Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 5 [Blu-ray]


A Very Good Season
Redemption, Part II -- Believing the Romulans are behind a Klingon civil war, Picard involves Starfleet in the conflict. (Return of Denise Crosby as Sela formerly Tasha Yar)

Darmok -- Picard is forced into a dangerous encounter with the captain of an alien starship. (Stars Paul Winfield from Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan, The Terminator, and Cliffhanger. Also stars Ashley Judd from Heat, and High Crimes)

Ensign Ro -- The Enterprise crew becomes an unwitting pawn in a deadly conspiracy masterminded by a Starfleet admiral.

Silicon Avatar -- The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise risks all in an attempt to communicate with a destructive force known as the Crystalline Entity before a visiting scientist can destroy it.

Disaster -- Troi holds the lives of the crew in her hands when she is forced to act as captain after the Enterprise is seriously damaged by a rare, natural phenomenon.

The Game -- The fate of the Federation is in Wesley Crusher's hands when he returns to the...
STNG Season Five - On cruise control!
Season five in so many ways, is just an absolutely incredible season that is packed with stunning, thought provoking episodes. As one watched these shows aired for the first time or is working their way through the DVD's, the quality of the writing and the actors comfort with their characters just becomes better and better by the episode. The shows popularity is at an all time high during this season. This is evidenced by the high quality of the scripts and shows that deal with so many issues brilliantly. The one true oddity about the season is the lack of a "Q" episode due to the lack of a good script for the character. Of key interest is the fact that more and more of Hollywood's big names were inquiring about and or getting spots on the show. In my opinion, many of the series best episodes of its seven year run came from this season.

The following is a list with a synopsis of episodes that stand out among all of the great episodes of the season:

Redemption part II - The...
Still very good, but some wasted opportunities
This season of Star Trek: The Next Generation is full of "society episodes" for example, Violations, the Masterpiece Society, the Outcast and the Cost of Living. They're all actually very good, it's the other episodes that the writers can't seem to get right this season. For a start the 2 part special "Unification" featuring Spock is long, drawn out and only has the last 5 minutes with any action. It's still good as a thriller but nothing really happens.

Jonathan Frakes continues his directing with "Cause and Effect" - the Enterprise caught in a temporal loop, leading to it's continual destruction each time. Frakes manages to film each of the 5 or 6 times it happens from a different perspective stopping it from grating. "I Borg" features the return of the Borg with the twist - a faction of them are individuals now. We didn't expect another Borg episode to take such a different stance, that's why it works. "Power Play" and "Disaster" are action packed - Die Hard - type episodes, and...
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Frenzy [Blu-ray]


Droll and dark Hitchcock suspense film
Frenzy was a homecoming of sorts as it was Hitch's first film shot in the UK since he left during the 40's. I would disagree with those who claim that Frenzy can't stand with Hitch's best work; Hitch's droll and dark sense of humor change what could have been a run of the mill thriller into a minor masterpiece. The best bits in Frenzy are every bit as startling and powerful as those in Rear Window, Vertigo and North by Northwest. Although his wife Alma's heart attack couldn't have informed the pre-production stages of the script and film, it certainly had an impact on the atomsphere captured in the film. There is an underlying darkness here only hinted at before (most explicitly in The Birds, Vertigo and Marnie).

The performances are uniformly excellent. The fact that Hitch chose stage actors and lesser known British film actors for this film gives it a bit more grit and reality than his earlier films. Anthony Schaffer's script plays with the routine cliches of suspense films. A...
The Master's Last Psychological Thriller
For the first time in twenty-plus years, Alfred Hitchcock returned to his native England to make what turned out to be his final psychological thriller FRENZY. Despite a series of only modestly successful films since his 1963 triumph with THE BIRDS, Hitchcock had not lost his touch when he was handed Anthony Shaffer's fine screenplay (based on the Arthur LaBern book "Goodbye Picadilly, Farewell Leicester Square"). And although his approach to sex and violence is more explicit here (thanks to the ease in censorship restrictions that happened only a few years before), Hitchcock still delivers a film quite typical of his work--suspenseful, chilling, and often quite funny in a blackly humorous way.

The film revolves around a series of grisly strangulations of women occurring around London that have the police totally baffled. The killer's choice is a necktie, which pretty much leaves the door wide-open, since almost every man there wears a necktie. We are then introduced to Richard...
Not the Hitchcock of old...but brilliant nonetheless
Hitchcock's second last film is a tightly-written, well-acted suspense thriller featuring a luckless and underachieving hero being framed for murder, a cunning and psychotic villain whose murderous itinerary is detailed, a gritty and realistic directorial style from Hitch, a story set in a working-class milieu that is far apart from the glamorous and exotic settings of his earlier films, and one horrific murder scene in which the depiction of brutality and evil reached a new height for the director. This film is quite a world apart from the elegant, smooth, urbane suspense pictures he made in the 40s and 50s. But with the increasingly jaded audiences in the 70s, the change was probably inevitable. Still, Hitchcock's craftsmanship made FRENZY as exciting and memorable as his more traditional thrillers.

