A Parent's Guide to Social Media (Ages 3-8) Deluxe Edition

Great resources in this video for protecting our kids online
A Parent's Guide To Social Media: Ages 3-8 really highlights just how vigilant parents must be. It is frightening what is out there. Parenting has elevated to whole new level with children having so much access to computers and smart phones. I think the schools should show this to parents because parents need to know what their kids are doing online. I especially appreciated the well-researched lists of apps that are safe for my child. I thought this was very well done. I have recommended this to all the moms in our play group.

Great Resource for Parents
With so many kids spending time on social media sites now a days, this video is a great resource for parents and can better educate them on what these sites do and how to teach their kids the proper ways to use them.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Fairy Tail: Collection One (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

GO FAIRY TAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
let me start out by saying I can not wait for this release on April 30th and already have my copy on pre-order. I am a big fan of both the manga and the anime. I can still remember going to my local book store and picking up the first vol. when it was first released in America and loving it. To this date it has always been one of my favorite anime's. I have always wanted to own the dvd's of the series but have felt that 12 episodes for 30 dollars i feel i wasn't getting my moneys worth but now were getting the first 24 episodes which cover's the Macao arc the Daybreak arc the lullaby arc the Galuna Island arc and starts the Phantom Lord arc I would say that now i feel i'am getting my moneys worth.

Blu-Ray
A friend suggested Fairy Tail to me a few months ago, and all I can say is when I watch Fairy Tail I get a Fire in my belly. It's got comedy, romance and action all put together, and has epic music playing during the big fights. A must watch for any anime fan.

It's okay.
I was told that this show would be better than any anime I have ever seen. Well, it isn't that, but it is okay. I am not all the way through the set but I have moments where I enjoy it, and moments when I am bored. Also, with almost any other show I have watched I was hooked after the first few episodes. Here, not so much. I find Lucy to be annoying and the joke about Grey losing his clothing...well it feels kind of pointless. Granted I am sure it will get better later on, but it didn't leave a good first impression.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Powerbroker: Whitney Young's Fight for Civil Right

Alfre Woodard delivered a brilliant narration to the film
I strongly recommend this film because of its keen insight and thorough appreciation of an invaluable trailblazer in multi-national corporate diversity and inclusion. Having worked as a civil rights lawyer for the National Office of the NAACP, during the seventies, I had the privilege of working with the professional members of the National Office of the National Urban League. Having worked with both Rockefeller black Republicans as well as Nixon black Democrats, I can fully understand much of what it took to bring Ken Chenault to become CEO of American Express, as well as what it took to bring Ursula Burns to become CEO of Xerox. Whether or not the world will ever see these two achievements on American soil as being on par with the "belonging" that the great Josephine Baker achieved in her adopted land of France will always be debatable.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Wagner & Me

Sensitive and exiting
Everybody who love the music of Richard Wagner and maybe even has the chance to go to Bayreuth
should see this wonderful film.
Very good approach to the problem, that Wagner was an anti-Semite but also a great composer and to the fact, that the Wagner family had contact with Hitler even before he won the election.
Fry, who is absolutely exited about Wagners music ask himself (and other) questions to find out, whether he can allow himself to love the music under these circumstances.

The film has strong statements but is always carried by the joy, Fry has listening to the music , being in contact with the artists.

very recommendable .

An 89-minute history of Wagner and the Bayreuth Festival with a sidetrip to Fry's guilt as to loving Wagner while being a Jew
I first discovered British TV actor/commentator Stephen Fry a few years ago via the DVD titled "Stephen Fry's America" where he traveled through nearly all 50 states giving us an "outsider"' s view of our country. (I still recommend that title.). This 89 minute show co-produced by the BBC and released in Europe last year (now making it's NTSC debut) follows Fry on his first visit to the city of Bayreuth, Germany to attend the annual Bayreuth Festival of Wagnerian Operas which is presented in the theater that Wagner himself built (with land and money from "Mad" King Ludwig II) in 1876. We learn a few things early on in the program:
1) Wagner is Fry's hero
2) Fry can play piano - not great, but he can play
3) Wagner was a favorite of Adolph Hitler
4) Fry is Jewish (and some of his relatives died in the holocaust
5) Fry has an inner conflict as to whether he should actually attend the festival
These facts weave themselves through the program as Fry and his...

Stephen Fry takes on Wagner and Hitler in a brilliant film
Stephen Fry is one of the funniest men on earth, a man possessed of great acting talent. Think of the hysterical TV series A Bit of Fry and Laurie, 26 episodes co-starring Hugh Laurie revered as great comic genius to his awarding-winning portrayal of Oscar Wilde, his talent is enormous and somewhat audacious.
Richard Wagner was an incredibly abstruse German composer, author of many operas and especially well known for his series of creations collectively called Te Ring, four operas based of Germany's most popular myths. Wagner was Adolph Hitler's favorite composer. Fry is Jewish, and just old enough to recall the results of the Second World War.
So, why in the name of heaven would he do a motion picture entitled Wagner & Me (First Run Features)? Wagner was Adolph Hitler's very favorite composer, representing to him both the best of the Master Race and a faux history and prophecy of the Third Reich. How could an Englishman, who is Jewish, possibly reconcile Wagner's music...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Aswang Phenomenon (documentary on the Filipino vampire)

Interesting Documentary
I almost became an anthropologist, so this was particularly interesting to me. If you are just looking for a fast paced paranormal romp, this isn't for you.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Strictly Ballroom [Blu-ray]

More than just a dance movie...great life lessons are here
Baz Luhrmann at his finest. This terrific film is really three movies in one. First, there's the tremendous dance movie whcih centers on Scott Hastings (Paul Mecurio) and his struggles to introduce 'new steps' to the sheltered world of Austrailian ballroom dancing. For dance afficiandos, despite the broad comedy that infuses the movie, the dancing is the real thing. Mecurio is a formally trained dancer and you simply can't fake, edit, or body-double the moves he pulls off in this film. Even if you're not a dancer, Mecurio's athletiscism alone is worth seeing.

The second movie is a Dirty Dancing-style, boy-meets-ugly-duckling tale. The story allows you to peek behind the covers of a first generation Australian and her awkward attempts to fit into a new culture while maintaining her European ties at home.

The third movie is what sets Strictly Ballroom apart from the field - tremendously funny, broad caricatures squabbling around the periphery of Scott and his...

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cheer! A movie WALLOW!
This Australian gem is one of those rare films that entertains, thrills and pokes fun at an established activiity (in this case, a ballroom dance federation).

To take this film seriously is to miss out on one of the great moviegoing/ moviewatching experiences of the 1990s.

In a nutshell, an up-and-coming champion ballroom dancer gets bored dancing the same tired steps that everyone has danced in competition the past 50 years and wants to break out and do things his way. Of course, his way is the better way, but that causes all the angst, high drama, dashed hopes and utter hilarity that ensues as forces clash to prevent the young man from taking the ballroom dancing world by storm and up to a new level.

Of course, it's what we've all, always, expected: Things don't change in such events because those who judge and teach can only judge/teach that with which they are familiar.

The cast is perfect, from the dashing young lead embodied by...

My anti-depressant
Okay, maybe that's an overstatement, but the first time I watched this movie, I checked it out of the library. I was a recently divorced single parent of two, struggling with a house note and bills I couldn't pay. On this particular day, I was fighting a bad cold, and feeling generally tired and unhappy. I took this movie out based only on the "Two Thumbs Up" recommendation of Siskel & Ebert at the bottom of the case. After viewing this film, I felt energized and full of good humor. I eventually bought it and have shared it with my mom, sister, kids, friends, and new husband. They all loved it! Where do I start? 1. The performances. Everyone in this movie is wonderful. They are believable and credible even though the material is completely over the top so much of the time. I love these people. 2. Then there's the romance. The main love story is very sweet, but all throughout the film, you feel like romance is literally in the air. It's also amazing how much sensuality is...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Final Chapter [HD]

Great Series
Very graphic but has a good story line. Sometimes it can be a little too predictable. Great characters, Kevin Bacon is the reason why I started to watch the series. Overall, I enjoy the series.

