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A mix between the Hunt For Red October & Crimson Tide. Exciting and tense and true. I enjoyed this and recommend it. I say B+. "There are only 2 reasons for a boat to go rogue. One is to defect and the other is to start a war and I don't think we're defecting." This movie is based on actual evens set during the Cold War between the US and the USSR. After returning home and excited about being on leave the A Russian sub captain (Harris) and crew are stunned when they are chosen to go on another mission right away. The mission is classified and the only one on the sub that knows the details is a KGB agent Duchovny). When certain details emerge the crew starts to rethink the orders they are given. I was looking forward to seeing this for really one reason. I am a huge Ed Harris fan. He did not disappoint in this movie. The movie itself is also really good and the best way to describe it is a mix of Hunt For Red Octber and Crimson Tide. The fact that the movie is tru...

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Steelbook) (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

A Completely Fresh Type of Movie First things first, it was Not a cut and paste of the books. It was as funny, as innovative, as lovable, as heartfelt, and as humble as the books. My favorite part of the books though, was that they were just really fun. I felt a smile on my face while I read it. The movie version doesn't lose that. Some characters are far gayer (weird, I expected to see a red line under that word), and some characters are far less. Some lost face time and others gained, but I can't think of a single Book-to-Movie edit that was a bad call. (considering they had to cut about 75% of all character development/back stories) It feels inappropriate to use the same old words and phrases to praise a movie that was slathered with completely new things I've never seen in a movie or script. I owe Edgar Wright and Brian Lee O'Malley an attempt though... -Any one scene from this movie could be viral on YouTube on its own. -My 'Love the Movie' to 'Hate ...

Live in NYC

Monumental As good as it gets Great sound, great performance. If you think Dave Navarro is a reality show pretty boy, watch him wail all over this blu-ray. Perry is his always interesting self. Drumming is to die for. Sound quality really renders what their live show sounds like. Glorious!! Excellent !, Best Jane's DVD ever ! The band is super tight and the video and audio quality is awesome ! Dave and Perry still sound amazing together after all these years ! This Blu-ray totally rocks ! JANE'S ADDICTION - LIVE IN NYC 2011 Recorded back in July 2011, three months before the release of their fourth studio album "The Great Escape Artist" Jane's Addiction played the intimate setting of New York's Terminal 5 in partnership with electronic manufacturer LG to show off the use of 3D technology and is not from the bands 2012 Theater of the Escapists tour. Now two years later after being shown on U.S TV on numerous occasions, the concert gets an official Blu-...

Nunsense 3: The Jamboree - Starring Vicki Lawrence

The Jamboree I enjoy Vicki Lawrence, but the creators should have stuck to the orignal cast. The original Sister Mary Paul was very, very, funny. Sister Mary Regina's "cameo" appearance just wasn't enough. Though all the actors and actresses were great, they could never "fill the shoes" of the original cast. If you are a Nunsense fan, I don't advise purchasing "Jamboree", as it was a real disappointment, compared with Nunsense 1 and 2. A Wonderful DVD This is a great series. I wish Rue McClanahan had been in this one more. Vicky Lawrence is a great addition to the cast and it was hilarious when "Mama" showed up! Nunsense Jamboree I thought was a very funny DVD, some of the sight gags were histerical and Vickie Lawrence was terrific as Sister Amnesia. I would truly recommend this DVD, especially to those who love the nunsense shows. Click to Editorial Reviews

Apostles of Comedy: Onwards & Upwards

Hilarious!!!! My husband and I just laughed our heads off watching this video! What great clean fun and each one is different and funny in their own right. A great way to spend 2 1/2 hours!! Very entertaining This is one of their best. They focus on marriage and raising kids. Each one has a different style, so there's something for everyone. There's even some very impressive juggling at the end. It's nice to have some good clean fun for the family. You won't find any shock jokes here. Anyone that's married, has raised kids, or plans to, will relate to their humor. No preaching, just life experiences delivered by pros in comedy. My daughter was the one that found these guys, and we've been laughing ever since. I was happy to find a new one. The word "comedy" should be replaced with "terrible" Yes, this show is as awful as my title is. I dare you to last more than five minutes. . . . Click to Editorial Reviews