This DVD from MGM/UA presents the film in a new, widescreen video transfer and a Dolby Digital monophonic sound track. The picture looks a bit dark for my liking; unfortunately...
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The Right Stuff (30th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]


The Greatest American Epic
The fact that "The Right Stuff" lost the Oscar for best picture to "Terms Of Endearment" is beyond me; this movie should have won. The fact that it wasn't a hit at the box office back in 1983 is also beyond me. We are talking about what I think it's the best American epic in all the sense of the word.
It's strange that a Venezuelan-born like me should talk about a movie like this, but I feel that "The Right Stuff" should have been a classic -well, it is for me. The story of the "Mercury" astronauts is portrayed marvelously by Philip Kaufman's direction, showcased beautifully by Caleb Deschanel's stylish photography, and supported by an incredible cast including Scott Glenn, Ed Harris, Barbara Hershey, Sam Shepard, Pamela Reed, Kim Stanley, and Veronica Cartwright.
In fact, I remember when I was watching that movie at home, and my late father asked me if a man that appeared on the screen was astronaut John Glenn because he looked...
Pushing the Envelope of Space!
'The Right Stuff' is one of the most glorious adventure films ever made, a story of incredible heroism, poignant romance, gripping drama, and broad humor...and amazingly, it has actually happened in our lifetimes!

This is a tale of test pilots, 'pushing the envelope', proving the sound barrier couldn't constrain mankind's reach for space. Leading the way is plain-speaking Chuck Yeager (portrayed by Sam Shepard with Gary Cooper-like charm), a Beeman's gum-chewing cowboy with a passion for his feisty wife (the beautiful Barbara Hershey), and hot planes. Not even a broken rib could hold him back when an opportunity to fly the X-1 was offered. His record-breaking flight could fill a movie by itself...and this is just the BEGINNING of the story!

Jumping ahead a few years, Yeager is joined by a new breed of test pilots, whose total love of flight challenges their relationships, and is the true measure of how they define themselves. Among them are 'Gordo' Cooper (Dennis...
It takes more than rocket fuel to attain escape velocity
Weighing in at three+ hours, "The Right Stuff" gives us a fantastic insight into the embryonic stages of humanity's journey into space. It is a personal disappointment to me that our species hasn't done more with the opportunities that space travel has given us.

Based on Tom Wolfe's history of the space program, the film takes us through the early stages of American space exploration. It starts with Yeager's historic speed record when he broke the sound barrier and finishes at the end of the Mercury program. For this reason I think "Apollo 13" makes a good sequel to "The Right Stuff" as it concerns itself with the subsequent Apollo program.

The cast is outstanding and they mostly offer strong performances. For much of the film Sam Shepard gets center stage in his role as Chuck Yeager. However since Yeager was never allowed the opportunity to join the space program the second half of the film focuses on the seven...
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Breaking Bad: The Final Season


Lightning in a bottle
Breaking Bad is a once in a lifetime, rare example of the type of show that raises the medium of television beyond the pit of mediocrity it usually resides in. Folks, please don't pass this one up - it may be a long while before another story of this caliber comes by again. This is a series that I will always cherish, and not just for the obvious reasons like the superb acting and the high stakes narrative -- but also for the fact that it gave me hope for the future of television, and the media's potential overall, to serve as a platform for talented writers and actors who actually have something inspired to say about the world we live in.
Wow!!!
Breaking Bad is the best show I've watched on TV in Years. It is so well done, it's absolutely riveting. The script is so good and the actors so perfect, I can't take my eyes off the screen. The actoring is excellent and nuanced. I have watched Seasons 1-5 so far and am now going through them a second time, with my husband who is on his first go round. Even though I know what's coming, I'm seeing things I missed before and enjoying even more.
This is truly the most engrossing series ever. It is really hard to turn off...you'll want to marathon. I've actually watched a whole season in one day...it's crazy good. I just hate that there is only one more season to go, starting in early August on AMC, and am still amazed I didn't know about BB until a few months ago. This is a must see!
"The Final Season" Contains the Last 8 Episodes of the Series
THE FINAL SEASON Blu-Ray set contains the final 8 episodes of the series, plus bonus materials (including an alternate ending).

