The Amazing Spider-Man (Limited Edition Four-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD with Figurines)

The Amazing Spider-Man - point by point
I read a lot of reviews for this movie before watching it myself. In the end, they all boiled down to a few basic criticisms, which I kept in mind as I made my own appraisal. Here are the major problems people seem to have had with Marc Webb's "Amazing Spider-Man", along with my responses.

1. The reboot was too soon.

This more or less depends on your point of view. True, the last Spidey movie was in 2007, a mere five years ago - more than long enough to warrant another Spider-Man film; not exactly long enough to call for a complete reboot. On the other hand, I think a lot of people would agree that it's been more like eight years since the last GOOD Spider-Man film. I loved Raimi's work with the character, though I do criticize him on some minor points. But in the end, he really dropped the ball with Spider-Man 3, running a lot of good characters into the ground and painting himself into a corner with two hours of very messy plotting. In the end, whether a reboot...

Fitting Reboot of a Comic Legend
After watching the first five minutes of The Amazing Spiderman, I knew I was gonna like it; after the first hour (which includes a lot of exposition without being tedious) I actually preferred this one to the Raimi versions mainly cuz I think it possesses an intensity and believability that the previous films lacked.

Marvel seems to be producing more mature, rebooted versions of all their super-hero series and I actually prefer this variation on the Spider Man story as well, especially the disappearance of the pointless Mary Jane obsession (which always made me respect Spidey a little less). I suspect that a more scientifically savvy audience appreciates an ever evolving origins story and I also enjoyed the initial dealing-with-new-superpowers interlude which was very amusing and again just seemed a much more realistic reaction from Peter Parker to his new abilities. Exceptional performances for Peter and Gwen are what truly make this production stand out from every other...

I Miss the Old Peter
I miss the old Peter Parker, from the old comics. The one who was actually a nice guy. The one who acted like a jerk for just one panel of his origin story, and then spent the rest of his life doing good. The one who had a tough life, but who was too busy worrying about others to wallow in self pity. That guy was pleasant company. And if I can't have him, I'll take Toby McGuire.

Just once, I'd like to see a Spiderman movie where Peter keeps his mask on and does not reveal his secret identity, and/or show off his superpowers, to everyone he meets and her dad too. But of course, he must get this credit and applause, because it really is all about him.

Just once, I'd like to see a superhero movie, where the film-makers do not need to resort to the cheap ploy of threatening an entire city with destruction (which we know ain't going to happen). Why are not the lives of individual human beings enough of a threat to sustain our interest and sustain a movie? The...

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Goonies, The / Gremlins / Gremlins 2: The New Batch (BD) (3FE) [Blu-ray]

I love movie sets!
I love movie sets! 3 quality movies for a low price! Who doesn't love the Goonies and Gremlins? Ya can't go wrong!





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Ryder Cup 2012 Diary and Official Film (39th) [Blu-ray]

Ryder Cup 2012 DVD
Product claims all regions but is shipped as incompatible with the US Market. Have caution when ordering. The DVD I received was only for European DVD systems. This has happened a few times to me and is very frustrating.

Ryder cup official film
Gave it one star because it simply states it has all the action from the holes. Lies. It is only a putting compilation. I really would like my money back.

Watch out if you live in the US
This Blu-Ray is configured for European models only. That means it will not play in Blu-Ray players bought in the US, or on computers for that matter. I didn't read that anywhere in the description, so the seller might want to try to make that clear.

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Fantastic Fear of Everything [Blu-ray]

European Blu
First of all, I'd like to say that one of the advantages of Blu Ray is that the region codes aren't as stingant as with DVD. Any Blu Ray player in the states will play European disks, which makes many titles available and often at more reasonable prices than you can get in the US. This film doesn't have a US release as of yet (and might not find a large audience to merit one). I find Simon Pegg to be a comic genius, he can rarely do wrong. Spaced is one of my all-time favorite television progams. This film doesn't compare at all to Spaced, but I enjoyed it all the same. Like some of his other films, this is a dark comedy (although some won't find it "funny", there aren't any zingers or jokes, but I find the situations and Pegg's reactions to be real and humorous). It's a sort of one-man act through a large portion of it, following him around his flat as he narrates his paranoia. His character is a real sad sack, but even while watching his pathetic misadventure, you still find...

Not Pegg at his best!
Jack (Simon Pegg) is a children's author who has switched to the dark and eerie world of crime writing. Having researched Victorian murderers for his book, Jack has become paranoid that someone is out to get him and he now barricades himself in his London flat. He does manage to venture out to meet with his agent, Clair (Claire Higgins), who isn't enthusiastic about his latest work, wanting him to work on a children's story about a hedgehog instead. Clair's opinion changes somewhat when a Hollywood executive expresses an interest in Jack's crime novel and there is talk of a possible movie deal. Jack has to get himself together to meet Clair and the executive for dinner and so begins a series of mishaps.

Jack's flat is run down and in need of a clean up. He parades around the place in his dressing gown and underpants, has no clean clothes and is reluctant to answer the door to anyone. Managing on little sleep, Jack spends his time trying to stay sane and piecing together...



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Being Caribou (Institutional Use)

Just Say No to Drilling in ANWR
This movie was featured at the Wild and Scenic Film Festival in Murphys, CA. What a wonderful way of showing the American Public how Caribou survive in such a harsh eviroment. A married couple follows Caribou herds for approx 150 consecutive days to find out how they live and travel. The movie shows the place where the calves are born and how sensitive a time this is for the mothers and calves. The place where they give birth happens to be where the Bush Administration wants to drill and extract oil. It could be considered a political movie, but really it's a wonderful nature film.

Being Caribou
Having read the book, I was curious to see the movie that had been made at the same time. I would recommend that interested people look at both.

The movie doesn't capture the sense of exhaustion and long travel that the book does, but it shows the heartbreaking beauty of the landscape and the wildlife. One element not mentioned in the book is the little toy George Bush who rides along on the trip, his plastic eyes appearing to consider what he sees.

In the end, I don't think anything said in the book or shown in the film has any chance to override the wishes of people who have no values other than power and profit. If nothing else, though, the film provides stunning visual documentation of a place that may soon be damaged or even wiped out entirely.

Why ALL of ANWR needs FULL Nat'l Wildlife Refuge protection or MORE; filmed with a touch of humor
Unfortunately, the 1002 Lands at the northwest corner of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge don't have this protection from possible oil drilling, in an area estimated to have oil reserves equal to less than six months of current needs.

More unfortunately, the Porcupine caribou herd doesn't recognize that it is in potential huge danger by coming here to calve every year, as the cows have for time immemorial from this large herd.

Husband-and-wife Heuer and Allison gave themselves a belated honeymoon -- follow the herd from its winter grounds to calving area and back, all while documenting it.

Heuer has worked in national parks programs in Canada and South Africa and already done yeoman environmental work by hiking the entire Yellowstone-to-Yukon or Y2Y corridor to popularize the need for extended wildlife area protections for large mammals.

The humor? The movie starts with clips of George H.W. Bush, followed by George W. Bush, both saying...

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Jonsi: Go Quiet - A Film (Limited Edition)

Beautifully Intimate
Bought the expensive limited edition set from Jonsi when it came out. It is shot so well and the versions of his songs are impromptu and warm.

Absolutely gorgeous. He is a genius. Buy and and make sure you find a way to route the audio to your stereo's speakers.

Love you Jonsi.

woah
it's an amazing dvd, but it would be much cheaper to get a ticket, have the experience, and buy the autographed dvd at the stand. i think that if i had more than one autographed Go Quiet i'd sell it too... just not for that much.



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Entourage: The Complete Series

Awesome box set.
If you're a fan of the show, you have to get this box set. The first several seasons were never released in a high-definition format, or even a widescreen format for that matter. It's great to finally see the earlier episodes remastered for Blu-ray.