Birds of a Feather

THUGS IN NEW BASEBALL CAPS Zaytoven (Xavier Dotson) is a musician whose music we really never get to hear but a few notes. The film takes place in Atlanta which the opening scene makes very clear. Zaytoven plays for his church on Sunday and cuts hair during the week, waiting for his big break. His cousin Nuke(Curtis Franklin) comes to town from Chicago or Detroit with a pocket full of money. He convinces Zaytoven that he should be his manager. Nuke uses his thug connections to try to get Zaytoven ahead while Zaytoven ignores legitimate offers. The film was fairly boring. The one scene where a guy is getting beat up was done poorly as you can tell he wasn't getting struck by the feign blows. The language was mostly hip-hop slang, which means I caught every other word. The film appears to be made by a bunch of hip-hop artists that think they can act. I wouldn't give 50 Cents for the lot of them. Parental Guide: F-bomb, N-word. No sex or nudity. Acting and Hip Hop Brick Squad aff...

CSI: NY - The Final Season

Ninth Inning?... Much to the relief of its fans, "CSI: NY" dodged cancellation at the end of the 2011-2012 TV season. It was renewed for a ninth season of 17 episodes, with all principal cast members returning. The show continues to feature compelling crime of the week mysteries, to be solved by a closely knit ensemble cast working with the latest CSI techniques in New York, the City that Never Sleeps. As always, the show shines a spotlight on individual season regulars from week to week. Among the highlights: Senior Detective Mac Taylor (Gary Sinese) returns to the CSI lab after surviving a nearly fatal gunshot wound at the end of season eight. Mac is crustier than ever, and struggling with the after-effects of his wound, which include troublesome short term memory loss. The affliction affects his relationships within the lab, especially with close friend Jo Danville (Sela Ward). Mac and Jo will have to work it out on a case that takes them to San Francisco. Mac's...

Zimmermann: Die Soldaten

Fantastic new "Die Soldaten" video from the 2012 Salzburg Festival Die Soldaten (The Soldiers) 122 minutes Recorded live at the Salzburger Festspiele, August 2012 Wiener Philharmoniker, Ingo Metzmacher conductor Alvis Hermanis, stage director and set designer Marie -- Laura Aikin Stolzius -- Tomasz Konieczny Desportes -- Daniel Brenna This is a fantastic video of the recent live performance of Zimmerman's "Die Soldaten" in Salzburg. I've been listening to it for years, and now I have finally seen it as well! Incredibly, the music is performed by the Wiener Philharmoniker (Vienna Philharmonic), led by Ingo Metzmacher. The singing and acting are excellent. The principals are all compelling -- Laura Aikin is vulnerable and sympathetic as Marie, Tomacz Konieczny is convincing as the hapless Stolzius, and Daniel Brenna is thoroughly despicable as Baron Desportes, who ruins Marie. The huge cast of soldiers is appropriately and realistically menacing. Alvis H...

Liability [Blu-ray]

A drive on the wild side Dark, funny British hitman thriller, takes you places you didn't expect to go, both plotwise and geographically (it's set in the Northeast of England). Tim Roth, Peter Mullan, Jack O'Connell (soon to be seen in 300 prequel) are all on cracking form. And Talulah Riley. Wow! What a revelation. She sure was wasted in St Trinian's! A Genine British Eccentric Used to be you could discover a movie for yourself. Roll home late, switch on the TV, next thing you know you're glued to the sofa long past bedtime. Or maybe you were hypnotized by the second movie in the double bill at a long-dead indie rep. Left the theatre banging on about it to all your friends. Not any more. Thanks Internet. So when a movie comes along that looks like one thing, turns out to be something else, and draws you in so completely you feel you're in the middle of an actual discovery all of your own, enjoy it. All that earnest amateur analysis you skimmed online beforehan...

Blithe Spirit

Classy Noel Coward Classic Noel Coward's popular stage comedy BLITHE SPIRIT comes to the screen with considerable charm and notable performances from Rex Harrison, Constance Cummings, and Margaret Rutherford in this fantasy of a married man whose seance party inadverdently summons up the ghost of his first wife--who promptly moves in, turning him into an "astrial bigamist." The Coward script, which zips along with cool one liners, is well played in the best British 'throw-away' tradition, quick, light, and more than a little acid. Harrison is neatly cast as the hag-ridden husband, Cummings is particularly charming as the terse second wife, and Dame Margaret Rutherford steals the show as the slightly dotty medium who conjures up the ghost of Harrison's first wife and then can't get rid of her. Fans of cool English comedy will enjoy it considerably; others, however, may find it all a bit too restrained for their tastes. What a shame! Wait for a better tra...

