is a fun movie and well worth the watch. It's a little sillier than the original but I liked it a lot.

Grease 2 is fun for the family
Fun movie, good songs. Great opening number. Try to watch it as a stand alone film and not in the shadow of the original 'Grease'.

Will Always Like Grease...No Matter How Corny!!!
Grease 1 WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST, but Grease 2 is corny, but at the same time very good and entertaining...will always like them both, so glad Amazon is doing better about movies than Netflix especially w/the classics!! Amazon keep up the great work on adding the classics movies/newer tv shows!!

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Sidewalks of New York [HD]

In Wake of Allen's Curse of Jade Scorpion...
Prior to seeing Woody Allen's worst movie, "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion," I probably would have given Ed Burns's "Sidewalks of New York" a 4 star review because it was too derivative of Woody Allen's work. However, "Curse" showed that Allen is now past being able to make this kind of film and that someone new must step up to the writing, directing, acting helm of these gem-like, relationship slice-of-life films. Ed Burns fills that void very nicely indeed and it is a lot to ask, that someone be able to write, direct and act. Burns himself will never be a comic like Woody Allen but he is a more credible romantic leading man, being young, handsome and with attractive ways about him. This film takes a handful of New Yorkers and puts them into a variety of relationship quandries. Stanley Tucci portrays the least sympathetic as a dentist who suffers from chronic infidelity no matter to whom he is currently married. I was glad to see Brittany Murphy in...

Not Burns' best work, but nicely done.
It's amazing how many people will trash Edward Burns' films -- but still watch every Ed Burns film. Um, if you don't like a director/actor/writer, maybe pick something else? (I mean, I don't care for Celine Dion, so I don't listen to her music. Make some choices, folks.) This is a talky, quirky film that follows six interconnected characters who live in New York. We get Burns as a disillusioned TV producer, Stanley Tucci as a cheating dentist, Rosario Dawson as a cautious schoolteacher, Heather Graham as a real estate agent with traditional values, Brittany Murphy as a college student, and David Krumholtz as a slightly grating but sincere doorman. Even though none of the characters were perfect, they all had real human qualities and imperfections. Even Krumholtz' annoying doorman character manages to show some emotional realism at several points. If you liked She's the One or The Brothers McMullen, or if you just like small, "indie" movies with good characters, this is worth...

An OK romantic flick..
Six New Yorkers are romantically involved in this 'pseudo - documentary' style movie. A once divorced, not - happily - married 39 years old dentist is involved with a 19 years old NYU student waitress, who has a 23 years old divorcee interested in her, even though he is still attached to his ex, who meets this guy in a video store, who also flirts with the dentist's realtor wife...

While the characters & story itself are pretty standard & predictable, Burns manages to create a few beautiful, true & interestingly authentic New York moments in this movie.

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Les Miserables (2012)

"There's a grief that can't be spoken."
The much anticipated movie adaptation of "Les Misérables " has arrived, and director Tom Hooper deserves praise for infusing Victor Hugo's iconic story of Jean Valjean with drama and profound emotion. Hugh Jackman is superb as the former thief who is pursued relentlessly by his nemesis, Inspector Javert (a ruthless and bitter Russell Crowe), but Valjean focuses on redeeming himself by treating others with kindness. Anne Hathaway is affecting as the desolate Fantine, forced into prostitution in order to support her child. Valjean mercifully adopts Cosette, Fantine's daughter, after her mother's untimely death.

Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen are deliciously over-the-top as the Thénardiers, greedy innkeepers who steal from their customers and extort cash from Fantine for Cosette's upkeep while they keep the lonely girl in rags. Samantha Barks's show-stopping solo, "On My Own," is thrilling. Eddie Redmayne and Amanda Seyfried are appealing as...

A cinematic and emotional wonder; a film for the ages.
You know I went to see "Les Miserables" on Christmas Day. You know I convinced family and friends to not get together for dinner on Christmas evening, as was the tradition, because seeing this film was more important. I've been waiting to see "Les Mis" for months, damnit, and I wasn't about to wait any longer. I was ready to see something phenomenal. Something that would be a sucker punch of emotion...and a chance to see some of my favorite actors in a film like I've never seen before.

"Les Miserables" is unlike any film musical I've ever seen. The level of emotion is unmatched. The performances are out of this world. The story is ambitious, and the scope is huge. It's at once a very personal story about its various characters, but at the same time, these people are singing for a generation, that has fascinating parallels to events going on today. It's an incredible feat that I didn't think could be committed to film so well.