LIST OF SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. "Blood Money" Table Read - A rare look at the only final season Breaking Bad table read.
2. Cast and Crew Commentaries on Every Episode
3. Featurettes
- The Main Event
- The Final Showdown
- Life of a Show Runner
- Behind-the-Scenes of the Alternate Ending
4. Alternate Ending - A 3-minute alternate version of how Breaking Bad could have ended.
5. Deleted & Extended Scenes
6. Gag Reel
7. Walt's Confession
8. The Layers of a Sound Mix
9. Over 15 Episodes of Inside Breaking Bad
10. Uncensored and Extended Episodes

*****

There are technically only 5 seasons of Breaking Bad. But season 5 has been split across two years.
- The first half of Season 5, or "5A", aired the summer of 2012.
- The second half of Season 5, "5B", is...
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Accel World Set 1 [Blu-ray]


Enter the Accelerated World
Accel World was created by the author of Sword Art Online, and features many of the same concepts seen in the series. Characters in this series wear a Neuro linker device that aids them with their day to day lives, including school work, and gaming.

Haruyuki Arita is the main character of this series, he's a somewhat chubby teenager who is low on confidence due to being bullied at school, until one day he meets a girl called Kuroyukihime.

Contains: Episodes 1-12
Languages: English, Japanese
Subtitles: English
Blu Ray Region: A

Upon meeting Kuroyukihime, she takes a strong interest in him, and after linking with his neuro linker installs a program called 'Brain Burst' onto it, and teaches him about the Accelerated world. Without getting into the science of the idea, the neuro linker can basically accelerate the users perception of time. And while minutes, if not hours can pass in the accelerated world, not a great deal of time passes in...
This may include the Dub Version
This show Is a great awesome show and I just want to point out that this may include the first 12 episodes in english but I'd talk with viz before ordering.

The english dub is currently being worked on by Viz and Airs on Neon Alley infact by time this is released the series should be finished and completed in english

Also want to note for people interested in this Accel World is by the guy who created Sword Art Online but if you're looking for AW to be just like Sao you're in for a shocker. I feel AW was overshadowed by Saos popularity and was highly underestimated.

You'll love the Show or the Music ( which is beautiful by the way) or might even love both
overview
this anime is a mix of heavens lost property, dot hack and air gear

by which i mean we get a chubby chibi main character with detailed sub characters
the technology in this anime allow for augmented reality and virtual worlds to exist for people to create avatars

(similar to dot hack)

now there is a secret program/game that is the focus called burst link.
the series revolves around this game and the abilities it gives. the areas of the world of burst link are divided by kings, which is similar to air gears setup, as well as the main characters ability.

now this has the first 12 episodes i believe, which are good, but each set leaves you on a cliff hanger.

part 1
ep1-12

part 2
ep12-21

now this series is in dub. i have sent corrections to amazon and hopefully it updates. this series style is unique and despite the main character being fat and feeling self pity, its rather a good show that...
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Gourds - All The Labor: The Story Of The Gourds


Essential
A perfect film to celebrate and get to know each of the members of The Gourds--essential for those who love their music and a great introduction to hook those unfortunate folks who do not yet know about them.

I was fortunate to have received an advance dvd copy of the film and have watched it three times on three consecutive days. The film conveys the energy of their performances, the skill and passion of each member--Jimmy Smith, Keith Langford, Max Johnston, Claude Bernard and Kev Russell. Kev Russell and Jimmy Smith write most of their songs. You get a real sense of their stylistic differences and how they ultimately complement each other so effectively. But what I really liked was the filmmakers' emphasis on how the combined contributions of every member form the unique sound and soul of The Gourds.

All the Labor evokes the essence of the title of their most recent album, Old Mad Joy. There is joy and humor throughout. The funniest moment is the...


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The Great Muppet Caper And Muppet Treasure Island: Of Pirates & Pigs 2-Movie Collection [Blu-ray]