Juden Chan

Juden Chan-AKA Charger Girl (Ju-den Chan) UPDATE:As this was pre-ordered,I got it today and immediately put it to the test:It is UNCENSORED, rated 16+, not for the kiddies;there are a few scenes not really for anyone under 18. The service was excellent,there are three discs and extra scenes are drawn,most being anti-piracy ads.There is no reason I am able to find for this series to be so cheap and,as such I have ordered a "spare".This is a kinky little comedy. Plug is a Charger Girl (Ju-den Chan) from a parallel universe. Her job is to seek out depressed people in our world and recharge them.Plug is also not the brightest of bulbs but has a sweet personality,good heart and is determained to do the best for the people. Her co-worker,Arrasta, is opposite in nearly all respects and approaches the job as just a job;quitting time is quitting time and quantity over quality. She also has serious knockers...and classes. The two get along about as well as two cats with their tails ...

Scarlatti: Dove e amore e gelosia

Rare comic opera in authentic Baroque setting Dove è amore è gelosia was the first opera to be performed in the newly renovated theatre of Česk

Black Pond

Mad Bloke, Liar of a Shrink, a Dark Pond and a Three Legged Dog that's ruddy Funny. Tom Thompson played by the very talented, Chris Langham meets a 'funny' bloke whilst out walking his three legged dog, which is not called tripod, but `Boy'. This turns out to be Blake (Colin Hurley he was in `Holby City'). Despite being not completely normal, but then again who is, Tom invites him back for a cup of tea. Whilst he comes back he sort of rekindles the relationship that has been dying between Tom and his wife Sophie (Amanda Hadingue) and they start to get on and have conversations, which they both find strange. He breaks the cathartis of the shell of a relationship with the love long gone, and he reawakens the passions that forms the very fibres of life The story is told mostly in the form of interviews with the various family members and then revisited in flash back. So we know pretty early on that Blake is going to die, just how and the reasons for the big hullaballo...

Saint Seiya: Movies 1 & 2

Saint Seiya is Back - US Release! Saint Seiya is back! Remember when ADV stopped releasing Saint Seiya and got to volume 12, episode 60 back in 2005? Well fans were in uproar and while the episodes 1-60 have been re-released in collections and box sets, the later episodes were never released. This was deemed a combination of Saint Seiya not having the fanbase of South America and certain European countries like Italy, as well as just bad management such as licensing only half a show which makes it harder to renegotiate a good deal for the remaining. Anyway luckily for fans, Discotek's (Eastern Star) have added Saint Seiya to it's now huge catalogue of classic shows. They have licensed all 4 of the original movies from the 80's which fit nicely into the TV series and give great side stories. I believe Discotek chose these movies as a way to gauge the plausibility of licensing the whole TV show, after all, they licensed Fist of the North Star movie first then the TV series w...

Death Race (Steelbook) (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Addition about difference between Unrated version of DVD and Theathrical release Death Race (Unrated Edition) (Unrated Edition DVD) was released in 2008-12-21 and contains some scenes which are wasn't in the Theathrical release. The back cover of DVD tells that there is additional 6 min in Unrated version, but there is no any list of what exactly was added. Here is the list of these additions made by comparing of two versions. Feel free to correct it. Only significant changes: 1. Scene at the steel mill where the cops come features Jensen egging them on as they attack his fellow coworkers. 2. Cafeteria scene shows the spit actually hitting Jensen's food. Small scene afterward of Ulrich leading Jensen to the Warden's office, telling him that the Warden punishes prisoners "who mess with her drivers." 3. The fate of Jensen's cell mates. (You don't actually see anything happen, just sound effects) 4. Small 15 second scene of Case giving details on how the but...

Elena Undone

Sets a new standard for lesbian films! "Elena Undone" is a must-see film for lesbian audiences, as well as for those who simply appreciate an extremely well-made, touching love story. This film sets a new standard for what lesbian films can and should be -- well-written and well-acted, with beautiful and talented actresses, believable acting, a gripping storyline, and an unexpected but pleasing ending. Unlike many lesbian/women-loving-women films out there, "Elena Undone" is a genuinely high quality film -- professionally written and produced, and enormously appealing to those of us who crave movies that portray realistic lesbian relationships and struggles. Yet it resists being exclusively a "niche" film by being emotionally accessible and appealing to gay and straight audiences alike. I was enthralled throughout the movie and left the theater dying to have my own copy so I could watch it again! And true confession...I watched the on-line trailer at leas...