Amazing Show
I don't know what it is about HBO, but they just know how to make the best shows. Entourage was one of the few shows that I watched religously when it was on the air and when it ended I was so sad to see it go. As someone who will probably never get to Hollywood it was grea to see a show that was about 4 guys from my hometown making it big and yet amonst all the glitz and glamour managed to stay tough, brash and of course together as friends.

Many people did give this show a little flack after season 3 because was apparently not as great as the first 3 seasons. While I will admit that season 4 was a little as a whole the story was rich in detail and character development and it all fit in the end. Of course the characters are some of the best ever put onto television and it is so hard to single one out as the best because they are all such great characters. Of course having a bunch of famous faces show up and just act as normal people is great too. It is a story about a...

Great show
The whole series is awesome and having it in one compact box with bonus content for each season is great. If you love Entourage this is a must have.

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Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (BD) [Blu-ray]

Sam Cable, what are you talking about?
No movie protrayal can match a good book, but Jackson's attempt is the best ever effort in the history of movies. His team's enormous amount of research, attention to detail and love of the original literary work comes through. Yes, some plot lines are altered in minor ways to keep the off-screen characters part of the movie as it still has to serve an audience that didn't read the books, but overall anyone must admire their work. Yes, all of us Tolkien fanatics would love to see a movie of 139 hours in length that shows every scene and includes every line of dialog from the books, including Tom Bombadil and the everything else, exactly as written, but that obviously isn't going to happen.

Sam - please read the books again as many of your review details are wrong. Gollum does have an internal struggle of Smeagol vs. Gollum, it's right in the book. It is pretty obvious in the movie that Sam is disgusted by Gollum and Frodo is more pitying him, same as the book. There is the...

A New Standard In Filmmaking Excellence
It's hard to know where to begin in articulating a coherent summary of so spectacular an epic as Peter Jackson's rendering of Tolkein's masterpiece. Perhaps the most incisive comment I can make is that, having been a fan of "The Lord of the Rings" since I first read the trilogy nearly 35 years ago, I'm impressed by Jackson's fidelity to the spirit of the original literary work.

"The Two Towers" is a very different kind of film than its predecessor. Don't expect the intimacy of "The Fellowship of the Ring"; the evolution of the story precludes it. The dissolution of the Fellowship scattered the principal characters of the first film into three distinct sub-plots: Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), whose capture by the Uruk-Hai takes them into Fangorn Forest and their ultimate influence on the fate of Saruman (Christopher Lee); Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), and Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), who re-unite with a resurrected Gandalf (Ian McKellan) in the...

It's worth fighting for
Peter Jackson has done what could not be done. Deemed unfilmable for decades (with the terrible cartoons as an example of why), "The Lord of the Rings" took the audiences by storm when "Fellowship of the Ring" premiered in 2001. In 2002, anticipation was even higher, dread was lower -- and "Two Towers" is an outstanding continuation of the epic fantasy tale.

The movie picks up where "Fellowship" left off: Merry and Pippin have been captured by Uruk-hai, and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are pursuing them. But they are sidetracked by an old friend: Gandalf, returned in a new form and with new powers, as Gandalf the White. He takes them to the kingdom of Rohan, whose king is bewitched by the evil Saruman. They barricade the people of Rohan in the fortress of Helm's Deep, for a final defiant stand against an army of Uruk-hai.

Sam and Frodo have left, to venture into Mordor alone so that Frodo can destroy the Ring in Mordor's Mount Doom. When the two hobbits become lost in Emyn Muil,...

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Night Court: The Complete Seventh Season

Night Court Season 7
I like it, 'cause it came in good packaging, but there was no information inside where there was supposed to be. DVD's work great, though.

your killing me
How long can it possibly take to put out one of the best comedy series ever done.It seem like its been forever.Harry if your reading this in asheville and that is your real name,give someone a nudge and tell them to get on the stick and put out the remaining seasons.Mr. Dana Allen clyde n.c.

Keeping hope alive!
I just got into Night court this past year. At first I never really though about it that much. Then it hit me. I had the first 3 seasons already. So I dicided on ordering seasons 4-6. By the time I was done I was crying from laughter! There is only 3 more seasons to go. Let's keep hope alive and pray that Warner will hold up there end of the bargan. Purchase your copy's today!

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A Future for Frogs

Love The Boneheads!
The topics are important & educational, the cartoons are funny, & the songs are catchy!!
I highly recommend this!!





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We Come in Peace

This isn't the Dolph Lundgren movie. That's "I Come In Peace", retitled "Dark Angel".
This isn't the Dolph Lundgren movie. That's "I Come In Peace", retitled "Dark Angel".

But not the TV series "Dark Angel" starring Jessica Alba.





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TRIZ Lesson 11

Great template for problem solving and applying TRIZ
Great roadmap and template for problem solving using TRIZ. Templates are very useful. Viewers should read the book TRIZICS which the video refers to in order to get maximum benefit from the lesson.Trizics





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Brave (Spanish Version) [Blu-ray]

Wonderful story for girls
I've read some of the bad reviews, and they seem focused on a few things: 1) Scary scenes, 2) Nudity, 3) Lack of romance. Well, my three year old is super brave so I do agree that a lot of sensitive littles may have an issue with the movie, but it's not really an issue in our household. Nudity? Well, that's kind of laughable as it's an animated movie. I guess some people would rather hear fart humor and characters calling each other jackass ("Shrek"), and if that's you then skip this one, but it's really just two quick scenes and not in a scandalous way. And about that lack of romance... one of the reasons I love this movie for my daughter is the lack of romance for the main character. In fact, the whole plot is about teenager Merida trying to change her "fate" which is to get married before she's ready. She passionately pleads during one speech to the parents of her suitors to let their children decide when they are ready for marriage and to choose their own spouses. This is beyond...

Pixar's First Fairy-Tale Hits The Mark!
Pixar Animation Studios has always been known for their unique approach to filmmaking. They have always put the story first and foremost, something that so many other studios seem to take for granted. They also know the rest of the ingredients to add to make their films stand out from the rest: Great characters, lots of heart, and a goodly quantity of humor.

While not continuing the 21st century tradition of turning the fairy-tale on its head, as in the case of "Shrek", "Brave", feels like a rediscovered story by Grimm's with an unmistakably Pixarian flavor. Legends and myths abound in Scots folklore, and the writers at Pixar didn't have far to go in order to come up with their own story, one that is at once relevant, quite original, and yet entirely congruous with one's expectations of the perfect fairy-tale. As fresh and surprising as any of the studio's previous successes, I enjoyed it immensely, and could watch it many times over without growing tired of it. It's hard...

For every mother, daughter, and/or Warrior
I don't enjoy every box office hit animated movie, but I thoroughly enjoyed Brave. The ending theme may be about bravery, but the story is rich in family relationship and in choosing who you are, who you want to be and how you treat others. It's a great movie to take your kids to see with you.

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IMPROVE YOUR SAILING SKILLS

Pretty Good Stuff
I have been helping our marina start a sailing school and we have been looking at/for training material. This does not take the place of good classroom and on-the-water training but it is very informative and good for the novice sailor looking to take their knowledge to the next level. The description of the spinnaker use was very good and many of the sail diagrams were very well illustrated. I like it.

helpful but low production cost
if your staring out sailing or just thinking about it this is a very informative film worth watching. It helped point out knowledge I was weak in and has improved my fun on the water.

Good essentials of sailing a large cruising sailboat
Good essentials of sailing a large cruising sailboat. Actually could be a decent primer for someone learning to sail, or coming along as crew. At the same time, it is funny to watch the "way cool" late eighties - early nineties styles and social sensibilities. How is it that the women on board aren't deemed capable to take the helm or skipper?

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The Magnificent TATi (NTSC)

A Must See
Don't miss this truly wonderful film. Tells Jacques Tati story in a way that makes you laugh (a lot) and cry (a little) while showing you tasters from every Tati film. Discusses Jacques Tati's avant-garde roots and offers real insight into Tati's unique genius. His courage in pushing the boundaries of cinema is explained and Tati's unique approach to narrative and use of sound is also explored in ways that are very stimulating - clips from a foley studio makes for great viewing. A short sequence on Mimes is very insightful and wonderfully filmed. Some interesting interview footage with Tati's assistant is nothing short of fascinating. Best film on a cinema director I have seen in years. A must for anyone into movies.