Addicted after 2 shows!
I love thrillers. I'm a bit over bloodiness -- it's tolerable here. The suspense is awesome on this!! Kevin Bacon's acting gets much better as the show progresses. I think they do a good job after the 3rd episode of building out the characters. Each show leaves with such a cliff-hanger I can hardly wait for the next episode. Interesting story line although I'll be very curious how they can keep it going after 1 season... seems to be the trend lately where shows fizzle out after one season of a strong plot. Stringing plots along season to season is key and many shows can't seem to succeed with that lately.

If you like thrillers and are looking for a new show, this is a must see!

Great Concept, Good Acting, Bad Development
The twists and development was very intriguing at the start of the season, but after that it became the same tired recipe and gimicks right to the end. The acting is good, but through the whole season the only driving character is Joe Carroll; none of the other characters (including Kevin Bacon's Ryan Hardy) ever break out of their mold or suprise you as a viewer. I was left very dissapointed, this show had lots of potential.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Amorcito Corazon

So excited it's on DVD
The show was really good. I hope the editing on the DVD does it justice. I am willing to take a chance because I enjoyed the novela so much when it aired. I am thrilled it's coming out on DVD and can't wait until it's released.

Comentario Sobre la Edicion En Dvd de Amorcito Corazon
Me Gusto Mucho el DVD aunque en algunas partes se notan cortes bruscos en la Edición. El DVD 1 tiene una Escena repetida. La Historia en gral es muy Dinamica, Entretenida, Tiene Humor, Tiene Drama y Te Mantiene Espectante.
Hubiera preferido que dejaran algunas de las peleas de Hortencia con Manuela y de Manuela con Isabel pero no estan. Pese a todo a mi me gusto, la recomiendo por haber sido una buena Telenovela, por contar con un Buen Elenco y por la Historia en si.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Racing the Rock

Thrilling!
Gripping true story with breathtaking racing footage. You really get drawn into it and feel like you get to know the crew. A rollercoaster ride of thrills, twists and action.

A must for Miata fans
I had read and heard about this DVD from several sources and
when I found out I could get it on Amazon I jumped on it....
I don't know of anywhere else one could see this kind of action.
DVD is well made and entertaining...

Great Video for Flyin Miata fans
I really enjoyed watching this video. I'm a relatively new customer to Flyin Miata, and have only had my Miata for about 4 months. The video gives a little background on the Flyin Miata shop which I thought was cool. I especially enjoyed the part about crowd sources the funds for the Targa trip. That really shows you that Flying Miata are doing things right in terms of customer satisfaction.

A majority of the video details the actual Targa rally. If you've ever watched rally videos then you know what to expect, but if you haven't you'll get some really good insight into what it's like to run a Time Stage Rally. Best of all, you get to the Keith's V8 Miata tearing it up.

Click to Editorial Reviews

One Night Stand

A Must See
A phenomenally clever behind-the -scenes view of the making of a Broadway Show. Imagine what it would be like to write, direct, and perform a show--all within 24 hours. Watch the movie and you'll find out. So well edited. It's a wonderful creative boost for anyone in the arts.

3 Entertainment Thumbs up
Even more entertaining than anticipated! It gives the audience a chance to see actor/comedians like Rachel Dratch and Jesse Tyler Ferguson in a completely different setting. The amount of talent in this film is incredible, and the 24 hour time limit kept the excitment level up.

Fantastic documentary about the creative process
"One Night Stand" is nail-biting, poignant and very funny--a depiction of the mysterious workings of the creative process and the gut-wrenching anxiety that comes with performing. The movie features some incredibly talented Broadway stars (Cheyenne Jackson, Mandy Gonzalez, Alicia Witt, Richard Kind, Rachel Dratch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and many others) and gives you a glimpse into their process--what it's like to pull together a performance and make it look effortless, when in fact it is anything but. The movie is inspiring and totally captivating. I think it would be great to share with children, and anyone interested in the arts.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Ghosthunters - Tales From Dartmoor

The Grave of Kitty Jay
A ghost haunts a home in Dartmoor. A wicked, despicable spirit who is terrifying a family day and night. You'll need to watch the program to see how this haunting resolves itself.

Then there is Kitty Jay, a young girl between the ages of 16-22, an orphan girl who became pregnant and hanged herself. Flowers mysteriously appear daily at her grave which is located in the middle of nowhere.

Other haunted residences involving a clergyman and a woman appearing from out of the 18th or early 19th century, and whose names appear in the record of deeds - proving that these two people once existed.

Dartmoor has lots of roaming spirits - those who refuse to move on. My advice: Go to Dartmoor and experience these apparitions firsthand, and say hello to Kitty while you're there.....

Hauntings in Dartmoor
This Ghosthunters series explores supernatural phenomena in parts of England. In this episode, viewers learn about some mysterious occurrences in Dartmoor. There's a haunted house, a grave at a crossroads that's said to be the resting ground of a young girl named Kitty Jay who died tragically and whose grave has fresh flowers placed upon it even in terrible weather, though no one knows who does it, and then there's an old residence, one of the oldest in Dartmoor which is said to harbor the spirits of several people, including a reverend. There's really nothing creepy about these stories and I found the documentary interesting more because of the stories of olden days, and the cinematography of these old places is really beautiful.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Das Labyrinth

The Magic Flute Part 2? Irresistible!
Such is the supremacy and brilliance of Mozart's the Magic Flute that it's tempting to think of Peter von Winter's sequel as something of a novelty. Written in 1798, only seven years after the original, both librettos were however the work of the same man, Emanuel Schikaneder, so in reality there's no reason why Das Labyrinth (full title - Das Labyrinth or The Battle with the Elements, Part Two of The Magic Flute, a grand heroic-comic opera in two acts by Peter von Winter (shortened version)) shouldn't be seen as a legitimate work on its own terms. Rossini's Barber of Seville after all is a worthy prequel to Mozart's Marriage of Figaro since both works are drawn from the same source in the plays of Beaumarchais. De Winter's opera likewise is no novelty, but rather a fascinating work that has languished in obscurity for far too long. It's still nowhere near on a par with The Magic Flute, but then what is?

Well, it has to be said that unfortunately Das Labyrinth does...

Mozart's Ornamentation With Beethoven's Orchestration, An Exciting Mix
Updated Sept 24, 2013

In my earlier review I missed what now seems to me the most important point. Das Labyrinth is an attempt by von Winter to combine Mozart's ornamentation with Beethoven's future larger orchestra. While this makes for some very exciting music, the demands on the singers are overwhelming at times. Later, Wagner eliminated ornamentation in favor of an even larger orchestra, realizing that dramatic singing and ornamentation are not a good mix. As a sequel to Magic Flute story wise, Labyrinth is not very illuminating, however as a transition to Beethoven's Fidelio and Weber's Der Freischutz this is very exciting. With the exception of Julia Novikova's Queen of the night, this production is very well cast. Malin Hartelius as Pamina, in my opinion, is a great choice even though she is more a lyric than dramatic soprano. Her dramatic voice is not as beautiful as her lyric voice, however it is effective. In the more lyrical parts she more than...

I Have seen the original in Salzburg
and it is fabulous to have it at home.
Let us also produce Magic Flute III
I am ready, google for Wolfgang Ellenberger

Click to Editorial Reviews

Beat the Drum

A Must See
I have seen this film several times while flying overseas. I'm anxiously awaiting it's release in the States to purchase several copies. Having lost a son to AIDS I know firsthand the struggles the patients and their families endure. I'm also a missionary to several African countries and know the magnitude of the stigma and suffering. Whether you're affected by this disease or not, this is a heart-warming story that you won't want to miss. It's an eye opener to the facts surrounding this disease in that part of the world.

Beautiful and Sad. I Cried for Africa.
Every once in a while a film comes along that really says something that matters. Recommended from another writer's book on poverty and social change along with BLOOD DIAMOND and TSOTSI, I picked up the film. It employed purely African actors and film crews, besides the director, out of a purposeful effort. BEAT THE DRUM ended up being one of those films that matters. Enjoy.

Set in southern Africa near Jo'burg, the story follows the journeys of a young boy named Musa. His mother and cousins have all died from the curse, but when his father dies from it at the beginning of the film, he is doomed to be known as the boy from the cursed family. He leaves his small village and heads to Jo'burg to look for his uncle and buy a cow for his grandmother, a journey which leads him into danger on the streets of the big city as he scraps for money and food amid the street riffraff.