Great purchase
I purchased this set because I remembered Muppet Caper as a child and really wanted to get my hands on my long time favourite movie. It was just as i remembered and what made it even better I had Treasure Island to see for the first time. It comes with 2 tins filled with muppet stickers, note pad, pencils and sharpener (i gave these to my 2 kids...they love it.) Great purchase!!
The Great Muppet Caper / Muppet Treasure Island
I'm excited to finally own all the theatrical Muppet films on Blu-Ray.
I personally believe that 'The Great Muppet Caper' should be featured on the left side, and the Muppet Treasure should be on the right, so they go in order by release. Nonetheless, I'm not bothered it is a double feature because I can get both films for the price of one, which is actually very low considering the Muppet Movie is the same price and that's only for one film.
The disc (assuming it's a single disc, this is Disney) will include the following special features:
- The Tale of the Story Beyond the Tail, a making-of look at Muppet Treasure Island
- Muppet Treasure Island Audio Commentary
- "Frog-E-Oke" sing-along
- "Let the Good Shine Out"
- A preview of Muppets Most Wanted
and if Disney re-uses the 2005 DVD releases in this set, then
Muppet Trasure Island DVD should feature Widescreen + Fullscreen prestentaion and Pepe Profiles: Fozzy Bear; and the Great Muppet...
My Dream 2-Movie Team
Aside from 'Disney's The Muppets' released in 2011, 'Muppet Treasure Island' and 'The Great Muppet Caper' are two of my favorite Muppet movies. I also liked 'The Muppets' Christmas Carol' and 'The Muppet Movie'...'Muppets From Space' is so-so, but for some reason I couldn't seem to get into 'The Muppets Take Manhattan' (I never even seen the full movie).
The way I see it, this combo pack was released so they could have all the prior theatrical Muppet movies on Blu-ray format, before 'Disney's The Muppets Most Wanted' is released in 2014. For me personally, this double feature is a 'dream team' since I loved both movies and the price is 'affordable' for my budget...I just might have to consider the Blu-ray versions of the other four Muppet film I don't have on Blu-ray, since I have 'Disney's The Muppets' on Blu-ray combo pack and all the other Muppet films on DVD. For some reason, if I like something I tend to (as I call it) 'Upgrade' if I can to the next home media format they...
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Terms of Endearment [Blu-ray]


Terms of Estrangement
Reviewer "Adam Bomb" got tagged with a lot of "no" votes when he plainly wrote why he disliked this waste-of-time movie. I also saw it in a theater and came away the an identical feeling.
Is it unfair or unreasonable to hope that a movie will have some redeeming value for anyone who spends an evening's time and money to see it? What this movie has to offer is a viewing of people at their worst. Pathetic behavior in a movie is pointless if it has no point. This movie had no point, and that's the problem. It was just people manufacturing their own misery. So what? Poignant acting from star-power actors can carry a film so far, and then we look for value in human experience; this film offers only a black emotional void. See it if you enjoy only gloom and sadness.
One of my favorite 80's movies...
Fantastic characters, dialog, performances, story - extremely funny and moving. Nicholson, Daniels, Lithgow, MacLaine and Winger are all on top of their game, and even smaller roles like the kids and DeVito's are memorable. And this team?!: Director: James L. Brooks, Writers: Larry McMurtry (based on the novel by), James L. Brooks (screenplay)... Wow! A classic.
One Of The Greatest Films Ever
The title of this review says it all. Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson...the entire cast was spot-on. This is a superbly-written script with outstanding acting from everyone involved. The movie deserved to win Best Picture, and will remain one of my all-time favorites.
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Breaking Bad: The Complete Series (+UltraViolet Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]


Why You Should Watch "Breaking Bad" - Plus List of Blu-Ray Special Features
"Breaking Bad" is now over... but it will live on in the hearts and minds of fans. Fortunately, it will also live on in the blu-ray format - this Complete Series collection is a must own for fans of the show. I was excited and satisfied by the series finale, but I'm also sad realizing that it's all over. If you've always watched the show, or if you've just found it recently (I discovered the show on DVD before getting hooked in Summer 2011), you know how great the show is. If you've never seen "Breaking Bad", then I encourage you to give it a chance. Rarely has a show had this much universal acclaim (a 9.4 on IMDb, a 99/100 on Metacritic, 3 Emmy wins for Drama Actor and 4 Nominations for Best Drama Series, etc).

*****

[Note: Below is my original spoiler-free review for the show.]

If ever a character personified the dichotomy of good and evil, it's Walter White. I don't watch too much TV, but I do believe this is the most interesting television...
Once You Break Bad, There's No Going Back... (Minor Spoilers)
*If you're already familiar with Breaking Bad and just want a review of this box set itself, scroll to the EDIT*

To quote the lead actor Bryan Cranston, "the term 'breaking bad' is a southern colloquialism and it means when someone who has taken a turn off the path of the straight and narrow, when they've gone wrong. And that could be for that day or for a lifetime." This show- well actually to call it a show would be a great understatement, I should say this masterpiece, follows the story of Walter White, and how he breaks bad. Walt is a high school chemistry teacher, and first portrayed as kind of a loser. He's emasculated by his family, disrespected by his students, and bullied by his boss. Forced to work two jobs to take care of his pregnant wife and disabled son, Walt soon finds out that he has terminal lung cancer, with only a few months to live. In order to save money for his family to live off of after he's dead, Walt teams up with his former student, Jesse Pinkman,...
Special Features specs
BREAKING BAD: THE COMPLETE SERIES Barrel Set Special Features Include:

No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad - An all-new, exclusive two hour documentary that chronicles the filming of the final eight episodes.
Additional bonus features include all previously released featurettes and retail exclusives:

Bad Memories - Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul talk about the show ending and some of their favorite moments.
Bryan Cranston: Director - Go on set with Bryan Cranston as he directs the first episode of the season entitled "Blood Money."
Scene Envy - The Cast tell us which scene they wish they could have been in.
Shocking Moments - The stars reveal the moments that shocked them most.
From Walt to Heisenberg - From high school teacher to deadly meth dealer, watch as Walter White quickly transforms into Heisenberg.
How Will It End? - At the beginning of the season, the cast was asked to give their thoughts on how they...
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Mary Poppins: 50th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)


Now available in a 2-disc DVD edition!
Mary Poppins may be =the= stand-out live-action movie that Disney has ever produced. Or will ever produce.

