The Jungle Book (Two-Disc Diamond Edition: Blu-ray / DVD + Digital Copy)

I love the movie but this DVD is seriously flawed
I picked this DVD up today and got it home to find that Disney had altered the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1 to make the movie "fit" on widescreen TVs. They did this by chopping off the top and bottom of the image. This results in the loss of a good deal of character animation (at least the tops of their heads and their feet). Trust me, I own the original Limited Issue DVD of this film and I did a side-by-side comparison as soon as I got the new Platinum Edition home. If you are a purist about original aspect ratios, please avoid this release and petition Disney to start a free disc replacement program. We should at least have the option of watching the original unaltered film the way that it was meant to be seen.
***NOTE: There are now user images that can be viewed for this product that illustrate the cropping discussed in my review.

A �Bear Necessity�
This movie is more than just another Disney masterpiece. The Jungle Book is a great tale of friendship and adventure. Although almost every animated feature that was created during Walt Disney's life is a classic, this one in particular holds a special place in the heart of many men (and now thanks to video and DVD, boys) who saw it while growing up. There isn't a boy alive who can see this movie and not want to be Mowgli. What a life it would be to live in the jungle, with friends like Baloo and Bagheera. It is every young boys dream to be so free.

That is not to say that only boys will love this movie. As with all Disney films, this one will be enjoyed by all members of the family, young and old. I saw it growing up, and never forgot my memories of the movie, and the days afterward, singing the songs and dreaming of adventure.

The music in The Jungle Book is some of the best in any Disney movie. "The Bare Necessities" is simply one of the best songs ever...

Disney's The Jungle Book - Limited Issue DVD
When it comes to DVDs, I would probably be the first in line to complain about releases that have mediocre supplements. But I felt like I had to make an exception when it came to Disney. All of their "Limited Issues" seem to have little or no extras at all, but the actual animated classic that the disc holds, for me anyway, more then makes up for it.

"The Jungle Book" is one of the first Disney Movies that I watched as a kid. I bought the DVD, and I saw the movie today for the first time in around 12 years. The entertainment value is suprisingly still there, and more over, as a grown up movie fan, I can appreciate the film more as a classic in animated films from Disney & not just a 'cartoon' to pass the time, like I considered it to be as an adolecent.

The picture and sound is satisfying for the film's age and genre; the Spanish Dubbing is an excellent addition, for some of my family anyway. But it pales in comparison to the English vocals; The animation...

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House, M.D.: Season Eight

An incredible final season for an incredible show.
I am going to write two reviews. One will be spoiler-free. The other will delve into the final season of this amazing series.

Spoiler-free:

How do I sum up a show that has influenced me so greatly without giving anything away about the finale, or the episodes that lead up to it? I think the answer lies in House as a character. I have to assume if you are reading the review for the final season of a show that has had eight, that you are at least somewhat familiar with it. I am going to assume that because there is no way to talk about the character as a whole without going over the past seasons. I will not spoil eight at all, but I will talk about seven in this review, and how it ties into eight beautifully.

So, here we go. House is as damaged as a character comes. He has tried to find love, with Stacy in season two, and Cuddy in season seven. Some can argue there was even something between he and Cameron in the first season. House is capable of love...

A memorable exit for House & company
The long-running medical drama's final season picks up with House facing the consequences of Season 7's destructive act against his ex-girlfriend Dr. Lisa Cuddy -- he's in prison, where we learn he's been the better part of the last year.

Although House is no longer a doctor, his basic nature means he's unable to stay away from puzzles, especially when they concern medicine -- meaning, House is a frequent visitor to the prison clinic. In the season premiere, "Twenty Vicodin," Dr. Jessica Adams (Odette Annable) is a bit wary at times, but despite the reasons for House's being there, Adams quickly deduces that this man is a medical genius from whom there's lots to learn.

After much wangling on the part of House's former team member Dr. Eric Foreman (Omar Epps) - who is now the Dean of Medicine, taking over for Cuddy - House is able to work at the hospital again. The only problem is, he no longer has a team - during the past year, everyone scattered to other parts...

The Doctor's Last Call
"House, M.D. November 16, 2004 - May 21, 2012

I love this show and will always be a fan of the series, but it has continuously been going downhill and I must admit has not been on my favorites list. Although "HOUSE, M.D." had a great run, I felt it lost everything that once made it such an outstanding show... a couple seasons ago.

Aside from the previous comments, I will miss this show for three reasons. One being, it was once a spectacular series and it's sad to see it end without returning to its original glory. Two, the interaction between House and Wilson has always been a big highlight of the show, to me. Lastly, I will miss Hugh Laurie. I feel no one could have played a better Dr. Gregory House.

All and all, I recommend season eight if you are a fan and want to follow the show until the end.

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TIMMY'S HICCUP CURE / TIMMY'S JIGSAW [HD]

the sheep is too cute
cute sheep and it is a bit sing songie but then it is meant for young children I think it is worth watching for a young child.

Very funny!
My kids are 2 and 4 and they love Timmy Time. It's one show they both like. They laugh every time they watch an episode. Great show for little kids!

One of the best children's shows out there
My wife, daughter and I all love this show. A lot of fun and humor. We hope that someday they make another season.

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The Christmas Toy

Kermit is GONE!
Kermit's opening sequence and his introduction to the cast have been edited out. Gone, too, is the entire "Old Friends, New Friends" song finale, in which Kermit shows up and joins the cast singing the song. All that's left is a brief chorus heard over the closing credits.

For those who have never seen the 1986 original, this will make no difference. For myself and my kids, who fell in love with the original version, this Kermit exorcism is quite sad. Plus, the song finale was an important closing celebration of the show.

The DVD transfer is pristine, but one star is missing, in tribute to the missing green frog dressed in a Santa suit. I'm sure there are purist Henson fans who will not be as generous as I.

There should be a lump of coal in Disney's stocking this year.

Jim Henson is in tears over this DVD
Studio Lyons should be ASHAMED of this DVD release. No extras. Missing opening by Kermit and closing finale of Old Friends, New Friends. This is one of the best Christmas films ever made and they do it no justice. To add insult to injury the disc is labeled as CC closed captioned for the hearing impaired and our friend who is hearing impaired came to watch and we assured her it has subtitles so she could enjoy the film. She was so heartbroken being a big muppets fan that she could not follow the film because there IS NO CLOSED CAPTIONING. Luckily I already own the VHS release and it has closed captions and no missing scenes. DO NOT BUY THIS DVD!!!!

Meteora!
How sad is this...? My sister and I, who are 27 and 30 respectively, think this is the most fun Christmas movie to watch together around the holidays! When our mother taped it off the TV (and we still have that...and every single commercial is for some kind of margarine, which they don't do anymore [that is, run only one product's commercials during a program]) we watched it over a few Christmases and then forgot about it. In high school we rediscovered the tape and thought the story was really stupid and childish...but then, despite ridiculing the idiocy of the stinking mouse "Mew" and the wide-eyed vacuousness of "Apple" the doll (maybe Gwynnie Paltrow liked this movie too and named her poor daughter after that character...?), we ended up watching it every Christmas since. And of course the busty Meteora, who is as close to a villain as this show has, is particularly worthwhile, with her outrageous "outer space" breastplate and diva-esque song. In truth the songs are memorable,...

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Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head [HD]

Grey's Anatomy The Complete Second Season UNCUT is coming to DVD this September!
Grey's Anatomy is one of the best shows I have seen in a Television world filled with way too many reality shows. I will be the first to admit I have never really been in to medical shows. I bought the first season of this DVD set for a couple of reasons. First because I knew it stared Katherine Heigl who stared in one of my favorite Tv shows Roswell, and secondly because I kept hearing buzz and saw how many positive reviews it got here on amazon. Now Grey's Anatomy The Complete Second Season will be released on DVD this September. Grey's Anatomy is a show that has just the right amount of comedy mixed in with just the right amount of drama, and those two things along with the great cast take this far just beyond another medical TV show. This show just keeps you coming back for more. Along with Desperate Housewives and Lost, Grey's Anatomy is another welcomed addition and a great break from all those reality TV shows. According to the press release from Buena Vista/Disney The DVD set...

E. R. Meets Dallas
As I pulled the last episode of Season 2 from my DVD player, I found myself wondering exactly where one might find such a hospital. With the lone exception of the charmingly irascible Dr. Bailey, every doctor who is on screen for more than 5 minutes has slept with a colleague, often a boss or subordinate.