The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex

This Girl Rocks!!!! This Final episode was the greatest of them all...one dissapointment that I didn't like was that David Henrie was not part of the finale. Other than that if you are a Selena Gomez fan you are gonna love her fighting karate scenes... Oooopss!!!!! Cute movie My kids love having this movie on DVD. They can watch it over and over whenever they want without any commercials! Amazing That was amazing! Ik it took my a while to review it but still it was so cool. If your not sure wether to buy it or not ,buy it!but make sure you have seen all the other seasons or at least know wits going on otherwise it won't make any sense. Click to Editorial Reviews

Caged Angel

A Heavenly Season with an Angel from Los Angeles, one from San Francisco, and the other from Boston The fourth season of CHARLIE'S ANGELS, which aired on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC from September 1979 through May 1980, is possibly the season that yields the most dramatic changes in the series, namely Shelley Hack becomes the newest angel, "Tiffany Welles", filling the slot vacated by original actress Kate Jackson. Returning for another tour of duty this season are "Kelly Garret" and "Kris Munroe", played by Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd respectively, along with faithful sidekick "Bosley", played by David Doyle. Farrah Fawcett's "Jill Munroe" also makes her final three appearances of the series. With the new angel, also comes a new overall look to the series. With Hack, a former fashion model, on board, all three actresses don dresses, gowns, and tailored suits more often than casual wear. And while attention is taken away from ...

Verdi Edition - 12 Great Operas

What More Could You Ask For? For this paltry sum you can own twelve complete recordings of Verdi operas on DVD in mostly marvelous, recent (the oldest from 1998) productions. Look at the fine print on the picture of the back side of this huge box and you'll see. Consider: From Covent Garden: Simon Keenlyside in 'Macbeth' Christine Schäfer and Marcelo Álvarez in 'Rigoletto (the Rigoletto, Paolo Gavanelli, I'd never heard of but he's good) José Cura, Veronica Villarroel and Dmitri Hvorostovsky in 'Trovatore' Renée Fleming, Joseph Calleja and Thomas Hampson in 'Traviata' Placído Domingo, Marina Poplavskaya, Ferruccio Furlanetto and Joseph Calleja in 'Simon Boccanegra' Bryn Terfel and Barbara Frittoli in 'Falstaff' From the Netherlands Opera: 'Sicilian Vespers' with singers I didn't know but who carry this difficult opera off admirably Robert Lloyd, Rolando Villazon, Amanda Roocroft in 'Don Carlo' From the... Cli...

Salzburg Festival 2012: Opening Concert

A demanding opening concert delivered well and with conviction The opening concert to the 2012 Salzburg Festival could not possibly be described as an easy crowd pleaser. It is traditional for such a concert to have a theme and presumably this year's theme was Russian music. The opening two pieces were vocal which may have been quite a challenge without sub titles for the audience, especially as the Mussorgsky songs were in Russian and relatively unknown. The final item, Prokofiev's fifth symphony, probably came as an aural relief to many. The recording itself is of a very high standard with detailed and crisp camera work which still avoids being invasive. The imaging quality is good with excellent definition and the sound is well delivered in DTS-HD Master 5.0. Stereo is also provided and comes as the default option which always seems to me to be strange given the likely home cinema set-ups aimed at. Very few manufacturers currently give the surround sound supplied as the def...

Brave Little Toaster to The Rescue

The only Toaster sequel worth watching Like many other grown-ups who are kids at heart, I am a big fan of the Brave Little Toaster. For the completely uninitiated, it's a series about anthropomorphic appliances, and other mechanical things (are computers and streetlamps and giant evil magnets etc. really "appliances"?), who come to life a la the "Toy Story" toys when people aren't around. For good measure, traditional Disney-style anthropomorphic animals are included in a bit part in the original movie, and in "Rescue" the animals can talk and are in effect the "human" equals of the appliances. For some bizarre reason known only to Disney and whoever else produced the Toaster movies, "To the Rescue" was released AFTER the other direct-to-video sequel, "The Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars." So "Rescue" is often referred to as the third chapter in the series, or Toaster III, etc. But as should be pretty obvi...

