Don King: Only In America

I wish I could give this movie 10 stars.
I have never seen a movie where the main character was portrayed with this kind of realism. I thought it actually WAS Don King the first time I saw this movie. Ving Rhames should have won Oscars, Emmys, and every kind of conceivable award for his portrayal of Don King. I mean he even has the voice inflections and mannerisms of Don King down to such a science it is unreal. I have never seen an actor portray anyone that well. I wish I could give this movie 10 stars. Ving Rhames IS Don King, from beginning to end. The man should have won an Oscar and an Emmy. I can't emphasize ENOUGH how well Ving Rhames plays Don King. I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this movie.

Ving Rhames IS Don King
Only in America could a small time numbers runner-con man from Cleaveland make it from a prison cell to being the most powerful man in the richest of sports...Don King is simply put the greatest promoter of all time and even in his seventies the man just flat out controls most of the strings of the sport. Ving Rhames becomes the character as we follow his trials and tribulations, and in a cool piece of screenplay, Don talks to the audience and himself explains what is going on in his life as he makes his way to the top, mowing away all opposition especially Bob Arum. Things still havent changed as he promotes most of the top players in boxing today, and will do so until he dies, if the man is not immortal.

easily, one of the best performances,best films,don't resist
it's been a long time, since i've bothered to write a review, seems these days, movies are all so, normal, nothing unique about them, it's sad really, this film, is unique, I relate this film to scarface, as well as blowing me away, ving rhames, makes you believe he is the great don himself, he took on the mob, and he lived, and he killed a man, and beat it, then he killed another, and he got misdeamanor, the man is a icon, one of the greatest showboats, to have ever lived, he's also very intelligent, and it's true, he shouldn't have got such a bad rep, but baby, that sells, violence, sex, crime, it all sells,the media, you know, this film is a 100 stars, if you don't see this, then I pity you, if you say this movie is ..., like reviewer number one, then your an ..., this film is brilliant, a masterpiece, this film is also almost out of print, obviously, like divinci, a true artist, isn't respected till he is gone, wan't a real world example? look at tupac shakur, when don is gone, no...

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Enter Nowhere

Good Movie, But Not Really Horror
This movie was billed as a horror and thriller, but I really don't see it as either. Without giving away too much of the plot, I think it's better described as a journey of self-discovery. Three people end up in a cabin in the middle of the woods, one after another, due to car trouble or a similar situation. There is very little food and the only the barest of supplies to last through the very cold nights. The acting, especially the two women, was really spot-on and well done. Each characterization came across quite well. It was interesting to watch how everything unfolded as they realized they were each an integral part of one another's way out of there. There is a definite feel of suspense, but not in the traditional horror or thriller sense. It's more to see how everything will play out for each person. I would recommend this for a cerebral flick, but not for someone wanting a mindless horror or fast-action thriller.

Enter Nowhere DVD
I watch movies all the time and have purchased over a 1000 DVD's, but I rarely take the time to write a review. I love suspense movies and even horror if they are not too gory. This movie is really good. Having watched so many suspense movies, I'm rarely surprised, but this one kept my interest and had some great twists. I believe it is an independent film so I'm trying to help out little known movies that are good to reach a larger audience. If you like suspence without the gore, give this film a chance, you will not be disappointed.

A really neat and different movie that could have been really great but was flat in a few spots. I like it though. I say B
"If we're here and today's the day then we're all about to die." Three strangers all somehow all have accidents around a secluded cabin and try to find a way out. The begin to get more and more confused as they can't agree on what state, or what year they are in. Finding a way out may not be as easy as they hoped. This is a movie that got better the longer it went on. What started off as a run of the mill movie began introducing twists and turns that actually made it pretty enjoyable and had me guessing almost the entire time. I love movies that aren't obvious all the way through and this is not. For a B rate movie this is actually really neat. The only problem with this to me is that parts of the movie were really good while others were so slow I almost lost interest. The good parts did out-way the bad though. This is the kind of movie that makes you want to watch it again to see if you can catch things you missed the first time. Overall, a really neat and different type of movie...

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Del Shores: My Sordid Life

jo jo east baltimore
Wonderful, and very humanly touching! This from one of the writers and movie directors who should be more famous, than he is! Saying that he does things his way, and wants to express the struggles, toughness, and grit spirit of Southern gay men! This is a wonderful, dvd of his life work, and the behind the scene on dvd, with movie cast members visiting backstage is worth the price of the dvd alone!

where sordid lives was inspired
that and many other things Del tells about growing up a southern baptist preachers son his family and many other things

I bought this at a Del Shores personal stand up comedy show in Cincinnati oh. This is such good stuff.



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ESPN Films - The Marinovich Project

Marinovich Project
If there was ever any a video to show a young athlete or young athlete's parent this is it. I remember growing up as a young teenager and watching Todd ascend from high school to USC to the NFL. I always thought to myself what a waste. Now, however, I realized why he made the decisions he did and how strong addiction can be. There are so many life lessons to be learned in this documentary that I know anyone could benefit from it...even non-athletes. As a high school football coach I have showed this film (and will continue to show it) to my players and they always tell me how inspiring it was for them. This video can change lives!

The Message? Don't be a Marinovich.
Viewed: 3/13
Rate: 5/5

3/13: The legend of Todd Marinovich and his father is a very well-known story in athletics, and it did not turn out well for both of them. I did not follow it back then, so I wanted to learn about it in The Marinovich Project. I became satisfied with what I missed out on which was apparently...nothing. All in all, if you want to burn your kid out because you desire to live your dreams though him, go ahead and watch The Marinovich Project by all means.

Awesome
I really enjoy all the 30/30 films and this one is no different. I recommend it for yourself or as a gift!

