Archive for the ‘DVD’ Category

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Star Trek Voyager: Seasons 1-7 Sale-$309.49!

Samedi, septembre 4th, 2010

Seasons 1-7. Star Trek Voyager: Seasons 1-7

Product: Star Trek Voyager: Seasons 1-7 Sale-$309.49!

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STAR TREK VOYAGER details the adventures of the Starfleet’s most adventurous starship, the U.S.S. Voyager, as it is led by Captain Kathryn Janeway (Mulgrew) on missions into deep space.

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #6071 in DVD
  • Brand: MULGREW,KATE
  • Released on: 2004-12-21
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
  • Formats: Box set, Color, Dolby
  • Original language: English
  • Subtitled in: English
  • Number of discs: 47
  • Dimensions: 7.15 pounds
  • Running time: 7782 minutes

Lousy packaging, high cost, BUT IT’S VOYAGER!!5
How I love Voyager, with its idealized view of life on a starship - exploring space; serving a strong, noble leader; belonging to a fiercely loyal community; living in a world where relationships, experiences, and knowledge take precedence over material goods. I really miss the show. I really miss the characters. I really LOVE the DVDs which allow me to bring the show into my home at will.

I echo so many of the complaints about packaging (at least three seasons have cracked packages and four have lost their flimsy plastic top - I like the suggestion of repacking them myself that another reviewer had) and about the insanely high cost ($700 at this writing) of the series. I received my DVDs a season at a time for birthdays and xmas, and I bought off of EBAY, and two of the seasons I purchased were used. So, the series CAN be owned for considerably less than $700.

But I watch these DVDs all the time. The stories don’t grow old, and my devotion to the crew just deepens. Everytime I watch an episode I notice something new. I’ve started paying attention to filming angles, make-up (love the duct tape on Seven as she is being humanized), props, everything.

It’s also interesting to me how my tastes change over the years - I hated Oblivion and Once Upon a Time when they aired, but now they are among my favorite episodes (okay I have over 50 favorite episodes but who’s counting).

The other thing I love about this series is that I am able to watch it with my children (9 & 7), and the episodes frequently spark fabulous conversations. Voyager is superficially the story of how a lost Starfleet crew gets home, but so many of the episodes — Living Witness, In the Flesh, Distant Origin, One Small Step, etc…are at heart debates and/or commentaries about lofty ideas.

The extras included with the DVDs are good - particularly the Season 1 Bujold-as-Janeway scenes. I never realized how much an actor or actress brings of themselves to a role. The energy Mulgrew projected is radically different from Bujold’s energy, and I personally loved how Mulgrew brought Janeway to life.

Well anyway, I love these DVDs and think they are worth any Trek/Voyager fan getting their hands on.

Excellent Series, Shame on the Manufacturers!4
5 Star Series, -4 stars for the packaging! Voyager is an excellent series which is why I invested in the entire collection. It will continue to entertain for years. However, the packaging is unbelievably cheap! It’s extremely flimsy and will surely come apart by next week. There’s a lot to be said for UPS for even getting it to my door intact! I’ll be investing more money in a CD case to hold all the dvd’s. Also, the episode titles on the discs are written in 2 pt font along the spindle making them ABSOLUTELY impossible to read. Paramount, shame on you! For this HUGE cost I think investing another $3.00 in the packaging and labels would have been well worth it! Either that, or please include a jewler’s loupe so we can read the disk titles.
After a few months, I’ve come across several CD’s with problems…. skipping, scratches, etc. Paramount refuses to call me back to discuss the issue. I also have the entire TNG collecton. The packaging for that is excellent and the episode titles are easy to read. I guess Voyager doesn’t warrant a similar design despite being more than twice the cost…… Go ahead and buy this.. you can’t go wrong, but order a CD case, too for the 47 discs.

Love this series5
Okay I have been a star trek fan since I was about 6 years old and my friends dad would watch the next generation every single night. Since then I have been watching the next generation, the original, deep space nine, voyager and now enterprise. Let me tell you my favorite is and will always be Voyager!

The first season was sort of lame however from 2 until 7 it is GREAT. When this season ended on tv I cried… I would seriously plan my nights around Star Trek… Now that I am nearly done with them on DVD I am about to cry again… even though I own them!!!!!