All the songs are very memorable. Who out there does not find themselves humming or even singing along with the likes of "Chim-Chim-Cheree" or "Spoonful of Sugar"?

Julie Andrews will always be remembered for her role as Mary Poppins, and Dick Van Dyke absolutely shines as Bert the Chimney Sweep. Van Dyke also plays the senior officer of the bank - and has his very best scene where he realizes that the punchline - "A wooden leg named Smith" - is funny. Andrews won an Academy Award for Mary Poppins, and the movie also won Best Visual Effects, and Best Music Score, as well as Best Song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee").

The scene where "I love to laugh" is particularly poignant. Ed Wynn died not long after the release of Mary Poppins, and shows some of his best comedy style in this scene. Very laughable.

The story is top-notch and has a wonderful...
Disney's Live Masterpiece Shines More Brightly than Ever!
"Mary Poppins" is one of that select group of films that can truly be called 'Classic', a project conceived in love and filled with so much child-like wonder that it will never grow old or 'out-of-date'. Certainly the crowning achievement of Walt Disney's remarkable career, the "Mary Poppins" 40th Anniversary Special Edition is simply magnificent!

Based on P.L. Travers' tales of a magical nanny who arrives to bring families closer, the rights to the stories had been pursued by Disney since 1938, but Travers had seen what studios had done to other authors' works, and withheld her approval unless she could maintain some creative control. Years of negotiations only whetted Disney's desire to make a definitive, truly 'special' film, and by 1960, despite the box office failure of another fantasy-themed 'pet' project, "Darby O'Gill and the Little People", he was more confident than ever in the story's potential, bringing together a remarkable array of talent, including...
Great for 1st Time Buyers; extras emphasize Broadway Musical
Is there really much new to say about this classic Disney film that helped launch the movie career of Julie Andrews? Probably not, but for the handful of people who haven't seen this film, this DVD is a must-buy. Strangely enough, Disney is not releasing a Blu-ray version just yet, so this edition will have to tide over video buffs until that occurs. The 1964 classic is based on the books of P. L. Travers, with a few Disney liberties thrown in. Travers' nanny, Mary Poppins, is somewhat more harsh and unpleasant in the books than in the film version. However, it is obvious that she is hiding a heart of gold inside and that she truly does love the children she takes care. Two of the children did not make the transition from the book, but they are definitely not missed. Julie Andrews is able to bring out the many facets of Mary Poppins without compromising the character, and of course her voice is legendary. The Sherman Brothers whipped up some of their most memorable tunes including...
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Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman (Criterion Collection) BLU-RAY/DVD DUAL FORMAT EDITION


As long as we're writing reviews of sets we can't possibly know anything about...
...please let me skew the average rating for this product upward.

This has to be THE release of 2013. The Homevision guys' sets were staggered, and finally konked out less than halfway through, leaving fans to assemble their collection of Zatoichi films piece-meal with some questionable prices and iffy quality on individual disks.

Thanks, Criterion, for doing this right. I know what I'm getting for Christmas! Wee hee!
How to hide the 200$ expense from my wife?
Began my collection slowly last year picking up CDs on sale. Wow, what a deal for this. Now if I can just figure out how to get it past the wife. Budgets... yuck. Well maybe there will be a fire sale to get it all started (one can hope anyway).
The blind swordsman
I have all of the series and it took awhile to collect them. Well mainly #14 which was released a while back. There is also an earlier one which led to the series but the blind guy was a weasel:-) The TV series is as good as the movies and I believe there are 120 episodes. From here I bought the Lone Wolf and Cub series which starred Zatoichi's brother.
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Doctor Who, Story 29: The Tenth Planet


At long last...
If you only own one other Dr. Who video, your collection is incomplete without The Tenth Planet. It depicts, of course, the most significant turning point in the history of the show, the departure of William Hartnell as the Doctor. That, in itself is more than enough reason to buy this video.

As a special bonus, there are the Cybermen. Don't be fooled as I was by the still photos which gave them a cheesy appearance. They don't appear terrifying at all until you see them in action. The lip action and voice characterization are nothing less than chilling. I first saw the Cybermen in "Revenge" then later in "Earthshock" and "Attack" and found them scary enough then. Now that I've seen "Tenth" I realize that they actually got less and less scary as time went on, which makes this one the scariest ever.