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ANNAPOLIS: HEAVY WEATHER SAILING

Good Advise
Wished I had seen this movie back when I was sailing regularly. I could have handled rough seas better using the knowledge shared in this movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone planning any off-shore sailing.

Sailing in heavy weather
I've not done as much sailing as the gentleman in this video. I have however sailed in small craft advisory periods in boats up to 25' and as small as 8'. Some of the things he says I have found to be untrue. A good figure 8 knot has never come undone on my boat, and the way he has lines scattered haphazardly all over his do nothing really but present a major trip hazard to anyone on board. With that being said, he offers some good tips on some points, but misses the mark when it comes to really providing a good overview of the proper prep for heavy weather sailing.

Very instructional
This is not necessarily an easy to explain matter, however, the author is providing secure tips on how to handle the vessel in storm situations. I think that the product provides a good and sound practice to overcome such situations with a degree of confidence and safety. I recommend this one.

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Learn How To Sail - with Penny Whiting

great video!
Great video for the beginner! Good for sailors that need a brush up on spinnaker handling and reefing. Well done.

a lot of information, but some went over my head
I am learning to sail and thought I'd give this video a shot. I like the way Penny presented the information, but you need to have some background knowledge first.

Learn to sail with Penny Whiting
This video is an excellent tutorial for beginner and a grest review for experienced sailors. Highly recommended as Penny explains and demonstrates her instructions clearly for complete understanding.

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Woody Allen: A Documentary [Blu-ray]

A Legacy In Film: A Terrific, Comprehensive, And Thoroughly Entertaining Career Retrospective
Premiering as a part of the PBS American Masters series "Woody Allen: A Documentary" is an impressively scaled and professionally comprehensive project on the enigmatic filmmaker. Allen is a true Hollywood renegade--a man who has followed his passions and interests and made a career out of making the films he wanted without regard for commercial compromise. Such examples of contemporary auteurs are pretty rarified in this business of show, and Allen has become and remained an unlikely and inspirational trailblazer for over forty years. Allen, however, remains an intensely private and aloof persona, so this massive (over 3 hours) compilation of interviews and film clips is a rare treat. While the 2002 Richard Schickel special (he is also on hand as an interviewee for this piece) "Woody Allen: A Life in Film" offered a glimpse of what Allen thought of his film legacy, it lacked the sheer scope of this new documentary. "Woody Allen: A Documentary" definitively showcases the highlights of...

A Writer, and So Much More
After watching this outstanding documentary of Woody Allen's unparalleled career, unprecedented in its access, candor and insight, I was left with an even greater recognition that Mr. Allen is a writer who makes films, not a film-maker who writes. From his earliest one-liners up to the present day, Woody has continued to grow and change, but never at the cost of either his professional integrity or his vision. Perhaps it has served us well that Woody Allen seems to view the majority of his work as either mediocre or as abject failures, for rather than stifling his spirit, such dubious self-analysis seems only to have fueled his ambition and illuminated his vision. And while even I, one of his most ardent fans, would admit that he lost his way occasionally with films such as Curse of the Jade Scorpion or Small-Time Crooks, somehow I always knew that he'd be back. I've come to feel that some of those comparative underachievements were nothing more than the "vacations" of a man who has...

Excellent Overview of Entire Amazing Career
This is an excellent documentary about Allen's entire career. There are many, many film clips and they are all choice highlights from his films. Interspersed with these clips are interview segments with Allen present day and during earlier days. There are also clips of mini interviews with the people with whom he has worked, including Tony Roberts, Diane Keaton, Scarlett Johannsen, John Cusack, Owen Wilson, Mariel Hemingway, Gordon Willis, Marshall Brickmann, Martin Scorsese, his sister Letty Aronson, now his producer, Dick Cavett and so forth. Although Mia Farrow is covered, she does not participate in any way since they have never resumed contact in any way. She was, of course, Allen's other major leading lady but he ended up having an affair and marrying her adopted daughter years ago.

Even though I have seen every single one of his movies, I really liked the choice of film clips presented here. It was very enjoyable to see them and to learn some of the tidbits...

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Heaven's Gate (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Happy 25th Birthday, HEAVEN'S GATE!
1980 marks the 25th anniversary of one of the strangest media events ever. There was an eagerly-awaited invitational preview on a Thursday for a four hour Michael Cimino western called HEAVEN'S GATE. The whole industry came out in force to see Cimino's first movie since his Oscar-winning THE DEER HUNTER (1978) and, at a budget of $40 million, a movie that had bankrupt United Artists. The result was apparently an unholy disaster-so awful that Friday opening day regular engagements were abruptly cancelled. Reviews were venomous, focusing much more on the hefty budget and how an arrogant auteur filmmaker had brought down a studio with his excesses. Roger Ebert was particularly hostile. The 219 minute movie was sent back to the editing room with Cimino and several original editors. In mid-1981, an all-new HEAVEN'S GATE was brought out at only 149 minutes. The same hostile reviewers, except for Kevin Thomas in THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, still hated the movie for being too long and not...

A Loss Of Innocence
There is just no beating around the bush when people mention Michael Cimino's 1980 film, "Heaven's Gate." You either love it or hate it...there is only black and white when discussing this film. Having just seen the reconstructed director's cut, I will follow that trend and state: "Heaven's Gate" is a superior film.
I first saw the butchered, approximately 2+ hours version in the theaters several years ago and had to agree that it was pretty bad: incoherent, of course... badly edited...in both sight and sound. At the time it reminded me of those badly made European productions in which every actor is speaking a different language and after the fact, the film is dubbed into Italian or French. The film was literally a mess.
In its glorious 3-

Attila [Blu-ray]

Dynamic! Muscular! Hugely Musical!!
But the staging costs this otherwise superb Atilla one star. That's because it is done in the tiny (300 seats; 30 m stage) Teatro Giuseppe Verdi in the maestro's home town of Busetto. I have seen DVDs of performances there that worked, but this one, despite valiant efforts, does not quite make it. The stage director, to make up for the lack of spaces, projects computer graphics on a screen at the rear of the stage to create the sense of more space, as well as other effects. In the second scene in the Prologue, the Adriatic Lagoons, work very well when projected, but in other cases, the effect is less than effective.

Vocally and dramatically, though, this is one "kick butt" performance!

Bass Giovanni Battista Parodi is a very effective Attila, but he is no Sam Ramey, who owned this role for years (his La Scala performance with Cheryl Studer is available on DVD and is worth owning despite a so-so tenor). But after a bit of warming up, Parodi delivers the goods...

Please, don't insult the Huns!
Everything has been said adequately and there is little to add. I think the video-graphics were inspired and give an evocative backdrop: the devastated countryside, the raging sea storm and the wonderful sunrise afterwards.I don't know which came first, this or Bill Viola's Tristan, an unbelievable artistic triumph I was lucky to witness. The problem here is the incongruity with the stage and the attempt to blend the two together.
One other thing is the ridiculous make up of the Huns. They look like some savage tribe escaped from Africa. Perhaps the esteemed designer should have studied Raphael's famed frescos. And that Jurassic Park helmet of Attila? Don't insult the Huns, please. They kept Europe under firm control for nearly 200 years until they were beaten back by a conglomerate of armies at Capernaum (listen to Liszt's Hunnenschlacht symph. poem). Contrary to popular belief, they did not die out. There is a nucleus of people in Transylvania (szekely-s) that traces back...

Stirring version of an unmemorable Verdi opera
By the time he came to write Attila for La Fenice in Venice in 1846, Verdi had firmly established, consolidated and refined a style and a structure that would be recognisable in nearly all his subsequent works. Attila is made up of a number of stock situations involving war, vengeance, romance and betrayal and Verdi packs it with big dramatic numbers and choruses that match the intensity of the emotions. There's nothing inspired here however, nothing that provides any great insights or revelations into the characters or human behaviour. Even worse, there are no great memorable arias or musical numbers.