Tinto Brass All Ladies Do It [Blu-ray]

This DVD has been butchered I have seen the Italian version. This version simply stinks: too many scenes have been removed. Who ever did this should be arrested. This is a great film; so why not leave it alone? And dubbing it in English takes away the very charm that Italian brings to it. The folks who did this obviously have no appreciation for art. ...Now, for the Italian version, it is worth learning Italian. Eroticism at its best The best soft-porn I have seen.Period. What sets this film apart from other films is the sheer eroticism of the situations, the almost reverential worship of buttocks and its ability to walk the tightrope between sensuality and vulgarity. If hard core turns you on (personally it turns me OFF) this is not the one for you. But if like me, the act of seduction and teasing gets you turned on rather than the act itself, boy have you found the right film. All Ladies Do It The unfortunate fact is that this DVD is the UK edited version of the original Itali...

Serenity (Steelbook) (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Even better than the series This is one incredible movie. No, you don't have to be familiar with the series to enjoy it, but the familiarity will make several moments in the movie that much more tragic. The action here is incredible, and unlike several of the Star Trek movies, the characters don't deviate from their series personnas. The emotional impact of several scenes is so intense it was hard to stay seated (a crash landing sequence can almost give you motion sickness). This brings a satisfying end to the storyline the original series had started. It's a shame the show never got to tell this story in its entirety. You can see where some parts of the movie are rushed in a way. Something that could have been stretched over weeks in a series had to be handled in minutes, and that robs it a little. But you have to applaud Whedon for being able to tie up all the loose ends he started with just two hours. Shame on the network for cancelling this, but congratulations to Whed...

Tari Tari Complete Collection

Warattari, Naitari Konatsu Miyamoto is told she won't be allowed to sing in the chorus club because she lacks "something special" as her teacher says. But Konatsu wants to sing. So she quits the chorus club. And starts her own club. Some of members of her new club are rather forcibly recruited, but soon they all become friends and find that singing together is something they all enjoy. I wasn't going to watch this show, based on the lackluster premise and the character designs. I thought it was yet another cutesy high school club story and wasn't interested. Well, it is a cutesy high school club series. But it is also something more. Genuinely heartwarming. It is a story about friendship and chasing your dreams. It is the tale of a girl recovering from the death of her mother. The story of a boy learning to live in a foreign country. A girl whose dream might be out of reach because she is too tall. A boy whose devotion to a game represents something more. And a g...

Heaven's Lost Property: Forte: Season 2 [Blu-ray]

Great Anime can't wait for season three. Yes there will be a third season before you ask. This is a great anime I bought the first season which was greatly dubbed and super funny i have watched season two or the forte in English subs and it was just as good. Lastly i would like to say that this anime is very perverted but this makes for some very hilarious moments. Between the Action and the love links this Dvd is a must have. EDIT: The Forte comes with Synapse cards. I'm not sure if this is only for the limited edition or both but i thought i would add this. season 2 of heavens lost property -overview/comments i already have this before the release date oddly due to a shipping error by rightstuff this is the basis of hlpf season 2 Tomoki's peaceful life is far away in the past, now he has to deal with 2 angeloids Ikaros and Nymph along with his friends from school, each one of them is very special in their own way. Tomoki's dream about an angel warning him from the r...

Warriors of the Steppe [Blu-ray]

I enjoyed this very much If one can excuse the inexcusable political plug in the credits which is so awful it is laughable, this is a well made and well acted film. Technically the picture and sound is excellent and the costumes magnificent. An unusual venture into an offbeat part of the world. Noble efforts + Boring execution. It might be because of its shoestring budget It's a B movie loosely based on the history of Kazakhstani people. In the early 18th century, many of them were slaughtered by the Dzungars (a Mongol tribe descended from Genghis Khan). It's basically a revenge movie. However, its shoe string budget hinders its execution. Consequently, the fighting scenes look primitive. They did not have excitement and the sense of urgency. The acting is not engaging. Click to Editorial Reviews

Musical Journey: Italy

a reissue While I like this DVD, it is identical in music and visual content to one released years ago. It should have been marked as such by NAXOS. Click to Editorial Reviews

North Face [Blu-ray]

