Nick saban :Gamechanger

Football is the least of it
As a college football fan, it is fun to watch the developments, on the field and off,which led to Alabama's 2009 national championship season.
All of that is colorfully provided in this DVD. So any fan can enjoy it.

Just as interesting, and perhaps, even more enduring, is that the DVD Nick Saban: Gamechanger may also be one of the best instructionals for managers ever released.
And Nick Saban is nothing if not a successful manager.
Strip away all of the football footage and what remains on this DVD is a description of what has become known as The Process.
The Process is Saban's approach to managing all of the aspects of running a successful college football program.
That's nothing to sneeze at. While I'm not sure what Alabama football generates in revenue, another successful entity, the University of Texas' program, was projected in 2012 to earn more than $90 million.

The Process can be summed up in Saban's mantra to every one involved...

Great tribute to a great coach
We got this DVD for Christmas last year and it was really interesting if you're a die hard Bama fan like everyone in our family is. Gives you an idea of why Saban has been so successful as Alabama's coach and how he supports the entire athlete - not just athletic prowess, but the whole person - intellectual, emotional, psychological, and physical. This is a great addition to your Bama collection.

Game Changer with Nick Saban
Any one who likes football especially Alabama Football will enjoy this movie.Nick Saban gamechanger is great Nick Saban Gamechanger is for all Alabama fans.

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Parenthood: Season 2

The gradual rewards are the most meaningful
I will give you that this is not a show where exciting things happen several times an episode. Rather, this is a show that does its best to imitate real life with its ups and downs, and consequently most of the storylines evolve gradually over the course of a season. However, that is what I love about this show. Much like "Six Feet Under" or "The Wire", where you need to watch several episodes to know whether or not you will like it, "Parenthood" takes a little bit of time. The viewers get to know the characters as three dimensional, flawed and lovable people much like their real life family members. Shows like "House" or "True Blood" are exciting at first, but quickly become routine as the viewer grows bored with the constant tricks and emotional thrills. As someone who watches a lot of different types of TV shows, I can say that for me, "Parenthood" is one of the best: a show that cares deeply about the integrity of its characters and does not sell its audience short by relying on...

Simply the Best Show on Network Television...
As the second season of Parenthood comes to a close, it is clear that this show is simply THE best hour on network television. This is the most genuine, layered, heartfelt portrayal of family life and parenthood in primetime. Every week, the plotlines, writing, and character development are thoughtful and relevant... there is no need for melodramatic, soapy stories when the production and acting are top-notch. The way that the multiple storylines weave into one another is artful and carefully considered. There is a perfect balance between authentic heart and witty humor, thanks to the producers' insistence on improvisation between the actors. Bravo to the creators & production team!

Further, I am floored by this beautiful and talented cast of actors... from the stunning Lauren Graham, who has me in tears every week with her portrayal of flawed but brilliant Sarah Braverman, to the fantastic Peter Krause, whose rendering of Adam Braverman's role as a father is remarkable,...

Best Show on TV
Another reviewer said "I can say that for me, "Parenthood" is one of the best: a show that cares deeply about the integrity of its characters and does not sell its audience short by relying on cheap thrills and rollercoaster plot development."

I completely agree that this is not some cheap raunchy sitcom that throws some scandalous characters together for some "drama" and so-called "laughs". If you want that check out Modern Family or Desperate Housewives. The quality of the acting and insight to each character is fantastic. With each episode you feel more and more like you know the Bravermans, and it leaves you wanting more. My husband even loves the show because we can relate to it. It is an honest, well acted, well directed, well rounded cast that NEVER fails to entertain us. So if you can appreciate quality in acting and are not one that craves the scandalous junky drama, etc.. then you'd appreciate this show about a modern family that is colorful and imperfect, and so...

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UFC: Bad Blood [Blu-ray]

UFC does it again!
A great inside look for UFC fans of one of the Greatest Rivals in the sport Tito and Chuck! You get to see an inside look into both mens lives prior to stardom. You get to hear their side of the story as to what led two friends and training partners into a dark and bitter hatred. You also get their 2 fights as a bonus, which is always great to relive!

The UFC has done an outstanding job and packaged this as a Digibook, full of colorful pages and facts about both fighters. I found this well worth the asking price and am looking forward to the Matt Hughes release later this month.

a great DVD
it was good a great DVD with to legends of mma great thing to own if like chuck or Tito

FANTASTIC..
THIS VIDEO IS ONE OF THE BEST IVE WATCHED REALLY EXPLAINS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHUCK AND TITO..A MUST FOR ANY UFC FAN

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Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti 7 & 8

I love the whole Brunetti series
Episodes 7 and 8 are the last ones available, at least for the time being (I hope there will be more). Here are summaries of the plots.

"Episode 7 - QUIETLY IN THEIR SLEEP - Mysterious deaths in a Venice retirement community are brought to Inspector Brunetti's attention by a young nun who is then nearly killed herself. Brunetti's investigation turns up some unsettling connections to a secret church organization and to one of its charismatic members, a priest who is the community's resident confessor."

(I particularly liked the ending of that one, but I won't tell you).

"Episode 8 - ACQUA ALTA - First a museum director and an antiquities dealer are murdered. Then a Chinese art expert is brutally beaten and she fears her assailants will return to finish her off. Brunetti must find out how greed and violence motivate the world of forgeries and could drive someone to kill for art in Venice."

"Acqua alta" (high waters) refers to the fact...

this is a super German series with good subtitles, and beautiful scenery!
If you are a fan of Donna Leon's books about Inspector Brunetti and Venice, these German TV videos (with good English subtitles) are for you! Currently, there are 12 episodes, and they reflect the books, which are a must to read, themselves.

The actor who plays Brunetti changes with the 5th video, as I recall, along with the actress who plays his wife. But the rest of the cast is the same.

These are really excellent shows, and considering what is on mainstream American TV, these are a great break from just looking at either PBS British series, or premium cable. Enjoy! Buon divertimento! Viel Spass!

Donna Leons Brunetti DVD
very exiting it keeps you on your seat, waiting for the next episodes, Would recommend them to all my friends who like mysteries

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The Basement: Retro 80s Horror Collection

Perfect Throwback!
Man...where do I start?! I've been counting down the days for this release and it did NOT disapoint! For starters, this dvd/vhs(?!?!) set comes housed in a beautifully created "big box", just like in the "good ole days" of the vhs boom. I mean, this box is HUGE. When you open it, you'll see a dvd case (which holds the three dvds), as well as a bright red vhs for..."The Basement". Now, this film has NEVER EVER been released on any format, so seeing it see the light of day on vhs and dvd is incredibly cool in my opinion. Another reviewer listed the special features (which are outstanding), so I won't go into them. I will however say, my only gripe (which is incredibly, incredibly minor) is that all the special features from the "Cannibal Campout" dvd did not port over to this release, however the commentary did, so at least that's cool. I'm not going to review "Cannibal Campout" or the two "Video Violence" films, because they did get their own release. I will however, talk about the two...

DIY Horror that delivers
The packaging itself is worth the price of entry. Housed in an old school big box VHS format the cover artwork is pitch perfect. Hell even the horrible hairdo of the woman is period correct. Within the box I found a 3 dvd set including the films The Basement, Captives, Video Violence, Video Violence 2, and Cannibal Campout. Also included is a blood red VHS copy of The Basement! Extra cool!

The Basement is a "lost" (read: never released) super 8mm film made in the 80s by Tim O'Rawe of Ghoul School fame. An anthology containing four stories showing the evil future's of 4 folks trapped in an abandoned building, the film is low budget greatness. Monsters abound here including a man eating monster in a pool, zombies, a mummy, demons and more. The film is gory and cheesy and so much fun! Its the sort of DIY that inspires me to create films of my own. Not because it's so bad but because its obvious the people had so much damn fun making it. A labor of love for sure the film is...

A Solid Collectable
This set is very well done especially at the price. $21 for 5 movies on 3 discs + a VHS, at that price what is there to complain about really? I have purchased worse sets of modern horror with horrible compression and less blood than these. They have even included at least the commentary tracks for EVERY film and some cool artwork on the box with some pretty impressive DVD menus. These are fun and campy, yet some serious effects went into these considering that they were shot on VHS camcorders with little or no funding.

