Fezope Movie: September 2013

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Black Masquerade

GREAT later-era RAINBOW!
First of all while the description on Amazon says nothing about this, but the DVD credits state that the picture and sound have been restored! (They even name the individual who did it) This can be confirmed by watching the DVD! Much better resolution than the boots circulating for all these years. So, picture and sound are excellent! (although remember this was 20 plus years ago) DTS Surround is no revelation but is reasonable. You will not be dissappointed in those elements. That said, for anyone who's never seen this show there is some odd strobe lights that are a little annoying and contribute to a bit of a busy effect visually. Surely it was impressive live, but on DVD it's a little bit irksome during the first few tunes. The sound mix is close to perfect.

The camera work is good throughout though..no quick MTV style editing. Patient and reasonable with the camera edits.

I must say Doogie White is spot on vocally. *Another reviwer took issue for my praise of...

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!
A Must Have!!
Great show!!
Blackmore is on FIRE!!
I saw this tour at the Jaxx in Virginia in 1997.

Can never get enough........
.... of the master. First off, I was very impressed with the technical quality of this DVD. The only quibble I would raise is the sound editing was a little off in places (guitar too loud, keyboards too soft, etc.). Very good overall, tho, and the video was excellent.

From an artistic point of view, this performance strengthened my opinion that Blackmore is the greatest pure rock guitarist ever. Blues players like Gary Moore and SRV, soul-less speed fanatics like most of the young ones, pyrotechnics experts like Hendrix and Van Halen........... none of them measure up to Ritchie. Nor do any of them have his mastery of such a wide range of styles (even more obvious now, with the totally different stuff he is doing with Blackmore's Night - at 65 years of age!). And don't EVEN mention Clapton. He hasn't done anything worth listening to since Blind Faith and D&D.

One sad thing, tho, is that this Rainbow line-up worked really well backing Ritchie up, and he appeared...

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Kon-Tiki

Visually Stunning and Inspirational, the Sailing Sometimes Seems Too Smooth
A Norwegian-filmed dramatization of Thor Heyerdahl's legendary expedition across the Pacific Ocean on a flimsy wooden raft. Lovingly constructed and beautifully filmed with a sharp eye for the grandiose, it's eye candy on the same level as Planet Earth, if to a slightly more reasonable scale. The plot is a gentle balance between nature-watching and temper-managing, as the crew of six men and a parrot get to know a bit too much about one another over the course of their hundred-day adventure. Several of the journey's more dramatic moments feel manufactured (and, upon review, actually are) but I'd hardly call that unexpected and it may have been necessary to give the story a bit of punch. After all, where's the excitement in watching two hours of smooth sailing against a tropical horizon? It's an uplifting tale, if not an especially challenging one, and excellent fuel for escapist daydreams. Definitely worth catching on Blu-Ray if you're as big on our planet's sights and sounds as I am.

Power of Faith
I just saw the latest Kon Tiki film that debuted in 2012
at the Nashville Film Festival. It was an inspiring film
that brought out raw emotion for the six men that made the
101 day journey together. Thor was a calm leader that kept
his wits about him even under the toughest of conditions.
And it was incredible that he could not swim! I am not sure
if all of the facts are true in this film, but it was
extremely well done. The actors are fantastic and engaging.
Truly one of our modern day adventurers, Thor Heyedahl had
a vision that he shared with the world. This is a must see
movie. Even if you doubt his theory that South Americans
crossed the Pacific to land in Polynesia, the story is one
that you will enjoy and keep you on the edge of your seat!

*BEWARE* US release is cut by almost 30 minutes
I had been eagerly waiting to see "Kon-Tiki" for quite some time, and this weekend it finally opened at the local art-house theatre here in Cincinnati. I went to see it right away.

"Kon-Tiki" (2012 release from Norway; original duration 118 min. US length approx. 95 min.) brings the story of how Norwegian scientist/esplorer Thor Heyerdahl wants to prove that Polunesia was first stlled by Peruvians, contrary to the accepted belief at that time. As the movie opens, we see young Thor already wanting to be a daredevil in hiw own backyard. Next we find Thor and his girlfrien/eventual wife Liv spending time in Polynesia in the late 1930s, and it is there that Thord gets the idea that Polynesia was settled by "travelers from the east" (which would be South America). Thor spends the next 10 years trying to prove this theory, until he is dared by a publisher to provide the ultimate proof: replicate the 5000 mile journey from Peru to Polynesia on a raft, the same way it was done 1500...

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Friday, September 20, 2013

The Walking Dead Season 3 Limited Edition [Blu-ray]

THE WALKING DEAD Season 3 Blu-Ray Limited Edition
This Blu-Ray set is really awesome! The "Zombie Head Aquarium" is a hard plastic case with two plastic aquariums with either two or three (five total) severed heads with a few decorative twigs, both aquariums are removable and the lids come off, you can fill the two aquariums with water and put the lids back on. The case itself takes four (4) AAA batteries on the bottom, and right-side up, the front of the case, the "3" for "SEASON 3" is the button to turn on the six little lights in the case that will illuminate the two aquariums, when put back into the case after filling them with water. The Blu-Ray DVD set fits into a sleeve in the back of the case. Batteries are separate. The Walker Heads are attached to a clip that clips onto the back of the aquariums, so that the heads gives the illusion that they are floating.
The Blu-Ray DVDs consist of five discs (Discs 1-4 are the Episodes. Disc 1 - Episodes 1-4. Disc 2 - Episodes 5-8. Disc 3 - Episodes 9-12. Disc 4 - Episodes...

Uncomfortably awesome
This show pushes my limits. Not the creepy scary "zombie" flick type, that makes you laugh, but I see these people going through real struggles and learning how to rely on each other. They are becoming accustomed to losing members of their group.We get to see factions devolve into a more primitive society. I watch the show and some parts really make me uncomfortable. But, I cannot wait till the next episode.

Just when you think life was getting easier!
The writers this season worked overtime to create the most action packed episodes they could. The action in this one is intense and non-stop from beginning to end. Rick is working to get the group more organized and prepared to have a nicer living area and replenishable food supply. As the group is making good progress all hell breaks loose....

Meanwhile Michonne and Andrea are still planning to leave and the governor seems to agree but what are his real plans.....

This season so far has just been full of action and suspense. Nothing is ever static and the continuously changing plot and storyline keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting for the next episode. Every week it is cliffhanger after cliffhanger and a new twist in the story that makes your jaw drop. This is an excellent episode and I recommend it to you.

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The Great Gatsby [HD]

3-D Splendor: Luhrmann's "Gatsby" Is An Opulent And Over-The-Top Assault On The Senses
No one can ever accuse Australian auteur Baz Luhrmann of playing it safe! Subtlety and restraint are not qualities that the director embraces. In fact, his motto appears to be "the bigger, the better." His previous pictures (both good and bad) are chaotic, frantic, excessive and over-the-top in every way imaginable. I don't necessarily mean that as an insult. I enjoyed both "Strictly Ballroom" (a lot) and the anachronistic "Romeo + Juliet." But it was "Moulin Rouge" that really stole my heart. I appreciate this musical mash-up so much because it simply shouldn't work. It's too much, everything about it. Yet for all its ADD attitude, it's a dazzlingly original piece of work with real heart and passion. It was my favorite film of 2001, while his follow-up "Australia" was my biggest disappointment of 2008. Expectations were high when Luhrmann announced a re-imagining of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." The prior film interpretation, with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, was a...