Doctors chide and insult each other and parade their sexual escapades and love frustrations in front of their patients, occasionally as a patient keels over from lack of attention. If you think these doctors are busy, my Lord . . . can you imagine the workload in the legal department? (There's got to be another whole drama concept sitting there ripe for the picking.)

After a season and a half of this, why was I still surprised when the comely intern Izzie climbed into bed alongside a patient and giggled as he talked about groping her? Sure, she knows her supervisor would disapprove. But, hey . . . what self-respecting intern could be expected to subordinate...

The best show on T.V!!
I cannot get over season two of Grey's anatomy!! seriously I am hooked i have been watching the dvd over and over again. The plot twists are always entertaining. there's always some drama going on at seattle grace and then theres the mc dreamy addison meredith love triangle. At first you think he should so choose meredith but as things progress we see that addison is not so bad a person and who should he choose?? The season finale is wicked really wicked because now i jus wanna know what will happen next?? I cant wait for S3 to start airing seriously I am counting down and ticking off the days on my calendar. Sad u think? well buy this DVD and you'll see what it does to you. Greys anatomy is AWESOME!!! *****

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You've Got Mail (Deluxe Edition)

Hanks and Ryan Shine in a Slick But Charming Internet-Based Romance Ten Years Later in a Deluxe Edition DVD
A 10th Anniversary DVD seems a bit vaunted for this familiar 1998 romantic comedy since it continues to play repeatedly on TBS and other cable outlets. It's no wonder since Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have the kind of ingratiating rapport that makes it easy to slip into one of their movies no matter what part you find yourself watching. Directed by the acerbic Nora Ephron, who helmed 1993's Sleepless in Seattle with the same pair, this movie gleams with the same kind of good-natured, Hollywood-style gloss that made the previous outing a hit. However, the pieces fit a little too perfectly for me, so much so that it feels packaged for maximum audience appeal. It really takes the combined skills of Hanks and Ryan to make this palatable, even likable, but it's not without its challenges.

As with Sleepless in Seattle, Ephron, along with her...

Bouquets of sharpened pencils, indeed
Here's the main and completely irrelevant reason to love this movie: New York City in the fall. Honestly, it should have no bearing whatsoever on the plot, but it does -- and it's impossible not to fall in love with the bright, sunshiny, orange-leaved sheer beauty of the city encapsulated in this movie. Without even resorting to shots of Central Park in all its glory (and really, who can resist that?), "You've Got Mail" takes you on a lovely scenic tour of the Upper West Side, Starbucks and all. Who can resist the street fairs, the parks, the stores, the dock? It's picture-perfect, and if it's a bit surreal, I won't admit it: New York really is rather lovely in the fall.

Aside from making me want to run away to the Big Apple and work in the children's section at Fox Books, "You've Got Mail" also features Meg Ryan at her most adorable ("Aren't daisies just the friendliest flower?"), Tom Hanks at his most charming, and a terrific supporting cast (Greg...

Love this!
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks shine in this romantic comedy. This is the second time this duo have performed together (Sleepless in Seattle). Perhaps that helps create the smooth natural tone of the interactions between the two. Ryan plays a bookstore shop owner...a tiny little store first run by her mother. Hanks company is building a huge bookstore chain in the same neighborhood. The two cannot stand each other. Besides their business lives, the two are both chatting with an interesting person through the internet and believe they are falling in love with the person. Little do they know, it is really each other! Will they meet? And if they do, will they fall in love or be shocked and disturbed? Watch the movie to find out what happens!

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Moneyball

Back Office Baseball: A Smart Screenplay And Grounded Performances Showcase The Business Of The Game
Every year, I get wary of the inevitable film set in a sporting arena where an underdog player or team must triumph against adversity to become unlikely heroes. As accomplished or heartwarming as many of these films can be, they never seem to be able to break free of the conventions that we've all seen a hundred times. While I can't say that "Moneyball" isn't inspired by the genre, I will say that it looks at the phenomenon from a decidedly different angle. Based on Michael Lewis's non-fiction account of the same name, this is actually an intriguing story ruled by the business of baseball as opposed to the emotions the game elicits. As such, it seems like something entirely new. Director Bennett Miller (Oscar nominee for Capote), along with heavyweight screenwriters Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian, has created one of the brainiest and least sentimental baseball films you're likely to see. "Moneyball" tells the true story of how the Oakland A's GM Billy Beane rebuilt the team for...

Inexplicably great movie, even for baseball dummies
I really don't understand baseball. Like it, but don't really understand it. I can watch the game and understand superficially what's happening, but I don't get the strategy and, of course, it's all strategy. So, I went to see this in the theater and loved it and then just rewatched the blu-ray. Loved it, and only partly understand why. One thing: You can't take your eyes of Brad Pitt. Not because of his good looks, but because he's just utterly charismatic and engaging. Jonah Hill is an unexpected but perfect casting choice. But, overall, it's a tribute to the filmmakers that a movie that shouldn't work this well works this well.

The business of baseball
"Moneyball" is based on true events, and provides valuable insight regarding the on-field and off-field dynamics of the Oakland A's Major League Baseball Club.

This film has the capacity to engage viewers who are familiar or unfamiliar with the sport, based on the avant-garde approach to managing resources that is utilised by Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), which any person in business can appreciate.

The narrative is also inspiring, as the viewer is presented with what seems like impossible circumstances for the A's to be successful, yet through innovative thinking high performance is achieved.

Brad Pitt provides a solid performance, as does the entire cast, and the viewer is entertained with plenty of humour and quality drama.

This movie is a win for baseball, as it has the capacity to introduce new people to the game from all over the world.

Nicholas R.W. Henning - Australian Baseball Author

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Step Brothers (Single-Disc Unrated Edition)

I wasn't ready!
I don't understand how people didn't like this movie.... I take that back. I expect that people didn't like this movie because they expected something smarter. For the record, don't expect this to be an intelligent comedy. It's not. At the same time, I think it's absolutely hilarious. I'm a firm believer in setting our own expectations. If you expected Twister to be some amazing, epic film, then you were probably disappointed. If you expected it to be a movie about a tornado, you were most likely entertained. The same applies to this film. Don't go in expecting an artistic masterpiece. It's crude, rudimentary comedy, and it's nice to be spoon-fed ridiculously "insipid" humor from time to time. I. Loved. This. Film. It's ridiculous, just don't expect too much.

Seriously under rated
This movie is a real sleeper. The first time I watched it I thought it was funny, but after watching a few more times I think it is great. These two portray the base element of every man. The "forever 13" humor that almost all men love, even if they don't like to admit it. Mary Steenburgen is also hilarious. Some people who are too uptight to laugh at juvenile humor will trash this movie, but it is funny. The casting throughout was perfect.

Step Brothers rocks!
This movie was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen in a long time. These two actors are great together, they pack a laughter punch like no other. I'm definitely buying this movie.

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Thomas & Friends: Engine Friends

Great Stories of Friendship from Thomas & friends..
Another great DVD from Thomas & Friends. In this DVD, 20 episodes on a 2 disc set. This DVD set doesn't have any CGI episodes on it, but the great stories from the classic series & television series. There are 4 episodes on this DVD set that are new and never released on DVD. Plus, the DVD has the storytellers of Ringo Starr, George Carlin, Alec Baldwin, and Michael Brandon narrating these stories. some of these stories were seen on HIT TV show "Shining Time Station". The best story in my opinion on the DVD was a 2-part episode about Duke, the lost engine. Also on the DVD, there are bouns features which are Games & a scrapbook. In my Opinion, I rate this DVD 6 out of 5 stars. This is a great DVD set and is a MUST HAVE dvd for Thomas fans & train lovers. Great to see few new stories on the DVD. Hope more DVDs come out soon with new-to-DVD episodes. Thomas & his friends are really useful in this new DVD collection of adventures & friendships :)

Gotta love Thomas
Was so happy to find this on DVD as many of our classics were on VHS, and then on separate DVDs. Wonderful to be able to kick back and relax and soak up the lovely world of Thomas sans blood, gore, stress, violence, backstabbing, cursing, one-uppage, and generally spiritually lacking shows of today. Bonus: don't have to get up and down as much - you can just relax and enjoy!