I will not say these are the best movies, but seriously people go watch some Youtube trailers first. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to put-together that "CAMP", "80's", "Retro", and "Lost Super 8 feature Film" = gory or silly nostalgia.

A good little set and at a welcoming price if you want to go bang for the buck rather than buy individual DVD's. For others who already have Vid Violence and Cannibal Campout, the price isn't too high for...

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House, M.D.: Season Seven

I'm here to defend a continuously amazing show...
The relationship between House and Cuddy has been coming, and in season seven it is here. Many have complained about the writer's not doing justice to the relationship. And that is where I strongly disagree. The writers have created a character from season 1 who has been damaged beyond repair. Every relationship with any woman, whether it be Stacy, or even Cameron, has failed. I don't think it could have been more in character the way everything played out this year. Who really expected the relationship between House and Cuddy to be all kisses and hugs? Knowing what you do about the character, you know that this is incredible growth: the act of trying to be with her. But, there is only so much our damaged doc can offer. Whether or not that is enough is something I'll let you watch and see.

(up above is spoiler free, down below is the review for those who have seen the season. If you haven't I suggest reading the above paragraph and stopping)

Let's get into the...

Mixed Quality Season--3.5 to 4 Stars
Update: I just saw a pre release screener of episode one of series 8 of HOUSE. I sat there stunned afterwards. It was totally different from anything I was expecting. Hugh Laurie does his usual outstanding acting job. Every other cast member is someone new because he is serving out a prison sentence. I'm not sure what this is. Is it a dream or a psychotic break due to more drug ingestion? I have no idea. It seems fairly real but I'm just not sure. It seems weird that not even Wilson visits him. I know a lot of viewers are not tuning in for season 8 because season 7 was so bizarre, especially the ending. If you are one of these viewers, you may want to reconsider that position.

My original review, filed before above rant:

I am a fan of this show from day one. I am a Hugh Laurie fan from back when no one knew who he was, when he was playing Bertie Wooster with his comedy partner Stephen Fry as Jeeves. Big a fan as I am though, I have to say the quality...

House Does Not Disappoint
I'm a HUGE House fan, I own all the seasons and I never miss the show on T.V. I realize that this season was a little different than past seasons, but its because House and Cuddy were dating and they had to show House's "softer side". You know the writers had this coming for us, they had to creatively show House as himself, as well as someone who actually cares about something or someone. I feel for the storyline of season 7, they did an awesome job. House is still an ass, the relationship kept the storyline interesting, and the patient cases were still interesting mysteries. The only thing I would suggest about this show is give House more clinic duty! That part always cracks me up. I don't believe this season has gone downhill at all, especially when you see the season finale!

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Wonders of the Universe

Not as good as 'Wonders of the Solar System', but still worth getting
This review is based on the series as aired in the UK, March 2011. This is a follow-up to `Wonders of the Solar System'; it has the same format with Brian Cox travelling the world. As usual, some science background will help you to appreciate this series, my degree is in physics. I found it a bit slow, it is also dumbed down in places, and it is only four episodes, hence only 4 stars. The account of the nucleosynthesis of the heavy elements in stars and supernovae was fascinating, we are all made of star dust (Ep 2).

Episodes (adapted from BBC iPlayer and youtube)

1. Destiny

Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, Brian seeks to understand the nature of time and its role in creating both the universe and ourselves.

It looks at the furthest star that we know, which blew up 13.0bn years ago. It looks at the arrow of time which is always...

Excellent Follow Up - Great Stand Alone
Just as the first reviewer, this is based on the series as it aired on the BBC. It does not speak for any additional scenes or features that may be found in the disc version.

Similarly to Wonders of the Solar System, Wonder of the Universe focuses on familiar subjects and doesn't pretend to teach advanced physics to the audience. It's a show aimed at facilitating understanding of appealing subjects and to initiate the viewer into ideas and concepts that can lead to much deeper - and more interesting - waters.

Professor Cox is a great presenter, as his attitude and general excitement about these subjects is very easily contagious. I suppose he's easy to relate to because he speaks our language - that of the layman - when explaining things that took the greatest scientists in history decades to decipher.

The 4 episodes do a good job at staying within their topics, so an overwhelming number of concepts are not thrown around, which makes these otherwise...

Cinematic experience
The minority who did not like "Wonders of the Solar System" will not like "Wonders of the Universe", but the many more who did like it will enjoy this one too - though it is not quite as good as the first series in my opinion. It has been claimed that it has little serious science. This is true. For example, compare what was said about the arrow of time and entropy with the Wikipedia page on the subject, which contains much more information on a single page. However, this misses the point. Professor Cox has rightly described the series as a "cinematic experience". It combines state-of-the-art CGI, wonderful astronomical photos, soaring music, exotic locations, fancy camerawork, and the infectious enthusiasm of Cox himself. As for the science, there may not be much depth but the topics covered are very well done and explained with crystal clarity. Everybody watching these DVDs, whether a child or a senior, will complete their viewing with some understanding of topics ranging from the...

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The Prince Of Egypt [HD]

Dreamworks Creates an Animated Classic
This is a beautiful movie and a great DVD. The animation is some of the best ever done. Notice, in particular, the life-like Nile River and Red Sea at the beginning and end of the picture. The chariot race that opens the movie is thrilling and the parting of the Red Sea is breath taking. Frankly, I hesitated to see this because I believed that it would just be "The Ten Commandments" re-visited. However, the creators decided to focus on how the God's edict to "Let my people go" would effect the relationship of the two brothers--Rameses and Moses. This point of view permits the audience to have a strong attachment to both characters and the things that happen to them. Another surprise is that the creators did not tone down or "Hollywoodize" the religious aspects of the story. They realized that the great power of this story is its spiritual element. The DVD "extras" make it well worth the price. In particular, I found the comparison drawings showing the creation of the...

Mazel Tov, Katzenberg!
How exactly do you translate the story of Exodus...the story of freedom...into an Animated film...? How did they do it? Rarely have I felt tears at the BEGINNING of a movie...when Y'sheved(Moses' Mother) started to sing her lullaby IN HEBREW, I almost started crying. Since I always prefer animated films to the "real thing", I felt "finally, a perfect film..." Being Jewish and seeing this movie during the month of Pesach(Passover) was literally a religious experience. I was touched. Seeing the people sing Mi'Chamocha as the left Egypt pulled tears from my heart. I was so happy to see the way the film was executed. Don't get me wrong, this is a film for all peoples. But it seems to almost be aimed at the Jewish Community. And I think this movie is better than ANY live action film to date. I could literally hear the Words from the Torah in my mind as I watched. The music was too incredible to describe, the voices a special treat, especially Jeff Goldblum as...

Excellent Film For The Entire Family
The story of Moses is a compelling one. "The Prince of Egypt" manages to meld that story into a very easily digested tale for the whole family. Though some liberties are taken, "Prince" keeps the basic elements of this wonderful tale intact. The only truly noteworthy changes are that Moses confronts Pharoah instead of his biological brother, Aaron, doing most of the talking and Moses and Ramses are raised as brothers by the Pharoah. In the Bible, Moses is raised by Pharoah's daughter, and Aaron plays a larger role in the overall story, doing most of the speaking to Pharoh as a representative of Moses.

With those minor details out of the way, "Prince of Egypt" is one of the best films around for the entire family to watch. It begins with the finding of Moses on the Nile River by Pharoah's wife, then shows him grow up as royalty in Egypt. He and his brother, Ramses, pretty much have full run of the roost. They get into plenty of trouble with each other, and their...

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Forks Over Knives [Blu-ray]

Its About Time!
I saw this movie in the theater on May 28. It is excellent, and should serve as a wake-up call to all who see it to get their eating-habits act together. As one who has spent time in the hospital recovering from congestive heart failure and subsequently converted to a plant-based diet, I can personally attest to the efficacy of Drs. Esselstyn and Campbell's approach. I am now off all but one of the Meds, and am only continuing with that one because it helps my kidneys repair themselvs from the diabetes damage I inflicted on them with my previous eating habits. When they have recovered sufficiently, I will be off all meds.

My resting blood pressure (BP) is now in the normal range without meds (typically about 115/70, down from mid 180s/80), no thanks to my cardiologist who was perfectly happy to keep me on three BP medications indefinitely. My weight is now about 170 lbs, down from over 400 lbs. My heart ejection fraction is now in the mid 60s, up from 42 when I went...