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Chinatown [Blu-ray]

Updated for Blu-ray: Much improved picture and extras for new edition of classic film
A remarkable film noir classic, "Chinatown" finally gets the deluxe treatment it deserves on Blu-ray.

Blu-Ray: The Blu-ray looks quite nice. There is grain evident throughout but it isn't obstrusive staying true to the "look" of the original film and films of the time. Detail is quite nice throughout with my only complaint a bit heavy handed DNR on occasion in some scenes but that, again, could be justified if the grain was wildy inconsistent from shot to shot. The transfer walks the fine line of providing us with a sharp looking transfer that doesn't fall into the DNR pit of plastic skin and textures so smooth they rob the film of detail.

It appears that the print used for the previous DVD (and quite possibly the same transfer although I haven't been able to confirm this)was also the source for this edition of the film on Blu-ray. It's also possible this is an older HD transfer (again, I haven't been able to confirm when it was done) which might explain the look...

A milestone in film noir history.
"Water is the life blood of every community." With this statement, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's website begins its biography of William Mulholland, the real life model of two of this movie's characters, water department chief Hollis Mulwray (an obvious play on words) and water tycoon Noah Cross. And indeed water, the access to it and the wealth it provides, is what drives everything and everybody in this movie set in the ever-thirsty Los Angeles of the first decades of this century, a budding boom town on the brink of victory or decay ... and whether it will be one or th other depends on the city's ongoing access to drinking water.

"Chinatown"'s story is based on William Mulholland's greatest coup; the construction of the Owen Valley aqueduct which provided Los Angeles with a steady source of drinking water but also entailed a lot of controversy. Splitting Mulholland's complex real-life persona into two fictional characters (the noble Mulwray who...

You Can't Ever Forget "Chinatown"
About an hour into "Chinatown", Noah Cross (John Huston) says to Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson), "You may think you know what you're dealing with, but believe me, you don't." Gittes, whose heard this rap before, just smiles. "Why is that funny?" asks Cross. "It's what the D.A. used to tell me about Chinatown." If any exchange defines "Chinatown" the movie then this is it. It's a film where the cliched metaphor of the onion is quite apt: the more layers you peel away, the more layers you find. And the less you're likely to understand. It begins life as a simple detective story, but eventually spins out of control into a web of intrigue (another cliched metaphor) that not only includes the murder of water commissioner Hollis Mulwray, but the entirety of 1930's Los Angeles.

Into this web is sprung Jake Gittes, a man who seems to be a typical film noir detective, but upon closer inspection is much more. Or, as we shall see, much less. I'd argue that Jake is an existential...

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Verdi: La Traviata

Imaginative Production
I admired the production and wanted to listen to the work of the leading lady immediately after the DVD was completed. That is postive comment enough. It is not a traditional look at the work; it is not placed in its time and place; it is another viewpoint and I think legitimate.

Buy this for Dessay
Natalie Dessay is an artist whom I admire greatly for her singing, acting, intelligence and musicianship. This performance is ample reason why. Here is a well-sung and compelling acted performance of one of opera's more challenging roles. At times I thought her characterization was a bit edgy - on the verge in a manner more suited to Lucia than to Violetta - but, still, it's a thoughtful and valid portrayal. Her singing is technically brilliant (as in "Sempre libera") and deeply moving ("Addio del passato") where needed. I was particularly pleased that she takes both verses of both her arias. The last several performances of I've seen in the theatre have used these erstwhile traditional cuts.

Miss Dessay is well-matched in the Alfredo of Charles Castronovo. He has a pleasing lyric voice and shows a commendable empathy for a not altogether sympathetic character. His singing is tasteful and involved, though he does come close to losing the high C at the end of his...

Verdi would not recognise this opera
If there is one reason to own this DVD, it is Dessay. A natural query is "Why would Dessay get involved in a production like this?" Seeing Dessay in Met's La Traviata recently (HD theatres) inspired me to buy the present DVD, which is the only Violetta available with Dessay. We see a vivacious forty-year-old face on a lithe twenty-year-old frame. It is a pleasure. Her performance brought back memories of watching Callas as Cio Cio San, and Moffo as Lucia more than half a century ago. Callas, Moffo, and Dessay can now be spoken in the same breath.

What a contrast! This Virgin version is embedded in a third-rate setting (using that word loosely, sorry) and choreography. It is impossible for anyone, including Dessay, to inspire her compatriots, who at best are indifferent, and at worse lacks imagination. These singers performed in their street clothes. Annina even brought along her newspaper to keep her from being bored. She needed it at the beginning of Act 1 (bit...

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Shogun Assassin - 5 Film Collector's Edition [Blu-ray]

Mass Slaughter
"Shogun Assassin" is a great film. Much "controversy" has arisen over the years regarding this film having been cobbled together from two other films in the Lone Wolf series. I think that what has been achieved is an extremely entertaining, fast-paced piece of action. By eliminating non-essential story lines and including a voice over narration, the action moves at break neck speed. The amount of blood spilled is so over the top as to be cartoonish, which only adds to the uniqueness of the movie. The DVD transfer is excellent and the restored picture is high quality. Some reviewers have complained about certain scenes being unrestored, it is actually only two shots totaling maybe five seconds in length. Both shots are of a castle and the excuse for not restoring them was that they were stock footage with no original element available. I do not know why the company had to place the disclaimer of this fact on the film, as I doubt anyone would have really noticed anyway. An added bonus...

Great film, but get the originals instead.
Unlike what some of the other reviews have stated, this is not spliced together episodes from a Japanese tv show. Actually, it is spliced from the first two (there are six in the series) Lone Wolf and Cub movies: Sword of Vengeance and Baby Cart at the River Styx. It is also not a kung fu film because for one thing, kung fu is a martial art form from China and this movie is from Japan and is involving samurai (who don't practice kung fu).