The secondary storylines follow an older truck driver who is on the road a lot, whose wife does...

Beat The Drum---captures all aspects
This film is so well done. It captures all the different aspects the face many Africans dealing with the AIDS virus...from the lack of education and knowledge in the village to the issues of prostitution and poverty in the cities. We used it as the foundation for a curriculum on HIV/AIDS education in Zambia, Africa and with every question or situation from the students we were always able to reference back to the movie. It is educational, entertaining and will definately move your spirit.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Capoeira: Fly Away Beetle [HD]

Great video!!!
If you want to learn more about capoeira not as a martial art, but as a philosophy of life this video is awesome. You will hear what Capoeira is from the masters. Photography of the film
is also great!

Interesting documentary on capoeira
Wish it had focused a bit more on the history of capoeira. Was very interesting however. Will watch it again.



Click to Editorial Reviews

A Little Piece Of Home

Superman: The Animated Series - Volume One!
Knuckle up, and join the Man of Steel in his fight for truth, justice, and the American way in Superman: The Animated Series - Volume One! From the producers of Batman: The Animated Series, Superman featured fun, intelligent, and action-packed stories; a magnificent main title theme by Shirley Walker; and the phenomenal voice talents of Tim Daly, Dana Delany, Clancy Brown, Corey Burton, Malcolm McDowell, Lori Petty, Brad Garrett, Brion James, and many, many others. This 2-disc set contains the show's first 18 episodes (all 13 Season One episodes, plus the first 5 Season Two episodes) which includes the 3-part pilot "The Last Son of Krypton", and the Superman II homage "Blasts From the Past" Parts I & II. Another highlight is the Superman Vs. The Flash charity race in the classic "Speed Demons", the first episode of the animated series to feature a guest-star superhero from DC Comics, and no doubt influenced the creation of the Justice League series. This collection features Full-Frame...

Superman, a great animated series
IMHO, Superman was just as good a series as Batman, the Animated Series. The stories were not on a higher level, but a different one. Batman reflected film noir dramas as well as having a classic, vintage feel. Superman was a little more lighthearted, more epic, and had a modern feel. As with the Batman series, each Superman episode can be a stand alone episode in itself, yet it all adds considerable detail to the series as a whole making it a signicantly rich world. The consequences and the results of certain episodes are also touched upon from time to time and even lay the foundation for even more dramatic storytelling.

This DVD set includes the first 18 episodes of the series I believe. Starting it off is the 3-part "Last Son of Krypton," which retells the origin of Superman and does a good job establishing the series. Other favorites of mine that are on this DVD set are "Stolen Memories," " The Main Man, Parts 1 & 2," "My Girl," "Blasts from the Past, Parts 1 & 2," and...

Good...but not Batman good
Superman is THE most overdone character in comics history. Movies, toons, TV shows, books, etc it is no wonder we are not sick of him by now... Which is why I give this show praise. It re-invented the character and made him more interesting than he has ever appeared before (until Smallville came along). From this first volume I enjoyed the episodes featuring LiveWire, Parasite, Metallo, Brainiac and the brief introduction to Darkseid. These episodes were all extremely well done and in the same mold as the much superior Batman: The Animated Series. However there are a few clunkers, too. The Prometheon is torture to sit through, as our the ones with the released Phantom Zone inmates and (I know I'm in the minority here) the Lobo episode.

I do have to give much kudos though for the Toyman! What an excellent and frightful interpretation of that character! Bravo! That face/mask alone would give any kid nightmares!

Again, I rate this beneath Batman because the writing...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Company (2003)

Dance fans everywhere will LOVE this. I certainly did!
Directed by Robert Altman, this film is about a year in the life of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, which is the true star of the film. It also stars Neve Campbell, who wrote and produced it as well, and it was surely an act of love on her part. Even though she was originally trained as a dancer, she still had to train for three months, seven hours a day before even beginning to train with the company, which took another few months before shooting began. She is a wonderful dancer and The Company brings this all out.

This is not a film about one person though. And it is not a film with lots of interlocking stories. Basically, it is a film about the creative process itself, and how an idea gets turned into an elaborate work of art. It's hard to get the feel of this onto the screen. But Mr. Altman is a master in making sure it all come together.

It takes more than hard work to be a member of the company. It takes talent, dedication and pain and there are a few shots...

A Tour de Force Of A FIlm!
I love ballet! I love good dance in general. So watching Robert Altman's "The Company" was 112 minutes of pure bliss. Altman takes us onstage, and off-stage, for a look at the world of dance, dancers, choreographers, set and costume designers and a ballet director, Alberto Antonelli, played wonderfully well by Malcolm McDowell. Actress Neve Campbell, best known for her roles in horror flicks, was trained for years in classical ballet. She is absolutely beautiful, and an extraordinarily lithe, exciting dancer. (No more scary movies Neve!!). It is obvious that she has put a lot of herself into this film. Not only does she play a major role, but she co-wrote and co-produced the movie. She did all of her own dancing, and seems to fit right in with the professional dancers from the Joffrey Ballet Troupe of Chicago, which is featured here.

The film is loosely structured and documentary-like. The viewer gets a fly on the wall look at a dancer's life as Altman takes us behind the...

A living memory
As a former dancer and one who participated in many performances, I have to admit this movie was like a living memory for me. I think, for a person to truly enjoy and appreciate this movie, they have to have either been involved in the performing arts at one point in their life, or have a deep appreciation for what the performing arts really are.

The manner in which this movie was filmed, makes one feel as though they are a member of the Joffery Ballet, themselves, living the life a dancer lives. There is a fluid, active plot, that is true to life as it occurs. This movie will be lost on mainstream movie-goers who need high action, intricately over involved plot lines and theaterics. That is why we have Hollywood. This film, reminds us, why we have the arts. It is a painful, draining devotion both on the body and the emotions, but we continue to do it because we are in love with it, and are addicted to the incredible result we get.

It is the subtleties that...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Penrod and Sam

Penrod series
Been looking for these on DVD for a long time. Loved the theme and the gentle lifestyle. Simpler times when everything seemed to fall nicely into place. Wonderful old movie.

A "must buy" only for the most devoted Booth Tarkington fans.
The story had a good moral and decent story line, but it wasn't something I would want to watch more than once.



Click to Editorial Reviews

She's Out Of Control

Must watch if you have a daughter
I recomend any dad watch this flick. If you have a daughter you will relate... Every Daddy's fear ... his daughter growing up. That is what this is about. It is hard to let go sometimes and at times we just don't know how. Tony in this movies has that problem and perhaps by watching it we may learn something. Most likely what not to do but hey.

Classic Teen Movie!
Keeping in mind that this is not Shakespeare, Chekov, or Ibsen here... it's a great movie! Every teenage girl should see this movie -- yes, it is a bit "old" by today's standards, but the plot is still great.

When Katie blooms into this glamorous, teen vixen overnight (with the help of her dad's girlfriend) her overprotective father is baffled and disapproving. When she first came walking down the staircase, backlit in that white eyelet dress and Frankie Avalon comes on in the background... I wanted to be that girl! Any twelve year old can appreciate this movie ;)

So... if you like lighthearted movies, this is a fun coming of age story that's worth a viewing.

Great Movie for the Whole Family!
Growing up I loved watching this movie and paid more in rental charges than I would have spent on just buying the movie. Now that I am grown and raising my own family I still enjoy the movie just as much. I have to say this is probably my favorite all time film.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Nickelodeon Favorites: Once Upon a Rhyme

Lots of Nickelodeon Fun!
My kids love their Nickelodeon characters but sometimes there are shows they don't really like or ones that I prefer they didn't watch. This is a great DVD collection with episodes from six of their favorite character friends. The DVD has a total of seven episodes with just over two hours of wholesome preschool fun.

Bubble Guppies
"Who's Gonna Play the Big Bad Wolf"

Team Umizoomi
"The Umi City Treasure Hunt"

The Fresh Beat Band
"Royal Wedding"

Dora the Explorer
"Dora Saves the Three Little Piggies"

Wonder Pets!
"Help the Cow jump over the moon" / "Save the Unicorn"

Blue's Room
"Little Red Riding Blue"

We love this DVD because my boys can take their favorite Nickelodeon characters with them anytime they want. While these episodes have been previously aired on television, it is still nice to have them all on one DVD. Blue's Room is probably their favorite because its not one...