I almost died - will you?
This movie contains information that could save your life. In October 2009, at age 52, while running a mile around my neighborhood as I did every morning, I staggered a couple of steps and hit the ground unconscious in full cardiac arrest. Heart disease is the leading killer in this country (needlessly as this movie shows) and the most common type of heart attack is the one like mine that comes with no warning. Survival for cardiac arrest outside the hospital is about 3%. I was extremely lucky - you might not be.

After my heart attack, my doctors said nothing to me about diet. In fact, later after learning about the work of Campbell and Esselstyn (featured in this movie), I asked my doctor how much time they spent in medical school learning the relationship between nutrition and health. His answer - none! If you see this movie, you will know more about the affect of nutrition on health than my doctor, and perhaps more than your doctor too. See this movie.

I...

The Must-See Movie for Plant-Based Nutrition
This movie combines the scientific and medical work of Dr. T. Colin Campbell, PhD Professor Emeritus in Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, and Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstlyn, Jr., MD, surgeon at the world-renowed Cleveland Clinic, and the incredibly INSPIRING story of two FORMER heart disease patients and two FORMER diabetes patients.

This movie is POSITIVE, ACCURATE, and HOPEFUL. It is the perfect introduction to the concept of plant-based nutrition, and it offers very attainable role models in the patients to empower people to take their health into their own hands.

There are no segments of tortured animals - just wonderful information, top athletes, and people reversing their chronic disease.

Everyone needs to see this movie!!!!!

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Chicken Run [HD]

Chicken FUN!
"Chicken Run" (the latest from Aardman Studios, the makers of the 'Wallace and Gromit' films) is simply the most delightful, visually amazing, and FUN animated movie since Disney's "The Lion King." Other studios (notably Warner Brothers) have tried to take a bite out of Disney's pie-share of the kid-movie market, but Aardman and Dreamworks have done it best in this charming, hilarious, and edge-of-your-seat thrilling animated fantasy about a group of hens trying to break out of a chicken farm. Running the farm with an evil eye and an iron ax are the villainous Mrs. Tweedie and her henpecked (literally) husband, who's sure those chickens are plotting escape. The voices are perfect, from Julia Sawalha and Joan Horrocks from "Absolutely Fabulous" as chickens to Mel Gibson as the "flying" rooster Rocky. I want to recommend that every parent take their kids to see this one: unlike many other recent cartoons, this one is completely...

Hogan's Heroes Meets The Great Escape !!
Poultry in motion ! What a great movie, there's more entertainment in the opening credits than most movies have in total.

I was totally impressed by the entire movie. The characters are fanastic, the plot is really funny and the stop film animation is superb.

Ginger keeps plotting to escape the Tweedy's egg farm. Mishap after mishap mirror Hogan's Heroes. There's even the coal box outside the Tweedy's where Ginger spends her time in the "cooler" after each failed escape attempt.

Rocky the 'flying' Rooster arrives to "save the day". That's as much as I'll say about the plot. EGGselent family entertainment!

The extras are pretty cool too! Truly an EGGsquisite dvd.

My Two-Year-Old Loves It
There are not many movies out there that can equally entertain thirty-somethings and toddlers, but this one does! Grab your popcorn and get ready for pure, wholesome family fun.

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Roots (Seven-Disc 30th Anniversary Edition)

Roots DVD is Cut
Warner Bros. has never given us a true representation of this classic on vhs or dvd. Roots originally aired over eight nights. Four of the eight episodes were one hour in length. All opening scenes from these episodes have been cut on dvd. Also the opening and closing credits are not the same...the episodes having been combined. The opening titles originally ended on a dark blue background with the cover of the book rising up and the words "AN ABC NOVEL FOR TELEVISION-ALEX HALEY's ROOTS THE SAGA OF AN AMERICAN FAMILY" on-screen. Also, these are the exact same discs as the ones from 2002, with the exception of a bonus disc. The audio error at the start of Episode Three is still there. It hasn't even been fixed. Come on guys. This isn't just any television program...it is an American treasure. We want to enjoy the show as closely to its original intent as possible, and to pass that original down through the generations. The Kinte family excelled at preserving their history. It's a shame...

Must-have TV show
This show aired for the first time when I was 8. I have to say I didn't watch it -but heard a lot about it-, so when I heard it was coming out on DVD, I take a chance and ordered it.

It's no wonder this show was the most watched in history. I have to say I'm not American, therefore the history itself isn't my history. Still, I felt totally touched by the series, and had to make an effort after each episode not to watch the next inmediately and go to bed. In my opinion, this is not a story for blacks, or Americans. This is a great story -whether you want to watch is as history or fiction, if makes you feel better somehow- that everyone will enjoy.

Anyway, most likely you already know what roots it's about. If you don't, well, it's the story of seven generations of a black family, from the capture in Africa of a free black (Kunta Kinte) to become a slave, to the writer of the book (Alex Haley) himself.

Actually note that the DVDs tell the story from Kunta Kinte until the...

Missing alot
I was able to watch the original series on tv in 1977 & enjoy history, but this cut 4 dvd version is pathetic. To many scenes removed, that gives a greater understanding of the story. I wouldn't recommend you buy this set as the original was awesome not this cut down version. I would have paid for a 5/6 dvd set to include the scenes that has been removed.

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We're the Weakerthans We're From Winnipeg

One great band!
Great insight to a pretty cool band. Although all of this film was shot in Canada I'm pretty sure I saw them around the time they did this film. I mention this because I live in Sunny Orlando Florida. Saw them downtown at The Social. Great show! Anybody remember them doing a sidetrack tour to Florida? They had just released Reunion Tour. Anyway get the DVD its everything I thought it would be and more.

Epic performances from the least known Greatest band ever
The Rolling Tundra tour was amazing to watch in person in Vancouver, yet even more enjoyable to see my wife and I in the video multiple times during pamphlateer. If only I could see them live again if they ever tour outside of Eastern Canada.
Thanks again JKS

cheers



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Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa [HD]

More heart, humor than the first
Dreamworks' animated films have not been able to hold a candle to caliber of Disney/Pixar films, but let's face it: who can? That said, Madagascar 2 is learning from Pixar at the very least. Animated films work when they are able to successfully blend humor, heart, and a good story to keep the audience sustained for at least 90 minutes.

Madagascar 2 starts in the right direction by presenting a very nice opening featuring a brief origin of Alex and how he got to New York. It's probably less than 5 minutes, but already set the tone for the heart of the picture, which focuses chiefly on Alex fitting in with his fellow lions. The other chief characters are also stumbling as they interact with their own in Africa.

Also back is the humor. I sometimes feel like the movies would be funnier if the penguins had more screen time, but they are still funny in whatever scenes they're in. The granny who beat up Alex in the first film is also back for some humor. The...

penguin adventures
note: this blue ray includes the nick penguins episodes available in the dvd 2 pack

A strong sequel
Surprisingly Madagascar Escape2Africa is as enjoyable as the first film, which these days of shoddy sequels of a feat unto itself. The Bluray transfer is excellent. Picture 5/5 Sound 4/5 (Because it is 5.1) My wife and kids loved the first film and were just as entertained by this one. Also the decision to include DVDs and not digital copies was a wise choice. Every other digital copy I try to download into iTunes fails because they are expired. Why oh why do the studios do this. Digital copies are splashed over the covers of DVDs and now Bluray. So kudos to Dreamworks for including proper DVDs. For those of us that have children and travel, at least me, love having a DVD to play in the minivan and my portable DVD player.

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Gantz [Blu-ray]

Possibly the best comic-book adaptation ever!
This movie turned out much better than I anticipated! It managed to capture the feel of the comic, while still being accessable to gantz newcomers (my wife also enjoyed it.) The extreme content from the comic has also been toned down severely. While some may see that as a negative, the film makers HAD to do it to appeal to a larger audience. I believe it makes the viewing experience much more enjoyable. So, if you are a fan of Gantz, japanese cinema, or manga/anime in general, check out this movie! *WARNING: WATCH IN JAPANESE! THE ENGLISH DUB IS INCOMPREHENSIBLY TERRIBLE!*

A Tribute to the short-lived Anime...
I must first say that this movie is an Salute, Tribute or Homage to the Anime Series so, with that being said its not for everybody. That's not a bad thing though, Because as a fan of the Series and as a person who was mad they cut the series after only 2 seasons I can gladly say I enjoyed watching the Live Action Version and comparing it to the Anime. Not everyone can handle seeing an animated show filled with Sex, Gore, Violence & a Sci-Fi story line all at once but, I sure can. If you do decide to get this Live Action version rest assured the US Blu-ray version is the best quality you can find. You get a 3 disc set at a good price and it has the DVD copy with it as well. IT has the Original Japanese Language as well as a English overdub. I personally could not stand the the English Dub and I just went for original language with really great subtitles. I know I'm not telling specific details about the film itself but, that's because I really want you to buy this Blu-ray or at least...

