Felicity - An American Girl Adventure (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It's a rarity these days when an historical film is made that is directed mainly to children. It's even more rare when such a film is done well. "Felicity - An American Girl Adventure" is one of those extremely rare movies that shows, fairly accurately, life in the colonial era of our country's history. It also includes some of the discourse between family members concerning the outset of what would become the American Revolution, which, for whom this movie is geared towards, was really taking a gamble. But, I feel it paid off. This alone is reason to award this film five stars, as school children in today's day and age do not always get both sides of the story. Even I, who went to school in the 60's and 70's, was taught that the people who lived in the colonies - virtually ALL of the people - were against the King of England. It wasn't until I took it upon myself many years later to study that era that I found out that many, many folks were loyalists and took arms against family members and neighbors. "Felicity," for the first time that I can see in a movie geared toward children, shows that other side of our history.
As a Civil War re-enactor, I tend to look for farbiness (inaccuracies) in all period movies (not just Civil War era flicks) and I must say there was very little that I could see in "Felicity." Oh, a few minor things in this movie are inaccurate - "Hello" was not a greeting at that time as we know it to be today, and Christmas was slightly over-done for the colonial period - but, all in all, the over-all viewing seemed to be a window into the past.
One must also remember that this is a movie for the younger set and may not get into the extreme details - or may gloss over - certain facts. And, for story's sake, it might embellish on some truths such as little girls disobeying their parents without retribution (although I'm sure most of today's youngsters will not follow Felicity's lead in this).
But, that's okay. I feel films like this (as well as the Felicity books) may just entice kids to learn more about Felicity's time period on their own, and that would be a good thing, don't you think?


Click Here to see more reviews about: Felicity - An American Girl Adventure (2005)

Get 25% OFF

Click here for more information about Felicity - An American Girl Adventure (2005)

Read More...

The Fugitive (1993) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)When I first saw 'The Fugitive', I was hoping that it didn't fall into the trap of silliness that most TV-show based feature films have fallen into (remember 'Car 54', or 'Wild Wild West'?). Needless to say, I was more than pleasantly surprised to see that it went WAY beyond my low expectations! Great moments of suspense, action, and plot twists galore!
Harrison Ford's been knocked for not putting much 'feeling' into some of his roles. But if there are emotions he does do well, it's desperation and determined stoicism with a touch of sarcasm... a perfect fit for a fugitive out to clear his name. As well, Tommy Lee Jones is a lock as U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard- he plays the character's somewhat cocky and no-nonsense attitude to perfection. He also gets the best lines, and a pretty good supporting cast playing his U.S. Marshal Service cohorts (including the recently- recognized Joe Pantoliano). It's scenery-chewing at it's best, and definitely an Oscar-worthy perfomance.
Their performances of the two main characters and antagonists is so compelling that, like my fellow reviewers have stated before, I was rooting for the both of them throughout the presentation. It's two 'good guys' against each other, with one helping lead the other to the same end!
When I heard about the Special Edition DVD release, I was kinda bummed. I'd already spent a few bucks on the original release, and never anticipated the possibility of an enhanced version. But, thanks to those wonderful buyers on eBay, I got a good return on my original disc at a minimal loss, and grabbed a copy of the new one.
The new disc isn't half-bad, but doesn't quite match up to the standards of other fully-loaded DVD fare as `T2 Ultimate Edition' or `The Abyss'. It features teasers, trailers, and a few behind-the-scenes bits, including the setup & shooting of the train wreck. Davis even discusses a `flub' following the wreck that was cut out of the original video version, but was then digitally corrected and restored in this DVD release! And no, I'm not gonna tell you about it- you'll have to see it for yourself!
The commentary track by director Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones was not one of the better feature-length commentaries I've experienced. There are parts where neither of them speak for a couple minutes on end, almost like they didn't have that much to say about the movie in the first place. Jones' commentary was minimal, with mostly throwaway-type observations that didn't really add much to the track.
And now, my biggest gripe: Warner is STILL using cardboard snap cases for their digital discs! You'd think they'd've gotten out of the DVD Stone Age by now...
'Late

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Fugitive (1993)

Catch him if you can. The Fugitive is on the run! Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones race through the breathless manhunt movie based on the classic TV series. Ford is prison escapee Dr. Richard Kimble, a Chicago surgeon falsely convicted of killing his wife and determined to prove his innocence by leading his pursuers to the one-armed man who actually committed the crime. Jones (1993 Academy Award and Golden Globe winner as Best Supporting Actor) is Sam Gerard, an unrelenting bloodhound of a U.S. Marshal. They are hunted and hunter. And as directed by Andrew Davis (Under Siege), their nonstop chase has one exhilarating speed: all-out. So catch him if you can. And catch an 11-on-a-scale-of-10 train wreck (yes, the train is real), a plunge down a waterfall, a cat-and-mouse jaunt through a Chicago St. Patrick's Day parade and much more. Better hurry. Kimble doesn't stay in one place very long!

Get 42% OFF

Click here for more information about The Fugitive (1993)

Read More...