Unfortunately, taking two movies and cutting them down to one movie half as long hurts the story of the films. In the original films, the Shogun didn't just up and decide that he was threatened by Ogami Itto and decide to kill his family. The story is more involved and the viewer has a much stronger emotional connection with the characters of the story when watching the original versions of the film in two separate parts.

Also, the Lone Wolf and Cub series has seen a recent release onto DVD by AnimEigo and the picture and sound...

There will be blood
I am not usually a fan of dubbed versions of Japanese films. Most of the time, they are so poorly done I don't know why they even bother. But somehow, I find "Shogun Assassin" to be not only forgivable, but an awesome flick.

Maybe because this is more than just a dubbed version of the original film. The director, Robert Houston, spliced together the "good parts" of two films, Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance and Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx into a single story. He then hired deaf lip-readers to help him create an English-language script that was synchronized to the mouth movements, and Mark Lindsay from the band Paul Revere & the Raiders to lay out a funky synthesizer track for a score. It reminds me a bit of the animated series...

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Solartaxi

Fun DVD on how a teacher manage to drive around the globe solar
It is great to see that someone is showing the power of solar, also for cars. It is a sort of amateur movie, but fun if you are into environmental issues.





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Contraband (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Good for Wahlberg fans
"Contraband" is a 2011 action film starring Mark Wahlberg as a former smuggler reluctantly drawn back into the game for one last score, this time to help his brother-in-law (Caleb Landry Jones) who got in too deep with the bad guys (Giovanni Ribisi).

For the past few years Wahlberg has been cranking out the action films at a pace that truly amazes. He's been nominated twice for an Oscar ("The Fighter" in 2010 and "The Departed" in 2006) and recognized for "Three Kings" (1999), and "Four Brothers" (2005), although my favorite Wahlberg role (and guilty pleasure) "Shooter" (2007) has been ignored on the awards circuit.

If his awards were not sufficient praise, Wahlberg has delivered at the box office. Seven of his films have neared or topped the elusive $100 Million mark, and most of his films have been among the top 10.

And if awards and box office clout aren't enough, Wahlberg has a second career as a producer, a role he served on this film and on Oscar...

Completely underrated movie
Considering the fact that there are not many reviews about this movie yet, I was surprised that there have been no 5 stars yet. Now I am a picky person and have watched my share of movies so very rarely will I give a movie a 5 star unless it grabs me and I am on the edge of my seat. This one grabbed my attention from start to finish. It reminds me a lot of the Italian Job. Just when you think you know what is going on in the movie, it slaps you in the face and takes you in a different direction. The movie kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and part of liking a movie is how the movie ends. Some movies are great all the way through until the ending. Some end the way it should, while some end in the way it shouldn't. I thought this ending fit well and I was pleased. So my advice to you, is if you like Italian Job you will like this. It's just hard for me to understand why someone would give this movie anything less than a 4 star.

This WAS a good movie
Pooh on all the negative reviews when this is up against Tom Cruise and his predictable Mission Implausable installment. Other than the too-stupid-to-believe incident when Kate Beckinsale meets up with some plastic, this is a good movie. Because it offers characters like Ribisi, Caleb Landry Jones (who was outstanding), Ben Foster (also very good), and David O'Hara in a mix of bad guys that doesn't seem normal, it still works. There are lots of unexpected turns. Ribisi is a different bad guy. Creepier than most, but less violent than most. It's not a typical action film because the writers and director of this film are not American. I loved it.

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The Osbournes - The 2 1/2 Season

Excellent
Series 2 1/2 (Not sure why they called it this; it is just as long as the other two) is so very, very good. We get to see more of the England house and all of the Oz's gold records. WOW! The series is typical of the family and is great fun. The only issue I have with it is the final episode, and I won't discuss it here. I am not sure if this was supposed to be a joke or a spoof of other reality TV series. I only hope that there are more shows in the future. NOT FOR KIDS!

I Agree......WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE SEASON DVD"S?
I am wondering the same thing this person is asking! Would LOVE to see the Osbournes DVD's come out ALL THE SEASONS! They were hilarious and loved watching them. What's the deal on this? If they ever do come out I know I will be buying them. Anyone know what the hold up is?

Bahahahahaha
I love The Osbournes! I love reality shows like this that aren't necessarily competitions (my favorites are always early eliminated), but are just a bunch of people interacting. And these guys are my favorite family ever. It's hilarious and entertaining whenever, and it's great to watch their various personalities clash, and even when they're getting along it's almost tumultuous. This 1/2 season is no different, and though it's only 1/2 a season, it really is worth having, if only for the last episode. I just love this show.

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Marvel Animated Features: 3-Movie Collection [Blu-ray]

Marvel and the dolling out plan
Yes, I am a superhero movie junkie and Marvel has done a nice job over the years of putting out animated and live action films to satisfy my wants. I had owned the Iron Man movie on DVD but neither the Planet Hulk or Dr Strange movies so when I saw a 3 movie deal I grabbed at it and figured I would just upgrade the Iron Man movie.The Iron Man and Dr Strange films are origin stories while the Hulk movie follows the Planet Hulk storyline (for those familiar with the comics). Now as I said I had owned the Iron Man movie but now Marvel bundled 3 movies, a couple of weeks later I saw a 5 movie bundle from Marvel...grrrrr. Marvel gets you to buy 1, then introduces a 2 movie pack (the Ultimate Avengers movies) and on and on.

great collection!!
couldn't ask for a better collection!! u get all 3 movies in one box!!! cant beat that! I recommend this one!!

awesome
this was an amazing story, i really enjoyed taking the time to really get into it by looking frame by frame.