"Gantz" delivers the goods.
If you enjoyed the live action adaptations of "Death Note" (2 films and a side story film), "20th Century Boys" (an excellent trilogy), "Kaiji: Gambling Apocalypse" (2 films) and "The Incite Mill", then you will enjoy the live action version of "Gantz". Nice blu-ray transfer. Good film. Raw action. Breath-taking fight scene with giant majin type characters kind of reminds you of the majin fight scene in "Sucker Punch" but more intense. Bring on a blu-ray release for the sequel "Gantz: Perfect Answer".

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World Orchestra for Peace: Gergiev at Abu Dabhi Festival

Very good, but not outstanding
Valery Gergiev and the World Orchestra for Peace - a first-rate ensemble composed of principals and prominent musicians from a great number of countries - have given us a stellar DVD recording of Mahler's fourth and fifth symphonies (see my review), and the present concert, recorded live in fine video and good, if not always transparent, audio at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi in January 2011 therefore raises high expectations. I must admit that I am not exceedingly happy with the program selections. Rossini's "Guillaume Tell" overture and Prokofiev's little tongue-in-cheek "Classical" Symphony are, musically speaking, relative lightweights and orchestral showpieces. They are played with great panache and gusto, likewise the encore, Johann Strauss' "Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka", and smiles abound among the musicians and the conductor. These works, however, are not particularly memorable, and the focus is therefore on Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, the concert's high point. It is very well...





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Joseph: King Of Dreams [HD]

The Best Quality Direct-to-Video Feature!
Barring some scriptural inaccuracies (a disclaimer admits to the dramatic license taken), Joseph is a wonderful, inspiring version of the Biblical tale. The songs are decent for a video production, and some of them actually stand out quite well.

The majority of the story talks about Joseph's journey of faith and hope, and how he overcame hurdle after hurdle to properly share the gifts that God had given him.

A little light on the religious side, Joseph plays up the entertainment value of the story (as with most films). However, it never deviates from the fact that Joseph believes his ability to interpret dreams is a gift from God. Far too few films are willing to take this chance... Kudos to Dreamworks for a top notch production.

NOTE TO PARENTS: Though there is nothing outwardly objectionable, there is some serious subject matter that you may want to discuss with your children. :-)

Biblical Story Well-Told And Animated In "King of Dreams."
This worthy companion piece to Dreamworks' "Prince of Egypt" retells the Biblical story of Joseph, his betrayal by his brothers, sale into slavery, imprisonment, then rise to prominence through God's gift of prophecy through dreams. The story is well-voiced by stars including Judith Light, Mark Hamill, and Ben Affleck as Joseph, despite some weak, Disneyfied songs (voiced by the normally reliable Maureen McGovern and Jodi "Ariel" Benson).

"Joseph"'s dream and flashback sequences are well-animated, with images of sunflowers, flowing wheatfields and flying eagles referencing Joseph's growth(in status and wisdom)in Egypt. This is notable where Joseph visions his brothers mocking him while cleaning a palace floor, then flashbacks to his youth while caring for a tree in his prison cell.

Like all great Biblical stories, "Joseph" works as love lesson (in forgiveness and personal growth here) and dramatic narrative, and is economically told on both...

A delight
I usually don't buy direct-to-video sequels -- usually, they are inferior to the original product and only tarnish my enjoyment. However, "King of Dreams" is not a sequel, rather than a companion piece.

Delving once again into ancient history, this story tells of a "miracle child," the favorite son of old Jacob and his wife Rachel (the Biblical polygamy is delicately ignored, though hinted at in that Joseph is a half-brother). While Joseph's ten brothers toil in the fields, he is taught to read and write and is given a magnificently woven coat. When he has dreams that "mean something," his brothers' resentment starts to grow. He ends up enslaved in Egypt, where despite his talents and intelligence he falls further and further. But newfound humility and a special gift from God will bring him back up.

This movie has a beautiful piece of symbolism - the little fruit tree that Joseph carelessly steps on as he cries out to God, "Why?" Everyone in...

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Carmen [Blu-ray]

Blu-Ray version has beautiful picture and sound, but...
Much has been written in these reviews regarding the great performances and fine quality of filmmaking in Francesco Rosi's film of Carmen. Here I am only going to comment on the new Blu-Ray edition.

The Olive Films Blu-Ray disc of the 1984 film of Bizet's Carmen, featuring Julia Migenes and Placido Domingo, arrived today. I just finished watching it, then compared it to the Columbia-TriStar DVD version.

Columbia's DVD had virtually no extras, just a couple of theatrical trailers, one being for this production of Carmen. It did have a choice of subtitles: English, Spanish, French, or none. It also had 24 scene chapters.

The new Blu-Ray disc form Olive has a magnificent picture with great detail and the stereo soundtrack is wonderful. But it has absolutely no extras, just the film. The English subtitles are permanently on, as though it was like an old videotape where you cannot switch the subtitles on or off. There are no other choices - no Spanish or...

A brilliant film version of Carmen
This film production of Bizet's Carmen, shot on location in southern Spain, is magnificent. The singing and acting are first rate, as are the sound and picture quality of the DVD. Carmen, like Don Giovanni, is a complex, multi-faceted character that can be played a variety of ways. Julia Migenes portrays Carmen with raw sensuality, and it works, as we see her opposite, Don Jose (performed brilliantly by Placido Domingo), unable to escape her womanly powers. The film uses dialogue rather than recitatives, as that is what Bizet intended--Carmen is an opera comique, which means that spoken dialogue (not recitatives) are employed between the singing. The dialogue definitely heightens the drama of Carmen, and it was only after Bizet's death that sung recitatives were unfortunately used in in this opera. Because this is a film version of Carmen, there are many creative and symbolic options that couldn't be done in the opera house. The use of a live bull in the ring is extemely effective,...

Bizet's Carmen in movie form
I've watched this version of Carmen several times and like it more and more each viewing.

This is the first opera I've watched as a movie and the effect is certainly different than before a live audience. I don't think any movie can compare to having the performance done in the intimate setting of an opera house: and this is the reason it took me a while to appreciate this work. Having said that, this production does please the visual and auditory senses. The scenes are beautiful with a pastel quality to them: just enough color for warmth and atmosphere to complement the locations. Some of the views are panoramic while others a close-up.

The roles of Carmen and Don Jose are done by Julia Migenes -Johnson and Placido Domingo respectively. It is hard to imagine two better people for the leads.

Although Julia Migenes-Johnson has a wonderful husky voice that complements her part, it is her acting that is truly outstanding. Swiveling hips, swishing raised...

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Care Bears: Share Bear Shines Movie [HD]

Darling Movie
My daughter loves anything Care bear but even her brothers keep watching this one! Newer care bear movie, not the classic, but well drawn and adorable.

Great gift for my 2 year old granddaughter
My granddaughter loves the care bears and so I got her the cake topper and the movie and the actual bear and my daughter also go her a care bear that talks. She really didn't want any other gifts except the care bears. She will sit and watch the movie over and over. It is very entertaining. She has learned a lot by listening to the songs and singing them. Great gift for a 2 year old.

Not so great
Interesting. Don't care for this style animation. And the super-powers the bears get from their belly badges is very odd. My least favorite installment of the series so far.

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Police Story

Joseph Wambaughs Police Story
This is the best overall police procedural ever developed for television. It spun off two other series and ran for about 100 episodes. I am amazed this series never made it into syndication or is not currently being run on one of the cable networks. This is one series that I will buy immediately upon its release and I am sure I speaking for a lot of others.