Director Tom Hooper certainly had the...

review by a French girl!
I'm French and I've just seen the movie (which came out last week here). I wasn't sure I still wanted to see it after reading the terrible reviews it'd been given in France (sorry!) but I'd been so seduced by the trailer and Hathaway's voice that I went anyway and I simply loved it. I haven't read the book (I've just started actually: 60 pages out of 1600... hum) but I understand why people here find the movie rather bad: it's not exactly as "social" as Hugo wrote it. The movie concentrates on the "romantic" side rather than on the criticism of the society and the historical context of the time. Yet I was completely taken. I loved the songs (I didn't know the musical), I'm a big fan of Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman and was completely delighted by their acting. I cried as I hadn't cried in a long time in a theatre and wanted only one thing when the film was over: see it again! The only negative thing in my opinion was the singing and acting of Russell Crowe. I didn't like his voice...

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The Simpsons: The Sixteenth Season [Blu-ray]

Contains Bonus Episode!
An unexpected treat of this Season 16 box set is that it contains "Holidays of Future Passed", which aired only two years ago and is in full-screen format instead of widescreen. In future volumes, there should be direct-to-DVD episodes of "The Simpsons" which have not aired on TV. That would be something.

My collection continues, Amazon rocks!
I have favorites from all seasons. Sure, some of the humor isn't as funny as earlier seasons, but each season still has its gems and is enough for me to continue investing in them.

I pre-order through Amazon when I know I don't have time to head to Best Buy (who have the Collector units available immediately on the shelf) and its always quick & easy. Thanks Amazon!

Nuff Said
Its the Simpsons and they totally rule. This particular item is NOT the 3 dimensional plastic character face version. In case you are collecting that alternate version of Simpson's DVDs. This is the flat box version. Long live the Simpsons.
RIP Mrs. Crabapple-Flanders.

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Man of Steel (Blu-ray+DVD+UltraViolet Combo Pack)

Needs more respect.
While I can see and understand some of the complaints against this film, some of them, on the other hand, are hypocritical nonsense.

The internet isn't the best way to put a films reception into perspective. From perusing comic book message boards you would think this is the most hated film of all time. Not so. It is mostly met with favorable praise. But the vocal minority is REALLY vocal on this one. Complaints about structure and editing are one thing (I don't agree with them at all but they are legitimate) but the huge hubbub over the destruction in this film is over the top and frankly all out misguided and downright false.

It seems the internet can't make up it's mind on what they want their Superman to be. For YEARS all fans ever did was say they wanted a Superman movie where he can really show off his powers. They begged and whined and pleaded for a Superman film to deliver the action that the character deserves on screen. And when Superman Returns came...

Man of Steel...
Let me say right away that I am fan, so if you imagine that there may be some bias about this film, you'll be right. As much as I enjoy the work done by Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan I am, first and foremost, a fan of Superman the character. Beyond the super powers and god like awe that surrounds the character, he is inherently a symbol for the potential good of the human race. He represents the best of both his worlds and acts as a guide for others. Superman is often referred to as the "constant boy scout". It's easier to understand when you truly see the kind of temperament and control he exhibits on a nearly constant basis. When faced with adversity how easy would it be for him to destroy his opponent in the blink of an eye, and yet he refrains from doing so. He is a symbol for all that we can achieve, good and bad. In some ways he is the embodiment of hope; hope for the future, hope for the world, and hope in our own personal lives. So, when I say that I am a fan I...

Nolan Plot and Snyder Action Makes for the Best Movie This Year
The "Man of Steel" movie is both action and plot heavy, dealing with complex spiritual issues as well as what it means to be human. On the other hand, the action is heavy-handed, with punches, bullets, and other weaponry being thrown at people on a regular basis. This combination of depth and intensity creates a powerful film, both visually as well as in theme. The performance of the story was breathtaking. As expected, the visuals were stunning; the special effects were phenomenally crisp and the scope of the camera was often wide, presenting the scenery itself as a spectacle. The acting was exceptional as well. Shannon's Zod was angry, driven, and resourceful, everything a good soldier is meant to be. His lines were powerful and his intentions and thoughts were practically visible on his face as he acted. Cavill's Superman also performed exceptionally. Each line was delivered with honesty to the character. His part was not really dialogue heavy, but his role was emotionally...