Irreversible (2002) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After witnessing the nightmare of Gaspar Noe's "I Stand Alone," a movie that left me in open-mouthed awe for days afterwards, I just knew I had to see "Irreversible." I am not a big foreign film aficionado, not by a long shot, but Noe's films are worth watching simply because they are deeply disturbing jaunts into the darkest recesses of the human psyche. He's not above showing life as it really is, and he does it in ways that make you laugh at the cleverness of the presentation even as you cringe in disgust at the subject matter. In other words, his pictures are right up my alley. I always love to watch cinema that challenges the viewer on some level, something rare indeed in an age of the American special effects laden summer blockbusters. That doesn't necessarily mean I always like these types of films; oftentimes I don't when the fine line between challenging and pretentiousness is crossed, but Noe's stuff is great because it is premium grade weirdness. "Irreversible" will remind many viewers of the American film "Memento," except Noe's film is darker, oh so much darker, than that movie.
"Irreversible" flows backwards, with the closing credits opening the film and each scene shown from the end towards the beginning. Right from the start, you know you're going to see something different. Boy, are you ever! A sex club with fleeting sounds and images of pornographic behaviors, a sickening scene of a human head being bashed in with a fire extinguisher, and an arrest quickly start you wondering about what it all means. As the film progresses (regresses?), we learn why one man killed another in that seedy bar. Alex (Monica Bellucci), a rather carefree soul, was brutally raped and beaten by a thuggish French pimp in a subway tunnel. Her boyfriend Marcus (Vincent Cassel) promptly had an emotional meltdown when he discovered what happened to his lovely woman. Full of seething rage, he goes on a rampage through the city looking for the man who maimed Alex. Along for the ride is Pierre (Albert Dupontel), Alex's former boyfriend who desperately attempts to rein in Marcus's reckless quest for vengeance.
Surprises abound in "Irreversible," surprises that will leave you thinking about the film long after it ends. I was a little amazed I figured out how the film concludes (begins, actually) long before I got there. You just knew there had to be some big, explosive revelation that would give Alex's victimization even more pathos. Well, there is and it's quite shocking. In fact, it would have worked almost as well had the film been shown in chronological order. Since Noe chose to reverse the sequence of the scenes, he not only retains the film's shock value but also imbues it with a frequently recurring sense of "what if." If only Marcus had paid more attention to his wife at that party. If only Alex had listened to Pierre and not gone out alone in a dangerous neighborhood. If only, if only, if only. You get the idea. This sense of identification gives the movie its edge. We've all done the same thing, asked the same questions, after a personal tragedy. I know I have.
What shocks even more are the things Gaspar Noe can get away with showing in a French film. The French have little problem with overt pornography, morally repugnant violence, and lengthy discussions on the most intimate details of sexual relationships. Sure, American films are violent and sometimes crass in their discussions of sex, but not like the French films I have seen lately. I can't imagine any mainstream film made here that would show a rape sequence that runs for nearly ten minutes, or the weird goings on in a club. If you have a serious problem with any of these issues, stay far, FAR away from "Irreversible." For that matter, stay just as far away from Noe's "I Stand Alone," a movie that shows in gruesome detail a murder/suicide. I will say that the filmmaker does not in anyway attempt to glorify the vicious acts of cruelty and barbarism he depicts in his movies. That doesn't mean it makes these incidents any easier to watch, however.
"Irreversible" is a shocker on many levels, a film not suited to a majority of the movie going public. It's not the sort of movie you would take a date to, or watch with members of your family unless you're a member of the Manson family. It should go without saying that Noe's picture is not suitable for young children. I recommend watching "Irreversible" alone so that it becomes a personal experience. I don't know what Gaspar Noe will come out with next, or if he'll ever make another film again, but I want to see it whatever it ends up being. If you haven't seen "I Stand Alone" before watching this one, make sure you see it soon. Fans of this type of cinema should also check out "Baise-Moi," another French film filled with even greater amounts of nihilism and despair than this one.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Irreversible (2002)

Alex and Marcus are a couple whose story is told over the course of a fateful evening in a series of long takes. An emotional odyssey that unspools in reverse from gut-wrenching violence to sweetly observed moments of sublime tenderness.System Requirements:Starring Albert Dupontel Monica Bellucci Vincent CasselDirected by NoeRunning time: 97 minutesCopyright Lion's Gate 2003Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating:NR UPC:658149815926 Manufacturer No:ST8159D

Get 23% OFF

Click here for more information about Irreversible (2002)

Read More...