Once Upon a Rhyme
Nickelodeon will be releasing Once Upon a Rhyme on DVD on April 30, 2013 featuring the most popular nursery rhyme episodes from Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, The Fresh Beat Band, Dora the Explorer, The Wonder Pets!, and Blue's Room.

I'm not too familiar with the programs aimed for pre-schoolers, but I was aware of Dora the Explorer and Blue's Room, but the other four shows are new to me. Nickelodeon nicely sent me a complimentary early copy for this review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Bubble Guppies is completely new to me. The series takes place in the underwater city Bubbletucky. This release features the episode "Who's Gonna Play the Big Bad Wolf", where Deema finds her passion for acting when she fills in as the Big Bad Wolf for the production of The Three Little Pigs.

In the episode Umi City Treasure Hunt from the series Team Umizoomi, Milli, Geo and Bolt find a treasure map and go on a treasure hunt all across Umi City. This is a cute...

Nickelodeon Favorites: Once Upon a Rhyme
Bought this DVD for my daughter to watch on long car rides. She loves all of the shows on it. It keeps her entertained for a couple hours, so no complaints here!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Absolute Power

Come the Apokolips
This is the last volume of Superman: The Animated Series, and includes the last 18 episodes of the show's 54-episode run. It's scheduled to release alongside a slew of Superman-related shows and movie tie-ins, including Justice League season 2 and a new direct-to-video movie featuring Brainiac. This is also the set fans have been waiting for.

Roughly speaking, volume 3 can be divided into thirds. The first third of the set are your typical self-contained Superman stories. We get the introduction of Maxima the warrior queen and Volcana (Peri Gilpin of Frasier). Toyman, Mxy, Bizzaro, and Jax-Ur and Mala return. There is an odd episode involving an alien menace in Smallville, and a dud spotlighting Jimmy Olsen.

The next third are team-up episodes. Superman meets Aquaman and Green Lantern (the Kyle Rayner version) for the first time, and teams up with Batman again to fight Ra's Al Ghul. The Legion of Superheroes help young Clark Kent fight Brainiac in Smallville, and...

Superman: The Animated Series - Volume Three!
Celebrate the Man of Tomorrow's triumphant return today with Superman: The Animated Series - Volume Three! Introducing guest-star superheroes Supergirl, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Orion and the New Gods, Legionnaires Cosmic Boy, Chameleon Boy and Saturn Girl (plus new characters Maxima and Volcana), this 2-disc set contains the 3rd (and final) wave of 18 episodes from the show's 54-episode series run.

From the far reaches of Apokolips comes the ultimate threat to planet Earth as mankind faces its most powerful enemy, the evil lord Darkseid. Darkseid's obsession with humiliating Superman and dominating the Earth feature prominently in the three excellent multi-part arcs "Little Girl Lost" (Supergirl debut), "Apokolips...Now!", and "Legacy." Also paying tribute to legendary comics writer/artist Jack Kirby and his Fourth World is the underrated Jimmy Olsen episode "Superman's Pal" (a homage to the "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" comic which Kirby used to introduce the Fourth World...

A rarity in a season: it's nearly perfect
With the upcoming release of Superman Returns, we of course are being treated to a wealth of Superman related DVD's such as the Justice League sets, the old George Reeves set, Dean Cain, a documentary, even Krypto the Wonder Dog is purchasable. Well with it comes a great addition: the third and last volume in the Superman Animated Series set which features some great episodes including some teamups and an all-and-out brawl with Apokolips and Darkseid.

Disc I:

Warrior Queen: It's decent. A stuck-up ruler gets turned on by Superman and wants him for a husband, only his refusal doesn't exactly make her nice. 7.5/10

Apokolips...Now!: Darkseid is planning to assault Earth and a new addition decides to help Superman. 9/10

Apokolips...Now! Part II: It's war as Earth/Superman and Apokolips' warriors go head to head which results in a shocking end to a character. 9.5/10

Little Girl Lost: Exploring Krypton's ruins, Superman comes across a...

Click to Editorial Reviews

I Heart Huckabees

Test Whether You'll Love or Hate this Love It or Hate It Movie
"I Heart Huckabees" is the ultimate love it / hate it movie. Few will say, "I could either go see 'I Heart Huckabees' or whatever else is playing at the multiplex."

Me? I loved "I Heart Huckabees." I loved it so much I can't even review it. I loved every performance, every line of dialogue; I loved it so much I want to form a club with others who loved this movie ... Normally, I can't stand Jason Schwartzman, and even he didn't ruin it for me.

How can you tell which camp you'll fall into? Here's a test. Agree or Disagree with the following statements:

1.) My friends and family tell me I think too much, and that my life would be much easier if I would just relax and not rock the boat.

2.) I've tried meditation, but gotten sidetracked when I found myself imagining taking a machete to people who annoy me.

3.) I could pick Franz Kafka out of a line-up that included Jean Paul Satre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Buster Keaton...

In my crazy world, weird = compelling...
Let me start off by saying, if you like "weird" movies that tend to draw a cult following (i.e. Napoleon Dynamite), you SHOULD love this gem. I did. If you want to know what the movie is about, read the back of the display case or any of the hundred or so reviews on Amazon.com. Let me provide you with some compelling reasons to purchase this disc: 1) Make no mistake, this film is WEIRD; 2) It has an underlying feel-good tone, making it a perfect flick to come home to after a crappy day at the office; 3) It ranks high on the "re-watchability" scale; 4) While the humor isn't for everyone, those that do find it funny, find it EXTREMELY funny; 5) The cinematography was very interesting and incorporated elements that I had never seen before in a film; 6) The soundtrack made an already funny film, funnier (and weirder); 7) The star-studded cast really nailed their roles; 8) I'd buy it for the "dinner scene" alone. All in all, this movie isn't for everyone, but those who enjoy it, enjoy...

This IS a DIVINE COMEDY!!
Thank you for I (HEART) Huckabees! Any attempt to consider the kinds of questions this film takes on are always welcome in my home. I was happy to see such a talented and varied team of professionals working on this film. This is a testament to their own open-mindedness and courage. I was fascinated throughout, not only by the performances of the actors, but also by the way in which the screenwriter presented his ideas...and the music...that was pretty cool too.

The film has been recapped already in these reviews. I have a checklist of who I think would particularly like this movie:

1. Anybody going through a big transition in their life (death, breakup of a relationsihp, change of work, moving).

2. Anybody who hears, contemplates or practices the teachings of Buddhism in all of its garden variety manifestations.

3. Anybody who knows they survived a difficult childhood (in one way or the other).

4. Anybody into philosophy...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Getting Back To Zero [HD]

funny movie
Great cast that presents a very serious storyline which results in humorous situations! Loved to see diversity of familiar to unfamiliar faces!

Fun flick!!!!
Fun, fast paced & original!! A well layered story with a Fabulously captivating ensemble cast & stand out performances from all the leads!!!!

Not a good movie
I didn't really think this was going to be a good movie, but thought I would give it a shot. The story was ridiculous to begin with and the two brothers, with their incessant bickering and witless banter, became downright annoying early on. The ending was as ludicrous as the start. Coupled with the poor acting, I would not recommend this movie.

Click to Editorial Reviews

If Winter Comes

Not A Classic But Still Very Enjoyable
The poster advertising for If Winter Comes is rather lurid: "Three Women In His Life. Was He A Love Thief?" It gives nothing away for me to respond, "No, He Wasn't".
If Winter Comes is a melodrama, and as such may seem laid on a bit thick to those accustomed to British understatement. The story is intense from the very start, and plot developments occur fast and furiously. While I don't know A.S.M. Hutchinson's novel, I have to believe it took more time in establishing character and atmosphere. The movie seems hurried, especially the first 45 minutes, in which peacetime England changes to wartime England and two years zip by with little segue.

What the film does have going for it is a superb cast led by Walter Pidgeon who plays a refined writer of textbooks and a real gentleman whose kindness extends to people from all social classes--a trait which brings him trouble. Deborah Kerr is quite fine (how could she be otherwise), although the scriptwriters could have...