Dramatically however there's never a dull moment in Attila. Much of the reason for that is down to Verdi's sense of arrangement and his scoring for a situation that appeals to the sentiments of a nation seeking its own independence. The qualities of Verdi's dramatic writing are all there then and the cast for this 2010 production of Attila at the Teatro Verdi di Busseto are...

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I Heart Monster Movies

Eh...
The majority of this documentary was filmed in my hometown so I have to give it props for that, otherwise it was like a college student doing a project.

Love for the Horror Kids...
Loved this - I just stumbled onto it here the other day and what a pleasant surprise! To anyone who's ever gone to a horror Convention (or wanted to) this is a real treat. I love letter to Horror Fandom. I'd even watch it again!

monsters
pretty cool doc. on being a monster geek, some of the interviews with the "stars" are funny. it also seems if they weren't working the convention circuit they would not be working at all. paying for auto's if its your thing is cool I guess though I think some of them should pay us the fans for supporting some of the crap they have made. give it a watch!

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Film Noir Collection: Volume One (Union Station / Appointment with Danger / Dark City / Rope of Sand) [Blu-ray]

GREAT FILM NOIR CLASSICS
Great film with great stars and directors.

APPOINTMENT WITH DANGER - Dragnet stars Jack Webb and Harry Morgan appear as mob henchmen in Alan Ladd's final film noir. Phyllis Calvert, Paul Stewart and Jan Sterling co-star. Directed by Lewis Allen (The Uninvited).

DARK CITY - Dragnet stars Jack Webb and Harry Morgan appear again in this classic film noir starring Charlton Heston. Webb plays a sleazy gambler and Morgan as an ex-boxer and care-taker of the gambling joint. Lizabeth Scott, Viveca Lindfors, Dean Jaggerm Ed Begley all co-star. Directed by William Dieterle (The Devil and Daniel Webster).

ROPE OF SAND - The producer (Hal B. Wallis) and three stars (Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Peter Lorre) of Casablanca reworked their magic and created this film noir starring Burt Lancaster, Corrine Calvet and Sam Jaffe. Directed by William Dieterle (Satan Met a Lady).

UNION STATION - William Holden co-star again with Nancy Olson in this classic film...

Excellent quality
These old b/w are advertised as blu-ray and I have to say the quality of the films is excellent. There are so many stars in this four disk set that it's amazing...including the first film by Charlton Heston). Great set by Olive Films. You won't be disappointed by the films in the set or the quality.

Good Film Noir
I am a movie buff and I have been since I was around 10. I have always been attracted to the film noir movies and own most of them. This collection is wonderful, Blu ray on film noir, you cant get better. All made in the 50s except Dark City which was made in 1949. A great price for 4 Blu Ray, film noir movies on 4 discs.

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Handel: Agrippina [Blu-ray]

Attractive and Well Sung
Agrippina is one of Handel's earliest operas, composed during his stay in Italy. It is a comedy with two intersecting plots: the title character's machinations to persuade her husband, aging Roman Emperor Claudius, to designate her son, Nero, as successor; and the competition of Claudius, Nero, and General Otho (Ottone) for the affection of Poppea. Agrippina has become somewhat popular of late because of its good tunes and accessible story.

Some productions ham up the action, but this one captures the humor without taking things to excess. The costumes are generally attractive: somewhat Elizabethan in the first act, although Poppea wears a purple low-cut top with matching pants. Scenery ranges from minimal to nonexistent, but is not missed. The lighting is very effective. The English subtitles are colloquial, and there are separate chapters for most arias.

With the exception of countertenor David Cordier as Ottone, the singers are not widely known, but they...





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Finding Nemo (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy)

Walt Would Approve
Recently, I saw Albert Brooks on Late Night with David Letterman, talking about Finding Nemo. Brooks, who stars as the voice of Marlon, the daddy fish, had taken his son (who, I believe was about five years old, the equivalent human age of Nemo), to the premiere. After about five minutes, Brooks said his son leaned over to him, and quietly said, the way a grownup might, "I cannot watch this movie," and walked out. Late in the movie, the son returned, having obviously been crying. Leaning over, Brooks assured his son, "You are not Nemo."

Such is the power of this fish story about father and son clownfish who become separated, and must struggle to find their way back to each other. Marlon is a loving but neurotic and overprotective father; Nemo is a frustrated young fish who wants to be independent and see the world, and resents his father for preventing him from doing so. We see an ocean (read: the world) that is a terrible, heartless, and yet joyous place that we frail fish must...

Pixar's getting in a habit of constantly outdoing themselves
Finding Nemo is the fifth installment for Pixar Studios, the most reliable studio in Hollywood today, and it is my personal favorite. The first obviously outstanding aspect of the movie is the animation. From the breathtaking wonder of the Great Barrier Reef, to the cold, sterile fish tank, the animation is top notch and truly state of the art. The water, which has always been the bane of animation, is picture perfect, and the animators have captured the rolling but constant ocean and the light refractions perfectly. But animation itself doesn't make a film. Finding Nemo's strongest aspect is it's warm, witty, heartfelt, and funny story of a father's quest to reclaim his son. The kids will love the vibrant characters and funny situations, and so will the parents. However, the parents will be able to enjoy the film on a level far more than the kids will. The story is about losing a child, and the desperate quest to be reunited, which will hit the parent right in the gut. This is...

The Coolest Movie I have Ever Seen.
YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE.

There. Now that I've said that, I should tell you that this is NOT solely a childrens' movie, but will be enjoyed as much (if not more) by adults. The cleverness of Pixar will never cease to amaze me. Only they could take a concept like a full-length movie about fish and make it totally believable. This film succeeds n being very, very funny. Heck, I'm 16 and saw it in the theater with only my mother. The two of us were laughing hysterically throughout the entire thing!

There's alot of sadness and emotion in this movie and some absolutely terrific voice acting--the voice cast is top-notch. There are some touching moments and subtle messages to be heard by all, not just kids. I look forward with anticipation to the DVD release of this wonderful movie. The suspense never lets up; encounters with jellyfish, a whale, and a deep-sea lanturn fish make every moment exciting.

As we know, every Disney/Pixar film is associated with its own special "short." Well,...

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Fur Einen Tag: Live [Blu-ray]

If you haven't seen Helene Fischer perform you need to
I have not actually received this DVD yet. Amazon promised delivery by Dec. 20, but shippment is delayed. I have 4 other DVDs of her live concert performances and I simply can't wait to get this one of her 2012 tour.

Helene is a beautiful, sexy 28 year old woman with incredible talent for singing, dancing, and acting. She has a big voice like Celine Dion and she can perform any genre you care to hear. She can hold her own with people like Micheal Bolton and Andrea Bocelli, in English or Italian, and she performs her own hits in German.

She is a native Russian(Siberia) who immigrated to Germany as a small child. Thanks to that Russian heritage, she also performs ethnic Russian balads and dances (complete with squat kicks) in Russian. And BTW, don't be surprised to see her ascend 40 feet in the air while perfoming a song in conjuction with aerial acrobatics from a swing, or a cube, or hanging draperies, or just a Peter Pan style cable.

This gal is...

Don't miss this DVD.
Helene Fischer is a real sleeper (no pun intended). All aspects of the show were excellent as was Helene. I am sure she would be an enormous hit in the United States. Once you see this DVD I am sure you will agree.

Good performance if your DVD player will play it.
It's coded for Europe (I guess) so my portable will not play it, but fortunately my main Blu-ray player handles it just fine. I can't believe we haven't heard more about Helene in the USA.