Excellent film, and yes, supplementary to readers.
Though this is supposed to be a product rating and not a movie review, I wanted to comment on Matthew's review titled "Old Sport." as a separate review because commenting on his post would merit less views, and I don't like misconceptions.

So yeah, rap probably wasn't the music Fitzgerald had in mind for Jay Gatsby's parties, but that doesn't mean that kids in school studying the novel this movie is based on won't find this movie helpful. In fact, it might be more helpful than any movie adaptation made before it, for this reason: it is largely contemporary. I think it sticks to the story quite well. It is only told differently - that is, it doesn't attempt to stiffly adhere to some notion of antiquity. It tells the story in a way people today, and probably especially those the adolescent age of students studying the book in school, will understand. Maybe jazz in the 20's evoked a feeling different from what it evokes now. And so the soundtrack used in the film expresses...

If it wasn't for Leo...
...I would not have watched this movie. Personally the original movie, with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford, was qualitatively better. If one was to ask an older generation, I am sure that the original would prove to be quantitatively better as well. I did not care for most of the music in the film, though a couple of the renditions were okay. Also, as a fan of the book, there was a particular dialogue that made the book and the original movie that was critically altered in this film, "rich girls don't marry poor boys" (Daisy to Gatsby in the book and in the 1974 film). In the new film this line was muttered by an insignificant character to Carroway in reference to his crush on Ms. Jordan Baker. Also, the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy is a bit skewed. In all, I gave the film three stars because of the things mentioned above and because the direction was not stellar, nor was the cinematography (which was jerky and disorienting at times). As a long time fan of Leo DiCaprio, I hate...

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Prime Suspect: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray]

COMPLETE SET REVIEW-completely thrilling & well done
UPDATE: This set is rumored to be released on Blu-ray in fall (Aug or Sep) of 2013.

Now, "PRIME SUSPECT" is available, boxed as "The COMPLETE COLLECTION". A bargain compared to individual segments. If you are just finding Prime Suspect, you WILL want all 7 years. 9 stories. Not just tales of cops and murder, but in-your-fact realistic cop activity, which was done with so much realistic detail, it was the show to change British (and world) crime shows forever. It is the gritty type of show that all mystery film and TV now try to duplicate. Police drama was changed forever by Helen Mirren and her role as Jane Tennison.

Be aware, the cases may not always end to your satisfaction--just like real life crimes and punishment. But you will be on the edge of your seat while you watch. 6 stories last over 3 hours each. The other 3 are about 1 1/2 hours long. Each is compelling viewing, ruthless in the detail, definitely not for children and the squeamish, blatantly course...

Truly Spectacular
If you're looking for something different in the police drama category... this is it. Completely unlike anything in the American cop show format, the first thing you'll notice is that these are all 1-hour-40-minute movie length features as opposed to the American format of 42-44 minutes. With only two of these features in each series broadcast a week apart as a part 1 / part 2, this must have been more like an annual event on British televison as opposed to a "season" on American TV. And what an event it must have been... wonderful story development with some really gritty subject matters, and Helen is marvelously brilliant in what could have been a very stereo-typed role. She plays it with a flawed humanity that is totally engrossing and even a little uncomfortable at times. There are also some fine performances by her fellow actors, particularly a couple of the "suspects". Very emotional and gripping. One other big difference from American cop shows... for the most part the...

One Fault by Makers of DVD
The original productions are outstanding in all respects; Mirren, above all, an example of towering excellence. However, those who produced the DVD's inexplicably omitted subtitles in the final two discs. This omission diminished my enjoyment because ever-present arcane British slang was much harder to pick up, much less understand, particularly when coupled with broad British accents. END-

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The Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season

Flat Top

Excellent combat photography, courtesy of the U.S. Navy

As fiction, this is third rate. Sterling Hayden made his usual fairly flat performance, which suited the part of a Navy fighter squadron commander. His permanent scowl--or perhaps sneer--suited the role of the tough, battle-hardened flying ace trying to whip a new, untested squadron into an effective fighting force with tough love and good tactics. Richard Carlson, as his executive officer, was effective as the second-in-command who was too buddy buddy with the pilots, and thus often lost sight of the real mission: to kill Japs and win the war.

The plot is as old as fiction, and the movie is obviously low budget.

A great deal of the splendid photography came from the excellent World War II documentary film, "The Fighting Lady" (not to be confused with the Van Johnson fiction movie, "Men of the Fighting Lady"), which was filmed during actual combat on the Aircraft Carrier Enterprise--the original "Big E"--whose combat record was very...

very nice tape that depicts WW II on an aircraft carrier.
Sterling Hayden portrays a flight group commander on an aircraft carrier. having been in the U S military, I can truthfully state that much of the film's content was authentically done. Some content was for the average person to lighten the script, but most was factual. I would recommend this film to anyone interested in WW II.

"B" Acting - "A" Footage!
The story line is weak, and the acting is, well, weak. But the plus for this film is the excellant naval footage that is used. The DVD copy needs slight color correction, unless you enjoy green water, sky and navy uniforms. All in all, a good value for war buffs.

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Tin Cup

THE GREATEST SHOW EVER
I LOVE this show so much, that I have watched the ENTIRE 3 seasons on NETFLIX in 3 days and when it was over, I went on a hunt for season 4 and actually purchased a TV pass so I could watch the entire 4th season or at least what's available at this time. I just completed episode 10 and cannot wait until another is ready... I would say, keep the seasons and episodes coming!!! THIS SHOW IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST, EVER!!!!!

Great Show
I love the characters and the writing is great. Hats off to the writers who make you care about the characters and to the actors who bring the writing to life. Looking forward to a great season

Awsome
I love the way that det. Longworth kind of makes a joke out of murder investigations and solves them all while playing with his golf club.

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To Be or Not to Be (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

That Is The Question...This Is The Answer
Jack Benny is the greatest and most groundbreaking comedian certain readers have most likely never heard of. on radio in the '30s and '40s, Benny more than anyone else effectively invented the sitcom, and his series has been rewarded with a title of Greatest Old-Time Radio Comedy that still stands to this day.
radio (and, to a lesser extent, television) was Jack's true forte. his work in movies was nowhere hear as fullfulling. of the nearly 30 films he starred in, he would personally recommend only three, and was completely satisfied with only one of those. (guess which?)
as you might imagine from the title, Benny plays an actor. this neatly dovetails with one of his radio running-gags: a paragon of pomposity, Benny's radio counterpart considered himself a better actor than he in fact was, and he'd always get sulky when Acadamy Awards time rolled around.
the mastperiece of director Ernst Lubitch, this 1942 release tells the story of a Polish theatrical troupe who fight...

Carole Lombard's Final (and Best) Movie
Carole Lombard, Jack Benny and director Ernst Lubitsch were comic geniuses, and all three were at the top of their form when they made TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1942), arguably one of the funniest movies of all time. The film has now been restored in a new 2K digital transfer from The Criterion Collection.

This black farce cast Benny, who never gave a more hilarious performance [Imagine him playing Hamlet and you'll get the idea.], and Lombard as a theatrical couple living in occupied Poland. With the help of a young Polish flier (Robert Stack) and their acting company, the pair is able to neutralize a Nazi spy, and then narrowly escape to England.