This TV Series Has More Stars Than You Can Poke A stick At
Police story tv series from the seventies. This was a brilliant cop show from the seventies.Hard to believe this is not available on dvd yet.Police story had an incredible line up of stars which appeared with the cast changing constantly.Gritty police action at its best.Just look at the list of guest stars no other show could match it-James Farentino,Tony Lo Bianco,George Maharis,Rory Calhoun,John Saxon,Martin Balsam,Jan Michael Vincent,Cameron Mitchell,Stuart Whitman,Vic Morrow,Kurt Russell,Darren Mcgavin,Michael Cole,Frankie Avalon,Sal Mineo,John Randolph,Jerry Lee Lewis,Jack Soo,Harry Guardino,Smokey Robinson,Earl Holiman,John Forsythe,Angie Dickinson,Barbara Rush,Chuck Connors,Lloyd Bridges,William Shatner,Richard Egan,Pernell Roberts,Patty Duke,Sylvester Stallone,Robert Stack,Louis Gossert jnr,George Hamilton,Robert Culp,David Janseen,Glen Ford,David Cassidy,Alex Cord,Edward Asner,Jim Brown,Robert Goulet,Donald Oconnor,Bernie Hamilton.Antonio Fargas,Mcdonald Carey,JIm Buckus,June...

GREAT TV SERIES
This series should be appearing on some TV channel or at least DVDs should have been released. It was great TV that produced numerous excellent episodes featuring Vic Morrow and Chuck Connors in the first show in the series.

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Megamind (Two-Disc Blu-ray 3D/DVD Combo)

What happens when the supervillain unexpectedly wins?
Megamind is something of a mix, but a good one. On the one hand, it takes the existing traditional tropes of comic-book superhero and supervillain and works within them, but at the same time it ventures into territory that one rarely sees, going one step beyond the traditional to answer two questions: (1) What really makes a supervillain truly 'bad'? and (2) What happens when the supervillain unexpectedly wins?

The film starts off with a traditional hook - Megamind apparently falling to his doom - and then flashes back to the beginning, with the origins of the two classic protagonists, superhero Metro Man and supervillain Megamind, each sent out as an infant in a spacepod from their respective doomed homeworlds. From there, however, things begin to take a twist. Megamind is the supervillain, but more from bad luck than anything else (Metro Man's pod lands in a mansion where he is adopted by rich parents who give him everything, Megamind's pod on the other hand lands in a...

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

There are about 173 out of screen effects that extend about 10% of the way, from the screen to the viewer. 22 made it to 15%, 19 out to 20%, 36 more at 25% and 2, 30-35%. That's a lot of OOS effects. In addition there are quite a few quick 25-40% effects piled near the title scenes but the 3D in them is a somewhat flawed. However, very few 3D flaws elsewhere in this film. I would have to say my favorite effect is the baby juggling / drooling sequence around 30% approximately 10 minutes into the film.

This movie earned a 4 way tie for the # 2 position on my shelf. For 3D quality and humor, it ranks right up there with the 3 other animated greats, Open Season, Rio and Ice Age.

*** Another Must see ***
*** Add it to your list ***

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

Note: As far as the percentages go, everyone's eyes...

A complex plot with an exciting ending...
"Megamind" is the story of good vs. evil - or is it? The movie starts out with a very cute blue baby being sent to earth in a rocket by his parents to save the infant from the destruction of the planet. As the little blue child is rocketing toward earth, a another child (who is very handsome) is also heading toward earth in a similar rocket. Both children crash land on earth, but to different fates. The beautiful child crash lands on a big estate where he is adopted by a rich family and given everything. While the little blue child crash lands in a prison and is adopted by the prisoners who teach him the ways of evil. Both children are highly intelligent, but due to their circumstances, one grows up to be a superhero -Metroman (voiced by Brad Pitt) and the other a supervillain - Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell).

Metroman and Megamind spend their lives locked in the classic battle of good vs. evil with Megamind always losing and ending up in jail. Until one day, Megamind's...

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Wild Malibu Weekend

Wild Malibu Weekend
Light comedy and humor of the Playboy generation. The story of several girls trying to get ahead in the entertainment business and their adventures along the way. The plot is light and entertaining with no real message other then trying to win the money and contract that the show has to offer.
I liked the movie because it required no thinking or trying to figure what was coming up next. The girls were usual "B" movie types however I had seen most of them in other movies and this movie was closer to the start of their career so you do not have some of the bad body augmentation they have in more recent films which I liked. In my opinion the movie was one could could watch on a night when you just wanted to relax and not think but just wanted a laugh or two.





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Sigmund & the Sea Monsters: Season One

Nostalgic fan who has always adored the adventures of Sigmund and his friends!
Although I had the "Best of" DVD, I missed out on getting Rhino's original First Season release since I wanted the whole show. I really regret not picking it up. But now here's a second chance. I'm hoping my single purchase will persuade this company to do future Krofft releases; particularly the rest of Sigmund. I was 7 or 8 when I first started watching the show...watched them over and over every Saturday morning. In fact, this is among a group of shows (along with Filmation stuff, Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle, etc) that takes me back to my childhood like a personal time machine to the 60s, 70s and 80s. It seems ridiculous at 45 to still be watching these shows. But somehow I find it still entertaining as well as comforting to sit down to it on Saturday mornings like old times.

The visual/audio quality is exactly the way it should be. Sure, I'm a collector of old show but if this looked like it was made yesterday with overdone cleanup I'd be oddly disappointed...

silly seventies saturday seamonsters!
One day I got thinking about all those great 1970s Saturday morning shows I grew up with...and remembered Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. So, I came to Amazon to see if it was on DVD, thinking it would be fun to watch a couple again. When I was about 9 it was one of my favorite Saturday shows.

So, I bought Season One, and it turned out to be a lot of fun. I haven't watched all the episodes yet, but those I've seen were entertaining.

The boys bring a little sea monster home, who's been mistreated by his family. The family is nevertheless desperate to get him back, because they like to have him clean the cave, and take all their abuse. Sigmund's two brothers are stupid, and mean. His mother is batty, and mean. And the father is Archie Bunker-esque - and mean. Nearly every episode he sends the brothers out to try to bring Sigmund back from the boys' place. (They have him hidden in a building in their backyard they use as a hangout. It's right by the beach.) And, every...

Fun
I used to watch this on Saturday mornings back in the early 70's and had very fond memories of the show. By todays standards it is dated but never the less fun to watch. I would highly recommend this to anyone of our age group that remembered Saturday morning cartoons and kid shows of the late 60's and early 70's. Also I think that young kids today might like the show.

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Philippines

Very informative!
The film captures a lot of traditions which speaks a lot of the influence of its colonial past. I enjoyed watching it!





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The Good Wife: The Second Season

No sophomore slump here--a fantastic Season 2 for a top-notch legal drama!
WARNING: This review contains spoilers for Season 1. If you have not watched it, please don't read this review.

This DVD set is for Season 2 of the award-winning legal drama, The Good Wife, starring Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick, the "good wife" of the title of the series. I'll try not to repeat myself too much from the review I previously posted on Amazon for Season 1 which is located here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RBHXRDL3D0W5C/ref=cm_cr_dp_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B003FSTN52&nodeID=130&tag=&linkCode=#wasThisHelpful.

A summary of the main events of Season 1 are as follows: Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) is publicly humiliated as the "good wife" of a cheating politician, Peter Florrick (Chris Noth). What makes it even worse for Alicia's situation is the fact that for years she sacrificed her own legal career on behalf of her disloyal husband. Soon after Peter's relationship with a hooker is exposed to the world and he resigns in disgrace, he is thrown...

If this tv show was a novel..... it would be a real page turner
The exquisitely written and stunningly executed CBS drama "The Good Wife" (created by Michelle King and Robert King) airs here in Australia on Network TEN, and I love it!!!! Season One certainly set the tone for what was to come in Season Two with just the right texture of family and legal drama. But it is the intrigue of intra-office politics taking center stage in Season Two which takes the viewer captive, and leaves you with a thirst for what is to come in the next episode. If this tv show was a novel..... it would be a real page turner. I highly, highly, highly recommend it. And I look forward to the DVD!!!!

Even Better Than First Season
This has become one of my top ten shows on tv. I look forward to it every week. The drama has been greatly enhanced by several developments in the plot and characterization.

First, Michael J. Fox has been added to the cast. He doesn't have a big role but when he is on, he is great. He is a lawyer who will do anything to win his case, including using his significant physical disabilities in order to win the jury's sympathy and understanding. He tries to lure Alicia into his firm and I can see that becoming a real viability for season three. One thing he can do is an incredible job at winning his case during the day and then putting it away at night when he turns to his long term marriage and family. This no other character on the show can manage to achieve, especially Alicia.