The reconstruction of the unfortunately missing final episode is surprisingly and absolutely brilliant. The audio track is complete and...
A Must For Fans, But Over-Hyped
Make no mistake: Doctor Who fans are well justified in purchasing this video. The first appearance of the wonderful Cybermen and the final regular appearance of the legendary William Hartnell is now finally available to own and the reconstruction of the missing final episode is superb. But what has been overlooked for all these years is the fact that the actual plot concocted by the talented Gerry Davis and Kit Pedler is hardly amazing. The storyline has all the requisite misunderstandings and escapes and diabolical schemes, but very little of it is executed with any real enthusiasm. Until the Cybermen arrive the first episode is surprisingly slow, with many scenes involving two incredibly dull actors portraying two incredibly lifeless astronauts in trouble. Things are not helped by a hammy performance by the actor portraying General Cutler, whose road to madness is unconvincing to say the least. While William Hartnell gives a bravura performance, he is not entirely essential to the...
A new body, at last!
Whether you grew up watching "Doctor Who" as it was first broadcast in the UK, or in endless 1980s US PBS reruns, "The Tenth Planet" is one of those stories you were dying to see again and again. Annoyingly, you couldn't, because the BBC destroyed all prints of the fourth and final episode, and the story was thus "incomplete" and never re-aired.

The recent BBC releases of stories featuring William Hartnell, the First Doctor, have been exemplary, and this VHS continues the trend. The first 3 episodes of "Tenth Planet" -- long seen only on dim, bootlegged, Nth generation copies of the original -- are nearly pristine. Episode 4 is reconstructed using existing still photos, the audio track, and a few well-used video effects which serve to add to the pictures, not detract from them. (It's heartening to note that for this story, the "restoration" team did not seek to alter the existing footage by replacing scenes with outtakes, or...
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Blue Collar Boys


Awesome
Great work. Compelling story. An awesome, well made independent feature. I was lucky enough to see a screening, and I can't wait to get my own copy.
Well Done!
Exceptionally done, truly independent film. Entertaining, thought provoking...great performances, score, soundtrack, and pacing. Moody, real, timely, and gritty...frustratingly provoking. You will not be disappointed.

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The House of Eliott, Series 2


The House of Eliot - Series 2
I greatly enjoyed both Series 1 and 2. The costumes are spectular. The plot can be a little tedious at times, but there is an impressive cast of different characters coming and going throughout the series. It's also pleasantly predictable, so a lot of fun. My only complaint is that the last episode is a mild cliff hanger, and later episodes aren't available. My compliments to amazon.com for carrying these reviews. It was the only place I found that indicated that there are more episodes to come on DVD. Not even the BBC.UK website provided that information! Thanks, Amazon and volunteer reviewers!
a gem!
I rediscovered this after a long time. This is a great series.I had never seen this in its entirety and look forward to seeing the third and fourth which I understand is not out yet.Its a gem, love the storyline and costumes.,so authentic looking and of the period,even the dialogue.I wish there were more of this genre.
The House of Eliott
I thoroughly enjoyed Seasons 1, 2 and 3 of the House of Eliott. The acting was fantastic, the dresses magnificent and the locations, as with most English mini-series, marvelous. My only complaint is that it doesn't end!! THere is no closure to this. As you approach the last chapter of Season 3 you start to wonder how they are going to wrap it all up in the little time that is left, and - oh surprise! - things are left unsettled and you feel that you need one more season to see how things worked out for everyone! Is there any chance that there is a Season 4 out there somewhere????
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The Story of Little Monica


love them anime girls!
'little monica' is a strange sorta tale...(with lots of 'tail') no more or less silly than most hentai titles...the animation is decent and the girls are all really cute, (and remember all animated girls in the series are '18 or older' wink wink)

kinda short...but then most hentai titles are...

still lots of sexy anime fun...
Boring with too many closeups
Hated it. The girls are plently cute, but the animation is like a slide show and there are too many closeups for my liking. The story if pretty stupid too.
I love Monica's story
Wil should lighten up when he returned to his home town and found out it is not the same. It has turn into a place filled with lust and sex. It has effect Monica and turn her into a cat like stripper. He is wasting his time doing whatever he can to get her out of that business.
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Roulette


Masterpiece of indie filmmaking. Must see!
Do yourself a favor and buy this. Pre-order now. If it happens to be released on Blu-Ray, buy that too. I'm telling you. You won't regret it.

As far as independent films go, Roulette is a masterpiece. From beginning to end, the story takes you on a journey through the lives and minds of three interwoven characters, who possess traits of which we can all identify in one way or another. Sunny, the devout god-fearing good girl, fallen from grace into a life of sin and denial. Richard, the "normal" professional who hides behind his personal and marital issues, and spirals into a self-destructive drunken torment. And Dean, the pretty-boy manly-man who is pulled from his perfect life on cloud nine by the wrath of subconsciousness and lies. All are doomed. Or are they? I'll never tell. It's a surprise.