A simple plot, true, but it's how these performers go about accomplishing their task that has kept audiences laughing these many years...even when most movies about the Nazis were no longer funny.

This, incidentally, was Lombard's final movie.

Extras in this 2-disc set include audio commentary by film...

Hilarious and Suspenseful
A film that is both comedic and suspenseful is no easy trick to pull off. Two that come to mind are FOUL PLAY and SILVER STREAK. Now we finally have this wonderful Criterion release of the classic 1942 Ernst Lubitsch comedy , YES - comedy!, about the Nazis occupying Warsaw, Poland and a small troupe of Polish actors who help to sabotage their invaders. This story isn't played for total laughs, and there are plenty of suspenseful moments, which makes this film so incredibly great. Interesting to note, that when this film was released in 1942, in the thick of the war, it was generally panned and criticized. Even Jack Benny's father walked out on the initial screening-mortified that his son would appear in a Nazi uniform. (Benny later changed his father's mind, And the man ended up loving it and seeing it 46 times!) The passing of time would end up finding this film generally loved and considered a comedy classic.
Interesting notes: The film was Carole Lombard's last, and was...

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What Katy Did

What Katy Did
I loved the Anne of Green Gables series so much that I just had to have this movie. I find it a soft movie, kind and uplifting, sad and loving, funny at times and a great family movie. It just goes to show that you don't have to give up on life if there is a will in your heart and you have someone to share it with. I thought it was great.

It was what I expected
I had not seen the movie before, but I expected it to be similar to Anne of Green Gables, and it was. For me, this was a good thing, because I also enjoyed Anne of Green Gables - so the movie met my expectations.

Another great movie
I'm very happy that we have found Canadian television and movies. This movie is just another good example of a wonderful family movie we can all enjoy together without worrying what will happen on the screen that may be offensive to our children. In addition, the life lessons are good.

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Guilty Crown: Complete Series, Part 2 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Not quite like Part 1, but still a must see to complete
Ok I have to agree that Part 2 is definitely not nearly as good as Part 1. However Part 2's good side is that it explores the deep changes within our main character Shu quite a bit and some tragic things do happen here and there. I really did appreciate Part 2 after finishing it. While watching the first few episodes of Part 2, it really did bug me how the story started to drop a bit. Overall I'd say the anime is in my top 5 favorites, I would give the series an 8.5/10 and I absolutely love the characters. But as far as ONLY Part 2, I would give it a 3.5/5, however I rounded up as you can see. Having seen Part 1, Part 2 is pretty much a must see anyways.

Buy this when you buy set one
Guilty Crown set 1 ends with a NASTY cliffhanger. Like, Pickard being assimilated at the end of the season in Star Trek:TNG. OK, Guilty Crown isn't THAT good of a series, but if I didn't know better (or think a little more highly of FUNimation) I would say they did this on purpose. Maybe they really did this on purpose after all, since the second half isn't as strong as the first...

In part 2, Shu continues to develop, becoming less of a wishy washy whiner and more into a much stronger person who is a lot more assertive.

Don't forget that FUNimation still offers this show for streaming, so you can try the entire series before you buy if you like.

I've copied a bit from my Guilty Crown part 1 LE because the audio and video portion of this set is just as good as the first set in these regards

Video:

I only watched the Blu Ray and spot checked the DVD. The Blu Ray is AVC encoded and was originally animated in 2011/2012, so was...

So worth it!
Great series, could watch it over and over again. The characters are very engaging and the story line leaves you wanting more every time. And the music is amazing.

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The Chipette Diaries

You've seen most of it before
With this DVD you finally get the previosly un-released (on DVD) episode "The Chipettes" in which The Chipmunks and Chipettes meet for the first time. But apart from that - well, if you have the DVDs "Cinderella, Cinderella" and "The Chipettes" you've seen the rest of the episodes before. There is Alvie's Angels, May The Best Chipmunk Win, Tell it To The Judge, My Fair Chipette and Greatest Show-Offs on Earth.
It's a nice little collection if you haven't seen the episodes before, but otherwise I don't know if it's worth its price just to get one single episode. I thought at least the episode where they moved in with miss Miller would be included.

My Review of the Chipette Diares
These eepisodes have been released on DVD before. They should do a DVD containing the following Chipette episodes: The Chipettes Story, Help wanted Mommy, My Pharaoh Lady, Just One of the Girls, Goin Down to Dixi, Quarterback in Curlers, Queen of the High school Ballroom, Hearts and Flowers, The Legend of the Sleeping Brittany and The Princess and The Pig.

The chipetts dances
My grandchildren loved this movie, song and dances were great. The love all chipmucks movies. I cant wait to watch this movie if they dont wear it out first.

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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Tales of the City: 20th Anniversary Edition

Would have been perfect, but...
To begin, I give Tales of the City itself five stars. I would give it ten if I could. I get sentimental every time I catch it on TV, loved it on PBS ten years ago and just as much now.

My problem is with this DVD Collector's edition. It states very clearly on the box that this is the original, unrated, unedited version. Which is why I buy it, take it home and wait for one of my favourite scenes. Finally Brian picks up Connie Bradshaw at the Laundromat and I'm waiting for that wonderful post-coital confrontation. And I realise that the dialogue has been DUBBED OVER. Over the course of the next three hundred minutes I agonise over the several other scenes that have been cleaned up.

This boxed set is beautiful. It has some wonderful extras including rehearsals and commentaries, but the dialogue has been tampered with and yes it does absolutely detract from the story

BEWARE: THIS VERSION IS EDITED
I've been waiting for "Tales of the City" to come out on DVD for years.
The first intallment of this series is excellent ****** The actors give such fun, humane and real performances. The entire production is a true gem. However, though the DVD box claims it is the unedited version,
all of the "curse" words are over-dubbed with "clean" words. Unfortunately, this really alters the dialogue is certain scenes.
Being such a fan of the series, I sadly returned my copy, and will

continue to watch it on VHS, unless they put out a truly "unedited" DVD.

The DVD issue is a rip-off.
Ah, if only I had read these reviews BEFORE spending my money. I concur with the complaints here: the quality of the transfer is horrid, and the dialogue has been dubbed. The box states that this is the "Complete 6-episode unedited version." False advertising.

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Pawn Shop Chronicles

SALVATION COMES IN MANY FORMS
Alton (Vincent D'Onofrio) runs a pawn shop in small southern town. It provides the connecting link for three stories which are also loosely linked. The first tale involves the misadventures of crack heads wanting to rob their manufacturer. The second tale involves Richard (Matt Dillon) attempting to track down his long lost wife (Pell James). The third involves a down on his luck Elvis impersonator (Brendan Fraser).

This could be described as a grindhouse, "Creepshow" style. The episodes are clever dark comedy, marvelously written, directed, and acted. For those like their films on the oddball Tarantino side, check this one out. Yes, it had me laughing out loud, especially the first episode.

Warning: Film contains scenes of captive women who had been abused and treats it on the light side.

Parental Guide: F-bomb, N-word, Masturbation (Elijah Wood) TV screen sex, nudity (Pell James, plus many more)

Interesting
This movie isn't something you should let your children watch. It's star-studded by some of the biggest actors in recent film history and while you think they'll be prevalent throughout the movie- they're not, at least visually. Pay close attention to little details, as each of the stories is tied to the next, because that ending will have you gasping in your seat. The first story is hilarious, Paul Walker's accent as a hillbilly is on point! Make sure you keep your eye out for that Elvis impersonator too! This movie isn't one of those blockbusters and it isn't meant to be one, if you watch it, do it with that in mind. It's not meant to keep you on the edge of your seat but rather to keep you laughing. If you get into it enough, you'll want to rewatch it for anything you may have missed.