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The Aristocats (Special Edition)

The approach Disney seems to have forgotten
Considering Disney's recent track record, it would appear that they think the average kid is maturing faster than before. Thus, they seem to put out movies that are dark and inappropriate for the average kid. The only exceptions to this trend are the wonderful Toy Story movies and A Bug's Life. Flash back a decade or two, and you'll find a different Disney, a Disney that made movies everybody could enjoy. Aristocats comes from that era. True the animation from this decade is weak, and the story loses a few points in some areas. The villain is also quite tame. All of that, however, disappears under the movie's charm, upbeat attitude, and general fun. It's certainly more fun than Hercules. People looking for something intense should avoid this. Families with small children and those who love adorable cats will love this movie. From this era, I also recommend Robin Hood. As I've said before, you just can't beat old school Disney.

Wonderful film!
I'm so glad that Disney made this film. I much prefer the more innocent Disney movies of the past. Movies like Lady and the Tramp and The Aristocats are truly fun, wholesome entertainment. Don't get me started on the new Disney films which are way too interested in pushing hit pop songs and attracting adults with more action, violence, and suggestive dialogue. I know things can't stay the same so I'm glad we have this film from a more innocent era. I particularly like the fact that the pacing is relaxed and the villain is not very scary. I'm always looking for what I call "calm" movies and videos for my 2 and a half year old. I don't want him seeing frightening or fast-paced images. Lady and the Tramp and Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas are other great shows for young viewers. Unlike the sterile environment of the Teletubbies, these movies are full of wonderful images and interesting music. I find the backdrop drawings extremely interesting and stylized...

Fine Family Fun, but: All Reviews for Previous Editions Lumped Together
There are over a hundred reviews for The Aristocats as of this date. They all refer to the previous edition (Disney Gold Classic Edition or whatever they called it years ago when it first came out on dvd).
So now we will have those reviews mixed up with new reviews for the Feb 5, 2008 version which offers more extras and a different aspect ratio. This may make things a bit confusing.

Moving on...
People compare this film to 101 Dalmations. This is Disney's "cat" movie, they say. You can't compare them; they're too similiar somehow.
But they are both decent, cute family films.
Yes, Cruella is scary compared to the bumbling butler Edgar. There is a sense of jeopardy but Dalmations is much stronger in that sense.
Both films were made using the 1960's Xerox method where the resulting animation is more sketchy looking and more close to the original animator's drawings.
The Aristocats is more of a musical, definitely. A few forgettable songs, but...

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Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales

Your kid is obsessed with Cars too?
My kid just turned 4 and loves these. It includes 9 episodes of Mater's Tall Tales. It does NOT include the "Air Mater" and "Time Travel Mater" shorts described in the wiki: [...]
Included episodes:
1. Mater The Greater (daredevil)
2. Rescue Squad Mater (fire truck)
3. Monster Truck Mater (wrestler)
4. UFM - Unidentified Flying Mater (UFO)
5. El Materdor (matador)
6. Moon Mater (astronaut)
7. Heavy Metal Mater (rock star)
8. Mater Private Eye (detective)
9. Tokyo Mater (import drifter)
As of 1/28/13, the 9 episodes are on Netflix Instant Watch. I saw some on Starz VOD in 2012 but they have since been removed. Hope this helps.

Fun.
I didn't care for the cars movies, but the shorts involving Mater I've enjoyed every single one. I'm not sure exactly why I didn't care for the movies, but these shorts are funny and cute.

Love MATER!
My little boy can't get enough!!! It is Great to get a little more Mater! full of laughs! I recommend for all... Even adults!

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The Hunger Games [HD]

A masterpiece! An excellent film about courage, hope and human dignity facing the all powerful totalitarian tyranny!
"Hunger Games" is certainly the best film I have seen since many many months, and it is a very successful adaptation of an excellent book.

In my personal opinion, both the book and the film are much deeper and much more ambitious, than what most critics and reviewers would make us believe. After reading the reviews in "New York Times", "Le Monde" and on "Msn.com" (to cite only few) I was surprised that they mostly missed everything that is important in this film. With a kind of amused superiority, which people from Capitol in this movie would immediately recognize, the "professional" reviewers pointed at the obvious allusions to gladiator fights, the reality shows, the importance of trashy entertainment in today's TV, the search for a new franchise able to replace "Twilight", etc., etc.

But they almost entirely failed to see, that this film is first and above all about much more important things: how to keep hope, not lose the courage and preserve humanity and...

Dont hate the Movie But WARNING ULTRAVIOLET code EXPIRED!!
This review is for AMAZON.COM and future customers that purchase The Hunger Games (2-Disc Blu-Ray + Ultra-Violet Digital Copy)

If you are going to charge for the blu-ray and Ultra-Violet the code shouldn't be expired prior to receiving it.