The Ultimate Collector's Gem!
This is where your looking at classic Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. This has 3 episodes never released on DVD and 2 Never on video! Trouble in the Shed was on "Tenders & Turntables". But "Saved from Scrap" and "A New Friend for Thomas" are from the original Shining Time Station airings. Yes, these are the USA Ringo Starr narrations. Season 1-4 are ALL restored. This is one Giagantic Plus for me!

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Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

3D Review by a 3D Connoisseur
My ratings are based mainly on the QUALITY OF THE 3D, not the video content.

There are a large number of out of screen effects that extend 10% of the way, from the screen to the viewer. 6 OOS effects reached 25%. The best two for Longevity & Depth are Skrat and his lady friend in tar bubbles reaching 25%, lasting for about a minute and very short lived anteater punching bag reaching an impressive 40%.

*** Funny with an enjoyable story line. Excellent graphics add to the 3D ***

MY 3D RATING = EXCELLENT (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent)

Note: As far as the percentages go, everyone's eyes are different. What I see at 25% you may see at 15% or 35%. To fully realize how far something is out of the screen for you, pause on an effect and direct a partner with an extended finger to the tip of what you are seeing. You may be surprised.

Click on `See all my reviews' for the lowdown on other 3Ds

Great movie!
Took my nephew to see it and he loved it. I thought it was hilarious as well. Why can't some of you people just enjoy the movie for its entertainment? Is there a need to pick everything apart? Wahhh waahhh just another sequel to make more money. Ok? Who cares. I thought the dinosaurs were extinct in the first one. Again who cares!! Enjoy the freakin movie!

Hilarious animated film
I have to disagree with reviewers who try to "see" too many things in a movie made mainly for (young) kids. This movie made my child and me laugh many,many times. In fact I think it is even funnier than Ice Age 1+2. It is just "clean" family fun. In this age of over-hyped animation from Walt Disney and Pixar, how refreshing to watch something without too many pretensions and not too much relation to today's world. Let the kids be kids,please.

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Into the Fire

SG-1 In Full Swing
The first two seasons of Stargate SG-1 were really the pace-setters for the rest of the series. In the first season we were introduced to the main characters and several ongoing plot threads. In season II we were given the Tok'ra, as well as the beginning of the end for Apophis, plus got a smattering of very good episodes. Now, with season 3, everything in Stargate is in full-swing! With old enemies revisited, two primary plots resolved, and a plethora of new ones introduced, Season 3 really has it all. The relationship between Jack and Thor starts to develop, Daniel learns to move on with his life, Carter learns more about Jolinar and becomes closer with her father, and Teal'c, well, Teal'c ROCKS! I cannot say enough about episodes like "Forever In A Day," "Legacy," "Point of View," "Jolinar's Memories," "The Devil You Know," "Pretense," "NEMESIS" and others! The writers became more seasoned with story plots and the actors dove into their roles head-first, not afraid to give us some...

The Star Trek of the 21st Century
I have already pre-ordered Stargate SG1-Season 3 Boxed Set because I find this sci-fi adventure series to be the best sci-fi series since the original Star Trek series of the 1960's. Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not a Trekkie or one who attends conventions. However I do enjoy well written and well acted science-fiction and Stargate SG1 is such a series. I already own the first 2 boxed season series collections and what makes this series so great is the writing and the characters themselves. The stories are smart and thought provoking and are not overwhelmed with special effects but add only enough special effects to enhance the stories themselves. The characters, like in the original Star Trek series are written to be loyal, likeable and honorable friends willing to lay down their lives for what is morally right and true as well as for each other, values that have seemed to long disappear in most television series today. Richard Dean Anderson,(formerly of Macyver), Michael...

Old Endings and New Beginnings
Many people believe that subsequent seasons of Stargate: SG1 get progressively better. So far, no arguement from me. Season 1 was good, 2 was better, and this has been the best so far. Col. Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), and his SG1 team of the now Maj. Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping), Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), and Teal'c (Christopher Judge) continued their adventures through the Stargate to various old and new planets. The team, as well as the SGC in general, were tested in many more ways than ever thought possible. The team went to "Hell" in order to save Sam's dad, who is still a member of the Tok'Ra resistance, Daniel suffered a major loss, and O'Neill was blended, albeit briefly, with a Goa'uld.
One of the reasons that I personally liked this year was that many of last year's conflicts were resolved (Lenea, Destroyer of Worlds), which made room for new plotlines (the Replicators), as well as continuing old ones (the search for the Harsesis...

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New Order: Part 1 [HD]

Beginning of the End
As I said in my review for Season 7 of Stargate: SG-1, I cannot think of any other show in history that has had more false endings than this. The writers were preparing for cancellation during both the sixth and seventh seasons, and the plans with those finales was to leave a cliffhanger to be resolved in an upcoming motion picture. However, the Sci Fi channel kept renewing SG-1, making the movie idea irrelevant. Finally, we get to Season 8. Richard Dean Anderson, who plays central character Jack O'Neill (who gets promoted to General this year) stated that this would be his last season as a regular, a spin-off series, Stargate: Atlantis started up, and the plotlines of the show had already started to be resolved in the previous year. So now the writers were absolutely convinced at the beginning of the year that Season 8 would be the final season. They decided to make this year kind of like a big send-off for the series (very similarly to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's final season)...

Finally the REAL complete Season 8 with the full length, 65+ minute "Threads"!
As it states across the top that it is the complete eighth season, they have finally added the unedited Threads episode! With no mention of it on the outer box, I wonder if they are downplaying it and don't want to admit the previous blunder.

Anyway, this season was a very solid year for SG-1, and with the exception of the real dud, Avatar, where Teal'c gets stuck in a virtual reality device (oh, my, how many times have we had this storyline beaten to death in the sci-fi world), I enjoyed every episode. We had a healthy dose of humor injected episodes: Affinity, Prometheus Unbound, Zero Hour, and Citizen Joe. We had some team altering dramatics, including yet another death to an SG member. We had the return of old enemies (Anubis) and some new ones (the replicator Carter). And we also got an incredible finish of 5 startling epsidodes to end the season.

I think that the high quality of the scripts and dramatic episodes helped take your mind of the loss of screen...

US Fans Are Short-Changed with This DVD Release
This is not a review of Season 8, but a review of this DVD set. I love Stargate SG-1 and own all the previous seasons on DVD. I also loved season 8 and was thrilled to pre-order it and couldn't wait until it arrived. However, I have been very disappointed with this DVD release. Only the short (heavily edited) version of the episode Threads was included and many of the extras that were on the Region 2 disks were not included on the Region 1 (US) version.

The features on the UK DVDs that we did not get on the US DVDs:

* Full (unedited, longer) version of Threads
* Director's Series for Threads
* Michael Shanks: A Convention Experience
* Amanda Tapping: A Convention Experience
* The Last Days of Teal'c featurette
* From Stargate to Atlantis featurette
* Two Secrets Revealed specials
* An interview with Mallozzi & Mullie (writers/producers)
* Director's Series for Moebius
* The Lowdown that aired pre...

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The Wolverine Extended [HD]

For adults, just as it should be!
Wow! This is just a review of the difference brought by the Extended cut. Let me just make one thing clear, there's no version of Wolverine that's acceptable for children. I don't know why Hollywood even tries. A PG-13 berserker killer is still a berserker killer. With that said, this extended version has more cussing. I'm talking F-bombs and S-bombs here. The violence is turned up to the point where Wolverine stabs one of the Yakuza and his blood (or guts) splatter onto the screen (Yes!). There are other scenes with blood in them that I didn't notice in the theatrical version, but nothing too gory except maybe for the ninja scene. Speaking of which, there's a a whole scene with the ninjas that was cut out of the theatrical cut that is so deliciously bloody and violent that it reminded me of Sceptic Avenger, only with blood (Saints Row 2 fans will know the reference). If you're a Wolverine fan, don't even bother with the PG-13 version. What's the point? This guy is a...

Did not expect to like this movie as much as I did. Wow!
After X-Men: The Last Stand, I kind of fell out of love with the X-movies. Then X-men: First Class got me excited again, but I had completely lost interest with the modern storyline. X2 is the best of the originals, but it still has it's hokey moments and general kid-friendliness. Xmen 1 is decent, but not my favorite. I never really loved an X-men movie until first class.