How do you become so jaded that you can't see how funny this movie is?
I was amazed to see this film's 12 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Proves how narrow-minded and establishment-oriented that site has become. This film is wonderful. The first episode is worth the price of admission. The second one is pretty extreme but just keeping reminding yourself that it's going to have a punchline. And Brendan Fraser's sad-sack Elvis impersonator is an inspiration for us all. All the actors are wonderful and you also get the unbeatable Vincent D'Onofrio as a bookend character for all the segments.

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Super Buddies

Wholesome Family Flick
I am normally not a fan of movies with talking animals. I know I'm overly practical but it's hard for me to get into something so unrealistic. However, with Disney's name on Super Buddies, I knew if anyone could do it well, it would be Disney.

My kids weren't really interested in watching and after seeing it, I think it's a little old for my four and five year olds. Part of it is just that it's not a cartoon but since the human characters are young teens, it would probably appeal more to a tween/teen audience. Paige did come in and out when the aliens were on screen as they were more up her alley!

I'm always amazed when watching Disney movies how skilled they are at matching voices with animals/characters. The accents and expressions fit to a `T' so you really believe these talking animals as they have evolved into something so realistic. I think in these types of movies it's really a make or break deal to get the voices right.

Super Buddies was cute...

Super Buddies are Now Super Powered!
These dogs are so cute, but also powerful in this movie! Talk about fun the Super Buddies are actually super with super powers in this fun family movie. I love that some of the message of the movie talks about bullying and you see how the Super Buddies work together in the end to combat the bully in the movie. Each of these Super Buddies movies are simply fun, and with each one, even as my kids get older, they continue to want to see and experience the new ones and the old ones again and again. I know as an adult they seem to make me feel a bit younger, which is always a good sign! All-in-all, if you are looking for a great family friendly movie with a positive message being shared, this is definitely the one to watch!

*I received a copy for review - all opinions are my own*

My eight-year-old's opinion:
I waited for this movie for a long time and saved my allowance for it. I was disappointed. I didn't like the alien part. The movie didn't have enough about the Buddies in it. It had too much about Drexel, the bad guy. Maybe boys who like aliens would like it better. The part I liked was when Captain Megasus taught the Buddies their powers. I hope the next Buddies movie is better!

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A Company Man

(3.5 STARS) "A Company Man" or a Salaried Killer in a Suit
On the surface Ji Hyeong-Do (Ji-seob So) looks like any other ordinary businessman commuting in a train. Every morning he goes to the office of a medium-sized "metal trading" enterprise in Seoul. But what people in the same building do not know is that Ji Hyeong-Do has been working for the company that in fact specializes in contract killings. He is a faithful "company man" who gets paid and even "promoted" for what he does. He is even tasked with "firing" his co-workers.

One day Ji Hyeong-Do's perfect life as first-rate killer starts to change, however, when he chooses not to follow a certain part of the order given to him. This leads to his meeting with Yu Mi-yeon (Mi-yeon Lee), mother of two children. And Yu Mi-yeon was a singer Ji Hyeong-Do adored when he was young.

A 2012 Korean thriller "A Company Man" is more about the central character Ji Hyeong-Do and his transformation than about the brutal fights he has to go through. The action is sparse, especially...

Great movie - witty and sarcastic about the plight of the "salaried man"
Great movie. Nicely paced, good story and likeable (and dislikeable) characters. The action scenes were pretty awesome - love the Tarantino-esque all out office scene at the end. U.S. folks may have mixed feelings about it but I think the entire concept of the movie is to take the stereotype of the salaried man to a new sarcastic, witty and over-the-top level so if you watch it with that view I think you'd enjoy it more. Not to say it's not enjoyable as is. Overall, definitely worth getting and watching. I'm also becoming a big fan of the lead actor So Ji-Sub. He seems to make some solid movie choices. I just watched him in Rough Cut (directed by Kim Ki Duk - who did Spring, Summer, Autumn, Fall... and Spring, Pieta, Samaritan Girl, 3-Iron, to name just a few of the classics), the Korean title is actually read "A Movie is a Movie" and the Korean title makes the movie make more sense when you watch it. Anyway, just saw him in that and that was pretty awesome. And saw him in Always...

A true company man
I didn't know what to expect going in to watch this movie. I was not familiar with the main character. Man, was this like a slap to the face or something! the main guy, So Ji-Seob is a truly phenomenal actor. The intensity he portrays on screen is so heart wrenching. The film definitely starts slow, but that slow burn grows into something epic by the end. You get pulled into his goal and by the end you are cheering him on. This film totally made me his fan.

I recommend this to anyone that appreciates a good drama, there are some action scenes but they are not the focal point. (although, that scene in the car was so freaking awesome!)

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UFC 160

UFC 160...
UFC 160 is, in my mind, tied at this point in the year for the best pay-per-view of the year. Having said that I still think it was missing that special something that makes a card unforgettable but that's just my personal opinion.

The prelims are overall an alright addition to the card, and when I say that I mean that it's not gonna be one of the highlights of buying this event. In all there were only 2 finishes throughout the entire prelim card and among the rest that are decisions only one or two are truly worth watching. Again, it doesn't hurt but it won't be one of your main reasons for getting the set.

The first fight of the main card was something fans had good reason to be excited for. Any fan of Donald Cerrone knows it doesn't take much for him to have a exciting fight, whether that's a heated contest or quick finish. So, when it was announced that "The Cowboy" would welcome a newcomer into the UFC I was pretty excited, especially given that it was...

It has 4 Spectacular fights. It deserves 5 stars
There are 4 spectacular fights out of 5 in this DVD. They are TJ Grant vs Gray Maynard, Glover Teixiera vs James Te Huna, Mark Hunt vs Junior Dos Santos, and Cain Velasquez vs Big Foot Silva.

The fight between TJ Grant and Gray Maynard had a surprising ending. For the first 1 minute 40 seconds of round 1, it's an even fight. Both fighter exchanged fists regularly. Then suddenly, one of them was knocked down by a fist to the face. Then...

I'm sorry, I can't mention these guys by their real names. Otherwise, it will ruin your enjoyment.

The fight between Glover Teixiera and James Te Huna was also as exciting as the fight mentioned above. Then at 2 minute 30 seconds of round 1, it was finished by a takedown and...

The most interesting fight of this DVD was the one between Mark Hunt and Junior Dos Santos. Fighter 1 kept pressing the other guy continuously through round 1 and until 3 minutes 30 seconds in round 2. Then an eye-catching takedown...

I'll see you in Hell Cain Velasquez
Some years after UFC 160, Mrs. Ansonia Bigfoot Silva made the arduous journey to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada to visit the last resting place of her only son.

Cain Velasquez had long since left the Octagon and disappeared with Bigfoot's soul... some said to Cabo San Lucas where it was rumored he prospered as a Lucha Livre performer under the name of Carlos Danger.

And there was nothing on the blood-stained Octagon floor to explain to Mrs. Silva why her only son had fought a known NCAA All American wrestler and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition.