Order Date of 12/6/2013

opened 12/25/2013

I contacted Amazon and they just sent me a second copy with a code that expired. 8/18/2013 even says it on the out side of the case. the slip of paper inside states
1)go to thehungergamesmovie.com/redeem
2)follow the instructions to get your ultraviolet copy
3)when prompted, enter the authorization code above

I followed the steps, entered the code and code is invalid.

on the bottom of the slip of paper it states Lionsgate is not responsible for maintaining ultraviolet service. Code may not be valid after 8/18/2013

I contacted Amazon again and was placed on hold I was fed up of fighting and decided if i need the...

Too pretty, too santized -- the film has none of the emotional impact of the novel
Director Gary Ross's version of Suzanne Collins's HUNGER GAMES manages to sanitize the entire concept of kids-killing-kids in order to produce a PG-13 blockbuster that's sure to rake in the big bucks. But what was devastating and heart-wrenching in the novel is glossed over and prettified here, leaving me feeling none of the emotional impact I experienced in reading the book.

[**SPOILER WARNING** I'm assuming readers are familiar with the novel, so some plot elements will be discussed in this review.]

Don't get me wrong, this is a slick and well-made film, with plenty of action and a sensational performance from Jennifer Lawrence as heroine Katniss Everdeen. The settings are well done, especially the Capitol in all its crazy-colored chic-ness and over-the-top luxury. District 12, the poorest district in Panem, is believably presented as well, complete with starving people dressed in rags and walking like zombies to their depressing jobs. The scene of the...

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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation [HD]

It's Christmas, and We're All in Misery . . . .
With apologies to Jimmy Stewart and Ralphie Parker, this is my favorite Christmas movie of all time. If you are reading this because you have never seen "Christmas Vacation", stop right now and go to the video store and rent it. Then come back here and order your own copy because you'll want to watch it over and over again each holiday season.

The undisputed gem of the National Lampoon 'Vacation' series, the plot can be summed up very simply: idealistic family man Clark Griswold wants to host the perfect old-fashioned fun family Christmas. As all of us idealistic family men have discovered, there is no such thing as a perfect holiday, and that just about sums it up. The appeal of this film is that we can all relate to the disasters that holidays can become, regardless of how well-meaning we are and how hard we work to achieve them.

The cast is terrific. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo (Ellen) are back as the Griswolds, with Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki...

At Long Last!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, after all this time, Warner Brothers have come to their senses. On October 7th, we will be treated to a heftly helping of one of the greatest Christmas films to ever grace the silver screen............in WIDESCREEN.

I was extremely disappointed with the previous DVD release of this film which contained a pan & scan presentation and nothing more than a theatrical trailer in the extras department.

What we have here is a special edition of this great movie, which will contain audio commentary from both Beverly D'Angelo and Chevy Chase, a "making of" featurette, as well as other stocking stuffers which have yet to be disclosed at this present time.

Being a huge fan of this movie, I honestly can't wait for this release. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" has become a holiday tradition in my home, and to be able to see it the way it was intended to be seen is truly a treat for me.

Aside from the features of the disk, the film itself is the true gift. One of the...

The best of the Vacation series
You really take your life in your hands every time you sit down with a Chevy Chase film. Let's face reality here: Chevy Chase is responsible for several of the worst movies ever made. Does it take more than a few minutes of viewing to see the mind numbing folly of "Nothing But Trouble," "The Three Amigos," and "Spies Like Us"? Chase has sure had his truly embarrassing moments on the big screen. What redeems the guy, at least in my eyes, are several films that play up to the comedian's smart alecky, deadpan delivery. "Fletch," of course, is the gold standard of Chevy Chase films, but other movies showcase his talents just as well. I always thought "Deal of the Century" a classic Chase film, as well as "Foul Play" (although the latter was more of an ensemble picture). But we need look no further than the four National Lampoon Vacation films to truly judge the merits of this comedian turned actor. Actually, I should say three Vacation films since the second installment, where the...

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Thomas & Friends: Day Of The Diesels Movie [HD]

Sinister
My two year old son is OBSESSED with all things Thomas. And he is terrified of this film. It's so sinister and creepy, and very dark. He hides under the chair in the corner, or he runs to his father or me and buries his face into our chests and cries when the diesel engines appear. And Percy is really sad in it a lot, which upsets him very much. He becomes devastated when Percy cries in the film. Percy is normally so upbeat, and he becomes a very depressed little engine. The music and mood is so dark and disturbing, and we really don't recommend it at all. It looses the innocence that is Thomas & His Friends.