There is such a great difference between Voyager and other star treks! Voyager is showing the determination of the crew to get home. The fact that Voyager just cant fly a day to earth and get repaired/doesn’t have help with a push of a button unlike other star ships. Voyager has to fiend for itself and show the human emotions of being put on a ship together without a break. I truly love the tom and blanna relationship! Those two you always wonder what will happen to them… and harry kim was always my favorite! You wonder what will happen next… he always seems to get the bad end of the deal ever since season one! However, he is seen as the baby of the ship’s crew and Janeway protects her “children” with an iron fist!

I really wish this series would have made a few more season… just to explain things a little bit more and to show what happened directly after coming home (the following months)… what had happened to everyone…

Oh well I guess… the series has ended… but if you want a good star trek series that both trekies and non trekies alike can enjoy this is your series… it has drama, action, romance, well to sum it up it has a little bit of EVERYTHING in it….

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Complete Series Seasons 1-7 Lowest Price!

Mardi, août 24th, 2010

The Complete Series Seasons 1-7

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Complete Series Seasons 1-7 Lowest Price!

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List Price: $519.99

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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Complete Series Seasons 1-7 Description:

Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 01/24/2006

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #14468 in DVD
  • Brand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
  • Released on: 2004-10-26
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
  • Formats: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
  • Original language: English
  • Subtitled in: English
  • Number of discs: 48
  • Dimensions: 7.30 pounds
  • Running time: 8006 minutes

Customer Reviews:

The Darkest, and Most Underrated of all Treks5
With glee I write this review for my favorite show of all time.

If you passed on the Deep Space phenomenon at the time, you were’nt alone. Many who had interest in TNG didn’t really take to DS9 at first, myself included. I started watching it again in the second season and it slowly grab held of me. There are a few bad episodes (”Melora” for one), but overall these are the most fascinating, imaginative stories ever collected into a series of any kind. It’s a saga no doubt, a soap opera of sci-fiction, but Deep Space went so much further. With great special effects and audio, the production value alone was entertaining. But the episodes were extremely dark at times too, with the greatest characters, a healthy budget and fantastic writing. This combination led “Kira” in an interview to state that she believes this will be one of the most time enduring Television shows ever created. I really agree. It generally becomes a sleeker show over time, but always interesting and asking extremely dark moral questions. My favorite episode of all time “In the Pale Moonlight”, I believe is in the sixth season. An episode where the absolute moral boundary of war is questioned and Sisko and Garek do the craziest sh*# to assure security for the federation. It’s a Narly episode. Garek actually kills a Romulan Senator by sabotaging his craft and Sisko actually trades biogenic weapons material for information. All to draw the Romulans into the war against the Dominion, I was stunned. There’s another episode where the Dominion actually engineers an attack against themselves in order to destroy the military of a planet inwhich they eventually occupy. The way the episodes fold back into one another, is masterful. Don’t miss it, treat yourself to extraordinary, well-thought-out sci-fi for a change. I own them all and plan on hermetically-sealing them for future generations. :)