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Luck: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]

HBO's Horse Racing Drama Stalls Prematurely Due To Real Life Tragedy
HBO's prestige piece "Luck" was easily one of the year's most anticipated dramas. Its creator David Milch had been responsible for some groundbreaking shows including "NYPD Blue" and "Deadwood." Film legend Michael Mann (director of Heat among many other great pictures) was also a driving force behind the scenes. And with Dustin Hoffman (not to mention Nick Nolte) stepping into television to take a leading role, expectations were through the roof with this pedigree of talent. The real life story of "Luck," however, made more of a noise than the actual program. Though the show opened to generally favorable, but cautious, press--the viewership numbers didn't exactly ignite a ratings maelstrom. Juggling dozens of peripheral characters, "Luck" was best appreciated by an adult audience with patience and fortitude. Its methodical pacing was a challenge to some and as various plot threads wound around each other, the early episodes seemed to lack a dramatic imperative. HBO backed...

HBO's Horse Racing Drama Stalls Prematurely Due To Real Life Tragedy
HBO's prestige piece "Luck" was easily one of the year's most anticipated dramas. Its creator David Milch had been responsible for some groundbreaking shows including "NYPD Blue" and "Deadwood." Film legend Michael Mann (director of Heat among many other great pictures) was also a driving force behind the scenes. And with Dustin Hoffman (not to mention Nick Nolte) stepping into television to take a leading role, expectations were through the roof with this pedigree of talent. The real life story of "Luck," however, made more of a noise than the actual program. Though the show opened to generally favorable, but cautious, press--the viewership numbers didn't exactly ignite a ratings maelstrom. Juggling dozens of peripheral characters, "Luck" was best appreciated by an adult audience with patience and fortitude. Its methodical pacing was a challenge to some and as various plot threads wound around each other, the early episodes seemed to lack a dramatic imperative. HBO backed Milch and...

LUCK! CUT TOO SHORT FOR A REALLY GREAT SHOW
LUCK was a really great HBO show headed up and produced by Dustin Hoffman, with Dustin heading up a stellar cast including Dennis Farina. Although the cover proclaims this as the complete first season, it is in fact the complete series, because the series was cut short due to the tragic loss of 3 Horses during the filming of the 1st season. The animal rights folks went after HBO with a vengence, forcing them to shut down further production of the series,(something that to my knowledge has never happened to HBO before). There was nothing wrong with the story line and had the problem with horses not occured, they were well on their way to a 2nd season and possibly beyond that. Needless to say, although this is only one season, it is well worth buying and owning. Although it did not go beyond that, the way they ended the first season gives you at least a little closer and I think HBO owes that to Dustin Hoffman who went out of his way to make sure it closed out as best he could. ALso...

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Subspecies Spanish Subtitled

Best Vampire Movie Ever.
Full Moon's SubSpieces is one of the Best Vampire Movies I've ever seen. Radu makes Dracula look like a Amateur. In my opinion Radu Vladislas is the most Evil Vampire ever. The story, costumes and history of Radu as well as the music make for a great movie. the Basis of the movie is 3 girls (2 from America ) who are doing research on the history of Romania and Vampires. They soon find out there may or may not be more truth to the legends then first meets the eye.

This move quickly became number 1 on list of best Vampire movies knocking The movie Lost Boys down to number two on my personal list.

Full Moon videos are some of the best films ever. If your looking for something new to watch I highly Recommend the SubSpieces series which to date has a total of 4 movies and a Spin off of sorts called Vampire Journals who's main character has ties to Radu.

One of the Best B-grade Vampire Movies ever
The vampires are great, especially Radu. the main villain. Pretty good story, lots of gratuitous nudity and violence, good costumes and makeup, good production values-very entertaining and very superior vampire horror movie.



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Some Guys Who Kill People [Blu-ray]

A Psycho Thriller/Black Comedy Crossover... With A Heart
If you're tired of formulaic fare - both at the multiplex and in the horror movie scene - this film is a breath of fresh air. Had the pleasure of seeing this at a festival last year and it's one of the best indie movies I've seen in a long while. The clever storyline seems to be a psycho thriller about a misfit's revenge then shifts into a tale about said misfit trying to find love and happiness before giving way to a third act that throws all manner of curveballs at the viewer. Great performance from Kevin Corrigan in a rare lead role plus fun supporting performances from Barry Bostwick and Karen Black, both of whom steal scenes with a veteran's skill. It's also directed with an eye for color and deadpan dark wit by Jack Perez, who also helmed the underrated LA CUCARACHA. This is a cult movie in the making - and fans of that sort of fare are advised to take a gamble on this deserving effort.

Laugh Out Loud Dark Comic Snarkiness!
POSSIBLE MILD SPOILERS:

As a horror enthusiast, I like to see how scared a movie can make me feel. Some Guy Who Kills People is not that kind of movie.

I've never appreciated Horror/Comedy movies very much (preferring to keep the genres separate), but Some Guy who Kills People has some of the funniest lines spoken by the quirkiest characters in the Horror/Comedy ouevre I've ever seen.

The filmmakers managed to assemble a near-perfect cast of social retro-misfits in some strange and very Californian alternate '50's universe. The humour is mostly in the asides, such as when Ronald - the goody-two shoes religious boyfriend of the young leading lady's mother - says in a creepy, robotic monotone, "Lord, please send someone to aid this precious child and steer her down a righteous path Amen." while leaving the eleven year-old stabbing at some horrible TV dinner to go to a bible study...

A nice surprise!!!
I am always suspicious of movies billed as "horror/comedy", but this little gem does not disappoint! The story, characters and funny dialog makes this one of the best dark comedies I have seen in a while. Don't let the "gore" aspect scare you away if it is not your thing...there is a lot more to this movie than a few gruesome murders! It is also a heartwarming story of a man who discovers a long lost gift from his sad and haunted past. This event encourages him to get his life on the right track, even though something very sinister hangs over his head. Kudos to Ryan Levin for coming up with an original, smart, bittersweet, bloody little script! I will be watching this one again-- with friends!

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Pearl Jam Twenty (3-Disc Deluxe Edition Blu-ray)

PJ20
The Cameron Crow documentary captures the intensity of Pearl Jam in the early years, along with the explosion of the Seattle scene. Crows creation is fluid and the editing is creative and visually stunning. The film clearly depicts Pearl Jam's relationship and contribution to other bands from the early '90s. The viewer gets to know all of the original members of the band, their personalities and artistic contributions. The film does an excellent job of explaining how and why Pearl Jam survived for 20 years. As a life long Pearl Jam fan, I have to admit there were a few events in the film that I did not know about. The film is full of different emotions and I laughed more then I thought I would. Overall, a must see for anyone who grew up listening to Pearl Jam.

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT !!!
I saw this doc at the movie theatre in a 1 night only showing. There wasnt 1 empty seat.Judging by the audiences reactions, everybody thoroughly loved this film.I have always liked the band, although not a die hard fan. This documentary is extremely well done , no surprise given the fact that Cameron Crowe is behind it. Nice mix of interesting dialoge and live footage. Also , quite a bit of humour. A fitting tribute in the 15-20 mins spent on Mother Love Bone and Andrew Wood . As well as Temple of the dog and comments from Chris Cornell. Just an excellent 2 hrs spent. Any moderate fan will really love this doc. I am looking forward to watching on dvd and hopefully seeing some extras too.

An essential piece of Rock history
I will begin by saying I am a devoted PJ fan, following them almost since the beginning. The Nw music scene has always been highly charged and eclectic, with a variety of sounds that run the gamut. Raining 9 months out of the year leaves folks up here with a gloomy kind of feeling. But bands like Mudhoney,Soundgarden,The Melvin's,Pearl Jam, AIC & Nirvana,as well as Mother Love Bone paved the way for countless bands to follow.They were neither Emo,nor pop or "conventional" bands...They played loud, fast,and with such incredible feeling that they were really hard to define. They were confessionals,love songs, songs filled with angst, rage,social awkwardness and alienation. And their history is deeply inter-twined with Pearl Jam's. So-and-so was in a band with so-and-so, who knew so-and-so, who was flat-mates with so-and-so.We are treated to an evolutionary tale~ this epic documentary chronicles the scene culminating with the formation of the Band, the evolution of the band and it's...