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Hallelujah

A Magnificent Milestone
The first all-African American feature film ever made, "Hallelujah!" was also King Vidor's first "talkie," and one that he was willing to forfeit his salary for in order to make.
Those who might be troubled by "racial stereotypes" are failing to see the exquisite beauty of this film, and its place in cultural history; it is an astounding film for all Americans, especially those of African descent, to watch and be proud of.
A melodramatic morality tale, it is about a naive cotton farmer who falls into the net of a pretty but corrupt girl, and his rocky road from sin to redemption.
It also shows the hardship of the life of a sharecropper; the wrenching poverty and backbreaking labor, as well as the faith to survive it all.

Daniel L. Haynes is extraordinary as Zeke. Had he been born 50 years later, he would no doubt have been a major world superstar. Incredibly handsome and charismatic, he was also blessed with a marvelous voice, and great acting ability. Thank...

Moving Depiction of Human Weakness and Redemption
Warner Brothers prior to the film issues a disclaimer apologizing for racial stereotypes depicted in "Hallelujah" that could be potentially offensive to modern audiences. I cannot pretend to speak for the African-American community but I cannot imagine anybody being offended by King Vidor's film which affirms the sanctity of faith, fidelity, and family. The film follows the personal odyssey of Zeke (Daniel L. Haynes) a decent cotton farmer who tries to lead a good life but is waylaid at various junctures by the temptress, Chick(Nina Mae McKinney) with tragic consequences. Zeke succeeds at one point in the religious ministry only to have Chick scuttle that endeavor. Credit Vidor for recognizing that his characters are essentially good people with flaws that are inherent to everybody. Haynes does a superlative job portraying a man whose moral and religious fibre is constantly being tested. The real revelation here is McKinney, though. Aside from being a visual stunner she manages...

A unique glimpse of black music in the 1920s
I would broadly agree with the Maltin review quoted here; but it's worth commenting on the musical side. The film gives, in some sections, a remarkably authentic representation of black entertainment and relgous music in the 1920s, which no other film achieves. Unfortunately some of the sequences are rather Europeanised and over-arranged. For example, the outdoor revival meeting, with the preacher singing and acting out the 'Train to hell', is entirely authentic in style until the end, where he launches into the popular song 'Waiting at the End of the Road'. Similarly, an outdoor group of workers singing near the beginning of the film are saddled with a choral arangement of 'Way Down upon the Swanee River'(written by Stephen Foster, who never went anywhere near the South) - no black workers would sing that!. The best sequence is the dancehall, where Nina Mae McKinney gives a stunning performance of 'Swanee Shuffle' - just the right sort of popular song; although actually...

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Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp

The real thing
This documentary is an eye opener on an unknown world to most of us. From his early childhood through the turmoils of his life we have a vivid portrait of the man who became an influential writer. In-depth interviews with now famous rap stars as well as invaluable information from Slim's own family, especially his now deceased wife and daughters, give an even more intimate picture of this complex writer and his life. His experiences cover most of the social spectrum and we are able to view him with all his bumps and accolades. Photo images and clips from the past to the present help to give us a rounded picture of the way street life was while he was living it. Very enlightening, engrossing film.

Really Good Movie
Very good documentary and very enlightening! I enjoyed watching every minute of the documentary and was even surprised by some of the things I found out in the world of "pimping".

Excellent!!!!!
Insightful and informative. Great use of interviews as to give the viewer a vivid picture of who iceberg slim really was and his literary and cultural reach.

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Sons of Anarchy: Season Five

Amazing as always
Season 5 has started out with a bang, and I loved the writing and how everyone is really bringing these characters to life. I know most people who have never watched the show think its all about an Outlaw club, but honestly that's just one piece of it. The show is about people, and how they interact and react to the situations they are put into. Last nights episode was another great one with amazing performances, Kim Coates (Tig) in particular has a great scene in this episode. I would highly recommend buying the episodes on amazon, and then when the dvd comes out next year, buy that too for all of the extras. If you have never watched an episode of Sons, find a friend who has seasons 1-4 and watch them. Also I would recommend watching Kurt Sutter's youtube videos for behind the scenes stuff. It is a great way for fans to connect with the cast and creator. This is the only show that I know of that actually keeps in touch with the fans inbetween seasons.

Anyway I will not...

Missing Scenes! - Issue Resolved
**********EDIT***************

The issue of the missing scenes has been resolved! Something about the Canadian version and distributors or something. Not entirely sure. But the episode is now at 53 minutes. Thank goodness.

So I re-evaluated the stars to reflect the content of the episode - AMAZING!

However, I'm leaving the body of the review explaining the original problem in case this issue comes up with future episodes. The last few are supposed to be extended as well so it's worth watching lengths to make sure we're getting everything Sutter wants us to see.

**************END OF EDIT*************************

Original rating - 1 star for missing content

I love Sons of Anarchy, and this episode at full length (as aired in the US on FX) was amazing, as per usual.

However, this version (and from a friend I know the iTunes version as well) is missing several scenes. Mostly character development type scenes, not...

WOW.
I'm speechless. I can't put into words of what just happened. This episode has turned this season upside down and into a new animal. Sutter has me completely clueless on what he's going to do next. My idea of what is going to happen this season has been blown away by just one character's fate. RIP brother

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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Pocoyo: Pocoyo Circus

Episode Listing
This DVD contains eight episodes from the Pocoyo cartoon. Amazon doesn't always do a good job on their DVD episode listings so here are the episodes that are included on this DVD:

1. Pocoyo's Circus
2. Mystery Footprints
3. Pocoyo's Balloon
4. Who's Calling Me Now
5. Vamoosh on the Loose
6. New on the Planet
7. Mad Mix Machine
8. Remember When

Cute Shows that Teach
Pocoyo is an adorable show that teaches every day lessons in a fun way and this DVD is no different. My almost 5-year-old really enjoys it. Whether the lesson is doing as asked or figuring whose foot prints are left before getting scared of your own this DVD has them all. Our whole family enjoys watching this with our daughter.

Full Length Fun
We recently went to the circus so as soon as the Pocoyo's Circus DVD arrived in the mail Paige was jumping up and down with excitement. "Pocoyo went to the circus just like ME!"

At four and five years old, my kids are still pretty self focused and the world revolves around them. So to see that one of their beloved characters did the same thing as them is enough reason for them to immediately demand to watch!

It was fun watching it with them and having them point out the similarities between the circus we saw and this alien space circus. For example, they recognized that all of the aliens coming out of the car were similar to the clowns coming out at the circus. They remembered the juggling and the different performance acts; although there were no aliens at our circus!

The white background and vibrant colors really make the focus on the characters and their story in Pocoyo and I like that there isn't a whole lot of distraction or unnecessary images to...

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Full Disclosure [HD]

Entertaining
A show that is just pure, fun entertainment. Once the episode is over, I can't wait for the next one.

I love it, I love it
Awesome Show! I don't miss an episode, hopes it gets renewed. I love the steamy romance scenes, 2nd best next to SCANDAL of course

Great New Series
I missed this episode so I was glad to find it on Amazon. This show is full of mysteries and twists.

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Monsuno: Combat Chaos

First Monsuno We've Ever Seen
Honestly we have never seen Monsuno before but that didn't stop my 5 year old son from enjoying it. He liked that the main characters were kids and that there were monsters. We didn't think it was that scary, but obviously you'll want to screen it before hand if you are worried. The show is pretty basic, good guys versus bad monsters. It is good for a boy looking for a boy-show since so many seem geared towards girls. The animation was decent and my boys really enjoy the characters. We have watched this more than I would have liked but it does promote friendship, teamwork and decision making, well as much as an animated show like this can!