Definitely Different
I must say I was incredibly surprised with the "intensity" of Day of the Diesels and it's slightly evil aura. However, I think it was a welcome change to the usual light-hearted Thomas and Friends episodes. I don't think very young children should watch it without an adult, especially if they are used to the nothing-bad-ever-happens-in-Sodor Thomas episodes. My 2-year-old son was slightly freaked out even though he watches movies about robots and likes scary stuff in general, but upon seeing the movie the second time he actually enjoyed it. He just needed to know that everything would be OK even with a fire and what-not. So all in all, I would recommend this movie if for no other reason than that it is a refreshing approach to the same old Thomas does something wrong, Sir Topham hat is very "cross", and Thomas proceeds to fix his misnomer. Happy watching!

"Evil" trains for train loving children? Terrible idea
My 3 yo son enjoys (or at least used to enjoy) his toy diesel trains too much to be subjected to this downer movie portraying diesel engines as deceptive, evil and even murderous - i.e. the fire. He walked away from the tv with a troubled look on his face saying, "no" asking me to turn it out. In general I have to say I am turned off by the repeated heavy personality conflicts between train engines in all the Thomas stories and videos. I'm not often left with a good feeling after reading the stories or seeing the videos. The toy trains are fun, we'll keep getting those. But I'd rather read my son watch more positive portrayals of friendship and loyalty. There are lots out there to choose from. Pocoyo and Little Bear just off the top of my head are smarter, wittier, better written, much more sweet and funny portrayals of friendships. Funny is key. I guess my biggest dislike of Thomas the Tank Engine stories is they're all almost completely humorless. Strangely so.

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Skyfall [HD]

Brilliant...Can't Recommend This Movie Enough
Being the year of the 50th anniversary of the beloved super spy, the 23rd Bond installment had a lot to live up to. While Casino Royale was a worthy and thrilling reboot to the franchise, Quantum of Solace fell flat with critics and fans. To make matters more interesting, MGM has had financial woes over the last number of years and needed a hit to reinvigorate the studio. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Skyfall.

Not only does the movie qualify as one of the most action-packed and entertaining movies of the year, it ranks on my list as one of the best Bond flicks to date. As has come to be expected, Craig is terrific as the British spy, portraying the character with charm and intensity. The action is top notch and the story is superbly written. Among my favorite moments were the blistering opening sequences, the introduction of the film's villain, and the intense final act, which finds Bond cornered yet unafraid. The real treat, however, is Bardem's role as the sinister...

So good I've seen it twice already!!
I am a die hard Sean-Connery-as-James-Bond fan. I like most of Roger's and a couple of Pierce's. I was not happy when I first learned of Daniel Craig as the new Bond. Daniel who? Was my first reaction. Not another Lazenby, I thought...
I like Casino Royale, but it took me a couple of watches on DVD for it to grow on me. I didn't hate Quantum of Solace as much as others seem to, but then I saw Skyfall..... I love this movie so much that not one day has gone by when I haven't thought of it at least once. I saw it twice in one week, and I never do that when movies are in theaters. The writers of this film must be brought back for the next one, yes it has some minor similarities to The Dark Knight movies, but so what. I can not wait for the Blu Ray release. I hate to admit it, but this may just be my new favorite Bond movie. The only thing that would make it perfect for me would be if Connery were still young enough to play Bond. The opening sequence, the action, Javier as the...

The best Bond film in many years
Although I remain a loyal fan to the Bond of my youth (Roger Moore), Daniel Craig is, in my opinion, one of the very best of the rest. In Skyfall he demonstrated how he has matured into the character - and the writing and execution of virtually every other aspect of this film are superior to his first two outings. Some viewers are finding this Bond outing a bit slow moving. I didn't, although it is admittedly more restrained than many other films from the series. Nevertheless, I found it engaging from beginning to end. I thought certain parts of the film packed an emotional punch seldom felt in other Bond films.

It is interesting how the public's expectations for Bond have changed. When View to A Kill premiered critics blasted the level of violence and even Roger Moore said he thought at least one scene in that movie went too far. The current take on Bond is far more violent and the bad guys are often presented in a much darker light than the villains of old - even if...