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Crime After Crime

4.5 stars... important movie about an important cause
I was recently looking for a good movie to watch at my local library and stumbled upon this documentary. Not knowing anything more than what I read on the DVD jacket, I decided to to a chance on this. I'm glad I did.

"Crime After Crime" (2011 release; 93 min.) brings the case of Debbie Peagler, an African-American woman convicted in 1983 of murdering her abusive boyfriend. She was sentenced to 25 years-to-life. As the movie starts, we meet two lawyers who take her case pro-bono almost 20 years later to re-examine the facts of the case. Pretty soon it is clear that Peagler was the victim of "women battered syndrome" and should never have been prosecuted for murder, and furthermore that the Los Angeles District Attorney's office made some horrendous mistakes and probably (likely) violated her rights as a defender by withholding evidence. When presented with those facts by the pro-bono lawyers, the DA sends a letter to the attorneys, offering to reduce the crime to voluntary...

A Landmark Documentary
A heartbreaking story of a battered, African American woman trapped in an unjust criminal justice system. In spite of countless setbacks, Deborah Peagler remains strong and selfless, with an unwavering spirit. Debbie's legal team becomes family to her in an emotional battle to save her and other incarcerated survivors of domestic violence. A truly moving and unforgettable film.

eye opening
i viewed this film earlier this year and it is a bomb shell of information on the injustice of the legal system, it should be seen by every law student and incorporated into the curriculum . It's a sad situation that has a bitter sweet ending.

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Black Butler: Complete 2nd Season (Limited Edition, Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

You Know, I Think They're Molesting These Children...
The first series of Black Butler was a fascinating story, involving some very dark comedy, some downright weird historical anachronisms, and some nice interplay between the characters. Little girl Queen Victoria and crazy angels and a "New London Bridge" being constructed of human souls. It was just a fun watch from start to finish.

The second series is by no means bad, and I did enjoy it, but the introduction of Alois Trancy (which ended up being the whole storyline) was really uncomfortable. It took all the weird molestation undertones that Sebastian-Ciel's relationship had (buried behind a "demon devouring a soul" motif) and brought it really far out into the open. Alois is damaged goods from the ground up, he's literally molested by his adopted father and he's got his own father-figure demon to devour his soul, just like Ciel does. But where Ciel comes off as vulnerable (and desperate to hide it), resigned to relying on Sebastian even with the knowledge that the...

Holy POOP!
GORGEOUS packaging!
Full of the entire season on both blu-ray and dvd, and it contains all the OVAs listed!
The box and the series is absolutely stunning!!
WELL worth the 3 month pre order wait if you ask me!! LOL
I love it! I recommend it to EVERYONE!!!

Keeps getting better.
I must say, I bought this the day it came out and honestly, I have no regrets. the case is HUGE and there is a surprise for everyone. I am not dissapointed at all. FIVE STARS! Sadly it's only 12 episodes but I hope they go on. This is a good series.

It's SOOO worth it.

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Patton Oswalt: Finest Hour

A Mix Of The Relatable And The Absurd: Oswalt Scores With This Grammy Nominated Set
Although I've always liked him, I never really considered myself a huge fan of Patton Oswalt. I have watched him in about a billion programs through the years (ranging from Reno 911 to Caprica to The United States of Tara) and even thought his 2009 film "Big Fan" was one of that year's biggest surprises. But in 2011, Oswalt scored with a critically acclaimed role in the dark "Young Adult" (in which he is great) and starred in the subversively loony short form series "The Heart, She Holler." And suddenly, after all these years, I'm starting to think I better call myself a fan. So I was eager to check out Oswalt's latest stand-up special "The Finest Hour." This amusing set, presented before an enthusiastic Seattle audience, is a solidly entertaining comedy routine that encompasses both Oswalt's relatability and his inherent sense of the absurd. It may not be the funniest comedy special I've seen this year, but it absolutely plays to Oswalt's strengths which makes it well worth the...

I just love Oswalt's humor
That's all I can say, if you like this sort of cleverly woven, insightful humor, then you'll love this. Highly recommend it.

Funny
Not realy any exstras but its an hour and its Patton. Cant beat that. I was glad I got this and I cant wait for the next DVD he comes out with.

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David Lean Directs Noel Coward (In Which We Serve, This Happy Breed, Blithe Spirit, Brief Encounter) (Criterion Collection)

Criterion's celebration of David Lean and Noel Coward may be the year's best box set
Criterion, who probably makes more film fans happier than any other company, has just released David Lean Directs Noel Coward. An odd pairing, at first glance---the man who directed such epics as Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and The Bridge on the River Kwai---with the premier light comedy actor/author/composer of the twentieth century. Even odder is the choice of material: A world class war story about the sinking of a ship; a world class romance about lost love; a world class picture of the British lower-middle class; and the world class comedy fantasy of the last century, respectively In Which We Serve, Brief Encounter, This Happy Breed and Blithe Spirit. Perhaps even more surprising is that all four were made during a period of about three years, from 1942 to 1945.
Briefly, all four films are extraordinary examples of propaganda at its best. Lean and Coward were both fervently patriotic, and England was the underdog at the time in a war. Lean was just beginning his...

David Lean & Noel Coward
The Criterion Collection has released DAVID LEAN DIRECTS NOEL COWARD, a four-disc boxed set containing the quartet of films that the two artists made together during the first half of 1940s. The collection is being released in both Blu-Ray and DVD editions. This reviewer's remarks are based on the DVD set.

All four films, two of which are in Technicolor, have been magnificently remastered. The colors are brilliant and balanced; the black-and-white images sharp and solid.

I'm not going to use much space talking about the individual movies, since anybody who decides to purchase this collection will, undoubtedly, be well familiar with them.