Soaper still intrigues with Kerr & Lansbury portrayals
This is a traditional soaper, for sure, and probably would not be a box office hit today. But, Kerr makes the most of a rather sad role, and Lansbury is outstanding as the scorned wife. A very young Janet Leigh is interesting, but Walter Pidgeon is totally miscast as the leading man in this flick. He is far too old to play the part of Kerr's lover. He was 50+ when this film was made, and Kerr was still in her 20's. It doesn't come off as a believable romance of long-standing. But, i watched it twice and will probably view it again. Pidgeon was an excellent actor, but this was definitely not an appropriate venue for this venerable actor.

If Winter Comes
I watched it some time ago, and my memory of it is now dim. That tells me that I probably liked it, but it wasn't a 5-star movie for me. I didn't find it especially memorable.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Second Chance

This is the best bat series
This set will introduce Batgirl. Ra's Al Ghul will be in 4 episodes and we'll get to see the villians put Batman on trial at Arkham. Even Alfred Gets a Real Good Battle With Red Claw. Plus Batman fights Bane, Catwoman and more. this is a must have.

Episode list:

557- Shadow of the Bat Pt1

558- Blind as a Bat

559- The Demon's Quest pt1

560- His Silicon soul

561- Shadow of the Bat pt2

562- Fire From Olympus

563- The Demon's Quest pt 2

564- Read my lips

565- The worry Men

566- Sideshow

567- A Bullet for Bullock

568- The Trial

569- Avatar

570- House & Garden

571- The Terrible Trio

572- Harlequinade

573- Time out of Joint

574- Catwalk

575- Bane

576- Baby-Doll

577- The Lion and The Unicorn

578- Showdown

579- Riddlers Reform...

New Villains! 29 (not 28) episodes! Batgirl!
This is a hard decision, but I have to say that this volume is better than the other two. Barbara Gordon gets introduced as Batgirl for the first time, and we meet new villains! Ra's Al Ghul, Baby-Doll, Scarface, Bane, Lock Up, are Maxie Zeus and introduced in these 29 great episodes. Mr. Freeze, The Riddler, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, The Mad Hatter, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, The Clock King, and Red Claw return! This is clearly a better volume than the previous because it concludes "Batman: The Animated Series," and has cool extras. Some people, however, think that the extras (special features) are bad because they're mainly commentary. Well, I hope you buy this totally awesome 4-disc set.....packed with 609 minutes of action!!! Some episodes descriptions to get you interested are the following: Ra's Al Ghul needs Batman's help to find his daughter Talia, Batman's villains hold a trial against him, Scarface frames Catwoman, the Joker steals an atomic bomb, Red Claw plans to...

THE FINAL 28 EPISODES
In the final release of Warner's Batman the Animated series we get another 28 episdoes of one of the finest animated shows ever created. I would heartily disagree with John Q. Public's opinion of Anime-style animation and weak voice acting. True the animation was done by Studio Junio and has some Anime influence I would not consider this Anime style at all. John Q. evidently has never seen true Anime before or such a ridiculous statement would never have been made.

Batman was just a great series and far superior to the Batman Beyond and the New Batman series. This is the tough, gritty Batman of Bob Kane although updated for modern times but still great to look at for its art-deco stylings. My favorite episodes on this collection include:

"The Demon's Quest parts 1 & 2" Batman must agree to an uneasy alliance with arch-villian Ras Ah Ghul when his daughter Talia and Robin have been kidnapped under similar circumstances.

"Sideshow" Killer Croc...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Kaijudo: Rise Of The Duel Masters: Dragonstrike

Kaijudo Rise of the Duel Masters
Hi,

I got both DVD sets I really like them I do hope that they will put the whole season one out on DVD real soon and do more new shows as well it would be nice to see new shows. It's a really good show.

Candy

Amazing Imagery
Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters - Dragonstake is about a 14 year old middle school student named Ray and his adventures with his friends Ali and Gabe. Together they train in the ancient art of Kaijudo. This is a fighting martial art that summons creatures from another dimension.

This disc contains journeys that take Ray and his friends to the other side of the vail, a wall of energy that separates creature kind and humans. From deep into the heart of the volcanic fire civilization to the mystical and luminous cities of the light civilization, together they have to remain strong.

Ray, Ali and Gabe with training and strength have to do whatever it takes to defeat the Choten, an evil master mind that wishes to enslave all of creature kind under human control.

This disc does not go in order sequential order, there are episodes in between that are missing in this series. Kaijudo is a work of visual art and the special effectsare phenomenal. My 13 and 10...



Click to Editorial Reviews

The Guilt Trip (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

Streisand and Rogen Bring Considerable Comedy Chops to a Lightweight Road Trip Movie
Aside from her near-cameo appearances in two ensemble comedies, Barbra Streisand has not starred in a movie in sixteen long years, not since 1996's The Mirror Has Two Faces which she also directed. Her output as an actress has been meager since around 1980 when she started directing films, building houses and returning to the concert stage periodically, so it was with both great anticipation and some trepidation that I saw this light-hearted 2012 comedy. What a relief to find she hasn't missed a beat in her sharp comedy timing. I think she's terrific as Joyce Brewster, the energetically overbearing mother of Andy, an organic chemical engineer who long ago moved to California and has recently invented a cleaning solution he is pitching to various store chains headquartered across the country. He plans a weekend visit with Joyce in New Jersey, but upon an intriguing discovery about her past, he invites her on an...

STREISAND AND ROGEN'S CHEMISTRY GIVES HEART TO THIS MOVIE
GUILT TRIP is a welcome change from most films Hollywood powerbrokers tend to finance. Like HOPE SPRINGS which was released earlier this year, this film is NOT the sidesplitting comedy one would expect to see from the theatrical trailers promoting the film. Instead it is a warm and endearing film focusing on a relationship between mother and adult son. This is one of Streisand's most subdued but convincing performances in years. She is not the larger than life persona we've seen in previous films. Rogen gives a nice performance as Andy, a character very unlike others he's created in past films. This is definitely a film I'll enjoy watching from time to time and sharing with friends.

A Instant Classic
I took my dad to see this movie. A couple years back I lost my mother, coincidentally my mother and I went to see A mirror has two faces the last movie she released where Barbra was the star. In one scene, halfway through the movie an incident happens and it changes the dynamics of this movie. Anyway, I sat there at the end when others were laughing and tears were rolling down my eyes. I can remember similar situations with my mother, I loved her but I'm also a gay male, I wasn't the only child but the distance between my eldest brother and I (I'm the baby) is 10 years. I also was the gay male so I can understand the story plot very well. Would I see it again, I have, this time alone, still cried at the end but it was a good cry. Now don't get me wrong the ending is not sad, but I loved my mother, she was my friend and as we get older they tend to become our friend, just wish I had more time with her. Excellent movie, really!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves (Director's Cut) [HD]

Historically inaccurate but still a fun viewing experience..
Over the years, it seems that the Robin Hood saga has been a favorite of sorts for film makers to re-invent, manipulate, and showcase again and again. No doubt due to global appeal and the premise of a hero taking from the rich, giving to the poor, and fighting the good fight.

Of all the Robin Hood films ever produced, it's readily apparent that Prince of Thieves relies less on genuine historical accuracy and leans more toward Hollywood flair which still makes for an entertaining film. Despite using no English accent (which appears to grate on some reviewers for some reason), Kevin Costner presents himself well in the role of Robin Hood. Coupled with fine performances from Morgan Freeman, Alan Rickman, Christian Slater, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, (to name just a few), the story moves at an exciting pace and hits the mark as a stand up adventure movie that doesn't disappoint.

As for the new 2 disc special edition release of this movie, it just got a whole lot better. Not...

Let me straighten some things up....
"Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" is a rolicking adventure ride that will please most people. If ya can't get past the accents, then miss out on a good movie.

Let me clear a few things up:

1. "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" was on a tight production schedule. There were three (count 'em, three) Robin Hood movies being produced at the same time, and the one to come out finished first would be the one released in theatres. One production gave up and backed out. That left two Robin Hood movies - one with Kevin Costner, and one with Patrick Bergen.

2. Because of the tight schedule, Kevin Costner's accent was dropped to be "dubbed over" in post production. They simply didn't have the time to worry about accents if they wanted to get the movie finished.

3. Filming complete, the dubbing was dropped because of lack of time and the movie was finished. "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" was released theatre-wide, whereas the...