Alien Quadrilogy (Alien / Aliens / Alien 3 / Alien Resurrection) (1986) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This consists of two discs for each film, the original and an alternate version (more on that below) on the first disk, and collections of approximately 2 hours of featurettes and other bonuses on the second disc. The ninth disc is a hodgepodge of trailers and other items from previous DVD and laser disk versions. Although the extras have been released in a variety of forms over several years (the John Hurt documentary 'The Alien Saga', being the latest), THIS is the definitive version.
'Alien' (average user rating: 4.6). If you haven't seen this classic film, then you must be living under a rock. The collection includes the original theatrical version (which I prefer) and the "Director's Cut", notable for its inclusion of the controversial captain-cacooned by alien scene (controversial because from the Alien mythology developed in later films, we know that only the massive queen can lay eggs). I prefer the original (which is actually 1 minute longer), and interestingly enough, it appears that Ridley Scott prefers the original as well. The making of featurettes are extensive and reveal Giger's extensive participation and how what was originally expected to receive a b-moive budget became one of the very few examples where Fox studios followed the vision with a classic.
'Aliens' (average user rating: 4.7). This is the only sequel I know of that is rated higher than the original. This time, the "Special Edition" version (also on the previous 'Alien Legacy' box set) is a superior experience and exactly is how upstart director James Cameron (who had written the script prior to the release of 'The Terminator') wanted to release the film, but was constrained entirely by time limits. The result is additional scenes featuring the colonists and Ripley's family lost to the time she spent in hypersleep. As with the first installment, the featurettes are interesting and thorough, although the Viet Nam War metaphor is not as thoroughly explored with Cameron as has been in other releases.
'Alien 3' (average user rating: 3.2). As a fan of the franchise, this was perhaps the most anticipated part of this new box set. The "working print" of the film (the longest of all the versions here, and complete with subtitles for missed sound editing), adds a depth to the film that was not in the original. That is, the arrival of Ripley and the characters are covered much more thoroughly, the alien creature is begotten by an oxen with a much more original look, there is an additional plot twist arising from the nature of the inhabitants (criminally delusional), and there is no riduculously-timed chest-burster scene at the end. Still, the film is a flawed masterpiece. The film is better appreciated in light of the bad situation first-time director David Fincher had been placed in - not the least of which is an incomplete script during production and a set that had already been constructed for the ill-conceived "wooden planet/monestary" vision of the previously assigned director. In this sense, the three production featurettes come across as almost an apology/tribute to Fincher. (NOTE: Fincher is the only director who is not interviewed on the box set.)
'Alien Resurrection' (average user rating: 3.0). What happens when you put the French director of 'Amelie' (Jean-Pierre Jeaunet) in charge of an alien movie? Well, foreign/art movies were all the craze in the last 1990s, so . . . Fox studios thought, "Why not?" In the end, many fans of the franchise did not appreciate the obviously satirical slant on this final installment. The opening scene and ending scenes (the only additions of substance) on the extended version make the film even more tongue-in-cheek. Despite the French director and crew's obvious regard for the original 'Alien' (as documented in the featurettes), armed with the return of Sigourney Weaver and the addition of superstar Winona Ryder, the director ultimately made a quirky, campy action film. But in the end, it was the last quarter of the script that makes this the weakest of all the installments by far. Postscript to Fox studios: if you had given Fincher this much creative freedom, you would have have a third masterpiece.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Alien Quadrilogy (Alien / Aliens / Alien 3 / Alien Resurrection) (1986)

Disc 1: Alien Collector?s Edition Disc 2: Aliens Collector?s Edition Disc 3: Alien 3 Collector?s Edition Disc 4: Alien Resurrection Collector?s Edition Disc 5: Bonus Disc

Get 32% OFF

Click here for more information about Alien Quadrilogy (Alien / Aliens / Alien 3 / Alien Resurrection) (1986)

Read More...

Adventures With DiG Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)its great to see the struggles of how it is to travel by road bike across country spinkled with the deligthful comedy of Mr Digs

Click Here to see more reviews about: Adventures With DiG

Click here for more information about Adventures With DiG

Read More...

Crossroads (1986) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)CROSSROADS (Walter Hill's Blues film, NOT Britney Spears' self-indulgent 2002 fluff) is a terrific introduction to a uniquely American musical genre, with a remarkable cast and a dead-on southern 'atmosphere'. It has always astonished me that when released, critics were unable to look past Ralph Macchio's previous film work, and accept this gem on it's own merits, but it's subsequent status as a cult classic is certainly well-deserved, with films such as the Coens' O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? utilizing the Robert Johnson subplot and borrowing many of CROSSROAD's visual elements. Perhaps the film, with a magnificent Ry Cooder score, was just too far ahead of it's time, a strange criticism to apply to a Blues movie!
The tale involves young Long Island guitar prodigy Eugene 'Lightning Boy' Martone (Macchio), a rebel at the Julliard School with his passion for the Blues ("Primitive music," one professor sneers), on a quest to recover legendary guitarist Johnson's fabled "30th Song" of 1938. His research leads him to a NYC nursing home, where fabled harmonica player Willie Brown (the late actor/singer/songwriter Joe Seneca), a friend and collaborator of Johnson's, is confined. Promising to 'give' the song to the youngster if he can be "busted out" and returned to his Mississippi home, the pair are soon on a cross-country odyssey, with Martone learning about discrimination, the darker side of humanity, and love's loss (through a brief encounter with Jami Gertz, who was never lovelier), providing him with the core of sadness Brown says is essential to truly play the Blues.
The climax of the film is legendary; arriving home, Brown, who had 'sold his soul' to the Devil at the 'Crossroads' as a young man (just as his friend, Johnson, had), attempts to get 'Scratch' (skeletal Robert Judd) to tear up the contract. The Devil informs him that he will, only if Martone can defeat his Champion in a 'Guitar Duel'. If the youngster loses, his soul, as well as Brown's, will be lost, forever. Martone rashly agrees ("I don't believe any of this s*** anyway!"), and he and Brown find themselves in a broken-down church converted into a dance hall, with demons and lost souls cavorting to the rock strains of insanely talented Jack Butler (Frank Zappa guitarist/composer Steve Vai). With only his love of the Blues, Julliard training, and Brown's 'ju-ju' to aid him, the humbled Martone must play for far more than his life, in a 'Duel' (with the amazing Vai actually playing both guitar parts) that is so fabulous that it is unbelievable that it was NOT included in the soundtrack album of the film!
Walter Hill was no stranger to music-themed fantasies (he also directed another 'ahead of it's time' cult film, STREETS OF FIRE), and with CROSSROADS, he took a simple storyline, and turned it into an unforgettable musical cinematic experience.
That the film is FINALLY on DVD is a MAJOR cause for celebration...now, let's hope an expanded "Special Edition" with added bonus features, will follow!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Crossroads (1986)