IN WHICH WE SERVE (1942) was co-directed by Coward and Lean and deals with a ship of the Royal Navy, sunk in the Mediterranean during the early days of World War II. This event occurs at the start of the picture, thus most of the narrative is told via flashback as the survivors cling to a life raft, being strafed...

An elegant collection, worthy of "double dip" . . .
Am still thrilled with my 9 film Korean release David Lean DVD Collection Box Set [9 Discs, Import, All Regions] (Oliver Twist /Great Expectations / Blithe Spirit / This Happy Breed /Brief Encounter /Madeleine /The Sound Barrier /Hobson's Choice) (+ "Passionate Friends", unlisted), so was a bit hesitant to buy the Criterion set (after all, 9-set was only missing "In Which We Serve", which was only previously available as public domain release). Bit the bullet, spent $55 for THIS set (after spending $47 for 1st set). Summary: a most worthy addition to library. Criterion set has the 4 listed films, including a wonderfully restored "Serve", numerous extra features (as listed in product description), a 45 page booklet, and just flat-out classy packaging (each film has own case -hardboard w/film photos, and plastic tray-), including shiny black accents for all film titles, all housed in similarly designed box...

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Merry Wives of Windsor

Court and Sparks
Word has it that Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) was so amused by Falstaff in Henry IV Part 1 she asked William Shakespeare to write a play with Falstaff in love. The Bard obliged, but on his own terms. "The Merry Wives of Windsor" is the result. Thought to be written in two weeks, it's Shakespeare's only play to use England's emerging middle-class as a backdrop. The subject is courting, and the state of protestant marriage in Elizabethan England.

Falstaff is a knight, but hardly young or dashing. In Henry IV Part 1 he describes himself as "A goodly portly man, i'faith, and a corpulent; of a cheerful look, a pleasing eye, and a most noble carriage . . .." Prince Hal describes him as "a stuffed cloak-bag of guts" and "an old white-bearded Satan." Needless to say, he's hardly a catch. His idea of love is to find a woman who will fund his considerable appetite for food, fun and drink.

Falstaff has his attention focused on two such women, both of whom are...

Excellent performance
The performance is excellent and the video quality, superb.
The character of Falstaff is as grotesque, cunning, gullible, and fat as Shakespeare devised him. The very Robert Green, who supposedly Falstaff is drawn after, would have envied this performance of his character.
I have seen an excellent performance of _The Merry Wives of Windsor_ at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and this Globe performance on DVD is up to speed with the best. It is funny; it stays alive throughout its five acts; and all the characters come alive as they were most likely meant to be. Mistress Page and Mistress Ford are fantastic, and so is the jealous husband who can't pin down any wrongdoers.
This is women's power at its best. So much for a society that did not allow women to perform on stage. Still, I would love to see an original practices performance by an all-male cast one day. For the time being, this performance does what it is meant to do: make you laugh at the characters and...

An Elizabethan "I Love Lucy"
XXXXX

This is the third play in William Shakespeare's (1564 to 1616) dramatic canon that has Sir John Falstaff, one of the playwright's comedic masterpieces, but this time as the lead character. He also appears in both parts of the history play "Henry the Fourth." (He is mentioned in another history play, "Henry the Fifth.")

This is regarded as a "minor" play perhaps because this comedy sounds so un-Shakespearean. However, scholars laud the creation yet again of the Falstaff character. He is both glorious and fun. And the "wives" are indeed "merry."

This play (written circa 1600) is the most purely farcical of all of Shakespeare's plays. It depends on lightening-quick timing between the actors and carefully choreographed actions. The "meaning" cannot be separated from the "performance."

This play is one of those plays that works better in performance than on the page, since it's filled with sight gags and spoken humour, including...

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Flashpoint: The Fourth Season

Where are the missing episodes???
I am so angry!! Why does the DVD set only contain 13 of the 24 episodes. I feel totally ripped off!!!

Not ALL EPISODES on DISCS
My aunt got this today and she is MAD MAD MAD! The 3 discs do NOT have all episodes on them. The ones that are missing are the ones she really wanted to watch, which were the last episodes of the season. The same thing happened with season 2 where some of the episodes ended up on the season 3 disc. I know this is NOT an Amazon thing, but it is the company choosing to break up the season just so you have to buy the next season, which means more money.

If there is a way to get ALL the season 4 episodes please advise because this is completely dumb. Amazon should have included PARTIAL season in the title or text because it is misleading and now I have to probably buy the episodes individually for my aunt. So yea thanks company for taking advantage of your customers.

NOT the full season
Amazon should include "ONLY 13 Episodes" in the description!! WHERE ARE ALL THE EPISODES????? Love the show but very disappointed 11 episodes are not included! Flashpoint will end with season 5. The question is will it be packaged as the true season 5 or...

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Top Shot: The Gauntlet, Season 3

A Return To Basics: Less Character Drama Keeps The Focus Mainly On Competition For Season Three
History Channel's marksmanship reality competition returns for its third season with "Top Shot: The Gauntlet." In a somewhat polarizing second season, many viewers were either delighted by or disappointed by the inclusion of additional non-shooting gamesmanship from surprising sources and the emergence of the show's most controversial contestant yet. Purists may want to see this show geared toward the best and most talented candidate winning, but that's not necessarily the way of contemporary reality programming. There is nothing particularly unique about the format of the show which mirrors countless other elimination contests across the television landscape. It seems to be inescapable!

With the subject matter being guns and recreational shooting, however, the show really caters to a widespread sport that you don't see embraced very often in traditional programming. Thus, lovers of target practice and marksmanship have a show that they can call their own. It's not an...

best show ever
Makes me want to buy all tge guns...Every challenge gets more and more intense. I cant wait for the next season.