Poor blu-ray transfer
I love the movie, but this is just another Warner Brothers standard DVD transfer. Says 1080p HD on the case, but it is just barely better than original DVD. Not even close to being on par with newer blu-ray DVD's. Save your money and wait for a digitally remastered version in HD. Hang onto your old DVD, I didn't.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Community College

Love this movie!! It is THE must see Comedy of 2012!!
I have been to a screening of this movie and was absolutely blown away. This is what the Breakfast Club in its cult classic status, wished it was. Get this movie, do not wait, or else it will be too late!
Great storyline and well written, the cast members are very polished. You wont see a better comedy than this one! I mean even the extras are awesome, particularly the guy in the red polo shirt in the bar scene, see its THAT memorable.
Do yourself a favor and grab a copy, this will be come iconic!

Hilarious!
Excellent movie! You'll be talking about it for months! Great film for anyone who likes to laugh! You'll love it, order it today!

Shane
I'm so glad I got this...this is one of those movies that I could watch over & over again. It's completely silly but it's so easy to watch and just so funny! It's officially on my favorite comedies list (yes--I actually have one).

Click to Editorial Reviews

Bruckner: Symphony No 4

Another fine recording in an impressive series from Welser-Most
Welser-Most has been supported by a major Upper Austrian bank for over 25 years now as a cultural envoy. This level of support suggests that Welser-Most has something special to offer in terms of Austrian music especially. In particular, Welser-Most has a passion for Bruckner that translates into meticulous orchestral preparation followed by performances of remarkable detail that manage to still come alive musically. These general observations apply to this new recording.

This recording is a performance of the 1888 version of this symphony in the new performing edition by Benjamin Korstvedt. The result is a performance of considerable splendour. The description of 'Cathedrals in sound' is easy to comprehend here, especially in the splendid setting of St. Florian in Austria. There are other versions of the symphony which may be more familiar but Welser-Most believes this new edition of the 1888 version is now the best.

I have grown to like this edition and...

Sublime Bruckner
This is a wonderful performance of Bruckner's fourth Symphony. The Cleveland Orchestra is almost flawless – they had such an incredible ensemble that every breath is felt by the entire group.Welser-Möst is one of the best conductors where Bruckner is concerned. This disc isn't is perfect as the performance of Bruckner's eighth Symphony with the Cleveland Orchestra (they had the advantage of performing in their own Hall) but it is still extremely wonderful.

A Gripping Performance By the Cleveland Orchestra
This is another in the series of Bruckner DVDs by the Cleveland Orchestra under Franz Welser Most. The video and sound are outstanding. The picture is crystal clear and the director focuses on many of the orchestra's musicians. Welser Most has run into a fair amount of criticism during his career, but this effort is absolutely first rate. The pacing is excellent, neither too slow nor too fast and the symphony builds to its dramatic conclusion. For those who like Bruckner, this should be purchased and enjoyed.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Friends: The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray]

Friends' Best Season!
Friends- The Complete Second Season is packed full of extra features, like an interactive tour of Rachel and Monica's gorgeous apartment (now Monica and Chandler's place), a trivia challenge game to find out how much you know about Friends and much more!

Personally, I consider this to be Friends' best season for two reasons. The first one being the great episodes showcasing the beginning of Ross and Rachel's relationship ("The One Where Ross Finds Out," "The One With the List," "The One With the Prom Video" and "The One Where Ross and Rachel...You Know") and secondly, the hilarious Chandler and Joey moments during the time when Joey's moving out ("The One Where Joey Moves Out," "The One Where Eddie Moves In" and "The One Where Dr. Ramoray Dies"). This is a must have for any Friends fan!

Just so you know what episodes you'll be getting in this collection, here's a complete list:

1. "The One With Ross' New Girlfriend"- Rachel is mad when Ross brings home his new girlfriend, Julie...

Your favorite F.R.I.E.N.D.S back on dvd with a new season!
With their release of Season 1, only a few months back, F.R.I.E.N.D.S are ready to release their dvd box set of season 2 episodes on September 3rd! The fun and laughter continues in this season too as we see the relationships between our favorite friends, and their day to day adventures in nyc :-) Starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox Arquette, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, "Friends" have come a long with, with the release of their 9th season this fall.

Since its debut season (1994-95), "Friends" has received 33 Emmy Award nominations, including four for Outstanding Comedy Series. The cast won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 1996 for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Series and has been nominated three times (1996, 1997, 1998) for a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy. "Friends" won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New Comedy Series in its first season, and has since won twice more as Favorite Comedy...

I'll have another!
After the success of the first season on DVD, we could only expect this to be announced as quickly as possible by Warner Home Video. The second season of "Friends" was brought to viewers with a settled pre-existing foundation. The first season developed each character inch-by-inch until we were ready to root for Ross and Rachel to get together. In a wonderfully conceived cliffhanger to season one we were left questioning the outcome to Rachel's bold move at the airport.

When season two picked up, we found out that Ross was going to be a tougher catch than Rachel thought. This made for quality television when Rachel began to flirt with Ross in blatant attempt at winning his affection. Once Rachel accidently announces to Ross that she has fallen for him, he is presented with the incredibly difficult decision between Julie and Rachel. He's had a crush on Rachel since high school, but he's gotten serious with Julie. That too is accompanied by good writing and classic moments in...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Tunnel Vision [HD]

tunnel vision
Tunnel vision was a good movie good plot but it didn't play in my blue ray player I had to play it on a standard DVD player other than that I was pleased with the movie

Great movie!
I'm from New Castle, PA where the movie was shot. I missed it when it was in the theater and have been looking for a copy of the DVD for awhile now.

The acting is pretty good. It can be a little slow at times, but I think it fits the movie. I wouldn't consider it an action movie, more of a dark drama. The setting for the movie couldn't have been better, not because I was born in New Castle, but because New Castle is a drab and dark place especially in the winter when this movie is set. I watched it twice the night I got it. It was fun picking out people I knew and what places were shown.

-Charlie

Loved it!
All the right elements came together in this fun, suspenseful independent thriller. The work and dedication of the cast and crew is apparent at every turn.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Star Trek I: The Motion Picture [Blu-ray]

22 years in the making, and worth the wait!!!
Star Trek: The Motion Picture was, until now, a classic example of a film which suffered from a rushed post-production. It is well known in ST fandom how the film that was originally hired to do the effects for this movie bascially fell flat on their collective face, leaving Robert Wise and Co. with only a few months to start from scratch on their effects, and a release date that was carved in stone. They went to superhuman effort in order to get everything done by the deadline, and they barely made it. The final effects sequences actually had to be physically spliced into hundreds of copies of the film, right before their delivery to theaters! The fact that the effects were as good as they were is truly miraculous. This is the most cinematic of all the ST movies to date, although The Wrath of Khan comes pretty close. The soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith is one of the GREATEST film scores ever.

Of course, the main feature of this DVD is the fact that Robert Wise got to go back...

Star Trek: The New Motion Picture (advanced screening)
I got the DVD about 4 hours ago. The second that I peeled all those security stickers off my DVD box, I popped it open, place the disc in my player, turned up the Dolby Digital, my super sub-woofer... my high density screen, shut down all light sources, put my PowerMac G4 to sleep, turned off my phones, and laid back for what I hoped would be a nice treat.

Paramount should be ashamed of themselves. This edit should be in theaters. This isn't a minor achievement in quality increase. This is now a great film. I am literally stunned right now.

It isn't a matter of effects, so much as it is about dynamics of motion... The tightening of scenes.... Little tweaks here and there.... An added scene here, a missing one here... Revealing more about the characters, keeping a character from being less than he should be.

First off, the Visual Effects shots are absolutely superior, while remaining exactly of the same palette as the original film. These new shots add a consistent sense of...

The Human Adventure is Just Beginning
In December of 1979, when Star Trek The Motion Picture was released, it was apparent to audiences that this was no ordinary "shoot 'em up" science fiction movie--this was a serious film with complex plotting and "big" ideas. Yet, somehow the whole film seemed "off," and lacking the TV show's charm. What was not generally known at the time was that, with the premiere date looming and numerous visual effects sequences not completed--and never having had a test screening--Director Robert Wise basically assembled what he could and physically carried the print to the film's debut. (The final visual effects sequence was literally cut into individual prints of the film before they were express shipped to theaters.)