So when they announced The Wolverine, I didn't get too excited. But then I heard that they wanted to do it in Japan, Mangold was a good director, but I still didn't really feel the motivation. And then I read that Mangold said he had an extended and R-rated version of his movie. That had me curious. The trailer for the movie didn't sell me at all, but I'm a cinephile, so I figured I'll wait and see the unrated version, although I assumed it would be indistinguishably different.

Having just watched The Wolverine, I can say this is the best X-men film yet. Better than X2 and better than First...

Extended cut is great!
The extended cut is an improvement on an already interesting and fun movie. The Wolverine is definitely one of the better comic book films of the past few years!

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The Phantom of the Opera [Blu-ray]

A visual powerhouse and a musical delight for anyone willing to give it a chance!
As a qualifier, I am an avid musical theatre fan and classically trained singer. Back in the 80s, I couldn't be bothered with seeing Phantom, partly because I was too busy going to show after show of Les Miserables, but mostly because I couldn't picture Michael Crawford as anything other than Cornelius, the wussy shop boy in Hello Dolly. His voice is nicely trained but his upper register is just simply annoying. I'm sorry to all his fans, but in my musical mind tenor does not equal dark and mysterious and emotionally tortured. The anger expressed by phans over casting the originals is just silly! Who wants to watch a 61-year old lusting after an older teenager? That is not entertainment, that is just gross...anyway, after relentless hounding by my niece, I broke down and took her to NYC to see it. It was wonderfully entertaining and I was glad to have gone.

Ranting over, on with the good stuff. The movie is an absolutely over-the-top, spectacle in everything (AS IT...

PHANTOM is a solid and spectacular film musical
Many people will look at this film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic musical spectacular, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA with mixed emotions. There are people who will be upset that Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, who played the original Christine and Phantom respectively, were not allowed to recreate their signature roles. There will also be people who'll be disappointed that this version is not a literal translation of the stage musical. Finally, we have the critics of both Webber and director Joel Schumacher, who have both been accused of wretched excess in previous projects in their individual careers. Taken as a film version however, this PHANTOM stands the test of time, not only as a wonderful musical film, but as one of the more faithful versions of Gaston Laroux's romance/horror novel.

Starting with a black and white prologue, the film tells the story of budding opera star Christine Daae and the two men who fight for her heart: the noble Viscount who she...

Haunting, romantic and truly memorable............
You know that a movie works when it follows you long after you've left the movie theater. I saw the Broadway tour of "Phantom of the Opera" a few years ago and it has been my favorite musical since. I love it more than Cats, 42nd Street, West Side Story, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon...you name it. Its romanticism and beautiful songs just blew me away.

I was then somewhat hesitant to see the film version, fearing that it would not live up to my expectations. A little over two hours later and I found myself crying over the Phantom (Gerard Butler) and his love for the young Christine Daae (Emmy Rossum) as she decides between him or the nobleman Raoul (Patrick Wilson).

In short, I love this movie! It was everything I had hoped it to be and more. The story is faithful to the stage version but it also gives the audience a closer look into the lives of the three main characters. The art direction, sets and costumes are resplendent and breath-taking. And the songs are...

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Sabrina, The Teenage Witch: The Complete Series

witchy fun with Melissa Joan Hart!
All seven seasons of SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH are included in this bundle pack. I won't go into an in-depth analysis of each season (I have reviewed most seasons individually so you can check those out at your leisure), but needless to say if you've yet to buy this show, this is the probably the best one-click way to do so.

Melissa Joan Hart's infectious screen persona and charm elevates this sweet little sitcom far beyond anything you'd expect from a series that circles around the day-to-day life of a teenage witch and all the baggage that goes along with it. Based loosely on the Archie Comics franchise (with a slight nod to "Bewitched"), SABRINA... effortlessly mixed teen angst and magical mayhem. The early seasons in particular were marked by clever writing and snappy dialogue. Only when Sabrina moved to college in the fifth season did the well start to run dry.

The best years of SABRINA, in my opinion, were Seasons Two and Three. In addition to the...

Manufacturing Defects
Firstly: we noticed that some of the DVD's have been printed incorrectly, we have to insert each DVD into the player to find which one is which. For example disk two series two is printed as disk two series six. There are about four DVD's like this. VERY annoying.

Secondly: We love the show, the first three series are the best, but it's always good to get the box set.

Sabrina box set
Great show! The box set is a nice set to have in your collection. Fun show to watch with the family. Enjoy! :)

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Who Says You Can't Go Home

Life and love in Bluebell
Still like the show. Look forward to watching it. From the South and would love to live in a town like BlueBell. I am concerned the writers are still going to put Zoe with George - still would love to see the endgame be Zoe and Wade. They are so great together - not perfect but two people who love each other and can still grow and evolve together. Their relationship to me is about hope and dreams. A relationship with George or Joel would be about settling and boring.

Southern Charm
I really enjoy this show. It is sweet and something I look forward to watching. The characters are amusing, yet realistic. It is actually a fun show and different from other dramas or comedies. It is refreshing.

How wonderful to return to Blue Bell
I love the characters that inhabit the Alabaman town of Blue Bell. The tension of Zoey Hart is palpable as she tries to tame her love life and her Southern existence in spite of the call of New York City. Mayor Lavonne Hays, even Dr. Breeland and his still-snippy, perfectionist but a bit softer "Lemon" as well as Wade and his foil, his dad, all are a pleasant visit to a make believe land that, through fable, shows real human foibles. There is a genuine, authentic side to the humor, no matter how improbable, and all of it reminds me of drinking a steaming cup of milky latte at my favorite café. I hope this show continues: it's a mix between Gilmore Girls and Northern Exposure, both great shows, and this one is no less appealing.

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A Gingerbread Christmas

Will no watch again
Poor graphics and ennoying voices. More like pictures of a book than annimation. Plot was silly and not engaging. Will not be a family favorite

Review
Because I have children and it is the time of year one has them watch this type of show of course

Not for childern
This movie is not good for children; the characters have mean and scary voices and the plot is also mean and rude.Definitely, not for children

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Lincoln (Four Disc Blu-ray / DVD + Digital Copy)

Landmark film - You will definitely want the four-disc Blu-ray version with 53 extra minutes of features.
I saw the film when it played in the theater last year and was riveted to my seat. Even nature calling me to visit the rest room had to wait. It was Daniel Day Lewis's presence, Tony Kushner's words and , Steven Spielberg's direction that kept me there for nearly 2

Ultimate Force

Worst movie EVER! Yes, I said, "EVER!"
Do not buy this POS on ANY format! It is without a doubt the worst acted, worst directed, worst written and worst filmed so-called movie I have ever seen in my life and I have seen alot of bad movies. It's a travesty that this was even released on Blu Ray at all. The PQ on this is horrendous! I just wish I could give this zero stars because I surely would.

Trust me, instead of wasting your money on this thing, put gas in your car or go buy yourself dinner. There are way better things to do with 90 minutes of your life than submit to this.

Ultimate Farce aka Disappointment of the year
This movie has the biggest delta between the description on Amazon and the actual content of the movie. Unlike Hong Kong B movies, this title has not only poor acting, poor lines, and crappy camera work, but also surprisingly bad picture quality. I kept thinking that I could have done a better job with an analog video camera from 1988.

The "action" in the movie is bordering on the ridiculous. For example in the opening scene the main character easily overwhelms a half a dozen guards with a suppressed pistol, even though all of the guards were within ten or so yards of each other. This is followed by an execution scene that borders on the comical. And it doesn't get any better.

Short version: save your money.

I sure expected more...
The acting, plot and direction made me stop the movie after 15 minutes. The action was good but even that could not pull me through...

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Young at Heart [HD]

Good show
I would really like to see much earlier survivor shows, starting with the first season since I never got to watch those.

Just Classic
A reality show that can show how people really are, wretched and selfish. This is the cream of the crop for reality shows

Survivor Nicaragua
If you like watching people succeed at their lowest common denominator this season is for you. There veiled bigotry, thievery, childish behavior, and selfishness. The hungrier the contestants got the meaner they got with each other. The black girl was an embarrassment to her race. The old guy did nothing to assist his team in getting any rewards but he felt that he should have gone to the final three. The nice guy would have finished last in a real life survivor situation but this case he didn't finish at all.