Alicia's husband has been kind of the bad guy throughout whereas her old boyfriend, now law boss, has been seen as the good guy. These lines have been considerably blurred this season...

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Criminal Minds: The Sixth Season

Casting changes created havoc
First of all, I love this show. I've never missed an episode and re-watch all five previous seasons on a regular basis. That being said, season 6 was a bit lackluster. This is due to the major casting changes that took place during the summer. Both AJ Cook and Paget Brewster's contracts were cut, and during season 6 both were written off the show. While the writing in those episodes were top notch, the rest of the season left a bitter taste in your mouth. After episode 2 (appropriately titled JJ), JJ's absense left a gaping hole in the fabric of the BAU. It was almost as if the heart of the show had been ripped away, leaving writers, cast and fans scrambling. Just when we began to settle into the new JJ-less reality, in comes Agent Seaver, played by Rachel Nichols. This was a horrific decision. This is nothing against Ms. Nichols, who did the best she could with what she was given. However, fan response was not positive, as Ms. Nichols bears a striking resemblance to AJ Cook, who we...

Ever Better
CRIMINAL MINDS grows and grows and this season is an exceptional one. While if continues to bring us smart television, the secondary subplots that continue through this season, plot that focus on the lead actors and their private lives or personal involvement with some of the created characters takes a major role in this season. While some may find this a bit disconcerting - as though emphasis on the diagnosis and capture of the criminal minds disconnects the viewer form the point of direction of the story. But at least for this viewer these subplots make us identify more with the agony of coping with the types of criminals these people must deal with every day. The dialogue may at some points seem like a roundtable dissertation on aspects of abnormal psychology, passing from one character actor in the investigative team to the next, but the information they disclose in these sessions is fascinating and makes sense to the viewer. Each segment begins with a significant quote and each...

Changes...
In its sixth season, "Criminal Minds" continues to be an outstanding police procedural about the agents of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. The show offers intense weekly drama as the agents track various serial killers and kidnappers.

A strength of the show is its superb ensemble cast, featuring Thomas Gibson as team leader Aaron Hotchner, Joe Montegna as veteran Special Agent David Rossi, Paget Brewster as Special Agent Emily Prentiss, Matthew Gray Gubler as Dr. Spencer Reid, Shemar Moore as Special Agent Derek Morgan, A.J. Cook as Special Agent JJ Jareau, and Kirsten Vangness as computer whiz Penelope Garcia.

This season brought cast changes. JJ Jareau was involutarily reassigned from the BAU at the beginning of the season, then helped out in a mid-season case involving Emily Prentiss. Her brief appearence in the season finale suggests she will return. Rachel Nichols joined the cast as young Ashley Seaver, a new agent plucked from the FBI Academy for...

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Parks and Recreation: Season Three

It's Official Now...
**May Contain Spoilers**

Parks and Recreation's winning streak continues...still the best show on TV right now. So many new developments. So many new classic episodes/moments. So much is right with this show that it's hard to know where to begin. Let's see we've got the successful intergration of Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe) and Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott). Speaking of...there's another adorable relationship unfolding between Ben and Leslie. But my favorite as far as couples go is still April and Andy. And if not for NBC's flub of accidentally promoting April and Andy's awesome sauce wedding they would have taken everyone by surprise with probably the most charming TV wedding I have ever seen. And what really is amazing is that they are more loveable/ interesting to watch as a married couple. From them being horrible housekeepers, to them eating turkey chili with a shared plastic fork off of a frisbee, to their role playing and contests of seeing who can get the most money from...

it just keeps getting better. . .
this is how you create a classic, clever comedy tv series. michael schurr and greg daniels had already done it with the office and got that show off and running but after they left (around season 5?) their new tv project "parks and recreation" started the same way the office had. . .a little rough and rocky with low ratings at the beginning and seemed somewhat of a carbon copy of the office. however, when a tv show has smart humor, excellent writing and loveable/unique/warm characters with depth, the show is going to get a cult following and continue to grow and become beloved. this season also did a great job of separating itself from the office while still obviously borrowing the humor.

parks and recreation is unique in where most tv shows fail. either a show will go for cheap laughs and the raunchy sex humor like two and a half men or a show can stay classy and sophisticated and have character development and continous running stories between characters that arch over...

Friggin awesome
This is the funniest show on tv by far! The writing is uniquely funny, without the stupid easy sexual humor that most shows go for. I find myself laughing to tears and that is RARE.

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Exhale: Core Fusion Mix

Awesome
I love short workouts to string together or to fit in a 10 minute segment just for the health of it. This is a good blend of barre toning, some cardio like movements, and yoga strength/stretches. I have all their dvds so far and even if it's a bad day, I can still reach for a workout and felt I got something out of it. Some do not find barre challenging, but I have say you can't be doing it right. I run, kickbox, workout with kettlebell and weights, and yet I find these workouts a workout!

AWESOME MIX OF WORKOUTS
The Core Fusion Mix includes Exhale Yoga Flow - Amazon didn't have that on the disc titles when I purchased it. This makes for a well rounded fitness program - cardio, Lotte Berk/Barre type work, and yoga. Great workouts, well done with the verbal instruction. I wish the camera work was better - the Level One Modifier was hidden most of the time.

Core Fusion...where have you been my whole life???
I am in love with these DVDs. I cannot believe these subtle little movements can make me as sore as they do. I also love the stretching at the end of each section...feels great!

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Burst Angel: Box Set (Classic) [Blu-ray]

Welcome To Hell!
In the near future, Tokyo, Japan allows every citizen to carry guns, by doing this the country has called in a group called (RAPT - Recently Armed Police Taskforce) to clean up the mess, but without the citizens knowing what (RAPT) is all about, the crime has gone up and arrest have gone down, that's because (RAPT) takes who they think is bad and does illegal experiments on them.

So this is where our "Burst Angel" story begins with all that mess, the story opens with Kyohei Tachibana, a student at a culinary arts school with dreams of someday becoming a patissier (pastry chef). Motorcycling down an inner city street and becoming caught up in a shoot-out between a mysterious white-haired woman and a wanted gangster. Kyohei escapes unharmed and ends up cooking as a cook for a group of four girls named Jo (the white-haired woman), Meg, Amy, and Sei in an effort to gather up enough money to travel to France. The girls, ranging in ages of eleven to nineteen, turn out to be...

What a sleeper...
I really did even think about buying this series until bored one day while browsing the titles at best buy (over priced!!). So, compulsively, i bought this box set...and the rest is very pleasant history. I really enjoyed this series. Not the most complex that i have watched, but it was fun. It reminded me of Elfen Lied, which i also enjoyed. My suggestion is this...want to consume your time with a fun anime...watch this one...

Outlaws of J-town
Burst Angel is about a group of 4 'outlaws' living in future day Japan, where the common person can carry a gun and is even allowed to use it. It is up to the team of 4 'Angels' to keep the peace and unrail the corruption taking place in Tokyo. From watching the entire series, the story focuses on Jo (a 17 year old girl who has forgotten her past and armed with only her name and fighting skills) and Sei (19 year old heir to her families Bai-Lan organization and leader of the 4 girls) while at the same time involving the other chars of Meg (15 year old orphan who saved Jo and joined Sei's team) and Amy (the 11 year old hacker genious). So long story short, it focuses on two chars while at the same time involving the other chars as an essential parts.

The character designs aren't what I am used to watching but I have to say that the anime designs were great. From long haired to short haired, shapes and sizes, every character was excellently designed. Each character also had...

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Legends of the Silver Screen: Biographies/10 DVD Box

My review of "Legends of the Silver Screen"
I liked this production because it was informative. However, I feel as though it was poorly put together. I am a long time fan of all 5 actors including; Anthony Quinn, Audrey Hepburn, Charlton Heston, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe. I felt as though it held my attention the entire time. I loved learning new things about all the Actors and Actress in the production that I did not previously know. I am a huge fan of all of them and appreciate the chance to get to learn more about them. There were several pictures and stories that were told about them that helped you to really picture what the narrator was saying. All of these Actors and Actresses are the kind of people who should be looked up to. I feel as though this production did them the honor of making their well deserving lives better known. This film made them look like real people who encountered every day struggles, just as we do. I feel this film showed that they were all real people who weren't just picture perfect. In my...