Great show!
This show is fantastic if you love the sport of shooting. The people are interesting and the shooting challenges look like they'd be a lot of fun.

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Certified Copy (Criterion Collection)

A fascinating and fun philosophical romance - from the always intriguing Abbas Kiarostami
Note that this review is for the film itself, which I saw in theaters (twice); I'm waiting for the Criterion Edition to ship (May 22) before I pick up my own copy.

An author on tour to promote his book has an apparently chance meeting with a French woman (Juliette Binoche), and their encounter proves to be something far more than casual. He proposes in his book that a copy, an imitation, is as good as the genuine article, and while he appears to confine his thesis to works of art, what follows suggests that she may be testing to see how far it extends to life itself. The latest film by celebrated Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami is also his first to be filmed outside of his native country. Starring Juliette Binoche (who took home the best actress award at Cannes for her stunningly enigmatic performance in this film), Certified Copy starts from a premise that promises an exotic love story, and gradually turns into a subtle and profound meditation on art, memory, truth,...

An Intelligent and Philosophical Film About How Our Expectations Affect our Perspective
Perhaps you remember the 1995 hit "Before Sunrise," with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, where a couple of young strangers spend an evening together in Vienna, mostly talking about life and relationships?

"Certified Copy" is a similar dialogue-driven film that takes place in a small village in Tuscany during the course of one day. It's the story of a middle-aged art dealer (Binoche) who invites a British author on tour (Shimel) for a day in the countryside. As the two visit the various museums, churches, and trattorias, and as their conversation progresses, we find there's more to the relationship than meets the eye, and from there the plot takes some completely unexpected turns.

Despite what the trailer makes you believe, this is not a romantic movie about seduction; it's an intelligent and philosophical film about how our expectations affect our perspective, about originality and point of view. It's also a daring puzzle of a movie, and it engages you in the game...

Dark, elliptical, and obscure
You thought you would be settling down to watch just another love story: distinguished, older English-speaking man meets younger, sexy European woman while on a trip to Italy, and romance follows predictably. Ostensibly, this is the way the movie begins; and you settle in, waiting for the first kiss, and waiting for the love story to unfold. But it does not unfold at all. Things just get strange and more complicated as the movie progresses. James Miller, a deeply cynical and emotionally cold writer, on a visit to Italy to promote his book, meets a charming French woman who wants to show him rural Tuscany, and to revisit the town where they were hastily married fifteen years ago.

There are differing opinions as to what exactly transpires in this film. Certainly it's open to more than one interpretation. One is that James and the woman (Binoche), although initially not married or even acquainted, "take on" the roles of estranged husband and wife. This interpretation seems...

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S.W.A.T. The Final Season

Victory!!
My friends and I have campaigned to have the final season of S.W.A.T. released on DVD for so long now (nine years) that all I can say is thank you Shout!Factory for listening to the fans. I actually have been watching this second season on amazon on demand for years now and I never get tired of watching them. I even bought a Roku so I could watch them on my TV instead of my computer. However nothing compares to having the episodes on DVD. Also a lot of my friends aren't able to get this service so they will finally get to see what I have been talking about all these years.

I really enjoyed the first season of S.W.A.T. but what I have enjoyed even more about the second season besides the fact that there are more episodes is the fact that they go on location a lot more and it brightens up the episode.

As they did in the first season a lot of the episodes focus on a member of the team in a side story to the episode or being involved in the actual story line and...

Been waiting for decades for this!
Those of us who's memories have dimmed will find some changes to the show from season one. A mix of continuity and non-continuity.

In Season Two, almost all non-police action has been removed. No more of the guys hanging around Crazy Mary's having a beer after work. Almost all references to girlfriends, wives and children have been removed. Retconned Hondo (I call him Horndog Hondo) even chastely lusts after some of the female guest characters (does Betty know about this? Hondo, how could you do this to your sons!) Another change is that Hondo is now front and center of every single episode, with the other guys on the squad often relegated to background characters. The show also reused sequences from two season 1 eps in season 2.

On the other hand, Chief Roman is still the chief even though he's mostly spoken of and not seen. And the Ritchie crime family still serves as The Sopranos of SWAT-land, even if none of the characters from "Hit Men" in season one...

Yes!! Victory!!!
I am so glad that the final series is finally being released. I have also watched season 2 on Amazon instant video, but Peggy is right it's not like having the DVD on hand to watch anywhere. I to like Mark and T.J. in the show I wish it hadn't been cancelled, but we can enjoy it on DVD. Thanks Shout Factory!!!!

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I Was A Spy

Welcome release of long-neglected film
VCI seems to be on a roll lately, releasing several excellent DVDs of films that aren't great masterpieces but are still welcome additions to one's film library. The picture quality is great. The sound track is a little tinny, but that's characteristic of British films of this era. Subtitles are offered.

The story is based on the autobiography of Marthe McKenna, which was a best seller in its day. The screenplay is realistic and brings out the emotional conflicts of all the characters. War is not a matter of black and white, but a lot of screenplays treat it that way. The cast, headed by Madeleine Carroll, Conrad Veidt and Herbert Marshall is excellent and there are strong supporting performances by the usual British character actors. Victor Saville's direction really shines in the scenes of masses of troops, but he handles the more intimate scenes well too, and manages to create a sense of claustrophobia where appropriate. There are several of those camera zooms...

An effective, intriging film
I concur with the other reviews giving this 5 stars. The title of the film might deter some prospective viewers - it is, after all, pretty cheesy - but don't be deceived by the label. Victor Saville has directed a film with high production values, a well-constructed script and an excellent cast. The outdoor scenes in the German-occupied Belgian town, where the story is set, are reminiscent of "All Quiet on the Western Front" in their grand choreography and attention to detail. Indeed, the final scenes of "I Was A Spy" include a mis-en-scene effect much admired in that other film. It is easy to understand why Madeleine Carroll was a great star in her day. Not only is she strikingly beautiful in black and white, her range of emotions and fluidity of movement lend great vitality and interest to the character she plays.