A young musical prodigy studying at New York City's Juiliard School becomes obsessed with the music of the Mississippi delta, the blues. Intent on discovering fame and fortune as a blues guitar player, he seeks out the legendary bluesman, Willie Brown.

Get 10% OFF

Click here for more information about Crossroads (1986)

Read More...

Yellowstone: Battle for Life (2009) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The BBC has released many excellent documentaries in hi-def/Blu-ray and Yellowstone is no exception. It carries on the BBC's tradition of high-quality nature programming and flair for visually-stunning photography. This series is a year in the lives of several of Yellowstone/North America's iconic wildlife: the bison, grizzly bears, foxes, wolves, beavers, and elk. Divided into three 50 minute episodes, they are titled "Winter", "Summer" and "Autumn" (in this order). For the US market, the BBC has added "Battle for Life" to the title, but this is a bit superfluous and unnecessary, maybe to make the DVD sound more dramatic. The original title is simply "Yellowstone".
The episodes are informative, entertaining, and light-hearted, largely free of the depressing reminders of human ecological destruction seen on some other BBC documentaries such as Wild Pacific [Blu-ray]. I learned some things I didn't know before. Winter is by far my favorite episode, giving me the most memorable line from the series: "At 40 degrees below zero, Fahrenheit or centigrade doesn't really matter much. At this temperature, both are the same." Despite being the home to the world's largest geothermal formation, Yellowstone is paradoxically one of the coldest places in North America. I enjoyed the pristine landscapes covered with deep snow and seeing a winter wonderland untouched by any signs of humanity, all from the comfort of my home. One particularly amazing scene is of a fox sniffing for mice under 6 feet of snow, and seeing it leap into the air, plunge headfirst into the snow like an Olympic diver, and emerge with a mouse in its jaws.
This series also features some gorgeous fly-overs, in particular, the colorful volcanic springs (Grand Prismatic Spring), which looks like a beautiful orange and blue encircled painting instead of a natural ecological wonder. I wish the producers could've spend some time showing us the colonies of extremophile heat-loving bacteria that thrive in these springs, instead of just flying over and cutting to the next scene. Bears and elk I've seen a thousand times on TV, but not these rare bacteria.
I watched these out of order on TV, but the overall effect is not diminished because of the cycle of life and the changing of the seasons. Peter Firth's voice is pleasant and affable. If you enjoyed Nature's Most Amazing Events [Blu-ray], you'll probably enjoy this too.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yellowstone: Battle for Life (2009)

In a land of beauty and peril, the dramatic lives and fortunes of these animals are inexorably bound together. Intimate and emotional, epic and engaging, Yellowstone - Tales from the Wild reveals the grandeur of this unique place as its animals struggle to survive over the course of three vividly changing seasons.

Get 50% OFF

Click here for more information about Yellowstone: Battle for Life (2009)

Read More...