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Doctor Who: The Movie (Special Edition)

PAUL McGANN'S TV MOVIE FOR NORTH AMERICA!!!
Well, as Amazon does not give us the info on what we need to know about this wonderful Doctor Who DVD. I have posted the info here from the know all, and see all on Doctor Who DVD's. Here is Steve Manfred's info on Doctor Who - The Movie - Special Edition.
LINK: [...]
Over 14 years after its production and broadcast, the Doctor Who TV Movie starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor will finally see release in North America!!!

This 2-disc release will be on Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 for the suggested retail price of $34.98, under the title: Doctor Who - The Movie - Special Edition. 2entertain's Commissioning Editor Dan Hall revealed this surprise news on the "Hoo on Who" podcast (available on iTunes) on August 25. He was successful in negotiating release rights for this production outside of the UK that had previously been held by the co-producers of the TV Movie, Universal Television. This clears the way for a release in North America by BBC Worldwide...

Weak, but certainly not McGann's or Segal's fault
As "Dark Angel" and "Firefly" fans well know, the talking heads at the FOX network have an uncanny knack for truly sticking it to the science fiction community and this mismash of eleventh-hour script rewrites is no exception. It's a glorious "What-Could-Have-Been" storyline that is brilliant in its first half, falls into incomprehensible mush for the second half, then rushes to an admittedly-satisfying ending. Visually it borrows heavily from elements of "X-Files" and "E.R.," up to and including the hospital-oriented dramatics, with a recurring theme of advancing clock hands/digital clock displays. The storyline might best be described as a fusion of Pertwee's "Spearhead From Space" and Tom Baker's "The Deadly Assassin" set in present-day San Fransisco.

First off: Paul McGann is brilliant. He adheres to the cardinal rule of "reinvent the Doctor the way YOU think he should be played" that has worked so well for every actor before him, and we get a charming,...

One word of caution...
Like everyone else, I'm ecstatic that this title is finally getting an official North American DVD release. One word of caution, however - the Doctor Who Restoration Team has confirmed that the main feature on the DVD was taken from the PAL master, not the NTSC master.

What does that mean for US/Canada audiences? As the TV movie was originally shot and broadcast in North American using the NTSC standard, that means that this conversion is NTSC -> PAL -> and back to NTSC. The feature presentation will suffer from PAL-speed up, running about 4% faster than originally broadcast on Fox back in 1996. Perceptive viewers (who may have recorded this on VHS when it originally aired) will notice that everyone's voice is pitched slightly higher and that the movie runs faster (looking similar to how "time-compressed" airings of shows look on basic cable syndication).

Most American viewers probably won't even notice the changes but they are there nonetheless and the more...

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Disney's The Princess and The Frog

Wish upon a star. Then get to work!
Bam! It's appropriate that Emeril Lagasse plays a (bit) character in The Princess and the Frog, voicing Marlon the `gator. This film proves that Disney's once-vaunted hand-drawn animation is back with a vengeance.

The film has gorgeous visuals, engaging characters, a palpably evil villain and gags galore. Randy Newman's New Orleans-influenced score perfectly complements the story. It is laugh-out-loud funny. The romance between leads Tiana and Prince Naveen is touching and believable. The film's strong, down-to-earth message: You can't just wish upon a star for your dreams to come true. You'll have to work. Hard.

Folks looking for a quality, old-school Disney film will not be disappointed. Like all the best Disney classics, The Princess and the Frog adapts a classic fairy tale and adds twists and wit. This story of hardworking Tiana, aspiring New Orleans restauranteur, and her froggy adventures will engage children and charm their parents. It's a movie that both...

The Disney Magic is Back!
I don't understand why people complain about the lack of good family fair and then shy away from going to see "The Princess and the Frog", the new traditionally animated film from Disney. This is a good film and the lack of business it is creating may cause Disney to rethink their current change in course.

A few years ago, John Lasseter, the force behind all of the Pixar hits, was promoted to oversee many different aspects of Disney. He did something I don't think a lot of people expected. He restarted production of traditionally animated, hand drawn feature films, a type of filmmaking all but abandoned (due to cost; computer animation is a lot cheaper) at a studio now making digital animation. He hired the team behind "The Little Mermaid" and they chose to make "The Princess and the Frog", the first Disney film featuring an African American heroine.

New Orleans, the 20s. Tiana (Anika Nani Rose, "Dreamgirls", "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency") is a practical...

Disney's first American classic fairytale
The Disney Studio has made a return to its hand-drawn roots (with the aid of some computer technology of course) with its first hand-drawn animated fairy tale in many years. It is also the first time the studio has set one of their fairytales in America. Tiana (voiced expertly by Anika Noni Rose of Dreamgirls[Blu-ray]) is a young girl in 1920's New Orleans. She is focused on making her late father's dream come true of opening her own restaurant; this leaves no time for love or fun. Enter Naveen of Maldonia, a handsome prince who has been disinherited by his family for his laziness. Tiana and Naveen are brought together even though they are polar opposites because of the black voodoo magic of the evil Doctor Facilier. The two are forced to journey together to get what they both think they want...which naturally changes along the way. No plot spoilers here...this rich movie needs to be experienced personally...

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Battle For Terra [HD]

Great animation Blu, and a good film too....
This Blu has been screening nicely in the store as sadly no one got to see this with that joke of a theatrical release slate.

Plenty to dissect here regarding both the subtle and overlaying future of humanity themes, but in the end the positive outcomes shine through as does the awesome animation, both preserved beautifully on the Blu. This recent trend of 5.1 Uncompressed PCM on Blu is a nice change, and it bodes well for an action filled finale like this. The clarity, colors and style of animation look great here, and I bookmarked the last 17 minute battle scene for customers and that alone has sold itself. The supplements are a bit mismanaged and include:
* 4:45 minute making-of. Way too short for what this film took to make, and most of the other extras should have been spliced into this selection.
* 4 deleted scenes totaling 7 minutes. For what this film was they all should have been left in their respective sequences.
* 25 second quip on a storyboard to...

Thoughtful & Emotional
Seldom do animations of this quality and creative imagination also elicit thoughtful and emotional responses from the viewer. But such appears to be the case as many other reviewers have expressed similar thoughts. So! Praise to the director, writers and animation crew for an exceptionally crafted story.

Diamond in the rough
This movie was great. It was the first 3-D movie I ever went and saw. Due to the horrible job done promoting this movie not many people even saw it. Which is fine because my friend and I had the whole theater to ourselves. A private screening at a public movie theater of one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Most people won't like this movie because it makes us humans out to be the bad guys. The movie was great. Animation for being made with the money it was made for is excellent. The message great. If you are one of the ones who didn't get to see this in theaters, which I'm sure most of you reading this are aside from a few scary moments which may disturb younger viewers this movie truly is a diamond in the rough.

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Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series

THIS DVD ROCKS!
I never thought they'd be able to pull this off, but at long last, Freaks and Geeks is available on DVD. The show aired briefly during the 1999-2000 season before NBC abandoned it to run an extra night of Dateline (shudder). TV truly has become a vast wasteland in the time since. A friend of mine worked on the show and let me check out the discs. I was worried they would screw up the DVD and do something stupid like take out all the songs to save money (over 100 were used). It's all there and it is truly awesome.

29 different commentary tracks (keep in mind there were only 18 episodes) borders on the obsessive, but if you're a geek, this is bliss. They got all the key cast members, including Linda Cardellini and James Franco, as well as writers, directors, television executives and even the parents of John Daley, Sarah Hagan and Martin Starr and some fans. There are some great bloopers and behind the scenes clips where people are completely out of character. And they also...

It's about time!
Yes! F&G is finally coming out on DVD!

For those of you who weren't lucky enough to watch F&G during its all-too-brief run, you'll soon have your chance to experience a true television gem on DVD. Freaks & Geeks ran sporadically on NBC during the 1999-2000 series, and then in reruns on the Fox (now ABC?) Family Channel. In short, it's the story of two siblings: Lindsay & Sam Weir, and their trials and tribulations as high school students in Michigan circa 1980. Lindsay is a junior and a former overachieving whiz-kid who undergoes a crisis of self after the death of her grandmother, and tries to find herself as a new member of a clique of underachieving stoners. Her brother Sam is a sensitive, nerdy guy trying to make his way through freshman year with a tight band of dorks and misfits.

As I write this, I realize that a brief summary doesn't begin to do justice to this multi-layered show. It's hysterically funny, poignant, often painful, and never tries to have the neatly...