I received this DVD to review in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

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Best of Warner Bros. 25 Cartoon Collection: DC Comics

A little help
Now, let me make this clear. I DO NOT own this DVD. Amazon can throw my review off this page if they REALLY WANT TOO. I just hope they don't.
True, all of Bruce Timm's works on here I have seen. And every selection in this pack is great. You kinda wonder why there's only one "Green Lantern" on here, and why there are only TWO "Batman: The Animated Series" episodes on here, but I digress.

Anyways, the reason i'm typing these sentences at 9:30 at night, is because Amazon just threw the disc on here. Sure they added "Add to Cart" and the cover on here, but no episode list? Really? And since no other review has added anything yet, I'm here to list all 25 DC episodes in this collection. BTW, I will also be giving one-to-five star ratings on the Bruce Timm episodes, and throwing a few comments down at the bottom of the review. Here we go:

Classic Superman shorts:
- "Superman (AKA The Mad Scientist)"

Super Friends:
- "The Bride of Darkseid...

no "challenge of the super friends" episodes?
for a show that purports to be the BEST of the warner brothers/dc comics cartoons.....not so much

the pros:

includes an episode of batman beyond, krypto (the superdog!), and legion of superheroes (pay special attention to that cleaning man behind clark when he enters the superman museum!!).

although it doesn't include any pre-1980's cartoons other than the original max fleisher superman cartoon, is surprisingly even-handed in its collecting of episodes from the various dc shows that came after dc's '90s animated resurgence and isn't just another batman-centric release.

the (very) cons:

all superfriends episodes are from the "legendary super powers" and "galactic guardians" series-granted they feature darkseid, firestorm and cyborg (and therefore feature characters those who enjoy the new 52 continuity will recognize) ANY compilation not featuring at least ONE "challenge of the super-friends" (banded together from remote galaxies...

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Booby-Trapped

I Feel Like the Show is Scripted This Season
The first two seasons I felt were authentic. This season I feel like the cast, especially Lea Black and Joanna Kruppa, are scripted. I don't know if they all talked and tried to come up with ideas to get higher ratings for the show, but it feels less genuine than in the past. And I miss Ana. She was one of my 3 favorite characters. She is apparently only a "friend of the housewives" this season, and that really disappoints me. I am really tired of Lea always acting like she is the victim of something, and Joanna is scheming and seems to take Lea's side because she hates Adrianna. It doesn't seem like she genuinely cares what the conflict is about or if Lea is phony; Joanna just takes her side because of her extreme hatred for Adrianna. I love that Joanna loves and helps animals so much, but I wish she would think a little more before creating drama. She is especially unbearable to watch when she is drinking. I am embarrassed for her. But I still love this show.

guilty pleasure
Look it's not "The Sopranos, "Breaking Bad", "House of Cards", or "Homeland or even anywhere close.It close to trash but It is definitely entertaining and sucks you in. I think you could do a lot worse. Guilty pleasure!!!!!!!!!

Guilty Pleasure
I just love watching the Real Housewives Series, and I especially love Miami. For me it's an escape from the everyday pressures of my life, and makes me remember that having money doesn't mean you have it all. These women have similar problems just like I do, they just spend more (much much more) on clothes! :-)

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A Company Man [HD]

Damian Lewis Double Feature: Friends & Crocodiles / Much Ado About Nothing

A Pair Of BBC TV Productions From 2005 Demonstrating Two Distinctly Different Sides Of Damian Lewis
Damian Lewis was long one of the most underrated actors working. But with the success of Showtime's "Homeland," this great character actor is finally getting the recognition that he deserves. Winning both an EMMY and a Golden Globe for his turn as the enigmatic Nicholas Brody, Lewis is poised to make that next step to superstardom and it's about time! Next up for the talented Lewis is the star-studded Civil War miniseries "To Appomattox" in which he'll play Union Army General James B. McPherson. Despite his current success, though, the roles that I will always most closely associate with Lewis are his earlier television turns in "Band of Brothers" and "The Forsyte Saga." After his success in these large productions, Lewis took on some smaller and more intimate projects and this double feature brings together two that you might not have seen. Both have been introduced onto DVD previously: "Friends and Crocodiles" has been released independently and "Much Ado About Nothing" was...

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WWE Monday Night Raw - August 26, 2013

Chris Jericho and Show Off as a Tag Team!
This episode is one of the best, but my favorite segment is when Chris Jericho and Show Off verbally spar (on the heels of Jericho's surprise return the previous night in Royal Rumble), then get teamed up by Vicki as tag team partners against Team Hell No. Them working together is hilarious. Just one of several great segments in this Vegas-style show!

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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Super Buddies (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)

1939: Battle of Westerplatte

True war movie that is worth watching but don't expect wall to wall excitement. Fighting scenes are lacking. I say B-
"If we go to war no one will back us up." September 1st, 1939, the Polish city of Gdansk is an important port city that the German's are looking to take control of. Trying not to scare the entire country the army decides to send a small group of 600 soldiers against the Germans with only one goal, hold out for at least 12 hours. When it becomes clear that no support is coming for them and with dwindling supplies and medical aid they have to decide to fight till the last man falls or surrender. This is a true story of the first battle of WWII. This is not a terrible war movie at all and is worth seeing but it is pretty slow moving and the war scenes leave something to be desired. The movie is interesting though and really makes you understand what the Polls went through in the beginning of Hitler's advance but it is just a little too slow in some parts to stay fully focused on. Overall, a true war movie that is worth watching but don't expect wall to wall excitement. I give it a B-.

Very Good Polish WW2 Film
Very good foreign film about a couple hundred Polish soldiers defending a peninsula near Danzig/Gdansk, Poland in the first few days of WW 2 in Europe. I don't specifically know the history of this battle. But the storyline seems good, there's moral dilemmas, fear and bravery in battle, insubordination and difficult choices for the Polish. There are quite a few good action scenes. It's a foreign film, so don't expect something like Saving Private Ryan, Defiance or U571. In My opinion, if Your a fan of WW2 or Foreign films. This is well worth watching. Like a lot of foreign WW2 films I've seen it is longer and has noticeable dubbing. It would fit in the top ten or 20 (I watch a lot of foreign and foreign WW2) foreign films. I'll watch it again a few times I'm sure. I was slightly surprised they didn't mention the Communists attacking Poland from the East. Since they mentioned Britain and France declaring war on Germany. If those poor Polish Souls only knew what was in store for them...

Not a well done WWII film; adds nothing to your library
I'm a huge WWII film buff and wanted to like this film but it totally missed the mark with me. The story of the start of WWII and the Poles being attacked by Germany certainly is compelling as a staring point, but I had to fast forward theu sections of this film I disliked most of it so much. First; the battle scenes are rather poor. Their is a lot of "Poles fire 3 rounds--5 Germans fall down" kind of action which is not compelling. Then the main story line of two contrasting leaders of the Polish defense constantly at odds with each other could have been great but...the one leader is totally brave & gung ho, and the other has severe shell shock or some other condition and is disappearing from leading his men just when they need him most over & over. This aspect of the film gets repeated many times and becomes downright annoying after awhile and ruins any good points of the film in my view. Other 'new' movies on WWII are out now like "Storming Juno" which is a terrific little movie,...