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Evil Dead (Blu-ray + UltraViolet Digital Copy)

essentially the original, yet it's own film.
When I first heard that Evil Dead was being remade, I wasn't happy. I've grown tired of reboots and remakes and I felt that remaking Evil Dead was akin to trampling on sacred ground. After discovering that Raimi and Campbell were backing it, I gave in and joined the the party, my uptight "Dead purist" friends be damned. This version starts out with the same creepy cabin in the same creepy woods but with a new group of twenty somethings unwittingly walking into the slaughter. A new element is introduced when we find out that the gang is trying to help their friend Mia recover from a nasty heroin addiction. Making the trip is her estranged brother David who wasn't around when Mia had to deal with their mother's death. Needless to say, there are a lot of family issues that the two never hashed out and hard feelings are being felt.

If being drug out to a creepy cabin in the woods by her friends wasn't bad enough, things are going to get worse for Mia. Ignoring all blatant...

Where the hell is the unrated cut??
I am not happy. Great remake, but I was expecting an Unrated cut for blu-ray. If the studio thinks they are double-dipping off me, think again. I'm waiting on the Hobbit (extended cuts already confirmed) and I'm waiting on this too. Stop being so damn greedy Hollywood!

A rare successful remake
** spoilers **

Mia is a heroin addict dealing with the aftermath of her mother's death. She goes to an old cabin her family owns with her friends and her brother to get her through withdrawal and get clean, but the place has been broken into and defaced. They clean up as best they can and find a weird book wrapped in a trash bag and barbed wire. Eric decides to disregard every single warning, open it, and read it out loud. Of course it releases demons that possess them to torment and eventually kill them. Can they band together to defeat the evil or will all their souls burn in hell?

I usually hate remakes with the fire of a thousand suns. The filmmakers usually dumb down what made the film great in the first place. I actually enjoyed Evil Dead much more than the original. I understand why the original is so well liked, but it's so boring and badly acted. The remake breathes new life into the story, giving a well fleshed out plot and characters with actual...

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Hell on Wheels: The Complete Second Season

Hell On Wheels is outstanding
Since Dish Network cannot provide me with my weekly fix of Hell On Wheels, I really appreciate the ability to get it on Amazon. This series is one of the best written series about the western migration and the people who made it possible with the building of the transcontinental railroad. It also shows how government corruption has existed for a LONG time.

hell on wheels
i discovered this series recently and am thoroughly enjoying it. I look forward to seeing it each week and am quite sure there are many people who do not know about it but would love it as i do. Great casting for lead roles.

Realistic Western
I am a true John Wayne western fan and have all of his westerns and many others.
But Hell On Wheels is probably much, much closer to the true west and the story
behind it's development. It is a gutsy, down-to-earth western saga at its best.
I bought Season One in its entirety and will do so with Season Two upon completion.
Great stuff!

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Enough Said

Gandolfini, Louis-Dreyfus exquisite in 'Enough Said'
While this is still going to be a movie review, it's also one of those rare occasions where a massive amount of bias - in this case admiration, will likely overshadow anything and everything that's said about this particular film. This is due largely to the tragic death of a man that will go down in my book (and many others) as one of the greatest actors to ever grace the big or small screen. Of course, I'm referring to James Gandolfini - a beloved individual that was taken well before his time. He was a man with immense talent that saw no bounds, starring in arguably the greatest television show of all-time, The Sopranos. But, before he starred as the loveable gangster, Tony Soprano, he made his everlasting mark in films, like Get Shorty, True Romance, and The Mexican. Since the conclusion of The Sopranos in 2007, Gandolfini took on much more reduced roles, acting in supporting roles, such as Zero Dark Thirty, Not Fade Away, and Killing Them Softly. Thankfully, in one of his...

4.5 stars--- outstanding yet bitter-sweet relationship drama
"Enough Said" (2013 release; 93 min.) brings the story of Eva (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a middle-aged divorcee whose daughter is about to go off the college across the country. As the movie opens, we see Eva make house calls to her clients to provide massages. One evening, Eva tags along with her friends to a party, and there gets introduced to several people, including Albert (played by James Gandolfini), also a middle-aged and divorced (we later learn that his daughter is also about to go off to college). Eva also gets introduced to Marianne (played by Catherine Keener), a well-known poet who is lonely and hires Eva to give her massages (and bend her ear about her lousy ex). Eva and Albert go on a first date, and things are going surprisingly well. Meanwhile Eva is dealing with her daughter's pending departure. At this point we are about 30 min. into the movie, and to tell you more of the plot would surely ruin your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how...

James Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Nicole's Holocener's best film yet
Nicole Holofcener has directed a handful of movies that few people have seen. They have fallen into a category of "women's movies" that most men steer clear of lest they become gay or something. I've seen them all ("Lovely & Amazing" is my favorite) and I'm still straight. And while her movies are far from terrible they are not terribly memorable either. "Enough Said" is her best feature yet and yes, it's OK for a man too.