This story is no walk in the park. It's brutal. It's intense. It's disturbing. Some may say "offensive". But those are all qualities that make this film a complete gem,...
A Work of Art
Roulette: A Film by Erik Kristopher Myers, covers the story of Dean, Richard, and Sunny. Three people from three very different backgrounds who have come together for a deadly game of Russian Roulette and one last session of group therapy.

This is one of those rare films that come along every couple of years. It's haunting, thrilling, and thought provoking. With controversial subject matters that go into the darkest emotions a human can have. You are put in a room with three people who have no reason to live. You'll be gripping the arm rests of your chair up until the final moments of the film. Award winning performances, directing, and writing, are joined with an attention to detail and passion that shows what an art film making really is. You will not regret watching this, and you won't be the same person after it ends.
Fantastic Indie film... dark, moody and intense
A reprint of my review from IMDB for this film...
I love movies. At the theater, at home... Horror, comedy, thriller, action, all kinds.

Like many folks I love the theater experience, but I have a home theater too, so I kinda get it at home, with cheaper popcorn, and the ability to pause the flick while I go to the bathroom.

When I like a film, I see it more than once, each time, I look at it with a little bit of a different perspective... focusing on the music, sound, lighting, cinematography, acting, directing... maybe I can be a little critical, but if I like a film, I want to break it down into its parts and see what made it tick.

So, along came a locally made indie film called ROULETTE. As with most lower budget indie films, I went into it not knowing exactly what to expect. Filmmaker Erik Kristopher Myers boasted that he was trying to make a film on a tiny budget that would look like a 2 million dollar film.

That's a heck of a...
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Monday, September 30, 2013

Family Plot [Blu-ray]


A fun finale
This was Alfred Hitchcock's final film, and he was already in his late seventies when he made it. I think that at this point in his career, after fifty years of movie-making, he KNEW he no longer had to prove himself; his place was already set in history. Therefore, instead of making a film along the lines of Psycho, Vertigo, or Rear Window, he made a fun, lighter film along the lines of To Catch A Theif or The Lady Vanishes. The script of Family Plot was written by the same guy who wrote North By Northwest, which means there is a lot of clever, witty dialogue. The California locations are also a typical Hitchcock touch, and the fun car chase scene in the California hills is a classic. People expecting a SUSPENSE film will be disappointed, but I always felt that the "Master of Suspense" was a misleading title for Hitchcock, because his films are about much more than just suspense. Even so, Family Plot is not a masterpiece, but a treat for Hitchcock buffs. Hitchcock didn't go...
A Small but Exquisite Gem
FAMILY PLOT has earned a place in cinematic history simply because it turned out to be Alfred Hitchcock's last production. While the film was a financial success, like most Hitchcock pictures, it got mixed reviews because many found it too comic in tone and not "suspenseful" enough to have been directed by the Master. It is true that FAMILY PLOT is far from being one of Hitchcock's best films, and it is not the "great" movie one might have expected from this director after the spine-chilling and sordid FRENZY, FAMILY PLOT's immediate predecessor - it is not an ambitious production. However, although the tone of the film is the lightest and funniest of any Hitchcock movie since THE LADY VANISHES in 1939, this does not mean that FAMILY PLOT is free of some disturbing undercurrents which linger in the mind and demand repeated viewings. Like all the characters in the movie, FAMILY PLOT is not what it seems to be. On the surface, we have a light, comic thriller...
Highly Underrated, Classic Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchock's Family Plot is not only his last movie, but highly enjoyable and the final chapter to a career full of brilliant filmmaking.

Barbara Harris shines as Blanche Tyler, a phony psychic who hits it big when one of her wealthy clients offers her $10,000 to track down her dead sister's adopted child who is the last remaining heir to the millions she will pass along. With the help of her boyfriend George (Bruce Dern), the two set out to find the nephew, going by the name Arthur Adamson (played brilliantly by William Devane), who has blossomed into a prominant jeweler, diamond thief, and murderer. Eventually Blanche and George track down Arthur and his girlfriend Fran (Karen Black), but with a chilling conclusion that is pure Hitchcock magic.

The film delights with its strong lead performances and witty dialogue. Although obviously not Hitchcock's best work, the film is solid, and keeps the viewer enthralled throughout.

The DVD contains a...
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Naked City: The Complete Series


Naked City: FINALLY...THE ENTIRE SERIES Just for YOU and ME!!!
There are 8 million stories...At long last...NAKED CITY is going to be released COMPLETELY on November 5th of this year (2013)...with ALL 39 half hour episodes from 1958 and ALL 99 hour long episodes from 1960 - 1963....CHECK OUT THE FABULOUS ART WORK !!!!