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And Then There Were None

2013 VCI BLU-RAY = DISAPPOINTING; reviews of other DVD editions
*** UPDATED SEP-05-2013 ***

Ten people are invited to an island, and murders that seem to be inspired by a nursery rhyme ensue. One of Agatha Christie's most famous whodunits, "And Then There Were None", was adapted into one of the best whodunits on film, directed in 1945 by the great René Clair, who also directed comedy classics such as "I Married a Witch", "À nous la liberté", and "Le Million". This suspenseful and occasionally humourous film is no doubt on the most-favorite lists of many people. But sadly the new 2013 Blu-ray & DVD editions from VCI do not do it justice. Hence, the best-looking and sounding edition remains the Image DVD edition from way back in 2001.

VCI claims that a brand-new restoration has been done for their new discs, and that seems to be true. Their new Blu-ray & DVD do look pretty clean, and are the cleanest-looking editions currently. But sadly, the source print itself is far from ideal. It has a...

The Best Film Version of the Chrisite Classic
Agatha Christie's 1930s novel AND THEN THERE WERE NONE told the story of ten unrelated people who are lured under various pretexts to an island resort; once assembled, they discover they have been brought to the island by a mysterious homocidal maniac who accuses each of them of having escaped punishment for a past murder--and who then proceeds to pick them off one by one as the ever dwindling party rushes to unmask the hidden killer in their midst. Nothing like the novel had been seen before, and it was a popular sensation. So much so that Christie herself adapted the novel to the stage. In creating the script, Christie discovered that the novel's uncompromising tone and shocking conclusion did not translate well to the stage, and the final script was considerably lighter and had a considerably softer conclusion. When performed, the script was played as much for comedy as for suspense--and proved as popular as the novel. A film version became inevitable.

Countless novels,...

Murder mystery with just the right blend of comedy
THE MOVIE: I had forgotten how deliciously amusing this film was, not having seen it since the early 1980s. But the comedy doesn't overwhelm the tone, the blend has a perfectly natural feel and the eerie atmosphere is maintained even among the laughs. The cast of generally lesser-known performers is good. Mischa Auer is memorable (as usual) even though the script doesn't allow him much to do; Walter Huston is as engaging as ever. The movie is appropriate for most ages, the murders are usually off-camera and are never gruesome. It holds the viewer's interest very well but the pace seems a bit uneven - it seems to slow down toward the end.

TECHNICAL: The DVD presentation is average. The image is not stable; it wobbles quite a bit around the frame which is especially noticeable during the opening titles. The black and white picture has good contrast but is a bit on the soft side. The bios are brief but nicely done screens. There is also a comedy short on the disc which I...

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Game of Survival (1989)

Do it!
Do you think you can survive the game? I did and I've got 3 words for you... Apocalyptic Cheese Fest!

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The Reluctant Fundamentalist [Blu-ray]

Coping with a time of Terrorism
For those who have read Mohsin Hamid's brilliant novel on which this film is based the story will be easier to follow than the somewhat disconnected screenplay that was written by Hamid with Ami Boghani and William Wheeler. Mira Nair directs, and knowing her previous work suggests that it is this very disconnect that she wishes to emphasize in this profoundly moving film - in these times of global unrest and fear because of terrorist acts we don't know who to trust and who to dislike, but the answer is that there is no right or wrong. Nair achieves this by beginning her film with a conversation between an American journalist Bobby (Liev Schreiber) and a Pakistani professor Changez (Riz Ahmed) in a setting of high tension in a bar in Lahore and our initial belief is that the Bobby represents the core we trust and with whom we identify, that Changez is the unknown `different culture' stranger who is suspect. In the course of the film that position is deeply altered. And that is where...

Moving and thought provoking
Reading the plot blurb at the rental store for this movie made it sound intriguing, but when I saw it was also directed by Mira Nair, who did such good jobs on the entertaining yet emotionally deep Monsoon Wedding, Water and The Namesake, I knew it would be good, but I didn't know how moving it would be, nor profound in it's deeper reminder that looks can be (and often are) deceiving.

Without wanting to say too much and give away the story which keeps the suspense and drama taut and fast paced, I want to add my 2cents worth to those who say this is a great story with interesting twists and layers of realistic emotion, leading to a vision of humanity that is perhaps more optimistic than is currently warranted (in reality we'd have seen the launch of a deadly drone near the ending...). It brings up issues of Western hegemony, terrorism and national security, personal ambition and integrity (and in this way reminds me of the less nuanced...

An Indictment of Post-9/11 Paranoia And Prejudice: The Powerhouse Novel Gets An Effective Adaptation
Adapting the critically acclaimed 2007 bestseller "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" by Pakistani author Moshim Hamid, director Mira Nair had a number of challenges to face. The novel is a complex and challenging look at a post-9/11 world and has been pretty universally praised and even studied on college campuses. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, it is a book that instantly connected with the zeitgeist of attempting to understand how both the terrorist acts on that fateful day and the U.S. response to them had forever changed the world in which we lived. The story is told entirely through the eyes of a young Pakistani man who embraced the American dream before ultimately feeling betrayed by it. When trying to adapt such a seminal and personal work, it is virtually impossible to satisfy everyone. When a work becomes "important" (for lack of a better word), any adaptation will likely be scrutinized and judged to fall short. And indeed, the critical response to "The Reluctant...

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Dark Angel (I Come in Peace) [Blu-ray]

Lundgren's Best
Dark Angel aka I Come In Peace
91 min
Action/Crime/Drama
September 28, 1990
USA
Director: Craig R. Baxley
Writers: Jonathan Tydor, Leonard Maas Jr.
Stars: Dolph Lundgren, Brian Benben, Betsy Brantley| See full cast and crew

This is by far Dolph Lundgren's best movie. He has often came across a bit stiff in his movies as Arnold Schwarzenegger did in some of his first films like Commando. In this movie Lundgren seems comfortable and it shows. I think Dolph Lundgren and Brian Benben were a good match up here. The chemistry is like putting Devito with Schwarzenegger in "Twins". Add in Lundgren's love interest, Betsy Brantley, one really mean alien played by Matthias Hues, and you have a great cast. This movie has an excellent story line, good direction, and super sets and music. There is plenty of action and the movie has a nice pace. Add in some really cool weapons, and lookout. When two aliens that look human land on the planet there is...

Dark Angel (aka "I Come In Peace")
This is one of the scariest and funniest movies Dolph Lundgren ever did. I enjoy it immensely and I'm disappointed to see it so expensive and hard to get. I hope a Blu-ray version comes out as this movie did not get the exposure it should have during it's release Christmas of 1990. I am kind of surprised so few have heard of this SciFi with aliens coming to Earth. Police detectives Lundgren and Benben try to figure out what exactly they are doing after some drug dealers and civilians are murdered. At a drug dealers they find several dead bodies and a unusual sharp metal CD stuck to a speaker magnet. The guy they take it to for analysis at the university looks like he has been drinking Jolt and taking amphetamines. The whole movie has a mix of good SciFi drama and comedy. I had never seen Lundgren in a comedy before and this was a nice change of pace. It reminds me of how "Twins" made a difference in Arnold Scwharzenegger's career. Great quality DVD with plenty of replayability. If you...

great flick
i saw this when it first came onto vhs all those years ago, and just loved it. have been looking for the dvd, saw from the other reviews that it wasn't available in the US, so looked more, and YES!!!!!! its available in Australia FOR SURE on dvd ( i have it) BUT its called Dark Angel, so as long as you have a multizone dvdplayer get this on dvd and continue to enjoy it in all its glory. certainly one of dolphs best, good action and killer aliens!