A large part of the attraction is the late James Gandolfini who plays Albert, a bit of a slob, but funny and adorable. Albert is divorced from Marianne (Holofcener regular Catherine Keener). Together they have a daughter heading for college. Although Albert is a key character in the storyline, his counterpart, Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) has multiple relationships to deal with. If you've watched Louis-Dreyfus over the years, you should be able to appreciate her dead-pan humor, much of which is displayed all over her face. That talent comes across...

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Marvel's The Avengers [HD]

...And there came a day, a day unlike any other...
I am more giddy than my giddy aunt. I saw the midnight showing of the AVENGERS last night and, at the end, my face hurt and warped from grinning so big. I am so wired I can't form a coherent thought. Here's a salvo of stream-of-consciousness impressions, in whatever order.

Mark Ruffalo is simply terrific as the Hulk's alter (and calmer) ego. I actually prefer his interpretation of Dr. Banner over Bana's and Norton's. Ruffalo steers away from the deadening angst that made me fidget in earlier Hulk pictures. He finds a balance. This Banner exhibits a dry sense of humor but exudes this quirky, low simmer edginess. And I love Ruffalo's interactions with Downey, Jr., two swaggerful eggheads matching their test tubes against each other and applying big, sciency words. I like that there's respect between their two characters. There's an intriguing twist involving Banner's relationship with the Hulk, of which I won't say more. The Hulk - and this seems to be a unanimous impression...

Love the movie, cheated by 4-disc set.
Don't get me wrong, it's one of my favorite movies and I highly recommend it as a Blu-ray purchase for any action and/or hero fan. The problem is that this 4 disc set is nothing but a sham, and on multiple levels:

Digital Copy:
First, the only supported tablet is the Ipad, so for all of us Android tablet users, don't dream about taking the movie with you on the go through legitimate means.
In fact, even if you choose the WMP version which can only be seen on your computer, you might face difficulties. My Laptop apparently needed a security update (which I couldn't get no matter how much I tried), in spite of the fact that it's running on the latest version.

Digital Music Download:
Why not simply include the music within the set in MP3 files? Here's why. Although you've already paid a higher price for a set that should provide the soundtrack, they feel that you still haven't actually paid enough. After giving my authentication code online, I was...

"Are you sure about this?" "Yeah, it'll be fun."
....And what fun it is.

*Spoilers Ahead*

Marvel's "The Avengers" is an expertly-crafted movie that makes 2 1/2 hours fly by like....well....I don't really know...SOMETHING FAST. My thoughts on seeing this movie--the first time (yes, you WILL go to see this more than once)--were: "This was just as good as 'The Dark Knight'....how is THAT even possible?" Well...consider first that Marvel has always had the best storylines, and the know-how to mix all of their characters' comic books together into one, all-encompassing storyline. Then, consider they decided to apply said formula to their movies. Third, they went out and expertly casted the parts.

How could this NOT be good?

Who else but Robert Downey, Jr could be a multi-billionaire, techno-wizard, armor-wearing snark-artist? Acts like he doesn't care, but is willing to sacrifice his life to save New York.

Chris Evans is Captain America. A 1940s guy living in the present...

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Mr. Holland's Opus

A Movie About Love and Love For Music
Recent showing of "Music of My Heart" starring Merryl Strepp as a substitute teacher striving to sustain a violin program for low-income kids in New York City reminds me of this all-time favorite classic released back in 1996. The bottom line is love.

Situated in Oregon in the fall of 1964, Glen Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) took up a job as a high school music teacher as his wife became pregant. Holland, now shouldered with added responsibility as a soon-to-be father, a composer, and a teacher, faced the immediate challenge of working with a diverse group of students: the naturally talented, the rebellious, and the physically impaired.

This is a movie about love and love of music. Glenn Holland is the central figure who strives to love his students and family through his devotion to music. Born deaf-toned, the dream of teaching his own son to become an eminent violinist inevitably bursts with much frustration. Glenn Holland is not perfect; in fact,...

Warm Plot, Rich Production
The quality of Mr. Holland's Opus spreads evenly throughout its plot, its message, and its marvelous appreciation of music and the arts. In fact, this movie delivers both definition and demonstration of music appreciation as a whole, absent of selective bias. Devoid of senseless killings, violence, or notable language, Opus is a family movie without the corny overtones. For many it's a tearjerker.