When in Rome (2002) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)"When In Rome" continues the Olsen twins world tour of movies, this time taking the girls to Rome for a summer fashion internship.
THE STORY:
It's summer and Charlie and Leila Hunter (Mary-Kate and Ashley) earn a summer internship at an International Fashion company in Rome. Once in Rome the girls embark on a rollercoaster ride of adventure as they struggle to keep their jobs, battle off rival interns, thwart a hostile corporate takeover plot and of course engage in Romance with some cute boys.
THE ANALYSIS:
All in all, "When In Rome" includes all the action, adventure and romance you've come to expect from an Olsen Twins film. It's pure clean fun for the whole family.
THE DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:
Like most Olsen DVDs you've got a stuffed DVD features section, but unfortunately most of it is fluff. Included in the DVD special features are:
1.Behind the Scenes mini-feature: 9 1/2 minute feature where the cast and crew (primarily the twins) talk about the movie, their experiences filming it, the various characters in the film and their experiences touring Rome.
2.Alternate ending. I actually this ending better than the actual one...
3.Trailers: The Multi-million dollar Olsen marketing machine was in full force here!!! The twins shill the following from their extensive product line:
a."When In Rome" Movie Trailer
b."Sweet 16" Videogame
c."When In Rome" Soundtrack
d.Their extensive DVD/Video Catalog
e.Their "So Little Time" tv series action dolls.
f.Their line of books
g.The "Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action" cartoon series on ABC.
h.Their website "MarykateandAshley.com" where you can get all the latest information!!!
i.And finally and a "non-related" trailer, the trailer for the Scooby Doo movie (????)
THE VERDICT:
In all, overselling in the DVD features aside, the movie was great for a family viewing on the weekend. Olsen fans should love this installment in their ever-growing "world tour" video franchise series and parents should be pleased with another clean, quality product from America's favorite twins. Overall, not a bad addition to their franchise and a fine choice to add to your Olsen collection if your so inclined.
GRADES:
Film: 4 stars
Extras: 3.5 stars
Overall: 3.75 stars
Highly Recommended

Click Here to see more reviews about: When in Rome (2002)

Teenage sisters Charli and Lola are on the verge of an experience beyond their wildest dreams! Pack your bags and jet off to Rome as the girls start their summer internship working for the legendary Derek Hanson - the totally cool international tycoon whose empire reaches from airlines to cutting-edge fashion. Amid the fabulous sights of this exciting city, the girls do their best to impress their boss, while still finding time to design their own line of very hip clothing, meet some very cute guys and turn their summer abroad into one awesome adventure they - and you - will never forget!

Get 62% OFF

Click here for more information about When in Rome (2002)

Read More...

Flightplan (Widescreen Edition) (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Kyle Pratt and her daughter Julia board a plane in Germany to bring the body of their beloved husband/father to his final resting place in the US. After a short nap, Kyle wakes only to discover her daughter is missing from her seat. After searching on her own, she seeks help from the crew, but none of the passengers remember seeing Julia. After further inquiries, it is disclosed that Julia wasn't even listed as traveling on the flight. Everyone writes Kyle off as being in mourning, and even unstable. For just a moment Kyle starts to believe she may be losing it, but then stands firm. Julia is her daughter, and she would not make this kind of mistake regarding something so important. As Kyle begins her own search, it shocks everyone to find out that she is in fact one of the propulsion engineers of this plane and will be searching every inch to locate her daughter.
At first I couldn't believe that none of the passengers would admit to seeing Julia, but then as they are interviewed, it is amazing how many were too busy with families, business, etc. to really notice or pay attention. I expect it is pretty much how we all are. As Kyle's sanity is brought into question, we start to wonder who is right. Did we really see Julia? Jodie Foster is so strong in this movie. I like that she is proactive instead of reactive.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Flightplan (Widescreen Edition) (2005)

Academy Award(R) winner Jodie Foster (Best Actress, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, 1991) gives an outstanding performance in the heart-pumping action thriller FLIGHTPLAN. Flying at 40,000 feet in a state-of-the art aircraft that she helped design, Kyle Pratt's (Foster) 6-year-old daughter Julia vanishes without a trace. Or did she? No one on the plane believes Julia was ever onboard. And now Kyle, desperate and alone, can only count on her own wits to unravel the mystery and save her daughter. From the producer of APOLLO 13 and A BEAUTIFUL MIND, FLIGHTPLAN is an intense, suspense-filled thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire flight.

Get 32% OFF

Click here for more information about Flightplan (Widescreen Edition) (2005)

Read More...

Cheaper By the Dozen (2003) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Turn loose some gratingly, implausibly screaming 13-year olds and you've got 75% of your flick. Steve Martin seems oddly miscast - there's a few moments when he goes into his "schtick" that stand out like a sore thumb (like when Mom drives away to New York and he does "mad scientist Steve"). But basically this is a guy running his family into the ground because of putting his personal dreams before his kids.
Bonnie Hunt is likeable enough as always - Tom Welling seems pretty much wasted as a sulky teenager who gets picked on and goes through several changes of character for no reason. I'm heading home, Dad. I'm moving out. I'm going to stay. I hate you. You were right.
Welling doesn't have that much screen-time and it seems every time he appears on screen he's got a different personality. Hillary and Piper are tolerable. Ashton Kutcher is...well, Ashton Kutcher. He's annoying but since we're supposed to be rooting for the family against him, that's not too surprising. he's a bit too broad, though.
The movie probably pivots around the kiddies - Bill Mumy's kid is cute, as is the Landis boy, a newcomer. They're all annoyingly precocious but that's pretty much par for the course with such movies. The supporting cast of non-family members don't have much to do and truth be told, the film is busy enough with the family subplots as it is.
By the end the father's learned a valuable lesson (so presumably have we), but one suspects most of the kids would be traumatized for life with such ludicrous parenting antics. Overall, CBTD seems to go a bit too far into the third-act pit of depression and tragedy before pulling it together for an upbeat conclusion.
A worthy rental maybe if you have some early teens in the house to "enjoy" the doozy predicament with.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cheaper By the Dozen (2003)

This fun-filled Cheaper By The Dozen Special Edition has as many extras as the Bakers have kids -- and then some! We've added a houseful of never-before-seen DVD features -- including all-new deleted and extended scenes, hilarious commentaries, exclusive featurettes, both widescreen and full screen viewing options, and a surprise or two!Comedy superstar Steve Martin pairs up with Bonnie Hunt in this family comedy about two loving parents trying to manage careers and a household amid the chaos of raising 12 rambunctious kids!