Hands Down, The Greatest Ever Trek Series5
Star Trek Deep Space Nine will always be the cult within the cult.Although not as popular as the other Star Trek spin-offs(even the anemic Voyager who had the benefit of the UPN network behind it),it has the diehard follwing of Trekker Niners who’ll easily attest that DS9 was the best Trek show ever.
Unlike the other spin-offs,the show as well as the characters evolved in its seven seasons.Notably The lead character Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) who started as a brooding arbitrator of a rundown space station.In the later seasons, the character was injected with the same passion that fueled Kirk and Picard,becoming a great Captain as well as accepting his role as the Bajoran’s Emissary and in the end,joined the Bajoran prophets.Sisko’s crew includes first officer/Bajoran lieson Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor),Trill science officer Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell),Cheif Medical Officer Dr Julian Bashir(Alexander Siddig),Cheif of Operations Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney) and changeling Security Chief Odo (Rene Abourjonios).Station residences includes Ferengi Barkeeper Quark (Armin Shimmerman), Cardassian Tailor, former spy Garak (Andy Robinson) and Sisko’s son Jake (Cirroc Lofton).
Although known as the darkest of all the Trek shows(despite having some of the most humorous episodes in the entire franchise)DS9 has the most complex storytelling ever to come out of Gene Roddenberry’s universe.
In season one we have the humble beginnings of the station formerly known as Terok Nor.Sisko was more of an administrator than the passionate individual he is to become,Kira Nerys is unsettlingly fiesty,Julian Bashir rates high on the arrogent meter,and Jadzia Dax comes off as somewhat aloof.The shakedown season still plays better than the latter seasons of any of the following Trek Series(Voyager,Enterprise).The standout episodes include Past Prologue,Captive Pursuit,Progress,In The Hands Of The Prophets,and Duet,which in many opinion, is the best ever DS9 episode.
With the final season of TNG over shadowing,as well as the upcoming Voyager series in the wings ,DS9 was trying to find it’s footing in the second season.Besides character development,we see the seeds of events begin to evolve,including the rise (and eventual downfalls) of Kai Winn & Gul Dukat,the re-introduction of The Original Series “Mirror,Mirror” Universe,as well as the dreaded Dominion.
The standout episodes includes Cardassians,Whispers,Blood Oath,The Maquis,The Wire,and The Collaborator.
Season two ends with the ominous The Jem’hadar,preparing us for a direction never seen in Star Trek
With the Dominion threat,and the introdution of the battleship,Defiant,DS9’s third season was finally coming into it’s own.
Along with more character development in the lead as well as the supporting cast(Garak,Dukat,Kai Winn,Rom & Nog),the writing was even stronger than before with great episodes such as House Of Quark,Civil Defense,Second Skin,Visionary,Past Tense,and Explorers.Also introduced in this season are Leeta,Ishka(”Moogie”),Brunt,Shaakar,and Lt.Commander Eddington.
Unfortunately with Star Trek Generation hitting the big screen,and Star Trek Voyager’s big premire,DS9 was lost in the shuffle.But it would use it’s underdog status to emerge as the greatest Trek series the following season.
The final ingredient that was needed in DS9,Worf becomes a member of the crew in the fourth season,and it will never be the same again.
Not only it was Starfleet’s Klingon officer’s introduction,but Way of the Warrior was DS9’s most exciting episode(it’s equivelent of TNG’s Best Of Both Worlds),dealing with the Federation-Klingon Empire relation being strained and underminded by the Dominion,which concluded with the greatest battle scenes ever seen on televised Trek.
Sisko ,promoted to Captain in the previous season,finally emerges as a commanding presence,in part to his image makover including a bald head & goatee.
Many classic episodes including WOTW,The Visitor,Little Green Men,Our Man Bashir,Rejoined,The Sons Of Mogh,Bar Association,Hard Time,and Broken Link which concludes with a surprise ending for the season.
This is the season where the writers & producers realise that the show will never come close to being the success that TNG was,and decided to make the show something to be proud of and making it’s place be known in the Star Trek Universe.
DS9’s fifth season proves there is so much more to the show once described about a station that didn’t “go anywhere”.When most TV shows wear out their welcome by season five,ST-DS9 just kept getting better
One of the factors is the strong writing,as well as the characters evolution(Worf & Dax’s romantic relationship,Bashir’s genetic enhancement secret)and such classic episodes as,Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places,The Ship,Children Of Time,By Inferno’s Light/In Purgotory’s Shadow,and Trials and Tribble-ation(featuring the original ST crew).
The season ends with the beginning of the Dominion War which has been building up since season three.
In the sixth season ,you come to realise that it’s far removed from the premise of a darker edgier Trek of the first two seasons ,only to emerged as the greatest Trek show of all time.
The writing had become more ambitious than any other latter day Trek Series(TNG,VOY,ENT),and it was only the penultimate season. The six-part Dominion War Arc(including classic episodes A Time To Stand,Rocks & Shoals,The Sacrifice Of Angels) showed the producers going for broke as well as establishing DS9 as a show that’s not afraid to take chances.
The best season six episodes are too many to list(….Cordially Invited…,Waltz,Far Beyond The Stars,Inquisition,His Way,Reckoning,The Valient),but it’s In The Pale Moonlight that is the highlight of the entire season(as well as my 3rd favorite episode behind season one’s “Duet”,and four’s”The Way Of The Warrior”)as Captain Sisko wrestles with his conscience as Garak helps him to dupe the Romulans into joining their efforts in the war.The season ends on a dark tone with “Tears Of The Prophet” in which Jadzia Dax is killed by a Pah-Wraith possessed Dukat.
Although season six staked DS9’s claim as Star Trek’s best ever show,the seventh, and finale season of DS9,coming after a three season winning streak,hits a bump during the season ,yet it was still superior than any other show of it’s genre .
The death of Jadzia Dax somewhat took the wind out of the series,and the new Dax,Ezri(Nicole DeBoer)an unprepared new Trill host,was written as”Ally McTrill”,only to emerge as more comfortable with the roll as the show wound down.
Some episodes ranged from mediocre(Prodigal Daughter) to downright weak(The Emperor’s New Cloak,Extreme Measures) .Aside from the Finale Arc(including Penumbra,Strange Bedfellows,Tacken To The Wind & Dogs Of War),Take Me Out To The Holosuite,The Siege at AR 558,Chimara and Inter Arma…ranks as some of DS9’s greatest episodes.The ten part finale arc which ended with What You Leave Behind closed the show on a fitting yet premature ending.
Paramount released the DVD sets throughout 2003(the tenth anniversary of DS9)as well as insatiate the many fans of this brilliant yet overlooked show(hopefully a series of TV movies in the future),reminding us of how great DS9 was,and that hopefully we’ll return to her someday.