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Fire Drill Flame Out [HD]

A lot like The Hotel Inspector (uk show)
I really love this show - although most of what he says/suggests is just common sense! Come on people! If you open a hotel why not keep it clean, friendly and worth the money. But - as i enjoy Anthony's approach - I enjoy this show =) Too bad travel channel are slow providing Season 3... only one episode up as of now (episode 2)but hopefully it will be more on time like last year.. keep 'em coming!

Getting worse not better
Too set up. Too much Anthony being crazy. Too little real empathy. Not giving the viewer anything new, informative or interesting b

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Koch [HD]

Entertaining, if flawed, documentary about Ed Koch
I saw this movie some 2 months ago in the theatre here in Cincinnati, and notice that it is now finally listed on Amazon as a future DVD release.

"Koch" (2013 release; 95 min.) is an entertaining, if flawed, movie about Ed Koch, the three-term mayor of New York (1978-1989). The movie can essentially be divided up in two (concurrent) parts: there is a look back at Koch's tenure as New York's mayor, and that is interspersed with a look at how Koch goes about his life when the movie is filmed (in 2010), giving his candid thoughts on anyone and everything. By far the best part of the movie is the first half hour, as we see how Koch wins a tough election race as an underdog against Mario Cuomo and others, and then gets to deal with the state of affairs in New York, at that time as good as bankrupt (finacially and otherwise). The archival footage from those days remains fascinating to watch. We see Koch dealing with the housing crisis, the AIDS crisis, and so on. What is alomost...

a warts-and-all biography of one of NYC's most colorful figures
Marking the directorial debut of journalist Neil Barsky, the documentary "Koch" provides us with a comprehensive look at one of the most outspoken, colorful and controversial mayors in New York City history. Ed Koch served in that role for three tumultuous terms, from 1978 to 1989. He continued on as a robust, politically active advocate for the city he loved until his death on February 1, 2013 at the ripe old age of 88 (an event that happened shortly after the release of the movie).

The movie begins in 1977, a low point in New York City history, when the city itself was facing bankruptcy, the serial killer known as the Son of Sam was terrorizing the citizenry, and crime and hopelessness were the order of the day. It was into this quagmire of despair and seemingly intractable problems that a comparatively obscure New York congressman named Ed Koch ran for and won the highest office in the biggest city in America. The movie goes on to chronicle the ups and downs of Koch's...

Well-researched and entertaining documentary!
Mayor Ed Koch was truly a "love him or hate him" guy, I suppose, but he was always entertaining! Frankly, this was better than I expected and the producers seemed to get most of the facts straight (not always the case in these "documentaries.")

Had they waited just a bit longer, they could have covered Koch's funeral, where the church organist even dropped in a few bars of "New York, New York!"

Great history lesson for those who weren't around during the Mayor's tenure, too. Raise your hand if you remember that, while mayor, Ed once hosted SNL!

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People

Excellent product
This product is an excellent source for creating awareness around race (especially among children). In today's society, when racial discrimmination is immense, there is a need to address this issue within the homes which will have a ripple effect on the overall society.

Great Film About Diversity
I remember seeing this special air on the Disney Channel when I was younger. The style of animation and the music (specifically the opening song "Children of the World") stuck in mind for years. This is a great family film that will be a favorite for years.

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Koch

Monday, September 16, 2013

St. Louis

I concur!
The review by the previous reviewer regarding sound editing was not limited to that copy. I experienced the same problems. I'm sure the content was great; I have every other episode of BFA and love the show, my low rating is due to the technical problem.

bizzare foods season #3 L.A.
Poor sound editing. Unable to watch due to absence of narratives, only static after the first commercial break.
No stars

Rhode Island episode
As a new Rhode Islander I saw many places and things I hadn't learned about my new home. We have now been to several of the places mentioned

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Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's

A Passion For Fashion? Check Out This Breezy Profile Of New York's Most Iconic Department Store
Being someone who watches documentaries about every conceivable subject, I like to speculate about how much cross-over appeal a movie might have. Some documentaries strike such a universal chord, they can be embraced by a diverse array of viewers. Others may have a more specialized allure. Matthew Miele's "Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf's" might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is practically essential entertainment if you follow fashion and/or if you're a shopping enthusiast. Profiling New York's legendary department store Bergdorf Goodman, this star studded affair is a veritable who's who of the fashion world. From designers to celebrity clientele, dozens upon dozens of well known personages weigh in on what has made this shopping destination such an iconic and elite spot.

It would be virtually impossible to rattle off the names of every contributor to this project, but here's a sampling of some of the bigger ones: Designers include Giorgio Armani, Michael Kors, Manolo...

Love it. A Behind the Scenes Look at the Richest Department Store in History
The fabled Department Store Bergdorf Goodman is profiled here, and this is a behind the scenes look at it, and it is fascinating. If you love fashion, as I do, and labels, as I do, you will LOVE this video. I've shopped there before, and had personal shoppers before, but had NO IDEA the amount of money they make, nor the amount of money these big moneyed customers drop at a single shopping trip (amazing!). If you're fascinated by the uber-rich and their world, you will eat this UP.

All I could vision were gowns and gowns...
And was delighted to learn the business side of Bergdorf's. An interesting insight to those of us who live too far to really experience. I mostly enjoyed the history and the older photographs etc. What a great store...it is my dream to visit. And yes, please do 'Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's.'

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Land Ahoy...Finally [HD]

1...2...4 ?????
Whatever happened to episode 3 ????????
Whatever happened to episode 3 ????????
Whatever happened to episode 3 ????????
...Any hope of ever getting to see it ?

SCAM!
This is NOT episode 3. They don't tell you after you order that episode 3 is not available and they re-order the episodes to cover the gap.
Pretty sneaky and I want my money back.

WHERE IS EPISODE 3???
This is complete baloney. Where is the episode "Dude That's a Dude, Dude"???? Why can't we watch it? What about all the people who purchased season passes?

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Paradise

PA goes Amish
I don't know how true this story is, but it makes a great story
Notherless. I am on the edge of my seat wondering who will
Finally gain the upper hand on getting control in PA and Ohio.

BOMB!
YEA buddy! I want to be Amish now. EVERYONE PAYS AMISH AID! Watch this show and love it. OH YES!

Amish Mafia
I love this show! I don't care if people think it's a farce. I like all the characters and the messes they get into are compelling. The one thing that REALLY upsets me is the sight of all the pure breed dogs: Lab, Pug, German Shepard, Jack Parson's Terrier, Norwegian Elkhound and a Rottweiler. The Amish purveyors of most of the puppy mills in the United States. They consider them livestock & treat them accordingly. They're bred over and over until the bitch just gives out. Then she is shot along with anyone else that's ill & treated like trash. It's the cruelest thing ever. The animals suffer greatly. Some never leave their cages ever. They are born & die in the same cage. The ASPCA used to bust them & put them out of business but these days to avoid this they don't bother to register with the AKC to be off the grid. They put an extra 200,000 dollars in their pockets every year. NEVER buy a pure bred puppy at a pet shop. Adopting one there is fine. But chances are if...

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