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Heaartbeat

Incredibly Moving Film!!!
I found out about this documentary by reading a profile of the filmmaker, director, (and daughter of the artist) wunderkind. I have always been a fan of his sculptures and the way she (Ms. Fairweather) was describing her relationship to the late artist John Chamberlain was so touching. Apparently, this was an 8 year project that she started when she was 14!!! This was an insider's look to such a groundbreaking artist!! I wish there were more films like this documenting the private lives of our great creative minds. But that's not to say that this film only focuses on their family life, but instead is incredibly informative about his work and the evolution of his 60+ year career.





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Angry Boys [Blu-ray]

Australian Auteur Chris Lilley Is Back Playing Multiple Roles In A Comedy That Is Both Broad And Heartfelt
I'm not sure if I'd prefer to call Chris Lilley an outrageous comedian or a convincing character actor because, truthfully, he is both. Having been a tremendous fan of Lilley's most recent endeavor "Summer Heights High" in 2007, I was eager to look into this new project. "Summer Heights High" had Lilley playing various characters in a mockumentary about a typical Australian high school. The series skewered every conceivable cliche of that world in highly amusing ways and yet still had great heart and warmth. The show won the Australian Film Institute's top prizes for Best Actor in a Television Comedy for Lilley as well as Best Comedy Series. Lilley aims for something much bigger and broader in "Angry Boys." Here, the various plot threads are not confined to one setting but spread across the world! It's an interesting approach but one that isn't as instantly accessible as some of Lilley's other pieces. At first, I had certain favorite characters that I felt stole the show. But as...

I Loved This Heaps
The comedy genius of Chris Lilley of `Summer Heights High' fame returned with this rocking gem of a series. Chris plays a number of characters including identical twins, Daniel and Nathan Sim. Nathan is going profoundly deaf and reluctantly their mum has decided he has to go to Deaf School. So Daniel decides to throw the most awesomest farewell party ever in the uninspiring backwater where they live called `Dunt'. They also have a guinea pig loving grandmother, who works in a juvenile correction facility and is simply called `Gran, Chris also plays her.

We also get to see the lives of their `Legends', who are all being invited to the party. These heroes are surfing legend Blake Oakfield, African American rapper Schwayne Jr who is also called S.mouse! and has all the intellect of a door mouse and a girlfriend with the best name ever - Lasquisha. Chris Lilley plays both of these too. Then their third `Legend' is skate boarding hero Tim Okazaki, who has inspired his over...

Slap my elbow
This is S.Mouse, Smouse, with some very important information,
I want you to get your elbows out and slap them!

Slap my elbow, you do it like this,
Slap my, slap my elbow, you do it like this!
I slap my el, slap my bow,
Slap my el, slap my bow
Slap my el, slap my bow
Slap my el-bow!

Slap it on the right, slap it on the left,
Check my phone, check my phone, what's your age.
My money is right, my money is right,
My homie in the ghettodays, doin alright.
So slap it up! (Your elbow!)
So slap it up! (Your elbow!)
S.M.O.U.S.E is moving it right,
Not your shoulder or your knees is you elbow aight!

Slap my elbow, you do it like this,
Slap my, slap my elbow, you do it like this!
I slap my el, slap my bow,
Slap my el, slap my bow
Slap my el, slap my bow
Slap my el-bow!

Check my phone, check my phone,
Check my phone, check my phone,
I got an SMS...

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Powerboat Navigation With John Rousmaniere

Excellent content; poor disk geometry
This DVD experiences excessive vibration and fails to play in one of my TV's DVD players as a result. Luckily, discs snap firmly into laptop CD/DVD drives, so I was able to prevent the vibration in my laptop. I was then able to burn an exact copy onto a DVD+R. Once I got that hassle out of the way, I was able to watch the copied DVD on my TV.

The content of the DVD was excellent. Bennett Marine's DVDs generally get poor reviews, so I was glad that this was a good one. Sample clips of Bennett Marine videos are available on YouTube, so I already had a good feeling about John Rousmaniere's navigation instruction before I made my purchase.

Not everything sunk in during the first viewing, so I will be watching this multiple times. Watching it several times initially, and then once before each boating season is probably a good habit. For first-time viewers I strongly recommend watching it with a notebook and pencil and taking notes, just like you did when taking...





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American Blue Note (Institutional Use)

Well Presented And Affecting Film.
Essentially a series of interjoining episodes such as may be found in a collection of short fiction wherein are portrayed common characters, this film has nary an uninteresting moment as it chronicles the attempts from a saxophone playing head of a jazz quintet, Jack Solow (Peter MacNicol) to locate steady employment for his musicians, not an easy task within a highly competitive entertainment environment. The veteran cinematographer and film school mentor Ralph Toporoff directs this work, reflecting in its close attention to detail his knowledge of the scenario's subject and, when scenes are basically melodrama, Toporoff along with members of his cast and crew successfully address them in a naturalistic fashion. Intriguing personal elements are introduced into the episodic script that stand very well on their own, aided by sensitive playing from the well-selected cast, smoothly implemented camera setups, and clever utilization of sparse resources, as evidenced in footage concerning...





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The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Good, could be better, needs a "hook"
I listened to this through Amazon Prime. It's a good reading with a good Narrator for Audio-book format. The on Screen images are "weak," generally speaking and it kind of lacks a "Hook" to get your attention. This is probably best (most appropriate) for Literature, Humanities, and English Classes in grades 5 through Freshman College if it's on the reading list for your particular schook district or Professor.





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Spawn of the North

LAMOUR, FONDA AND BARRYMORE
In the thirties, all-star action melodramas didn't come much better than SPAWN OF THE NORTH, an eventful yarn of the war between Russian and American salmon-fishing fleets along the Alaskan coast. It was a winner for Paramount, which made several such big-scale mass entertainments in a period when other companies were scooping up all the Oscars and critics' awards. Even some of the reviewers enthused about the rugged vigour of Henry Hathaway's direction of this Barrett Willoughby story, scripted by Jules Furthman and Talbot Jennings. Performances pleased, too: Henry Fonda as the stalwart skipper, Dorothy Lamour as the gal who stands by him, defying the world, the flesh and the devil; George Raft as Fonda's pal (who goes over to the bad guys but thinks better of it). The great John Barrymore is great fun as a grizzled, guzzling newspaperman and Akim Tamiroff is good as the Russian heavy. Charles Lang's photography (the exteriors shot mostly in Alaska) was magnificent.

Four Great Stars in a Five Star Film
SPAWN OF THE NORTH is one of the most underrated films from the late 1930's although at the time it was a big hit and won Academy Awards for it's excellent special effects (so impressive they were lifted in put in later films). The movie stars Henry Fonda, Dorothy Lamour, George Raft, and John Barrymore and is set in Alaska. Dorothy Lamour has one of the best dramatic roles of her career as the cannery girl torn between Raft and Fonda and Barrymore is excellent in one of his best "character" parts as a drunken newspaperman but the emphasis is on action. The fairly recent movie THE PERFECT STORM seems to have been a little inspired by this classic. This movie is a must for those who love big-budget "big" movies with top production values.

Excellent historical drama of trap fishing in Alaska
I enjoyed the authentic depiction of the challenges and dangers of fishing in Alaska in the thirties and earlier using fish traps. Some of the footage was on site and spectacular!

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Ruggles of Red Gap

improbably profound
On first viewing this seems an unlikely choice for a conservative film list. Charles Laughton plays Marmaduke Ruggles, a proper British butler
whose dipsomaniacal master (Roland Young) loses him in a Paris poker game to a couple of social-climbing American rubes, Effie and Egbert
Floud. Mrs. Floud expects Ruggles to instruct her husband in proper manners and appropriate dress, but Mr. Floud sees him mostly as a partner in
crime, insisting that Ruggles sit and drink with him. For whatever reason, Laughton plays Ruggles with a kind of bug-eyed vacancy, staring off at
some point in space, perhaps to convey the sense that as a manservant he's not entitled to look anyone in the eyes, as if he were their equal. But
when the three travel back to Red Gap, Washington, Ruggles is greeted by the locals with democratic bonhomie and soon begins to think about
leaving service. Predictable zaniness and madcappery follow before Ruggles proves himself a worthy...