WILL HOLD YOU IN AN ICY, VISCERAL GRIP I have a fear of heights. I also have a new fear of being stranded on the side of a sheer cliff called "The Murder Wall" during a blizzard. This unexpected thriller, based on a true story, held me spellbound for it's just over two hour running time. I can't recall a more harrowing mountain adventure. This riveting recreation is set in 1936, a short time before the famed (and notorious) Berlin Olympics which Hitler hoped to use as propaganda to tout the superiority of all things Nazi and Aryan. The worldwide news of Germans conquering this impossible, peak was a hoped-for event before the Olympics and something encouraged by the German press. Here two Germans -- Toni Kurz and Andreas Hinterstoisser -- confront "the last problem of the Alps": the Eiger's unclimbed North Face. They are closely followed up "The Murder Wall" by a competing Austrian team. But things go terribly wrong. The crowds and the ...

Extreme Makeover Weightloss Edition: Bootcamp

A Workout That Will Make You Sweat! This was a workout DVD that really got me sweating! I really liked the differing levels of challenge on this as it allows you - wherever you are starting to be able to either jump in completely or slowly. Realize though that this DVD will challenge you and will make you work for the outcomes that you want, but it is worth it. Also, the exercises were fun and varied which kept my interest as well. I thought Chris Powell did a great job and if the results of some of the people using this DVD are any indication, you can definitely slim down by staying with the program and watching what you are eating. I truly am enjoying this DVD and the exercises within, and recommend it to others as well as a great addition to your own workout! *I received a copy of this for review - all opinions are my own* Good Video for beginners. Is a good DVD for people are just beginning their weightloss journey. The workouts are not really that hard but are effective. Slighty ...

Lord of Darkness

Interesting and suspenseful, but ultimately predictable. I hoped this was a good gross-out slasher movie. It started out promising. It is even grounded in gaelic pseudo-folklore, so I was willing to give it a chance. I'm not sure how much of the folklore is true, though. The acting is convincing enough. The scenery and shots are beautiful, and often very moody -- appropriate. There are a few plot points that get set up, and not followed through. A few gross-out scenes are great; others, don't work so well. Texas Chainsaw Massacre overloads a viewer with gross-out scenes, then throws one funny gag scene in for laughs. That works well. This movie can't decide the right mix in these scenes. The end of this movie is predictable. You decide if the lead up is worth the payoff at the end. Tries hard to scare! Serves the purpose of providing a few good thrills and scares, with lots of gross thrown in...B-grade script with better-than-B-grade filming. Over The Top Slashe...

Anything Goes

"Anything Goes"....Hollywood-style ANYTHING GOES was Bing Crosby's final film with Paramount, and was perhaps an attempt to capatalise on the huge success of WHITE CHRISTMAS (but more about that later). Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and lithsome ballet star Zizi Jeanmaire appear alongside. The film really bears no similarity to the Broadway "Anything Goes" save for the wonderful Cole Porter score (and even that has been somewhat ransacked with several inferior additions from Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen). The original production of "Anything Goes" was written by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, with later revisions by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The film ditches the entire original story in favour of a Sidney Sheldon-penned screenplay. The story concerns a suave Broadway star (Bing Crosby) who is paired with a brash TV personality (Donald O'Connor) in a new Broadway show. Whilst on separate vacations, they each hire who they believe...

Liar, Liar [HD]

The original was better with the facts By training, my background is in neuropsychology and cognitive psychology. I enjoy these programs because they present a modern, fun, and interactive way of communicating information. I use these in many of the courses that I teach at both the undergraduate and graduate level. However, I am noticing a lot more factual errors than from the original miniseries that was narrated by NPH. In the most recent episode on persuasion, Apollo does a demonstration where the host is put in one of 12 boxes, and the audience chooses a number between 3-12 and and the remaining boxes get destroyed and amazingly, the one with the host doesn't. While it's a neat trick, it's a simple number trick. It has nothing to do with influencing an individual's decisions. It's a minor nitpick, but I end up explaining to my students how their depiction is in accurate. Again, not a problem per se as I turn it into a learning moment, but the overall quality of...