Is This Reprint Worth the Extra Money?
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Freaks and Geeks. But this yearbook reprint is severely overpriced. It was originally marketed as a limited edition when it was released in 2004 until it sold out in January 2007. You could somewhat justify the high price of $130 on that version because it was SUPPOSED TO BE A COLLECTORS ITEM with a limited printing of only 25,000. Now Shout Factory has decided to start making it again, except they aren't calling it a limited edition. What doesn't make sense is that they are charging the same price for this reprint as they did for the limited edition collectible.

Skip the yearbook and buy the standard edition. At $45 or so, it's a much better deal. It has loads of extras that will satisfy the most diehard fans. Keep in mind that discs 1-6 are EXACTLY THE SAME on both editions. There is a heckuva lot on these 6 discs: All 18 episodes, 29 full length commentaries (some episodes have more than 1), 69 deleted scenes (also with commentaries), 2...

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Full House: The Complete Fourth Season

Jessie and Becky Make It Official, Season 4 is a winner
Full House is one of the most loved family sitcoms in modern history. The show was a hit on ABC since its 1987 debut. The show can be found airing in syndication somewhere in the world every day. The shows 4th season is one of the most memorable ones. This is the season in which Uncle Jessie and Becky get married.

Full House-The Complete Fourth Season includes 20 episodes from the shows fourth season. The shows fourth season aired on ABC during the 1990-1991 season. The season opens up with the episode "Greek Week." Jessie's Greek family come's to town and they bring some interesting guys. Ashley and Mary Kate Olson share rare screen time together in this episode as one of the twins plays a distant cousin who looks just like Michelle. They also bring to town a teenage boy named Silvio that DJ has a crush on and a voluptuous woman who plans to rekindle her relationship with Jessie--much to Becky's dismay. The episode concludes with awesome news--Becky and Jessie...

Full House
Full House is a fun, family show. Season Four is probably my favorite season, because the kids are at more mature ages and they are better actors. Also, even though Michelle is sometimes a little hard to understand, I don't like it when they are all older because those episodes are weirder and more boring. Nevertheless, Full House is a funny show and it puts me in a good mood. I have probably seen all of the episodes, but "Secret Admirer" is my favorite, which is also in this season. I reccomend Full House to everyone, but girls will probably like it the most.

Full House truly takes off with a strong and credible 4th season!
The classic 1980's-1990's sitcom "Full House" showed gradual improvement from Season 1 to Season 2, as well as from Season 2 to Season 3, but I believe that this 4th season is where the series was truly launched as the fun, lighthearted, and wholesome show that it was. A lot of changes took place, but that same formula of family love and closeness remained to give "Full House" the footing it needed to remain successful.

Season 4 was filled with many happy times and humorous occasions, beginning with the hilarious series opener "Greek Week," progressing with Joey's Las Vegas gig to open up for Wayne Newton, and of course, continuing with the long-awaited 1-hour episode that chronicled the beautiful wedding of Jesse and Becky (but as Michelle would say, "everything went bananas" on that day!) There were also many sweet and often dramatic moments sprinkled throughout the season, mainly with the three Tanner kids. Now ages 4, 9, and 14 (approximately), the girls are all growing...

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The Matrix

Blu-Ray Transfer Is Fantastic!
With over 2,000 reviews, there is no sense discussing the movie so I will just address this to readers wondering if the Blu-Ray transfer is as good as they, perhaps, have heard.

Yes, it is - it's incredble. I am not a particular fan of the film, especially the sequels, so I say these remarks with no bias. I just rented this first "Matrix" to see how it looked. Well, it Blu (pun intended) me away!! At this point, I've seen around 50 Blu-Ray DVDs and this is as good as it gets. I can't imagine how you could make it any better. It's so sharp, I just sat there mesmerized by it. The sound also is outstanding....another upgrade. I've seen this movie three times now and I swear I heard a lot of background talk and stuff I never heard before.

So....if you read that the audio and visuals are 5-star caliber - believe it; it's true.

Movie's Great...This Package, Not So
The Matrix is an excellent movie that combines science fiction, shoot-em-up action, and philosophical questions about the nature of Reality. If you are plugged in to a computer, and that computer presents you with a reality that is completely indistinguishable from your own, is it any less real?

This movie has exceptional special effects, beautiful cinematography, an excellent soundtrack, well-crafted dialogue, and respectable acting. Keanu Reeves may be a lousy actor, but I think that the Matrix is probably his best performance to date.

The Platinum Limited Edition isn't really worth the extra money unless you're an absolute, die-hard, take the red pill, freak. I wish I had known that before ordering this product. It comes in a box about as thick as an encyclopedia, and is fairly large, so it won't fit on the shelf with the rest of your DVDs. Opening it up, I was rather disappointed -- most of the volume is filled with a cheap plastic tray that contains a celluloid clip of...

Beyond Anything You've Seen Before
(What is the Matrix). In 1977, George Lucas changed the landscape of cinematic Science Fiction forever with "Star Wars," taking the genre light years ahead of all that preceded it. Such a momentous advancement would not be seen again for over twenty years, when, in 1999, the Wachowski Brothers raised the bar again, taking the genre at warp speed to an unprecedented level with their astoundingly innovative film, "The Matrix." Co-directed, written and produced by Larry and Andy Wachowski, it is an allegory of salvation and redemption filled with symbolism and metaphor (the Biblical references alone should keep theology students debating this one for years to come); a thinking man's action film, accentuated with moments that are no less than profound. In a world of the future, things are literally not what they seem, where it's Man versus Machine, Reality versus Fantasy, and few who know the truth; among those who do, is Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), who has long awaited the...

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Prometheus (Blu-ray 3D/ Blu-ray/ DVD/ Digital Copy)

4-Disc Collector's Edition Analysis
I'm reviewing the 4-Disc Collector's Edition. I'll go through each disc individually to give you a good idea of what you will be getting, and which version you should purchase. But first, let's briefly discuss the movie itself.

If you haven't seen the film yet, you will still undoubtedly be aware of the polarized reception it received. Some love it, some hate it. Instead of giving you another opinion on why it's the best/worst film ever, let me tell you what to expect. PROMETHEUS is not a horror film. Certainly it has structural similarities to ALIEN, and there is one scene that I would consider very "stressful." But overall, the film is what I would classify as a "concept drama." That is, a drama that doesn't focus on characters, but rather on concept. Don't let any of the tense trailers fool you, this movie was meant as a discussion piece, not an adrenaline rush. You can decide whether it succeeds or fails when you watch it yourself.

Onto the discs...

Take the Scientist's Survival Pop Quiz v2.0!
Are your survival skills as finely honed as the scientists aboard Prometheus? Let's find out...

You, a scientist, have landed on a distant planet with a team of fellow scientists in search of alien life. What would you do in the following scenarios?

1. Upon first arrival and entrance into what appears to be a manufactured cave structure, you deploy very high tech scanning and mapping probes. Do you:
A) Also send out your android crew member to evaluate any possible danger and then wait for the probes to finish scanning and mapping before you begin exploring?
B) Brazenly charge forward into the unknown and maybe consult your equipment's discoveries later, shrugging off any blips of alien life as an equipment malfunction?

2. While traveling through the cave structure on this alien planet you discover the presence of oxygen in the air. Do you:
A) Keep your space helmet secured tightly because there may be any number of unknown elements,...

A Return to SciFi
"Prometheus has landed." You've all no doubt seen the bombardment of television advertisements ranging from ESPN collaborations with the NBA Finals to Coors Light ads featuring the impressive ship landing on an alien surface. Ridley Scott defined the science fiction horror genre when he gave us an absolute perfect film in 1979: "Alien." There is nothing I can fault with this film. It's the perfect blend of science and horror. It uses suspense rather than gore. It rarely shows us the creature lurking aboard the ship, yet we feel like we've been forced to stare at it's disturbing makeup for hours. In fact, the alien (or "xenomorph") is only seen on screen for a total of 4 minutes. In a two plus hour film. You'd swear he was staring you in the face the entire time. So, when Scott announced two years ago that he would be revisiting the universe he helped redefine, I was ecstatic. I followed the film when it was known simply as "Alien 5," then "The Untitled Ridley Scott Alien...

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Big: 25th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray]

an expertly told modern fairy tale
This film still contains Tom Hanks best performance in my opinion. Big is an expertly told modern fairy tale that captures perfectly the innocence and the enthusiasm of youth. This movie gets flawless performances from all the actors and actresses involved. It reminds us all of when we were young and Big is a testament to why we should always stay young at heart.