Charles Laughton is Fabulous as RUGGLES OF RED GAP
Whether you are a fan of Laughton's or not is of no consequence--you will enjoy RUGGLES OF RED GAP. His transformation from subservient valet to independent man is as engrossing and entertaining as it gets. I admit, I wasn't too sure I could imagine him in a comedic role, but he plays Ruggles superbly! His supporting cast shines as he does: Mary Boland, Zasu Pitts, and Charles Ruggles are terrific! The way Ruggles recites the Gettysberg Address at the end of the movie is unforgetable, and when all the patrons of his diner begin to sing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," and tears fill up in his eyes, well...it just doesn't get any better than this! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

One of the funniest movies ever made! A treasure!
When I first heard of the 1935 film "Ruggles of Red Gap", I thought it was a movie about the life of actor Charlie Ruggles. Since Charlie Ruggles was one of Hollywood's most talented performers of that era, I knew the movie couldn't be bad. Charlie stars in this film but ironically doesn't play "Ruggles". He and Mary Boland play the ever bickering Mr. and Mrs. Floud, who win a servant (played by Charles Laughton) in a poker game. The movie is extremely hilarious from beginning to end with one comical act after another. My favorite was the scene in which Effie Floud insisted on "refining" her husband Egbert, with new clothes, a haircut and trimmed moustache. After finally being forced into a new suit, Egbert grumbles, "I look like that bantam rooster I had before it was run over." In which Effie retorts, "When you came in here you looked like that bantam rooster AFTER he was run over!" It's a sidesplitting hour and a...

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Student Of The Year (2012) (Hindi Movie / Bollywood Film / Indian Cinema) - Blu-Ray

Awesome
I loved this movie. It looked amazing on blu-ray. And you also get a dvd with it. I really recommend this product. Loved it

Student of the Year - Indian Movie with English Subtitles
A nice, cool, fun, love and friend movie. Very Western. Luv'd it........ ...... ....... ....... ...... ...... ...... ..... .



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Ron Finch That's All You Get

Past, Present and Future
A video that gives you the whole package...where it started, where it is, and where it's going. Fantastic footage and no bull accounts of the best bike builder/painter in the world. Ron Finch was a legend when I was just a teenager and in my 20's I visited his shop in Auburn Hills. My mind still goes to the cat carcass in the cage and the leg bone that moved on the wire when the door opened. The iron in progress, the BBQ cooking,and watching Ron create paint and pinstripe my bike. I watched in awe at the hands as he pinstriped. Ron isn't just a famous person to me...he was also the man that donated his metal creations to our motorcycle safety program to be auctioned off so we could buy bikes to teach others to ride. This video gives the opportunity to still see the faces of people in some of my fondest memories and the masterpieces that were created. Ron Finch - my favorite "troll" (he worked below the Mackinaw Bridge)and this video shows how creative visions can take you all over the...

Don't turn it off yet!
If you can bear with (or fast forward through)the lengthy meandering intro, hampered by confusing attempts at special effects, the film finally opens up into an absolutely fantastic tribute to this legendary biker artist. Finch's work, and this film, should appeal to artists, bikers, air brush artists,historians,metal workers and so many more. His original creations runs from exotic motorcycles to bizarre creatures. His former studio, made of green glass, Studebaker windshields, and whatever else he could find, was worthy of a film devoted strictly to it and the people who visited there over the years.
Interviews with friends, family and other bike-builders give great insight on the likeable Finch, his struggles, and the era he lived in. The interviews are well-done and often humorous, and I loved seeing where the "Big Names" are now. The people, the artwork, the history--it is amazing.
The ONLY reason I did not give this TEN stars was because of the much-too-long intro and...



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Chemistry - Periodic Table of Elements

Just a quick overview (Grade School Level)
Just like I had to learn in grade school... How to read a periodic table and some of the more important element abbreviations. As well as a touch of history about the creators of the periodic table. Even if I didn't know most of that information, I wouldn't feel like I actually learned anything from this. Recommended for fact junkies though.

Learning about the elements made fun.
If you like science and what things are made of you will enjoy the program, I loved it. Would recommend for students and adults who are studying chemistry.



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The Rite [HD]

Satanic Activity/Demonic Possession/Exorcism
I just saw this in the theater and it was excellent! Our story begins with a Catholic mortician (Rutger Hauer) and his young son, Michael (Colin O'Donoghue). Fast forward about 10 years, Michael is a man and leaves the Kovak & Son family business to study to become a priest. Four years later, Michael is graduating the seminary college but is very confused about his future. He has not taken his final vows when he is sent to Rome for two weeks training on The Rite of Exorcism. When he is encouraged to meet the less orthodox Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), he sets out on a path of understanding that far exceeds his expectation that demonic possession is just a psychological condition.

This slightly less than 2 hour film is well done, sufficiently scary, suspenseful, and reminds us that Satan is the master of illusion. It is also a film about the importance of having faith. Sir Anthony is outstanding in his role as a priest who has been performing exorcisms for some time...

Anthony Hopkins at his best
The Rite looked like it would be a mixed bag right from the start. The film seemed to suffer the same fate many other films before it fell victim to and that's giving away too much of the storyline in the trailers. On top of that, it was a film that revolved around exorcism which is a subject that usually leads to disappointing results. Expectations would lead one to believe that The Rite would have enough momentum to reel you in only to drop the ball during its finale similar to last year's The Last Exorcism (except hopefully without the appearance of a neon red, glow in the dark fetus). Luckily, the film has a few surprises up its sleeve.

The cinematography in the film is probably the first thing you'll notice visually. The opening of the film makes things like dripping embalming fluid, a swing set on a playground, and an overturned shopping cart seem more interesting than they really are. Rain is an element used fairly often in the film to usually signify when something...

Hypnotically fascinating...intense thriller with strong performance from Anthony Hopkins...
THE RITE may well have produced some mixed reviews, but I have to admit that having just seen it at my local multiplex theater, I found it a gripping enough experience although I was not particularly fond of the limp ending. The script should have provided a more satisfying conclusion.

ANTHONY HOPKINS, manages to create a full-bodied character from some very thin material. Matching him every step of the way as a young priest who is beginning to have too many doubts about his faith is COLIN DONOGHUE. He holds his own in every scene with Hopkins, who gives his creepiest performance since "Silence of the Lambs."

A major asset is the film's cinematography, especially for the scenes in and around Rome, and whether photographed in rain or shine. The film, in fact, owes a lot of its spellbinding power to the fantastic camerawork and the delicately haunting background score with its occasional uses of strong chords for shock value.

But it's Hopkins who anchors...

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Simon & Simon: The Final Season (Season Eight)

Shout has done what Universal refused to do.
On October 10, 2006 Universal released the first season of Simon & Simon on DVD, but due to poor sales they decided not to release any further seasons. But just over two years later on February 10, 2009 Shout Factory bought the rights and released the second season. They quickly began releasing seasons three and four but still the sales were poor and retail stores declined to stock any future releases because of that. At this point the release of any further seasons were up in the air but Shout decided to make season five available exclusivley through their website. After this it was always a question if another season would be released, even after represenitives at Shout had stated that the release of any further seasons would not happen. They eventually did release seasons six and seven and at this point it was a pretty safe bet that they would release the last season, and only a few months after the release of season seven Shout released the eigth and final season.

Most...

Great show...grand finale!
A shame this show only went eight years.
The guys are 67and probably STILL look
better than me.
Definately worth your time and $$.
Enjoyable ACTION '80s entertainment!

The Simon Bros. Farewell Season
It's about time SHOUT released SIMON & SIMON's 1988-89 Season out on DVD, especially since it was the last season throughout its whole 8-year run on CBS.