Not what I expected.... Disappointed!!!!!
I bought this collection of biographies being satisfied with the price and with the celebrities that were going to be discussed. However, when I watched the Marilyn Monroe and Shirley Temple biographies, I quickly realized that these cheap little biographies were nothing but boring interviews with people that may or may not have known these 2 stars. If you like interviews with (mostly) fakes, I suggest you order them. Beyond that, only the price is right with this item.

low quality-b films-not worth it
No where near an A&E BIOGRAPHY-low quality-poor production and B films of the stars makes for a sad experience. My copy resides at Goodwill.

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Blues Fingerpicking Freedom

A Fun DVD!
This is a fun DVD lesson from Homespun featuring Toby Walker. Walker is not only a solid performer, but a gifted teacher who understands some of the limitations experienced by students; especially those who have entered the world of "Intermediate" but are fastened tight to the TAB and lost (or at least fearful) as far as straying from the memorized and comfortable path.
As to the camera work, lighting, and visuals, the DVD is of the quality we've come to expect from Homespun.
If you are an acoustic blues player, and have moved beyond the basics and wish to expand away from your comfort zone, this DVD will provide months of inspiring lessons. Toby Walker's demeanor is easy, humble, and takes backstage to the instruction; something vital in a solid teaching DVD. ***** Star product and a ***** star teacher.

wonderful
I'm finally comprehending what I've been trying to learn about the guitar. Toby is a great teacher. I contacted him on face book with a question and he got right back to me. He's friendly and down to earth.

Terrific
This is a terrific insructional DVD - puts the fretboard in context and creates an awesome learning tool. Nice job Toby !

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Finding Mr. Wright

Easy Way To Spend An Afternoon
I bought Finding Mr Wright purely because of Rebekah Kochan. I think she's a great actress and comedian. I watched the film yesterday and found it to be a decent romantic comedy about a man who puts the need to be needed above his own need to need someone else.

The cast were all great in the roles, although about three quarters of the way through the film I couldn't for the life of me figure out why Gage and Pierce were both in love with Clarke. Frankly I was hoping they'd hook up. I found the character of Clarke to be annoying and self-obsessed.

Finding Mr Wright is a good movie that is an easy way to spend a couple of hours of an afternoon watching. The supporting characters, rather than main love story were what held my attention. For me this film was all about the star turn of Rebekah Kochan and I really hope to see her in many more films.

If you're looking for a light, fun, romantic comedy you couldn't really go past Finding Mr Wright.

Never miss an opportunity
Never miss an opportunity to see actors Matthew Montgomery and Rebekah Kochan work their on-screen magic. Montgomery is as handsome as he is talented, and no two performances are EVER the same. Kochan is as lovely as she is funny, and while many of her roles have been similar, who can fault a casting director for putting her in a movie that calls for a beautiful blonde with strong comedic timing and with a willingness to look ridiculous for the sake of the role? Is this movie deep and meaningful? No. Is it good and escapist entertainment? Oh, yeah, it is.

Being your self is challenging in Hollywood
Accepting the truth about oneself is brought to the forefront in an unlikely retreat situation, but then what else would you expect of a Hollywood crowd? Love appears in the most unusual situations. The question is whether or not you can be real with your feelings. Acting is good. Plot is stretching it, but fun.

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Community: The Complete Second Season

Another amazing season
So, the sophomore year of Community wrapped up last night in a grand fashion, and I'm delighted to say that it lived up to the high expectations I set after the first season. Sure, there were a couple of episodes I didn't like (the "ABED" episode, which seemed really out of character, or at least as much as Abed can be out of character, was the biggest offender) but with so many episodes in a season it's an absolute miracle and testament to the genius of the people involved that 90% of them are pure gold.

This year sees the study group grow and evolve even more, bonding over events as disparate as a Dungeons & Dragons game, going to a bar for Troy's 21st birthday, or finding a missing pen. The cast is still in top form, with Donald Glover (Troy) and Danny Pudi (Abed) being especially memorable. Chevy Chase (Pierce) has his moments to shine this season as well, breaking out beyond "Cliche Old Man" in a few episodes. Britta has changed from the hipster of the majority of...

The best comedy on TV... again.
During its freshman season, NBC's perennially underrated and low-watched sitcom Community- the story of a group of 'misfits' (for lack of a better term) that formed a community college study group- was unequivocally the best comedy on TV and perhaps the best since the late, great 'Arrested Development'. Seamlessly combining pop culture references and parodies with honest sentimentality and character humor, Community never went overboard with its references (see: Family Guy) and made for 25 episodes of smart, hilarious television that never talked down to its audience or went for cheap and unfunny gags. Now, in its second season, it is again the best comedy on TV.

Ramping up its unique brand of humor for 24 more episodes, Community not only equaled its first season but surpassed it with such genre-bending and ultimately great episodes as "Critical Film Studies" (The 'Pulp Fiction' parody that actually turned out to be so much more), "Mixology Certification" (The '21st...

If you don't like this show, you're just streets behind
Any review for either season of Community should really just be: You need to watch this show. I'm going to say more about it anyway.

The first season had some awesomely "weird" episodes, but the second season really raised the bar with its weird-in-the-best-way-possible episodes.

I'll use "Physical Education" as an example of a weird episode from season one: Jeff doesn't want to play pool in tiny, 80s style gym shorts. Hilarity ensues. The description of the Jeff story in "PE" is basically that simple. However, everything comes together so well. What starts out as a conflict with a tiny amount of pride at stake (Jeff has plenty of pride to lose) ends up in this bizarre stand-off and hilarious resolution. Not only is it funny, but the episode actually develops Jeff's character, bringing him away from his original "too cool" mentality and more in line with the rest of the group.

Season two has episodes that make "PE" look as normal as an episode of The...

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Breakfast at Tiffany's (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]

The Centennial Collection of Breakfast at Tiffany's" is the definitive version to own on DVD!
Excellent!

A word that can describe the Centennial Collection release of the 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's", the classic romantic comedy starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard.

Having reviewed previous versions of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" before on DVD, I'm sure many Audrey Hepburn fans are probably wondering how else can Paramount improve from the 2006 45th Anniversary Edition on DVD? Well, I can tell you right now... plenty! Please read on.

A film that stars quite a bit of talent, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" remains not just one of the most memorable romantic films of all time but a film that exemplifies the beauty of Audrey Hepburn, the chic style of the times and more (which I will discuss more in the special features portion of my review).

VIDEO & AUDIO:

The film is presented in widescreen format, enhanced for 16:9 TV's. A lot of the Centennial Collection releases have been remastered for high definition and having...

"I'm just CRAZY about Tiffany's!"
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" is flawless blend of a crowd-pleasing star-vehicle for the effortlessly charming Audrey Hepburn and a bittersweet, painfully beautiful look at love, life, and happiness. Director Blake Edwards, the man behind "The Pink Panther" series, "The Party", "Operation Petticoat", "Victor/Victoria", etc., has crafted a truly timeless film based on the novella by Truman Capote. Though numerous elements of Capote's story were altered, the film still has a strong core and message that urges audiences to examine their own lives, loves, and happiness.

Everything about this film is classic. You have the timeless Hepburn and her defining performance as Holly Golightly, a sophisticated, sassy call-girl with a secret past who is ultimately one of the most vulnerable characters Hepburn ever played. Then there's George Peppard, a vastly under-appreciated actor who manages to hold his own next to Hepburn while playing a struggling writer living off an older married...

Cold Transfer not a welcomed edition to my Breakfast Tray!
"Breakfast At Tiffanys" is the vintage romance classic based on the novel by Truman Capote that pits the elegant Audrey Hepburn (Holly Golightly) against stoic George Peppard (Paul Varjack). He's a would be writer, being kept by a rich, married lady. She's the lost soul runaway who's abandoned her husband and family after her beloved brother dies while serving his country in the military. This is vintage Capote. Even with the glaring omissions to the text and Mickey Rooney's garish, over-the-top performance as a Japanese landlord, this is still one of the all time great date flicks.
Unfortunately, Paramount Home Video hasn't done a very vintage job on this DVD. They've presented the film in its original VistaVision widescreen process (anamorphically enhanced) and remixed the sound to 5.1. That's a start. But the visual characteristic of the transfer on this DVD is digitally harsh, suffering from edge enhancement, aliasing, shimmering fine details, pixelization...