Big is among my favorite films of all-time and I honestly can't see any reason why someone would dislike this movie. In fact I believe it is the best movie to be made in the 80's and it's huge heart will allow Big too stand the test of time.

The best of the body swap films...
... and there's no body swapping in it!

This film has aged really well; the comedy and dialogue is really sharp, the acting is believable and there's never a dull moment. Instead of going over the story, I want to quote what screenwriting legend, Robert McKee wrote about the film which rings true; "At the crisis, Josh [Tom Hanks] faces irreconcilable goods; an adult life with a fulfilling career and the woman he loves verus a return to adolescence. He makes the mature choice to have his childhood expressing with fine irony that he at last became 'big'. For he and we sense that the key to maturity is to have had a complete childhood. But becuase life has short-changed so many of us in youth, we live, to one degree or another, in a false sense of maturity. BIG is a very wise film."

Sure the toys have changed and yes, Billy Idol is tied to the soundtrack but the message still remains the same. This should be required viewing for all families.

"Extended" edition ?
Experience tells me there's two kinds of "Extended editions": the first are the ones in which the director was forced to do something against his will to fit the movie to a certain length (see Terminator 2, Aliens, Blade Runner, etc.), and the second are the ones in which the outakes weren't all that damaged so the studio took a strictly merchandising decision.
BIG EXTENDED EDITION is obviously the latter but don't let that discourage you, this is one of the funniest films of the 80s and there's is no question it was the one film that took Tom Hanks from OK TV star to bona fide movie star.
My favorite scene: the eating of the "little corn". I loved learning from the extras that it was totally the product of improvising at the last second !
This is an excelent DVD, it's just that my next viewing of it will be by choosing the original cut.

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Allman, Duane - Song Of The South: Duane Allman And The Rise Of The Allman Brothers

Song From A Favorite Son
If you're a fan of Duane Allman and the Allman Brothers, "Song Of The South"is a revelation for several reasons-for years we've been listening to Duane's recordings, and we get to hear from the people who actually recorded him. We're also treated to plenty of never before seen photos and parts of a 1970 interview from the man himself.

This film covers Duane's career from he and his brother Gregg's band the Escorts, and particular attention is paid to his studio work before and during his time with the Allman Brothers Band. Muscle Shoals guitarist Jimmy Johnson is given ample face time, recalling Duane's lead guitar work on Wilson Pickett's version of "Hey, Jude". This was the recording that caught the attention of so many industry heavyweights, securing his stock early in his career. Musicians Paul Hornsby and Pete Carr, respected musicians themselves discuss Duane's growth during this time, and they're still in awe over forty years later.

Narrator Thomas Arnold...

A superb documentary worthy of its subject
In `Song of the South' we at last have a documentary worthy of its subject, telling in some detail the tragically short story of the life of Duane Allman. The film gives a blow by blow account of Duane's entire career, starting at High School playing in local covers bands, where we are introduced to some of his earliest friends and band mates. Over the next two hours we follow him through the numerous line ups of The Allman Joys, The Hour Glass, and eventually of course The Allman Brothers and his sessions with Eric Clapton. We meet the key musicians and producers who worked alongside him at every stage and each of them speaks at length about Duane's extraordinary talent. For my money the most insightful and touching comments come from Willie Perkins, the ABB tour manager who lived and worked alongside the band from 70-76.

At every stage of the film the viewer is presented with recordings of Duane's music and rare footage of his performances. The narrative of the film is...

Movie on the life of Duane Allman
I just got my copy through the Hittin the Note website. Great movie on Duane Allman. Finally his life story is told in a movie format. Interesting and new feedback from people who knew him. This is a keeper.

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No Laughing, Home Improvement, Lawn and Garden, Washing the Dog and The Crush

DVD'S ARE CENSORED
According to DVDTalk (see the forums), they have previewed this set and at least some of these episodes have been CUT.

The so called "director's cut" episodes don't ADD anything... they only remove stuff. So not only do you not get the videos in with the episodes, you also get censored episodes as well.

Some examples from DVDTalk (so far):

* 1-900-BEAVIS - On the Time Life disc, when the boys first make the phone call, they laugh and Butthead says "She said something" and they continue to laugh. On the Paramount disc, this line is omitted.

During the call the lady asks if they're there, and on the Time Life disc Butthead says "I think I just innoculated" (which is kinda funny actually). This line is removed in the Director's Cut.

Then at the end, the last line in the Time Life version is "Hey, maybe we'll hear some butt wind." This is removed from the Director's Cut.

* Late Night with Butthead - The new Director's Cut...

WHY CAN'T THEY JUST GET IT RIGHT???
I bought this DVD collection before reading anyone's reviews, so I didn't realize people had some legitimate complaints about it. But they seem to echo many of the problems I have with this new B&B release.

1. WHY CAN'T THEY JUST PUT THE VIDEOS BACK IN THE EPISODES??? In many ways, that's what made the show great! It is my opinion that B&B in many ways did more to influence (for better AND for worse) the direction of music in the 90's. We can thank them for taking bands like Poison and Winger off the charts for good! And they also kick-started the careers of many bands like White Zombie, who probably didn't have a prayer otherwise. (Not saying I'm a White Zombie fan, just that I recognize the power the show had to make or break artists. That's a lot of power!)

2. THIS COLLECTION PUTS THE WORD "CUT" BACK IN THE PHRASE "DIRECTOR'S CUT". But WHY? Why cut out ANY of the scenes from these episodes? For example, the final scene in the "Manners Suck" episode...

FIVE THUMBS DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Geez loueez!!!! Can you say " Hatchet Job "? I knew you could. Huge disappointment here folks. " Beavis and Butthead " was a ground-breaking show and my favorite animated series besides " The Simpsons ". But Sony misses the mark big-time with this release. If they plan on releasing more episodes on DVD, can they at least put the show in it's proper form?

Here is the biggest complaint: they have completely chopped out the music videos that were such an integral part of the show when it was run on MTV. You know, the clips where a video is playing and the boys give their thoughts, whether they'd be trashing a terrible one or cheering an Iron Maiden video. Gone, completely cut out! The MTV logo is plastered all over the case, but this DVD DOES NOT REPRESENT THE SHOW AS SEEN IN IT'S ORIGINAL FORM!!!! I don't know if the videos have been cut out due to licensing restrictions ( as in older seasons of Mystery Science Theater, where the rights to the movies have...

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Orphan Black: Season One

No-spoilers review--and you really need that for Orphan Black
If ever a TV show needed a no-spoilers review it's this one. The trouble is, everything's a spoiler when "Orphan Black" is concerned, and the less you know going in, the more fun you'll have with this show's onrushing tidal wave of plot twists and turns.

So--what can I tell you that will let you know whether you want to see this or not without spilling all those beans? Well, I'll try.

1. Don't see this if you need glossy, upbeat Hollywoody science fiction. There isn't a single Dudly Do-Right in the entire cast of characters. Everyone has issues. Everyone has baggage. Problems can't always be solved by sweet reason, Star Trek style. And who's a Good Guy or a Bad Guy isn't always clear, even when you learn just who and what they are. And with some of the more damaged characters, they can't necessarily be fixed--ever. Some things you can't come back from. And problems don't have quick fixes. That is, there's no pandering to your inner 12 year old. This is a show for...

Best beginning to a series.
I'm hard to impress about TV shows, especially beginnings. First episodes-- even for good ones-- can be awkward, with the cast and writers not yet finding the chemistry.

This one hit managed to hit maximum speed seconds after it began, and then spent the rest of the show proving there was more to spare. Somehow, it did this without sacrificing character development. Thanks to co-creator John Fawcett's taut direction, and remarkable performances by Tatiana Maslani as three physically identical women with distinct personalities, accents and mannerisms. She even plays one mimicking another, with her cockney accent wavering.

The story is about Sarah, a young woman surviving on the margins as a hustler and a drug dealer, who's just walked out on her boyfriend. She witnesses a stranger identical to herself, Beth, commit suicide. Sarah steals and assumes her identity. Despite the fact that Sarah had little to lose, it turns out this was not the best move. The mysterious...

Not the same clone.
Story seems at first to be something you've seen before but quickly intrugued me with its nuances and excelent preformance by the lead actress Tatiana Maslany. I realy believe when she's portraying the diffrent clones on screen at the same time. That they are their own unique characters.