The film has been somewhat restored, though it is not perfect in either vision or sound. These defects, however, do not count for so much because the look and...

EARLY SPY THRILLER!!!!!
Fabulous early British film. It is great to have another early Conrad Veidt film available on DVD. I Was A Spy also includes a great supporting cast. VCI's presentation is very good and appears to be complete.

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The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions

Official Listing
DISC 1

The Real Story

NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
`Nature Boy' Ric Flair vs. Sting
Clash of the Champions - 27th March, 1988

NWA World Tag Team Championship Match
Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard vs. Lex Luger & Barry Windham
Clash of the Champions - 27th March, 1988

Why Wait a Whole Year?

NWA World Tag Team Championship Match
Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard vs. Sting & Dusty Rhodes
Clash of the Champions II - 8th June, 1988

Russian Chain Match
Ricky Morton vs. Ivan Koloff
Clash of the Champions III - 7th September, 1988

"I Quit" Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
`Nature Boy' Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk
Clash of the Champions IX - 15th November, 1989

Mil Mascaras vs. Cactus Jack Manson
Clash of the Champions X - 6th February, 1990

NWA World Tag Team Championship Match
Midnight Express vs. Rock & Roll...

Memories
No real complaints except maybe wish there was a documentary and a few different matches but all in all I highly recommend it to any WCW fan. I'm just happy Vince has decided to release this set wish he would do full releases with WCW PPV's like with Wrestlemania,Royal Rumble,Summer Slam etc..but still nice that he isn't forgetting the WCW fans. Also a side note Best Buy has 2 bonus matches:Hollywood Hogan vs. Rick Flair 1996 and The Midnight Express vs. The Fanatics 1988.

WCW's Prime Time Television Extravaganza
Before the era of "WCW Monday Nitro", there was one event available on cable television where you had the matches after match featuring the superstars of the National Wrestling Alliance/World Championship Wrestling against each other. WWE has "Saturday Night's Main Event" while NWA/WCW had theirs in "The Clash Of The Champions." Dusty Rhodes host this DVD set while it should also be noted that Jesse Ventura's commentary has been removed from the matches he was involved in.

NWA Champion Ric Flair vs. Sting - This was the match that made Sting a household name overnight as James J. Dillion was suspended over the ring in the cage to prevent interference in what has gone down as a classic encounter that has stood the test of time today. They went to a time limit draw & had a split decision with judges (which defeats the purpose of the judges in the first place but whatever). When Flair said on the Horsemen DVD that "we made a career making guys...", this was the best example...

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WWII in HD: Collectors Edition

One of the best WWII documentaries
I have watched this series on the History channel and it is unbelievable. Although very graphic at times, the color footage is extrordinary and the comments by the veterans add a new dimension and at times will break your heart. Of all the WWII series I have seen this probably the best overall. The History channel has done a great job. I just wish the DVD was available right now. If you are at all interested in this part of US history or had a relative or friend who served in this war, you will want to get this series.

One of the best WWII mini-series ever
This came in a very close second in my favorite mini-series ever. Right behind Band of Brothers. Even though this series was different from B.o.B (being that the whole series was actual footage from WWII and not acting), it was still an amazing show to watch. Real footage from the war and interviews from actual soldiers that were in the war was perfect. Some of the video was graphic, but that made it real and worth watching. I rarely get teary eyed, but some of those interviews and some of the concentration camp footage, got to me. After seeing the first part, it makes you want to see more. And the other 9 parts of the series certainly delivered. I would highly recommend this to any World War buffs or to anyone who wants to see how much our veterans went through.

Why can't history classes be this interesting?
This entire series is masterfully done! Instead of a bunch of facts and figures delivered by the usual talking heads often seen in documentaries, this series focuses on 12 individuals that were on the front lines during the war. The battles of WWII are told in their own words, through their letters, reports, and interviews, making the entire documentary intensely personal. The narration provided by Gary Sinise seamlessly intertwines the personal accounts with the facts of the battles and strategies used, giving the viewer all of the background information they need to understand what's going on without being the least bit intrusive. The added backdrop of the never-before-seen color WWII footage of the events really makes it seem as if the viewer is right in the middle of the action; watching and experiencing everything for themselves. History teachers and textbook authors take note: this is how history should be taught!

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The Show Off / The Plastic Age

Brooks and Bow
Both of the films on this DVD are enjoyable and worth seeing, but neither can be classed as being among the great films of the silent era. These films are no doubt typical of the sorts of films people saw on a day-to-day basis. The silent films which are most seen today are the classics so it is interesting, for a change, to see some more routine programmers.

The Show Off is the story of a truly obnoxious man played by Ford Sterling who is pompous and foolish. For some reason, which is not at all clear, Lois Wilson decides to marry him. This leads to all sorts of comic misadventures and disasters, including a very funny car journey with the incompetent Sterling causing chaos on the streets of Philadelphia. Louise Brooks is not the star of this film, but she has enough screen time to satisfy her fans. She is easily the best actor in the cast and, of course, looks stunning with her familiar bobbed hair. The print of The Show Off is very good. It is black and white and really clear...