Get 55% OFF

Click here for more information about Cheaper By the Dozen (2003)

Read More...

Disney's Little Einsteins - Our Big Huge Adventure (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are not familiar with the Little Einstein series, you really should take a look. Not like alot of Disney's other banal TV productions, this show really has merits.
I mean how can you not like a show that has your children yelling staccato and legato, adagio and allegro. And knowing what these terms mean!
Children are taught that music has `layers' and that the musical `themes' can be representative of a particular character or action. For example, a crescendo may help the sun rise, or a wave get bigger.
In addition, children are introduced to fine art, architecture, and landmarks from around the world. Examples (not necessarily from this video) include works from Gaughan, Monet, the Seattle Space Needle, the Great Sphynx, Antartica, the Great Wall of China....
Five Stars. A wonderful introduction to fine art and classical music that 'sticks' with young children. The stories combine fun, kid adventures and elements of music and art in a way that seems very natural and memorable.
Plot for this video:
For their first mission, Annie, Leo, Quincy, June and Rocket help a little caterpillar become a beautiful Monarch butterfly.
Music: Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
Artist: Van Gogh, Monet, Hokusai
Real-world destinations: New York City, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Disney's Little Einsteins - Our Big Huge Adventure (2005)

Get ready to blast off with the premiere of DISNEY'S LITTLE EINSTEINS(TM)! Created by Disney and the award-winning Baby Einstein Company, this all-new movie will take your child on a thrilling musical adventure in the real world in order to complete an important mission and learn along the way. In OUR [BIG] HUGE ADVENTURE, Leo, June, Quincy, Annie, Rocket, and your child will blast off on their first whirlwind adventure that will take the team over Niagara Falls, inside a spooky cave in Oklahoma, and finally to the amazing butterfly forest in Mexico. As a member of the team, your child will sing, clap, pat, dance, and laugh right along with the four Little Einsteins and their musical ship, Rocket, to help complete the mission. Featuring a revolutionary blend of animation, stunning live-action footage, famous works of art, and exciting classical music, LITTLE EINSTEINS will have your child eager to solve the next mission!~~(c) The Baby Einstein Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Little Einsteins and the Little Einsteins logo are trademarks of The Baby Einstein Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved. EINSTEIN and ALBERT EINSTEIN are trademarks of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. All Rights Reserved. www.albert-einstein.org

Get 8% OFF

Click here for more information about Disney's Little Einsteins - Our Big Huge Adventure (2005)

Read More...

Trailer Park Boys (4Pack) Season 1, 2, 3 , 4 and Xmas Special Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This show was on BBC America for a while, then the FCC crack down on "on air decency", the show disappeared. You will laugh from start to finish, a very hysterical spoof of a "stereotypical" trailer park. Some channel in America needs to pick this show up, because you don't know what your missing.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Trailer Park Boys (4Pack) Season 1, 2, 3 , 4 and Xmas Special

Click here for more information about Trailer Park Boys (4Pack) Season 1, 2, 3 , 4 and Xmas Special

Read More...

The Shining (1980) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I own both the 2001 and 2007 DVDs of this film. I really don't have any interest is who is 'right' with the aspect ratio argument, I compared both versions and found that you're missing some of the video image regardless of which version you buy. I took screenshots of both DVDs and overlayed them on top of each other. I found that with the 2001 release, you get the 1:33:1 aspect ratio where the far left and right of the screen image is clipped. With the 2007 release, you get the 1.78:1 aspect ratio where the top and bottom of the screen image is clipped off. You can see what I mean by viewing the 'customer image' I posted, above. The blue border is for the 2001 release and the red border is the 2007 release.
Both DVDs are 'digitally restored and remastered', however the 2007 release is noticeabley brighter and more vivid. The 2001 image seems faded and dull.
This release has all the other special features of the 2001 DVD release, with the addition of optional commentary by Garrett Brown and John Baxter and three new featurettes.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Shining (1980)

The psychic powers of a young boy bring out the evil in an old hotel and drive his father insane, to the point that the father tries to murder everyone with an ax.Item Type: DVD MovieItem Rating: RStreet Date: 09/14/04Wide Screen: noDirector Cut: noSpecial Edition: yesLanguage: ENGLISHForeign Film: noSubtitles: noDubbed: noFull Frame: yesRe-Release: noPackaging: Sleeve

Get 40% OFF

Click here for more information about The Shining (1980)

Read More...