Therefore this is also the season when the short-tempered gonzo private dick Rick(Gerald McRaney)and his often festidious kid brother & fellow private detective A.J.(Jameson Parker)say say goodbye to both the detective business and to their hard-nosed cop buddy Lt. Abigail Marsh(Joan McMurtry)from San Diego P.D. whom often helped out with solving the Simon Bros. cases just like the down-on-his-luck pardoned ex-con turned private investigator Jim Rockford(James Garner)had his crotchety cop buddy Det. Dennis Becker(Joe Santos)from the LAPD do on the ROCKFORD FILES.

Speaking of detective dramas, something else I noticed was this show reminded me quite a bit of the ROCKFORD FILES, because for one thing Rick and AJ's lived an eccentric lifestyle just like Rockford did since Rick lived on a boat in the backyard of...

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2012 Infinite Concert: Second Invation

Amazing!
I loved watching this concert and the behind the scenes footage! I don't have a bluray player so I decided to save some money and buy this version ^^ It is the size of a normal dvd and it comes with English subs :)





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American Blue Note (Institutional Use) [HD]

Well Presented And Affecting Film.
Essentially a series of interjoining episodes such as may be found in a collection of short fiction wherein are portrayed common characters, this film has nary an uninteresting moment as it chronicles the attempts from a saxophone playing head of a jazz quintet, Jack Solow (Peter MacNicol) to locate steady employment for his musicians, not an easy task within a highly competitive entertainment environment. The veteran cinematographer and film school mentor Ralph Toporoff directs this work, reflecting in its close attention to detail his knowledge of the scenario's subject and, when scenes are basically melodrama, Toporoff along with members of his cast and crew successfully address them in a naturalistic fashion. Intriguing personal elements are introduced into the episodic script that stand very well on their own, aided by sensitive playing from the well-selected cast, smoothly implemented camera setups, and clever utilization of sparse resources, as evidenced in footage concerning...





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The Brass Bottle

"Jeanie" meets the "Genie"
Before Barbara Eden played a Genie on the home screen, she played the fiance of a man (Tony Randall) who had a Genie. This film is a lot of fun to watch. The Genie (played by Burl Ives) tries everything to please his master, but to no avail. All of his good works turn into problems. This is a light-hearted comedy which should be reproduced for public viewing. We all need a laugh now and then (especially now!). And this film will fill the bill. Encourage the video and DVD makers to bring back "The Brass Bottle".

A light, amusing, and charming movie
This movie was originally released in 1964, in the days when Universal was still producing this light, colorful fare that was filmed entirely on their backlot. It has the look and feel of a first-rate TV sitcom of the period, but I kind of like that. Burl Ives plays a genie who creates havoc for architect Tony Randall. Barbara Eden, at her most beautiful, is Mr. Randall's girlfriend. If you like "I Dream of Jeannie" or "Bewitched" you'll like this.

Thoroughly enjoyable, Very Tony
As Bewitched, and other excellent TV shows from the 60s get remade, it's about time people start to look at what was the genesis of these great shows.
First and foremost, you can sit down and enjoy the show. Randall, Ives, and the young Eden, all team up to produce some great moments. The court room scenes being some great fare.
As basic as the FX are, they are subtle, and work well.
I recall watching this movie many times on afternoon movie matinees on TV, and it was always one to watch and enjoy, just as some of the Ray Harryhausen works were always ones to sneak up in the middle of the night, and watch with the volume low.

Hopefully the studios will see these great films as candidates for full restoration, either THX, or taking the audio from basic stereo to good surround sound ( augment if they must), but at least give us these great films with as many extras as possible; and most definitely in the original aspect ratio.

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The Tin Drum (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Book and DVD both worth having
I read the book two weeks ago and have just viewed the Criterion Collection DVD. I found the book to be complex, rich, insightful, puzzling, and surreal. I loved it. This film comes as close as any film could to the spirit of the novel and still be under 3 hours long.

Oskar is born to three parents who, like the Gdansk they live in, represent 3 ethnic groups: Pole, Kashubian, and German. He is fully conscious at birth and is presented with two paths for his life - one as a shopkeeper and one as a musician. While the people of 1930's Gdansk/Danzig feel forced to choose ethnic sides and mundane occupations, Oskar rejects the "stupid" adult world. He stops growing and learns to assert some control over adults through his drumming and vocal talents.

One of my favorite sections of the book is when he musically subverts a large Nazi rally. Not only was this well done in the movie but was worked into a bonus feature that had Grass reading the book chapter while we watch the...

Amazing!
I saw this movie back in 1983. I was only 9 years old but the movie to this day left an indelible impression on me. It was sad, yet humorous. Some parts make you go a little bug-eyed but that's all part of the surrealism of this movie. The young actor who played Oskar was amazing. Obviously you could tell he was just a child but I could actually see him as an adult as the movie goes on. I'm not in the habit of seeing foreign language films. In fact, I can honestly say that I've seen only a handful of them. This was my first German language film and I can safely say it was my favorite. Buy this video. You will not regret it. Its that amazing.

An Allegory of Germany
Schlondorff brought a superb cast together to tell the story of Oskar, who ceases to grow beyond his three year old size; a symbolic representation of Germany in the twentieth century. Oskar's mother is courted by a German and a Pole. Gunther Grass's allegorical solution to the wrenching of national borders and ethnic shuffling brought about by World War I is to show the mother, unable to choose between her lovers, choosing them both. One becomes the father of Oskar. Which one? Does it matter? Thus Oskar arrives amidst the confusion of the twenties, only to witness the degradation of the homeland by revolution, runaway inflation and finally, the steady growth of National Socialism through the thirties. Oskar mirrors the turmoil of Germany's struggle of the twentieth century, unable to free itself from its own dream of Teutonic superiority, unable to find peace in the national soul. View this work with an eye to the inadequacies of your own country and begin to see Gunter Grass's...

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Blu-ray)

Exploitation? Quite Unfair
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is the fourth feature film by British director Stephen Daldry. Daldry emerged in 2000 with his beautifully written drama Billy Elliot. He followed with progressively less impressive efforts (The Hours and The Reader) but still gave a decent effort with every new try. This film is written by Eric Roth (the writer of Forrest Gump and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and produced by mega-producer Scott Rudin (No Country for Old Men). The film is based on the book of the same name...

A Boy's Quest in EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE
A Boy's Quest in EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE
Ambitious in concept, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is the love story of a troubled boy whose bond with his father transcends death and events beyond his understanding. Director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliott, The Hours) has put together an interesting study in post trauma and rediscovery. It doesn't always work, but it still registers on an emotional level.

A funeral signals the death of a family member and a boy's alienation to the world. In flashbacks, Oskar (Thomas Horn), who has trouble communicating and may have Asperger Syndrome, adores his father (Tom Hanks) who challenges him with riddles and treasure hunts to meet people outside his apartment. Both father and mother (Sandra Bullock) are loving parents, and the world becomes an interesting laboratory for exploration and discovery. Life is idyllic until 9/11 when everything changes and Oskar is witness to his father's last moments trapped in one of the...

A Different Coming of Age Story
Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) shares an incredibly close relationship with his father, Thomas Schell (Tom Hanks). Oskar is an extraordinary child who has some very particular social quirks. His list is rather extensive and it's revealed that he was once tested for Asperger's Syndrome. However, Thomas Schell spends a great amount of time with his son and does everything he can to help him overcome his fears. However, on September 11, 2001 as the world changes forever, tragically so does the life of Oskar and his mother, Linda (Sandra Bullock), as Thomas was in the second tower of the World Trade Center when it fell. Linda attempts to move on with life, but Oskar refuses to move forward. A year later, he accidently destroys a blue vase while rummaging through his father's closet and discovers a key in an envelope simply marked "Black". Thomas constantly played games with Oskar and led him on journeys around the city, hiding clues and prizes in the most unexpected places. Oskar is convinced...

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