Delightfully entertaining
This double-feature DVD is very enjoyable to watch, not only for the two popular "Jazz Age" stars, Louise Brooks and Clara Bow, but for the overall light and 'feel-good' themes. Despite being of the light entertainment variety, both films have a good story and message with a satisfying ending, and all other aspects of both films are of high quality. There might be a few little disappointments however: while stunning and unmissable, Louise Brooks plays only a small part in "The Show Off", and the picture quality of "The Plastic Age" is nowhere near as good as the pristine quality of the first film. These things aside, I thoroughly enjoyed "The Show Off" and Ford Sterling's entertaining performance as the big-mouthed braggart who gets on everyone's nerves except for Amy, who thinks he's wonderful and ends up marrying him despite her family's disapproval. It's not all laughs, though: Amy's family falls on bad times and "The Show Off" gets a chance to use his big-talk talent for a...

Excellent fun
Great silent movie! The DVD is EXCELLENT quality. I wasn't sure if it was correct projection speed when I ordered it, but it turned out to be - and what a movie! The orchestral score is perfect. All the characters are developed nicely and this was a great role for the leading actor; memorable screen presence. The movie wouldn't be nearly as good without Louise Brooks, but I was hoping for more screen time from her.
This is a great movie from the Roaring Twenties with a lighthearted plot that is effective and fun.

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Scooby-Doo: 13 Spooky Tales Around the World

Yes, Some NEW-to-DVD Scooby-Doo Episodes, But...
Well, first to clarify the number of episodes on this set. Even though they advertise 13 episodes (6 of which are NEW-to-DVD), there's really only 11 and 1/3rd half-hour shows (4 and 1/3rd of which are NEW-to-DVD). And all the NEW stuff is on Disc 2. For those of you who are trying to piece-meal together all the remaining Scooby-Doo episodes on DVD, here are the specifics of what's new and what's not:

Disc 1:

1. The Fiesta Host is an Aztek Ghost - originally aired during the 1976-1977 Season of The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour - The Complete Series. Complete half-hour of "The Scooby-Doo Show" syndicated version.

2. The Harum-Scarum Sanitarium - originally aired during the 1976-1977 Season of The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour - The Complete Series. Complete half-hour of "The Scooby-Doo Show" syndicated version...

New Releases! Finally!
After waiting for brand new releases of more Scooby episodes, I was initially excited when I found out this particular DVD included at least five previously unreleased adventures, some from 'The Scooby-Doo Show' (formerly apart of 'Scooby's All-Star Laff-a-Lympics'), and some from 'Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo' (the original series, the Richie Rich episodes from season two, and 'The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries', from season six). Here's a breakdown:

DISC ONE:
1. The Fiesta Host is an Aztec Ghost (Mexico)
2. The Harum-Scarum Sanitarium (Canada)
3. The Spirits of '76 (Washington, D.C.)
4. A Creepy Tangle in the Bermuda Triangle (Atlantic Ocean)
5. To Switch a Witch (Salem, Massachusetts)
6. A Menace in Venice (Italy)

DISC TWO:
7. Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake! (Florida Keys)
8. Lock the Door, It's a Minotaur! (Greece)
9. The Ozark Witch Switch (Ozark Mountains, US)
10. Jeepers, It's the Jaguaro...

Great episodes new to DVD!!!!
The episodes selected for this compilation are great!!!! and it was especially refreshing to finally see episodes from the first season of "Scooby and Scrappy-Doo" on DVD!!! I do hope that Warner Bros. releases the first season of Scooby & Scrappy in the near future. All in all, this is a must-have for every Scooby-Doo and/or Hanna-Barbera classic animation fan!!!

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Young Goethe in Love

For the hopeless romantics, "Young Goethe in Love" is a fantastic, enchanting romantic comedy!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the legendary German writer and the man of all talents, from art to science and considered a genius of modern German literature who is known for his works of poetry, drama, philosophy and science.

Known for his drama "Faust" and the "Marienbad Elegy" to name a few, when it comes to romance stories, Goethe will forever be remembered for his short epistolary and loosely autobiographical novel titled "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers" (The Sorrows of Young Werther), which was published back in 1774.

It was a novel that was inspired by pain of loving someone so much, but yet not being able to be with them. Pain of losing someone and for love, a sacrifice had to be made.

Suffice to say, "The Sorrows of Young Werther" was a hit and a novel that would propel Goethe to superstar status and even created a fad in which many young men would take their lives because some interpreted "suicide" as the best form of showing one's love and...

I Liked It!
I love Goethe (with an oe). I didn't know if I'd like this film since I, like other Goethephiles, have my "concept" of this man. I was very happily surprised by the light-hearted sweetness of the characterization of Goethe at age 23. As a writer I deeply appreciated the strategy used by the filmmakers in showing Goethe's way of contending with hopeless love, his broken heart. I liked the lines put into Lotte's mouth; I liked the way the piece was filmed and the characterization of the "minor" characters such as Lotte's and Goethe's fathers. I loved the Faust puppet show that was dimly slipped into a market scene; I loved the self-mockery and playfulness of the film and its characters. It was just a pleasure to watch. I wish someone would make a film of Goethe's last love, that which the Marienbad Elegies are written. I'm actually buying a DVD.

Not Shakespeare in love ...
Despite the American distributor's shameless try to milk the Shakespeare in Love audience as much as possible by changing the title to the above, this film is definitely not trying to be the same movie. Sure it has some similarities and the filmmakers were no doubt aware of this, but the tone of the film, the story itself, and the emotional power are very different from each other. Goethe! (as was the original European title) is, sure, like Shakes in Love in that it's about a famous artist when he was young and right before he "finds his voice" and what causes him to find that voice is romantic heartbreak. The major difference to me is that in Goethe's case we know this to be a fact. If you've read The Sorrows of Young Werther or know of the story or know of Goethe's personal life, then you know what happens in this film - while they twist things here and there - is for the most part all true. Fact relates to fiction in an odd way but it relates to in a more profound way...

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