Emergency: The Final Rescues Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Warning: some possible spoilers in this review.
After Emergency! finished its 6 year TV episode run, the show then had 6 "made for TV" movies that were released in 1978 (the year following the last season of Emergency!) and 1979. So, technically, this is not "Season 7", although there is about 12 hrs. worth of programming on this set. It would be cool if they released the Emergency +4 cartoons with this final movie set - but I seriously doubt that will happen.
These movies included:
"Survival on Charter 220" - where a small plane collides mid air with a larger passenger jet. They land in a neighbor and the havoc ensues. If I'm not mistaken, Squad 51 is crushed by a part of a plane and Johnny and Roy are trapped inside a house. (2 hr. movie)
"The Steele Inferno" - basically a high rise building fire stretched into a 2 hr. movie.
"What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing?" - Johnny and Roy travel to San Francisco. (2 hr. movie)
"Greatest Rescues of Emergency" - Johnny and Roy are promoted to Captain and reminisce about their days on the squad. The movie is made up mostly of flashback scenes from the TV series, but it is still nice to see Johnny and Roy promoted to Captain (2 hr. movie)
"Most Deadly Passage" - Johnny and Roy travel to Seattle (2 hr. movie)
"The Convention" - Johnny and Roy return to San Francisco (2 hr. movie)
For those who have never seen these two hr. movies, be forewarned that you don't see A LOT of Johnny and Roy in most of these movies (with the exception of "Greatest Rescues of Emergency" - where you see A LOT of Johnny and Roy - but this "movie" consists mostly flashbacks). In fact, there are a number of very long segments in the other movies with no Johnny and Roy. Some of the movies almost come across like they were trying to create a spin off series - because so LITTLE time is spent with Johnny and Roy and so much time is spent with new characters. Further, you won't be seeing any of the other fireman from the series on these TV movies - so no Chet, no Cap, no Marco. You do get to see the Rampart medical staff a bit.
Personally, I am not very fond of these TV movies (with the exception of "Greatest Rescues"). Remember, when I say this, I am a HUGE Emergency! fan. I grew up watching the TV show. I owned a Squad 51 helmet, an Emergency! Jigsaw puzzle, etc. and soon all of the TV seasons on DVD (as soon as Season 6 comes out). I personally met Randolph Mantooth in 2001 (along with other crew members from the show) when Code 3 Collectibles was dedicating their new Emergency! toys at Station 127 in Carson (the station used for the TV series) - got to sit in the refurbished squad. I have visited the station 3 times in the last several years. This is my favorite show of all time (along with the Saint and Mission Impossible) - but these TV movies, honestly, put me to sleep. In my opinion, they are slow moving and have too little of our favorite cast from the series. I will probably buy this set to complete the series, but IMHO, you aren't missing much if you don't own them - but perhaps some of you enjoyed these movies.
While these final movies haven't been released yet, don't expect much in the video quality if the last few seasons are any indication.
Hope this "preview" or review helps. But, remember, at the time I am writing this review, the set has not been released yet.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Emergency: The Final Rescues

Get 40% OFF

Click here for more information about Emergency: The Final Rescues

Read More...

Planet Earth: The Complete Series Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Never have I been so moved by a series to exclaim in wonder and actually shed tears of joy at the beauty that surrounds us on this wonderful planet.
I have been watching it on Discovery HD Theater when it premiered in March. The first episode "Pole to Pole" set the tone by showing the range of life and species that exist on this planet. The subsequent episodes delve into the habitats one by one. Mountains, Fresh Water, Caves, Deserts, Ice Worlds, Great Plains, Jungles, Shallow Seas, Seasonal Forests and Deep Ocean are the subsequent episodes. This is one series that has to be seen to be believed of what the intrepid cameramen of BBC/Discovery Channel have been able to capture through their sheer perseverance in remote locations. The HD technology has captured some scenes and images never seen before and some seen before but never with this clarity and beauty. 5 years, 62 countries and 204 locations is what it took to make this series, and the result is a lifetime TV series.
This is one series that fascinated my kid as much as it amazed me. She wanted to watch her cartoons but the moment the episode began she was captivated. Both of us shared together the wonder that is our Planet and it was she who brought up the subject of what we might be doing to it by our actions. We cried when we saw how polar bears have begun to drown as ice melts faster every year. The image of one lone bear trying to walk on ice but falling into the slushy waters, and having to swim longer distances to capture food and finally dying with exhaustion was heart breaking. The series makes no references to the present conditions, just in passing as with the polar bear. I think the directors and producers of the series just wanted to show us the beauty of the natural world, the fight for survival of several animals even when there is no climactic change. And as we keep watching and are filled with awe and wonderment that we're lucky enough to live on this planet, we begin to appreciate quietly in our hearts how we need to change today to ensure that we save our planet.
That is what my daughter felt on her own, she asked me why we were not doing more to save our natural world and I did not have any good answers. The last 3 episodes, Planet Earth: The Future delve deeper into these issues, which I haven't had a chance to see yet.
I watched a clip of David Attenborough's version video on the web before I started watching the series with Sigourney Weaver's narration, and I was disappointed by her blandness and lack of depth. I bought this set like many others to listen to Sir David's narration. I was torn between the regular DVD set and the HD DVD though. This series is good enough to make me buy an HD DVD player just to be able to watch it in its true form! However, the regular set has the Future series and the Planet Earth diaries which the HD set does not have. I loved the Planet Earth Diaries (or behind the scenes) with cameramen, it made a fascinating documentary on it's own, and wished some were longer. If they had the extra material in the HD DVD set, it would have been my first choice.
I had saved the Discovery HD Theatre epidodes on my HD Cable box and I was able to compare their image quality with this Standard DVD version playing on an upconverting DVD player. The Discovery Theater images were crystal clear, and you could literally see each grain of sand on the sea bed or each crevice on a rock face. The Standard DVD looked pretty good when upconverted to 720p and if I had not seen the HD version I would have been quite amazed with the image quality. Right now I've been spoilt by the Discovery Theater version. If you're considering the HD version it's a great choice if you have an HD DVD/BluRay player. You'll probably not see a better HD disc. This series was shot completely in HD format. From my experience in the media industry I can tell you that this is a very, very expensive format to shoot in especially given the 5 years that it took to make this series. Most television is shot in a regular digital format and then upconverted to the HD format later. That gives great images but they cannot compare to something shot totally in HD. That is the reason the image quality of this series is spectacular. In HD they were able to capture the action which when replayed in slow-motion also stays crystal clear. Therefore you have breathtaking images of a shark capturing its prey (and many others) in slo-mo.
This really is the set to buy. It's like a living documentation of the beauty of our earth, some of which was starting to disappear right as the cameras were rolling. Perhaps, that is why BBC and Discovery spared no cost to produce this series and it is a masterpiece.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Planet Earth: The Complete Series