The Mummy (1999) (Steelbook) (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

New 2-disc Deluxe Edition due out on July 8th, 2008 There was already a 2-disc "Ultimate" Edition of The Mummy back in 2001, but it's no longer available. The upcoming release of The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor has prompted Universal to release a new edition of The Mummy with the major special features from the Ultimate Edition plus a few new ones. It will be only in widescreen (the Ultimate Edition had both wide and full). The Mummy is a peculiar movie, an Indiana Jonesish adventure originally intended as a low-budget remake of a 1932 horror film called The Mummy (also being released in a new Special Edition ) that got spun in several directions before Brendan Fraser and huge special effects were settled on. Fraser plays an adventurer with the French Foreign Legion in 1920s Egypt who gets into serious trouble with, among other beings, a mummy (sort of) with terrible powers. Rachel Weisz plays the beautiful Egyptologist who both causes trouble... Terrific movie...

The Chronicles of Riddick (Steelbook) (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Sometimes Bad Is Really, Really Good My mind hasn't been boggled in a while -> The very first StarWars did me in, and then various parts of The Lord of the Ring years later. Other than that I'm not one who stares at the screen in awe of special effects. In fact, the bore me very quickly. What I likes about the original Riddick film, Pitch Black, was that, outside of the Alien knockoff monsters, there was very little in the way of large scale special effects. In many ways, it was an intimate thriller rather than a vast drama. So I really wasn't prepared for what appeared on this screen as the film unrolled. It sneaks up on you as it opens with Riddick's attempted capture by Toombs, a bounty hunter. The irritated (and very hairy) Riddick sets out to find out who put the bounty on his head and discovers that he is being recruited to stop the conquest of space by the Necromongers. These latter are truly the knights of total badness. Their goal is entropy - the t...

Shoah (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

An Essential Holocaust Documentary Gets The Criterion Treatment With Three Additional Bonus Films It seems hard to imagine that it's taken this long to get an updated presentation (whether on DVD or Blu-ray) of the monumental Holocaust documentary "Shoah." The only North American DVD release was ten years ago and, although it is still available, it boasts a hefty suggested retail selling price of $150. It's good to see the Criterion label court such a significant piece of film history, and it's even better to see the attention paid to making this a necessary upgrade. There are loads of Bonus Features in addition to a restored 4K digital film transfer. Released in 1985, this epic experience from filmmaker Claude Lanzmann was over ten years in the making. Debuting with a run time of over nine hours, it is an incredibly immersive and emotionally exhausting experience. It focuses primarily on three particular concentration camps, with insight into a myriad of to...

Nunsense 2: The Sequel - Starring Rue McClanahan

Nunsense is still the magic word... Nunsense 2 is just about as much fun as the original Nunsense, and the cast members (all nearly perfect) that performed in the video of the original are all back. Nunsense 2 has quite a bit going for it--in many places, it's every bit as funny as the original, and the songs are as good, if not better. For all its virtues, however, Nunsense 2 feels quite a bit like a retread of the first one. The structure of the show is essentially the same, and though the songs are almost entirely different, they occupy the same places in the show, and serve the same functions here as they did there. It also isn't completely faithful to the stage version--two extra actors were cast to round out the story. They weren't needed, though, and their roles (such as they are) feel unnecessary and extraneous. Despite these problems, if you liked the first Nunsense, you'll probably like Nunsense 2. And if you didn't see the first one, y...

Pan's Labyrinth

Astounding. This is the way fairy tales used to be -- before they got bleached, pressed, and de-linted by half-wits trying to protect tender ears. Before they got Disney-fied. Sure, there's violence here, some of it shocking, but none of it gratuitous. Could it give a kid nightmares? Maybe. But given today's pablum stories, maybe it's about time. Pan's Labyrinth takes us directly into the subconscious, and into the storyforms that infuse all of the great myths, fairy tales, and religions. It's a rich and satisfying stew of symbolism, mystery, and redemption. Multilayered and inspiring, it's a film you'll want to see again. It's hard not to gush, but it's been so long since a movie this good has made it into the quasi-mainstream. What makes Pan's Labyrinth most effective is it's juxtaposition of harsh "reality" and the mysterious world that lives side by side with it. The heroine, a young girl who may carry a magical seed of immorta...

Committed Vol 2

very nice climbing video This video is unlike most others that I have seen. It is an interesting view of the European climbing culture I know so little about and for which I now have so much respect. Bold leads on sparse gear! very nice climbing video This video is unlike most others that I have seen. It is an interesting view of the European climbing culture I know so little about and for which I now have so much respect. Bold leads on sparse gear! Click to Editorial Reviews

Otello [Blu-ray]