Naked City...New York City...the place where a landmark police TV series (based on the 1949 film The Naked City) was produced by Herbert B. Leonard. The series with so many great guest stars...Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, Carroll O'Connor, William Shatner, Burgess Meredith, Robert Duvall, Ed Asner, Suzanne Pleshette, Eddie Albert, Robert Culp, Steven Hill, David Janssen, Rip Torn, Eli Wallach, Peter Falk, Claude Rains, Telly Savalas, Leslie Nielsen, Nehemiah Persoff, Jack Lord, Walter Matthau, Malachi Throne, Dick York, Alfred Ryder, Mitchell Ryan, Jack Klugman, Keenan Wynn, Dennis Hopper, Barry Morse, Brett Somers, Roddy McDowall, Martin Balsam, Frank Sutton, Hume Cronyn, Lee J. Cobb, Logan Ramsey, Jack...
Astonishing series, a must have and see!
There has never been another hour long television program quite like "Naked City". For those unfamiliar with this gem, the series takes place in New York City circa 1958-1963 and is filmed on location. Though the series is known for its humanist approach to the depiction of crime, this is no mere parlor drama: there is action aplenty and wide dramatic street scenes, shoot outs and car chases.

Prior to this complete set release, only some fifty episodes of one hundred and thirty-eight had been made available. That makes for another eighty-eight tales even if you own the previously released mini-sets! For fun, look up the locales featured in the show on Google Earth and see how things have changed or not. Notice pop-culture history in the making in the show's backgrounds, such as a copy of Spider-man's first appearance on a newsstand rack!

"Naked City" is anchored by four main characters, three of them police officers of varying ages and fourth is the youngest...
It's About Time (and no; not referring to THAT series)
It's hard to overstate just how good this series was, or what a time capsule it is. Another triumph for creator Stirling Silliphant. For me, growing up in New York City around that time, the series genuinely chronicled the streetscape - physical, people, relationships, drama and, occasionally, comedy. When the scenes were shot on location, there was no better show before or since. (If all of Kojak had been filmed the same way, that great series would have been greater still. And Telly Savalas argued exactly that point.) I've enjoyed the earlier Naked City DVD releases and am looking forward to this set. I just hope that Image does it all just beyond the act of releasing the series - plural - in their entirety. Standing by. A release date would be nice to know, too.
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Tank Girl (Collector's Edition) [Bluray/DVD Combo] [Blu-ray]


Pure entertainment
Tank Girl is, make no mistake, a campy B sci-fi. It lives up to the genre perfectly, keeping a light, humorous tone in a world so dark that it would make most of us hide under the bed. It's probably no surprise that someone like Tank Girl would survive the apocalypse.

Lori Petty's character is perfectly witty, a girl who plays it large and in charge even when things are at their worst. She can kill an armed man and then answer the irritated stares of his buddies with "What?" While McDowell's character tries to break her in for a mission, she spends all her time coming up with lines to really get under his skin--and succeeds.

The complaints of some accusing McDowell of hamming up the role of the villain are unfounded; he not only plays the role perfectly, but does it so well that I don't think anyone else could have done it. He's playing the stereotypical megalomaniac bad guy, yes, but on top of that he adds a touch of class and intelligence. His repartee with Tank Girl...
Beautiful CULT favorite of mine.
I first saw this movie when i was 16 (now 21)... and i fell in love from the very beginning. I'd never call this "quality cinema," but it is thoroughly entertaining, and quickly became one of my favorite movies. The color is breath-taking, Lori Petty is absoltuely beautiful, sexy, funny, wonderful, etc. And this is just a kick-a#$% grrrl-power movie, without the corporate cheese that tends to come in the package. It is a fantasy world that i ventured to often as a teenager... and now with a DVD version, the journey can continue. ENJOY!
ULTIMATE chick flick....
Okay, I didn't just like this movie, I love, LOVE this movie. Yes, its campy, yes the plot line is bizarre, No I can't get a guy to watch it with me (but they won't watch Earth Girls are Easy either) but I just love this movies humor and girl power without being GI Jane.

Yeah, the Rippers (aka Kangaroo people) are a little scary, but they are genetically engineered kangaroo mutants who happen to be trying to find their creator. (I got over the Rippers scariness when Rebecca and Jet were high on helium and then doing that stupid dance.)

I think about this movie when I am down because most of the movie had me laughing my head off. But I guess this tells you about my personality because this movie isn't for everyone. Don't watch this movie expecting to learn anything or have a plot to follow. Just sit back, and enjoy the cartoons...and the fact that one of the main characters is a tank!

While I didn't know this was a comic first, I'm curious to see...
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