It says something for Wise's ability to work under pressure (he edited Citizen Kane, after all) that, despite mixed reviews, no major critics were able to deduce that they were viewing an unfinished film. It's also a testament to everyone involved in the project...

Click to Editorial Reviews

I'm a Stripper

I'm A Stripper
Having been a "Stripper", I find this movie" I'm A Stripper" a complete puff piece and insult to the "Stripping" side of the Adult Entertainment business. After catching the tail end of this pseudo documentary on television, I was curious to see what I've missed and did the film makers give an accurate portrayal of what it is really like being a "Stripper", and the answer was NO. I was shocked to see that a movie about "Stripping" had zero full frontal nudity at all, why do a movie about "Stripping" and leave out the most important part??? You see more nudity on basic cable tv and in advertising ads. Why is the male nude body something to be ashamed of, when again the title of the movie is called "I'm A Stripper"??? In this movie you are being shown a super sanitized version of what supposedly happens at these guys "Stripping" jobs with no full on nudity. The only exception I'll spare is the boring/cheesy Las Vegas show "Thunder from Down Under", which is more like attending an...

OMFG!
I thought this doc did a great job of getting into the heads of 4 different guys and what motivates them to work in the adult industry. There was so much going on psychologically with each guy. It was also pretty hilarious - especially Jeremy and the King. There were many times when I was absolutely shocked and couldn't believe what I was seeing or hearing.

The guys are hot, the music was great and I really enjoyed this insight into the lives of dancing men.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Patlabor (OVA)

Breath-takingly beautiful transfer
I admit it. I am a Patlabor fan boy. I love anything and everything Patlabor. This OVA series is no exception.

Before we start, I will say that if you already own the CPM release, keep it. The only reason to keep it isn't because the Blu Ray stinks - the reason to keep it is for the Mamoru Oshii commentary. None of the other extras on the original DVDs are really worth missing, but this omission means I am keeping my DVDs close at hand.

Patlabor OVA is a collection of mostly one off stories (well, except the single two parter). The first episode goes into the formation of the squad, while each subsequent episode seems to up the storytelling ante. Whereas the movies are thought provoking mind benders (sort of... Oshii was just hitting his stride before Ghost in the Shell), these aren't quite so much, but every episode is definitely worth viewing.

The story goes that in the future the world is populated with Labors, bipedal mechs used for all sorts of...

Great show! Poor quality for Blu-ray!
Whoever says that this was an excellent transfer is false. If you compare this to Bandai's release back in 2010 you'll realize that section 21 did a s***ty job at hte transfer to blu-ray. I bought mine, popped it in the blu-ray player and what to I see? An upscale version with the grain from VHS to dvd port era! This isn't blu-ray quality at all! Section 21/Made in Japan makes blu-ray look like joke. Not only that, the subtitles are sloppily put together. The subtitles are way to large for the video and they often go beyond the constraints of the 4:3 standard resolution screen. This is crap production quality. This looks nothing like the Japanese conversion procedure from dvd to blu-ray. Section 21 thought they could pull a cheap one over us by not grabbing the remastered blu-ray versions from Bandai, instead give us an upscale version from the older DVD releases.

I suggest to you all to keep away from this version and buy bandai's blu-ray release. It's cleaner and looks...

Good classic mecha anime series
Looks beautiful on Blue-ray; you can hardly guess this show was made in the '80s. Buy this so we can get the full Patlabor series and movies.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Funny Girl [Blu-ray]

The Greatest Star Comes to DVD - Worth the Wait!
First off - the DVD: It's a letterbox transfer of pristine new print that has been digitally restored (sometimes frame by frame) back to its original condition. Funny Girl hasn't looked this good in thirty years - so if you've only seen it on VHS or TV, you're in for a visual treat. I saw the restored print on a huge screen this past fall, and believe me, this transfer does it justice. In addition they have included the pre-show and intermission music as well. The additional documentary material is nothing to write home about. But I think whoever did the DVD menu deserves kudos for styling it like the New Amsterdam theater marquee from the first shot of the movie, with highlights from the film playing in the background. Very appropriate and very clever.

Funny Girl is A.) the musical biography of comedienne-singer Fanny Brice, and B.) the Oscar-winning film debut of 26 year old Barbra Streisand. As theatrical history lesson it's pretty flawed - (Arnstein was Brice's *second*...

"He's got polish on his nails."
The ultimate showcase for an actress, Barbra Streisand's highly publicized film debut in FUNNY GIRL met every single expectation and then some. The film was the highest-grossing film of 1968, and it's very easy to see why. The film has many great qualities: It's expertly directed by three-time Academy Award winner William Wyler (the finale of the "Don't Rain On My Parade" number is just as astonishing as the chariot race in Wyler's BEN HUR), the storyline is extremely compelling, Omar Sharif is an incredibly suave and charismatic leading man, the supporting players are perfectly cast (particularly Kay Medford, Lee Allen, and Walter Pidgeon), and the song score (primarily by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill) is first-rate.

However, virtually everything that FUNNY GIRL has working for it would be worthless without Barbra Streisand's absolutely phenomenal performance. I honestly cannot think of enough good descriptive adjectives to do justice to her amazing performance in this film...

Streisand's First, Streisand's Best
Wow. One usually becomes a Streisand fan after seeing this movie. I certainly did. Streisand's movie debut begs the question: "Is a nose with deviation such a crime against the nation?" (sung by Fanny Brice's mother in the film). Barbra is Fanny is Barbra. When Streisand as Fanny tells Omar Shariff as Nick that he made her feel "beautiful", who can not love this woman?

The new DVD includes a restored version of the film and an incredibly clear soundtrack. Unless you saw the limited theatrical release this summer, then you have probably never seen FUNNY GIRL in its widescreen presentation. For years I had watched a faded pan-and-scan VHS version. Barbra's hilarious business of straightening her dress in the "You Are Woman" scene is completely cut out in pan-and-scan! Director William Wyler shot the film with a lot of widescreen compositions that the pan-and-scan versions always butchered. Thank you, Columbia, for this restored, widescreen DVD!

I...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Kyatto-Ninden Teyandee

If you loved Pizza Cats...
...it'll be hard not to like this DVD set. As a warning, this is Japanese audio only with English subtitles. Since the English version has many edits, it is a separate release.

Kyatto Ninden Teyandee is the original show that became the basis for Samurai Pizza Cats. There are some noticeable differences, primarily that KNT isn't quite so gag heavy. It's still entertaining in its own right, but you'll likely get less out of it if you're unfamiliar with Pizza Cats.

The picture quality is pretty good for a show that's 20+ years old. There may be an occasional error in the subtitles, but they are more than sufficient for your viewing needs. There's very little in the way of extras, mainly clean versions of the opening and closing.

Chances are you already know if you want this set or not. It's a nice compilation and just amazing for all the effort that went into making this DVD set available at all.

New Perspective
A totally different (but still funny) look at this footage. It takes itself somewhat seriously and provides some background for the world that SPC does not. Samurai Pizza Cats still has a better theme song though.

Kyattou Ninden Teyandee
The DVD is perfect. The quality and the subtitles are Amazing, just like I expected it! I reccomand this product to every Kyatto Ninden Teyandee fan, because it's the only opportunity to see your favourite series with the original dialogues and translated in the english subtitles!

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Revisionaries

See How a Handful of Fundamentalists Decides What Your Kids are Taught in School
Texas native Scott Thurman reports from the latest of the front lines of the American culture wars: The Texas State Board of Education. Thurman captures the action as the the far-right majority of the board, led by governor-appointed chairman and small-town dentist Don McLeroy, decide on the language used in public school text books for the state of Texas until the year 2020.

The first battle is over language used in science texts, specifically in regards to wording about the "weaknesses" of theories and how it affects the teaching of the theory of evolution. Battling the board members are activists with the National Center for Science Education and the Texas Freedom Network. This may at first seem to the casual observer to be a bit of hair splitting and semantics--a case of left v right political squabbling. But then we see the board members' true intentions in the film's behind-the-scenes footage, as McLeroy publicly brags about his belief in a 6,000-year-old Earth,...