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Sons of Anarchy: Season 6

Commercials on Paid Content is a Death Blow
Commercials at the beginning and end of both episodes this season. At three dollars an episode, I do not want advertising. I will be cancelling my TV pass, and I hope this does not become a trend on Amazon or I'll be looking for video content elsewhere.

Dear Amazon...
...your greed is showing. Pretty pissed that I paid $2.99 for a TV show episode and still have to deal with a bunch of godd@mn commercials. Unbelievable. Might as well watch for free on TV. As far as I can recall, Amazon didn't used to do this, but this seals the deal on me NEVER ordering on-demand television through Amazon again.

Episode was AWESOME besides that, though.

Commercials. Are you f-ing serious?!
$3 an episode in HD and I have to watch commercials!? WTH, Amazon. You need to amend your licensing agreement with FX and fix this nonsense with a quickness. It's a total rip-off and detrimental to both of your brands.

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Bed & Breakfast

Dean Cain at His Romantic Best
'Bed and Breakfast' has Dean Cain doing what he does so well- showing off his boyish smile and nice guy personality! This is a quality romantic comedy with all the usual elements. Of course, it's predictable; they all are. If you want a fun romance with a bit of conflict between the love interests, quirky but likeable characters, beautiful scenery and a happy ending, here you go.

Dean's character is fixing up a huge home that he inherited from a friend. His dream is to open a B&B. He's married and still longs for his good-for-nothing and unfaithful movie star actress/wife who left him high and dry and is now filing for divorce.

Now in Brazil, of all places, a sales supervisor(Paes) struggles to support her worthless brother, put up with a fun loving, self-center fiance, and try to keep her job. She suddenly finds herself loaded with a huge debt now left by here recently deceased father. Her friend and lawyer discovers she does have a deed to a property in...

Pleasantly Entertaining
This is a different kind of romantic movie in that it has a number of scenes in Brazil early in the movie but then moves to the United States. There are extended sections in Portuguese and later in English but sub-titles are provided for the Portuguese sections which move by very quickly; we discovered we had to pause the movie in order to read the English translations.

The movie is adequately paced and has some lovely scenery in both Brazil and later in California. The acting is satisfactory and the characters are of sufficient interest that one begins to care what happens to them.

This is a chick-flick with a South American twist that is generally entertaining and fun to watch.

Best I've seen in years!
If you have the chance to buy or rent this B movie, do so in confidence, that it will bring 90 minutes of pleasantry to your life, and leave you feeling good!

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Christmas Guy

The "Life of Brian" episode Destroyed Family Guy forever
Before watching the life of Brian episode I would of gave Season 12 a 5 star rating, I was intrigued by the New style of there episodes... I'v been a die hard Family Guy fan since Y2K, I bought all the episodes on Xbox live marketplace, and amazon Kindle, the reason I loved the show so much was because of Brian and Stewie together, the time travel episodes were the best... I would consider Seth McFarlen an artist, and I'm not going to jump the gun here, but it would be stupid to keep this Vinny character, it would ruin Family Guy for me and many other loyal fans... I really truly hope to see Stewie fix his time machine and save Brian... I honestly don't think I could keep watching family guy without Brian as a character...

fox ads
uhhh. why did i just pay 1.99 for this episode if they are going to put commercials on it? Isn't that point of buying an episode?

Hahahaha
You guys really think that Brain Griffon would have been killed off, even Seth has been laughing his ass off watching everyone mope about the death of brain.

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Farscape: Complete Series [Blu-ray]

Blu-ray review-Previous edition repackaged comic created for this edition
Blu-ray review.

Please note that the reissue contains the same transfers and commentary tracks as the previous Blu-ray edition. Unfortunately , we don't have "The Peacekeeper Wars" still has been released on Blu-ray in the U.S. This edition might have been worth while picking up again IF that had been licensed as an extra. There isn't enough new material here to justify repurchasing for most fans.

"Farscape" came at a good time providing a bridge during a key time when most science fiction on TV was "Star Trek" or nothing else ("Babylon 5" excepted) and it brought a much needed dollop of humor, fascinating storylines and great characterizations. It's true that the series presents a hodge podge of ideas that were successful in other shows from "Star Trek" to "The X-Files" but what was great as with all things that are an amalgamation of other ideas from other shows was how it was put together.

"Farscape: The Complete Series" is, well, somewhat...

Same as previous release for the most part. Still the best transfer available.
I love this show. Farscape is a big mix of a lot of the things a science fiction fan like me love to see. You get the visceral stuff like cool sets and special effects that move from neat to full on spectacle. You get the science stuff like explanations and effects of alien physiology and various advanced and imaginative technologies. You get the story driven stuff with scripts going from drama to action to comedy (sometimes all in one episode), dealing with complexities of alien cultures and governments, to straight up space opera type fair complete with villains in black and scary monsters to fight. There is a reason why Farscape was considered by critics and viewers alike to be one of the best science fiction television shows ever made.

You have a modern day Earthling astronaut who is the main character in the series. His is a fish out of water kind of story as he is thrust into this alien part of the galaxy by a wormhole with absolutely no clue regarding his new...

FARSCAPE Remains An Epic Adventure For Its Growing 'Cult' Audience
In March of 1999, the Sci-Fi Channel premiered its latest foray into the genre of science fiction with a little program promisingly named FARSCAPE. There wasn't a lot of pomp and circumstances surrounding the new program - certainly not the kind of media blitz Sci-Fi practically demanded for its BATTLESTAR GALACTICA reboot a few years later - but, to be fair, that may've actually served FARSCAPE's assortment of slightly bizarre characters best. You had an American astronaut displaced into a distant galaxy by a wormhole. You had a ship filled with escaped convicts, each one an oddity until himself, herself, and/or itself. And you had a living, breathing ship with all of its own faults and foibles. This unlikely crew was thrown together out of circumstances yet forced to cooperate, to collaborate, to get past their petty differences in order to have one last chance at survival. Fate be damned, they'd make something of themselves or die trying ... so it was perfectly acceptable...

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Stargate: The Ark of Truth

The Truth
This review is spoiler free!!

I have to preface this review with the statement that I am an avid Stargate fan, and as such, my review may be biased (but I think not!)

After enduring season 4 of Atlantis this year, it is nice to get back to the show I truly love, Sg-1. Opposed to Atlantis, SG-1 takes place on earth, spends time on the explorations, and takes into account ancient mythologies, opposed to Atlantis, which is more action oriented, with dumbed down dialog, and shooting anything that moves.

I have been awaiting this release since it was announced, it finally came to my home yesterday, I watched the movie, then the extras (comic con conference which was really cool! and a behind the scenes which was great as well (this is almost 1 hour of material), I then watched the movie again, this time with commentary (again, I love SG-1).

This dvd has a "prelude" which basically goes over everything you need to freshen up on to fully enjoy and...

Good Production, Not so good script
SPOILERS AHEAD....

Stargate has always had its homages to other genre shows and they are clearly on display here -- the opening caption paraphrasing "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away", the peak-to-peak aeral shot just beging for Gondor outposts to light the signal fires, a Terminator-like rise from an explosion, ... (I'm sure folks can spot more).

The visual effects were lovely, and there were some really good bits of characterization. The converation between Teal'c and Tomin was wonderful, as was Tomin's final scene with Vala.

As for the rest...
While many a Stargate villain comes direct from Central Casting, Marrick (the IOA guy) is particularly ill-written in a series that brought us Senator Kinsey, Colonel Maybourne, and even the briefly-referenced Mr. Woolsey. In prior episodes where the IOA, NID, or Senator Kinsey were challenging the SGC often they had a legitimate PoV, even if they were wrong. Here, they are just wrong and...

Good but Utilitarian
I've watched every episode of Stargate. I even paid for Showtime just so I could see it, before it gated over to Sci-Fi. I very much hated the last episode for reasons I won't go into here. This should give my review a context.

Ark of Truth was good. Not great. I really like the actors and the characters they portray. The effects were up there and the interesting Ori story arc was closed nicely. HOWEVER, there was nothing new here. It was an extended episode. What was worse was the whole plot thread that seemed to be added by a fan of the Terminator. It was cheap and a waste. I can only guess their reasons for it but it was insulting to have to watch that to get to the real story.

The ending hints at more adventures to come and I'm glad for that. Maybe they can take the Ark over to the Pegasus galaxy...

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