But Mr. Holland's Opus unfolds an issue. It is a simple plea for an increase in music appreciation among society--particularly our young people. Mr. Holland's career is pressured more and more by the gradual, yet perpetual governmental cuts in school funding for the arts amid the US. In sharp contrast, the movie makes it clear that support for the sports programs in public schools remain firm and solid. Careful to avoid cursing this predicament or hurling insults toward society, this message is rather Hollywood's way of calmly saying, "Take a look," using the...

My Favorite Movie!
I've seen a lot of classic films over my lifetime, but there was something about this movie that made it stand above the rest. Perhaps it was the moving story about a composer who turns to teaching in a high school to pay the bills, but winds up staying there for 30 years through a series of personal tragedies and triumphs. Maybe it was the spectacular cast that includes Richard Dreyfuss in an Oscar nominated turn as the title character, Glenne Headley as his loyal wife, Jay Thomas as his trusted friend, and Olympia Dukakis as the boss he hates and loves. It might have been the realistic way it portrays high school life over thirty years, or the wonderful use of music from different periods to add to the story, or even the way it doesn't stay away from sensitive issues in our world (death, war, the deaf, and the struggles of balancing work and family are all talked about). However, I feel the reason I love this movie so much is because of the realistic way it depicts a...

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Pilot [HD]

Awesome Show!
I hope this is a sign of things to come from Amazon Video. Very funny, great casting, and wonderful writing. Hope there is another season soon!

Easily one of the best shows not on TV
This show is great... it's only barely political which keeps it funny for everyone without being too overly insulting but edgy enough to show the faults our politicians have. It's funny, well cast and a show I hope to see stay. Very good job.

Cannot wait for the next new episode!!
One of the funniest shows I've seen for awhile. Watched the first episode and I'm hooked for the duration. Sometimes "fiction" takes on a reality of its own!!! (If you get my drift.)

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Despicable Me 2 (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD with UltraViolet)

A greatly succesful sequel with even more hilarity, despicability, girl power and minions - and agent Lucy Wilde...
I loved this movie and both my daughters loved it even more. It is AS GOOD as the first part, therefore this review follows the main lines of my review of the first "Despicable me". This review contains very limited SPOILERS.

1. Hilarity - Exactly as the first film, this sequel is HILARIOUS! There is hardly any 15 seconds in this movie that would not contain a really good gag, children or/and adult oriented. Whoever wrote the scenario was a genius!

2. Despicability - in this film Gru is a little bit different from what he was in the first part. He is no more so grumpy, mean, petty and permanently aggravated - he certainly smiles more and all his attitude softened. He remains however exactly as insecure as in the first film. That being said, there are moments in this film when the old Gru resurfaces, when his heart is broken or when somebody REALLY upsets him. His geriatric sidekick and only friend (well, kind of) doctor Nefario didn't take all this change easily...

Surprised and Delighted
Actually, this review is of the theatrical performance of DESPICABLE ME 2. We hadn't planned on seeing it this weekend but we were running early at the multiplex and the next showing of MONSTERS U was full. Neither of us had seen D.M. 2's predecessor but it didn't matter once we caught onto the fact that the Minions are kind of like Gremlins or Ewoks except they have very little hair, there are tons of them, some have only one eye, and all of them love to go into costume. The plot has superspy overtones, as the formerly despicable main character Gru (voice of Steve Carrell) is shanghai'd by the international Anti-Villain League to find out who is about to enslave the world (the likely culprits have been winnowed down to the proprietors of the stores at the local shopping mall). Lucy, a way over-the-top near-novice girl spy (Kristen Wiig) joins our hero and at the beginning there is no love lost between them . . . but things develop. So what you have is basically a...

Minions Rule!
My name is Norma and I'm a Minion junkie.

In Despicable Me, they were the bickering followers of supervillain Gru (voiced by the always funny Steve Carell), who adopted three little girls as part of one of his evil plots. In Despicable Me 2, Gru, now a devoted dad, has reformed and is attempting to start a legitimate business. He's turned his lab into a high-tech kitchen for making jellies and jams. Too bad nobody, including the Minions, likes the stuff they're making. His longtime sidekick, Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand), grows restless--as restless as a hard-of-hearing geezer mad scientist can possibly be--and decides to leave Gru's lab and go back to evildoing with another supervillain. Gru reluctantly says goodbye to his soon-to-be-former accomplice and the Minions give Nefario a twenty-one fart gun salute (yep,I said fart gun--it wasn't a typo).

When the Minions start to disappear, Gru doesn't notice--at first. He's busy deflecting the matchmaking attempts of...

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