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Terry Pratchett: Going Postal

"He didn't believe in angels."
This was actually my introduction to British satirist Terry Pratchett, and what an introduction it was! If you have never discovered his hilarious Discworld, this film is a good place to start. You might just wind up like me in running to the library and the bookstore for more!

"Going Postal" is about a con man who is offered a second chance by the Patrician of the city after being hanged (yes, you read that right -- he was already hanged once!): he can either leave free and unchallenged (unfortunately, the only door out of the room opens into a bottomless chasm) or he can revive the derelict Post Office, because the Patrician is sick of his long-distance games of Thud (like chess) being interrupted by his telegrams getting stuck in the Clacks. Moist chooses, as most of us might, this second option only to find himself in way over his head with whispering letters, a haunting past, a parole officer who lacks a sense of humor (and has an uncanny ability to always find him),...

But words... words have a totally different power. They enter in through our eyes and ears and work their way into our soul
In the city of Ankh-Morpork, all long-distance communication is done by the clacks (sort of platform telegraphs). But all of that changes in "Going Postal," the third miniseries adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books -- this one poking fun at the postal service, with a charmining conman, a golem, and a ragtag band of postmen at the helm.

Moist von Lipwig (Richard Coyle) was a very successful forger, conman and embezzler... until the Watch caught him, and he was hanged for his crimes. Fortunately, he's not QUITE dead. It turns out that Lord Vetinari (Charles Dance) wants to give Moist a choice: he can die for real, or he can revive the moribund Post Office.

So Moist finds himself saddled with a decaying building filled with undelivered letters, two slightly insane postmen, and golem parole officer named Mr. Pump. And every night, letters force Moist to see the fallout of his past crimes, including a terrible one against the prickly Adora Belle Dearheart...

Clashing Mix of Dickens, Mary Poppins, & Monty Python = FUN
LOL QUIRKINESS. A Medieval fantasy in an English Victorian setting with modern phraseology. Stunning sets and costuming to match any computer generated animation's fun. "GOING POSTAL" was filmed in Budapest with a stunning star-studded cast. Rightly so, for such a production of one of Terry Pratchett's amazing Discworld books. And disclosed in the ample bonus material: the author loves this film with 2 feature-length episodes.
SUBTITLES.

Main plot is a con-man (Richard Coyle-Lorna Doone) is saved from the gallows by being forced to become Postmaster at defunct Ankh-Morport PO. A super-con's worst nightmare. His name, Moist Von Lipwig, is as weird as his official cap. Businessman Gilt (David Suchet-Poirot) is amazing, the villain, devilish and funny, and now owns the Clacks. Clacks are a communication system (typewriter, semaphore, tickertape, and network of strings.) Moist lives in the PO and has ghost visits not unlike Dicken's Victorian Ebenezer. Moist's haunting...

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Families of Philippines (Families of the World)

Great for kids!
My boys are only 3 and 4 so they don't know much about America let alone other countries. I love that these DVDs features a day in the lives of kids and their families from other countries because it shows that not everyone lives the same way as we do. My boys saw how other kids eat, work, go to school, play with friends and more. They are educational DVDs that really are not totally boring to watch! I really think it is important for kids to understand other cultures and how other kids live and this DVD series is great to watch.





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Vampire Knight Guilty: Complete Series

Vampire Knight Guilty
This season has a faster pace than season one, and more intensity at some parts. In this part there is more focus on Yuki discovering her lost past, her struggles, and her connection to Kaname. Zero comes into himself as well. There was a twist about Yuki's past that I didn't see coming. Also some secrets about Kaname are revealed (about his pure blood origins). There are some subplots about the remaining vampires which are interesting and intricately woven into the story, as well.

The only complaint I have is that the last 4 episodes were kind of weak, especially when compared to the previous really good episodes.

Also the ending was not really satisfying. This needed an additional episode to show (mild spoilers) how Yuki is settling into her new life at Kaname's side, and what Zero is up to now that he's gained his powers.

But overall this was a good and intense season, with some great parts.

In the end, the Vampire Knight series is a...

SPECTACULAR
These say artist not provided, but Matsuri Hino, the manga author says she also did the anime. I do think this is spectacular. By far, it's better than any other vampire series I've seen.
This is a mystery, a fascinating love triangle. The two male protagonists are fighting over the female lead in the first five minutes of the first episode of the first series, and if you saw this and missed it, go back and look again.
It's a serious story with some laugh out loud moments, and also sad.
Most of my asian dramas started as mangas, then anime, then live performances. I'm always just amazed at what good storytellers the Japanese are. They really know how to wring every emotion you've got out of you.

I just got my copy of Vampire Knight and V.K. Guilty, and I have complaints about the English subtitles.
The subber is quite fluent in English, seems British, and the subtitles are excellent.
However, I very much dislike when a subber 'cleans' up some...

The series is excellent but this item is not.
I normally do not bother rating but in this case, it is a warning. The Vampire Knights and Vampire Knights Guilty are Seasons 1 and 2 and they are excellent as a series. I watched it first on Hulu and liked it so much I bought the complete series of season 1 and 2. HOWEVER, it is not complete! As one other reviewer noted, it has 2 discs, the first going from Episodes 1-4 and the second one from Episodes 9-13. It is missing the middle. When you look at the discs sold separately, there's volume 1 (1-4), volume 2 (5-8) and volume 3 (9-13). When I put the second disc into the player, it comes up as Volume 3. What Viz did when they made this "Complete Series" is put disc 1 and disc 3 and called it complete. It is not! I thought maybe it was a fluke when it happenned on Vampire Knights Complete Series (which is the season 1 set) but when it happened exactly the same thing on this Vampire Knights Guilty Complete Series, I had to think it is a mistake that is done by the...

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Kippour

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Mademoiselle

All i have to say...
By San Fran chornical

DvD review

It's a subtle, heartfelt film of a kind we don't make in this country. The release is especially welcome in that it adds another Sandrine Bonnaire title into circulation. She plays a married sales executive who meets a group of wedding entertainers while on a business trip. Circumstances keep preventing them from separating, and so, during the course of a day, she and an actor (Jacques Gamblin) find themselves becoming increasing drawn to each other. The emotional dynamics are subtle and complicated. The film is about romance, but elements of class come into play as well. There's a small but telling moment, unlike anything you'd see in a Hollywood film, in which the woman, after calling for the evening train schedule, corrects herself and asks for the morning schedule. In doing so, she's the one who decides to spend the night with the man, just as she - despite her easygoing cheer and his masculine sullenness - is truly in control...

Hard Film to Describe, but Simply Wonderful!
I saw this film on an Air France jet coming back to the US in 2000. I had never heard of Sandrine Bonnaire or Jacques Gamblin before this film, but now I have tried to see every Sandrine Bonnaire film I can find. I actually bought a region free DVD player (they do have them, they are legal) so I could watch this film back in 2001 when released.

Sandrine is a superb actress and to my eye, absolutely exquisite. She looks soulfully out of her car (Sandrine fans know what that looks like) as she sees a lighthouse and remembers meeting and spending time with an impromptu theater group that did certain made to order skits at her company's party and meeting. Jacques Gamblin plays the object of her interest and she, for a while, performs a skit or two with the others at a high priced wedding, etc. (The young hostess of the hotel where the group stays is hysterical).

The theme of the film is that Sandrine keeps missing a train, plane, coach bus, etc., that would take...

Subtle...Like Fine Wine...
As one of the reviewers said - Americans just can't or won't make films like this one! This film works on so many levels, it's almost perfect. In "Mademoiselle" - from 2000 and directed by Phillipe Lioret, when Claire (Sandrine Bonnaire) and Pierre (Jaques Gamblin) met by chance, they were instantly drawn to each other. Their deep connection is revealed through a subtle exchange not so much in words but through gestures. They started an improptu-romance that neither one wanted or expected. In the end, the lasting influence of their brief love affair, will never leave either one of them. The film was so eloquent in its expression of human emotions, poetry done the French way. The lead actors were both excellent as the two love-struck and kindred spirits. Over the years (since "Police" 1985) I have watched the beautiful - Sandrine Bonnaire blossom into one of the most talented actors working anywhere, she is a natural! Jaques Gamblin is also one of the finest French actors of his...

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