Eyes wide open
The Revisionaries showcases how public education has become the latest battleground in a new wave of cultural, religious and ideological clashes, with local Texas education board members advancing agendas of Creationism and other religious issues in public schools. This documentary highlights how their tactics have had the effect of rewriting key tenets of U.S. democracy and are affecting educational policies at the national level

The Revisionaries
I recently reviewed a film in which the following statement was made: "Fanaticism is often nothing more than the other face of madness." Watching the powerful and very informative "The Revisionaries," I couldn't help but think about this statement, and how true it is.

The documentary can be viewed as a tragic-comedy, as it displays how sad and serious, as well as at times funny, the state of our union is in regard to some issues. In this case, the issue is science versus religion. Director Scott Thurman, who also produced and wrote the film, takes us to the glorious state of Texas, where we meet Don McLeroy, who is being grilled by state officials in reference to "fifteen bills around here, to strip your authority." You see, McLeroy is a local dentist and Sunday school teacher, who heavily supports the "intelligent design" concept and is against evolution. He also happens to be the Texas School Board's chairman, and he is part of a select group that decides the contents of...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Live in Munich

A slight improvement on an already-must-have DVD
There's not a lot of information on Amazon or the web in general about this new edition of Rainbow's Live In Munich DVD, so I thought I'd provide some. The ONLY difference between the original 2006 release and this new 2013 version is the addition of the 11-minute original '76 special (for US TV?) "Rainbow Over Texas '76". This is an EXTREMELY welcome addition, as the special, as grainy as it may be, has bits of footage of Rainbow performing "Stargazer", and, this is the big one, "A Light in the Black"!!! Wow! Almost certainly the only surviving video footage of those songs being played live. The special also has some exclusive interviews with Ritchie and Ronnie. All in all, it's definitely worth seeking out the newer version over the original if you're buying it for the first time, and if you already have the original one, well, you have to ask yourself, how big of a Rainbow fan am I? For me, for 10 bucks it was a no-brainer, and I'm really glad I got the new one. The DVD...

Dio,led Rainbow
Really like this dvd, it captures Rainbow at an important point in their career.Video quality is limited because of the technology of the day.Great set by Rainbow.I saw them live six times and was always enamored by their style.This dvd is a time capsule of that era.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Die Hugenotten [Blu-ray]

Good German version of Les Huguenots
Poor Giacomo Meyerbeer. The once highly regarded titan of the 5-Act Grand Opéra is now not only long out of fashion but, to judge by the press coverage of the Royal Opera House's recent widely derided production of Robert Le Diable, on the rare occasion when his work is revived it is scarcely treated with the seriousness and sincerity in which it was undoubtedly composed. Musically however, and even historically, there's a lot to find of interest in Meyerbeer work, particularly in that other beast of an opera, Les Huguenots (1836), but it's a work that many opera houses nowadays would consider an expensive risk and difficult to cast. Conducted by Stefan Soltesz and directed by John Dew, this 1991 Deutsche Oper Berlin production inevitably won't satisfy purists (should such a thing as a Meyerbeer purist exist in this day and age), but it is one of the most important opera works of yesteryear, and it's worthwhile for that alone.

The first thing you will note about...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Crazy Wisdom

The Wisdom And Power Of Emptiness
My first encounter with Trungpa Rinpoche was in the mid-seventies when while in graduate school I was given a copy of Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism. A wonderful and fascinating read, the book propelled me to learn more about its author and his thinking by further exploring his writings. I knew about Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado, which he founded in 1974. And I went to a lecture in New York City where I had a first-hand experience of the incredible power of emptiness of mind when while walking down the aisle to my seat I gazed upon him at the front of the room and experienced a moment of radical nothingness for perhaps the first and last time in my life. I thought I knew a lot about him but Crazy Wisdom opened up a window into his life and work that expanded my knowledge greatly. It is a well-made film by a documentarian who clearly relishes in her subject. He was quite a guy: Monk, philosopher, psychologist, teacher, exile, sensualist and addict, and a unique figure...

A moving and informative account
A well-made, engaging, beautiful, and informative film. If you know nothing about Trungpa from the get-go, you'll find this movie intriguing; if you are very familiar with Trungpa, you'll find the movie to be an even-handed, respectful, and touching representation, especially deft in the way it handles his more controversial side.

wisdom yes; crazy...depends
I'll confess from the start that I am a student of Chogyam Trungpa's son and heir, Sakyong Mipham. Having confessed, I am deeply appreciative of this film's depiction of an astounding figure, a fearless teacher, and a genuine human being. The viewer is given the opportunity to experience what it must have been like to be around Trungpa, discovering groundlessness, wakefulness, delight, and terror by his very presence. The filmmaker has elected not to include critical views outside his community of practitioners, but she does not hesitate to address the salacious aspects of sex and liquor that often overwhelm consideration of Trungpa's essential sanity and selflessness. KI KI SO SO!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Universe of Sound: The Planets [Blu-ray]

A disc closely linked to the audio visual project in London
This disc celebrates more than Holst's Planets suite as its very title suggests. Another main clue lies in the much advertised number of 37 cameras used for the production. This disc is really an extension of the Universe of Sound project and audio visual experience put on in London's Museum of Science in 2012. This was an attempt to engage with the attending 'audience' members by providing a wrap-round experience of being within an orchestra at the time of its playing. Furthermore there were interactive options to find out what it feels like to conduct the orchestra by using linked software.

This was a very major initiative and investment in terms of cost, time and technology and seems to have been very successful. The next project concerns the Rite of Spring.

For purchasers of this disc there are various extras but this does not include the interactive conducting. There is the option to watch and hear a descriptive documentary which gives a musical listening...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Blow Him Away!

Fun and Informative
Dr. Sayaka is super approachable and friendly. I learned so much and feel much more confident about a subject that I didn't really know how to ask questions about before. Whether you are super comfortable or more shy about these things Dr. Sayaka creates a fun, sex-positive and tasteful environment both within her DVD and in person. I highly recommend this video and look forward to her next one about women's sexuality and orgasms.

Great DVD
This is a great DVD, and sure to teach even a seasoned blow-joyer a few new tricks. Dr. Sayaka is enthusiastic, entertaining, and most importantly, very knowledgable on the subject. The techniques are easy and accessible for everyone, they are geared toward anyone who wants to give great head and have a good time doing it. The video is also very tastefully done - the women in the video are regular women, and they practice the techniques on zucchini. I can't recommend it highly enough, and can't wait for Dr. Sayaka to produce some more videos!

A must have for the bedroom!!!
Blow him away is wonderful. I was surprised there were so many techniques to learn. I thought i'd watch the film and already know what to do. About two techniques in I was excited to see what i was going to learn next. The instructions were clear and easy to understand and do. Thank you very much i am very pleased and look forward to your next dvd so that my guy can learn some new techniques as well.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Splendors Of The Spirit: Swedenborg'S Quest For Insight

Foot notes!
In a previous incarnation, I wanted to be an English Lit teacher..and planned to write my thesis on Imanuel Swedenborg. Why him? Because in reading surveys of English, American, and French literature I consistantly found I.S. in the footnotes as having influenced said writers. Watching this DVD was a real treat, since I never wrote the thesis, but had retained the fascination with the subject. I'm amazed that learning about this scientific and spiritual genius is not more mainstream.

Splendors of spirit:Swedenborg Quest For Insight
I found this DVD to contain excellent information although the picture wasn't of the greatest quality but for a very old film we were still able to enjoy the workings of an incredible man. I am sure that this film will help others to understand that life is a circle and an eternal circle of life. Our existence is for ever, our earthly body just for awhile. It was received well by my meditation students who are in the process of learning more of their spiritual path.

This DVD will not play on all DVD players ...
Like the other reviewers I find the life of Swedenborg and the movement that resulted from his beliefs fascinating. Unfortunatly this DVD (I tried 2 different DVDs) wouldn't play in my Toshiba SD-3109 DVD player. I live in the USA and haven't had any trouble with any other DVDs playing in my Toshiba, so I am a little puzzled as to what is going on here with this DVD. Anyways, I just wanted to give those a 'heads-up' who are considering purchasing this DVD that it may not play in their DVD player. Before purchasing I suggest you rent a copy from your local DVD store or Netflix to make sure it will work in your player.

Click to Editorial Reviews