With an unprecedented production budget of $25 million, and from the makers of Blue Planet: Seas of Life, comes the epic story of life on Earth. Five years in production, over 2,000 days in the field, using 40 cameramen filming across 200 locations, shot entirely in high definition, this is the ultimate portrait of our planet. A stunning television experience that captures rare action, impossible locations and intimate moments with our planet's best-loved, wildest and most elusive creatures. From the highest mountains to the deepest rivers, this blockbuster series takes you on an unforgettable journey through the daily struggle for survival in Earth's most extreme habitats. Planet Earth takes you to places you have never seen before, to experience sights and sounds you may never experience anywhere else.

Get 85% OFF

Click here for more information about Planet Earth: The Complete Series

Read More...

Lord, All Men Can't Be Dogs (2011) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Thank goodness this came on BET and I was able to see it before I purchased it. I understood the concept and what they were trying to do in this play, but it was not good at all.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Lord, All Men Can't Be Dogs (2011)

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about Lord, All Men Can't Be Dogs (2011)

Read More...

An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong (2008) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Last night on HBO I watched the premiere of this American Girl movie. I enjoyed the Kit movie from last year, they are really on a roll now I have to say!! This movie is a MUST see for students from 3rd or 4th grade and up. The movie is about a 5th grade girl who is new to a school and is soon bullied by a click of 3 girls, one in particular named Tara. This is not a sugar coated movie and you see Chrissa's situation go from bad to worse as she struggles to handle it by herself.
I figured this movie would be like every other typical Disney-style movie where Chrissa will eventually get revenge on the "bad guy", you know with some plot where say she makes some elaborate contraption which will embarrass the heck out of Tara and spill green paint on her or whatever and everyone will laugh at Tara and Chrissa will be the hero. That is NOT how this story goes at all, and I am very impressed American Girl (who is in the DOLL business) did not fantasy candy-coat the story. Rather, as you will see, it is shown with much more realism and makes you think about what you would do if you were in Chrissa's (or her parents') situation.
I actually have someone who has been bullying my 10 year old daughter over the past few months and ironically I got a few pointers from this movie last night, it made me think a little different about how to approach the situation. It also reinforced some of my beliefs on what makes someone a bully as well as providing some tips on ways to keep Chrissa staying strong.
Like other viewers, I bet you will be curious to see what bully Tara's parents look like - in every other movie (e.g. Camp Rock) the snobby/mean girl's mother is usually some self-centered witch who is nasty with her daughter and thus the chain continues....in this movie, you never get to see her parents. I think that is a good thing because it really let me focus on the rest of the story. I am seriously considering buying a copy for my local school and/or library to donate it, it was that good. The acting was fantastic and Chrissa is absolutely charming, I would love to have a friend like her for myself or my daughter!

Click Here to see more reviews about: An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong (2008)

Meet Chrissa Maxwell. She and her family have just moved, and she has to start at a new school mid-year. Will she fit in? Can she find new friends? On her very first day, Chrissa is seated with three girls who greet her with teasing and tricks. The Mean Bees really know how to stingthey bully her in class, on the bus, online, and even at swim club. Chrissa cant seem to make any new friends; not even with the girl who seems to need a friend the most. When the biggest bully becomes Chrissa's swimming rival, the taunting finally goes too far. Now its up to Chrissa. Will she find a way to stand strong and stop the bullying?

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong (2008)

Read More...