Ten Favorite Episodes

1.Duet (first season)
2.The Way Of The Warrior (fourth season)
3.In The Pale Moonlight (Sixth Season)
4.The Visitor (Fourth Season)
5.The Seige at AR-558 (Seventh Season)
6.Trials and Tribble-ations (fifth season)
7. …You Are Cordially Invited(sixth season)
8.Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places (fith season)
9.Take Me Out To The Holosuite (seventh season)
10.Far Beyond The Stars (sixth season)

Incredible series, but Paramount is Greedy5
I saw this series when it first aired and I have seen it in syndication many times since. I even watch it now on the Spike channel. It is by far one of my favorite Star Trek’s or any TV series for that matter. The last few seasons were especially exciting. It is amazing how you watch the characters grow over the years. I can’t say enough positive things about this series. Sisko, Nerys, Odo, Jadzia, Worf, Quark, Bashir, and Garak added wonderful characters that really made a difference to me. The guest stars were great too. The directing, cast, stories, sets, music, and the rest the production are first class all the way. If you are a fan of SciFi and not buying a number of other TV series, buy this set.

Now that said, I would like to say Paramount needs to be slapped up side the head for being so greedy, and that is saying it nicely. I can buy a season of ANY other Non-Paramount series for half or less the price. Why are you making us fans of Star Trek suffer? Do you think, oh they are Star Trek fans, they will pay anything? Give us some credit. I am not buying this series unless you lower the price. I bought all the original Star Trek series and even three seasons of Next Generation. But after spending over $650 for six seasons I realized this is absurd. I bought six seasons of Stargate SG-1, a great series, for under $300 with tax. Here’s a concept Paramount, sell it reasonable so you will make more sales and your customers will appreciate you.

I decided to go ahead and get this set since they at least give a break for buying all seven seasons together. Do not use Amazon overnight or two day shipping unless you are home all day. I paid for two day shipping but I didn’t know Amazon would insist the package be signed for in person. UPS took four days to finally bring it by when I was home after work after they said they couldn’t except a signed receipt and I then told them to come after 5 PM.

This set is FANTASTIC. Even better than I remembered. For some odd reason my wife and I thought the first couple seasons weren’t all that good. Now that we are watching them again, we are very impressed with all the episodes. The only thing I can figure is at the time they were originally shown we were more interested in TNG since they were exploring space and we thought a space station was not as interesting. Seeing them now I realize that was just not true and we did it an injustice thinking that way.

ADDENDUM: Don’t buy thses for more than fifty-five a season. I have seen them for that and and now kicking myself for paying this price. Furthermore they have now brought down the price on STTNG set and I bet this is next.

Fatima

Babylon 5: The Complete Seasons 1-5 Lowest Price!

Lundi, août 23rd, 2010

The Complete Seasons 1-5

Babylon 5: The Complete Seasons 1-5 Lowest Price!

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List Price: $300.98

Amazon Price: $262.49

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Babylon 5: The Complete Seasons 1-5 Description:

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #19012 in DVD
  • Released on: 2009-06-16
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
  • Formats: Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Original language: English
  • Number of discs: 30
  • Running time: 4818 minutes

Customer Reviews:

Better than ever the second time around!5
If you’re hesitating over whether to spend the money and buy the whole 5 seasons, wait no more! This show is simply brilliant no matter how many times you’ve seen it! Although I have seen the complete series several times, including when it originally aired, watching it again has been a revelation. Babylon 5 is a remarkable and under-rated achievement. If you’ve never seen it and love good, well-written, believable Sci Fi - this is the show for you. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen it, you’ve got a treat in store, because so many things are revealed than are easy to miss when watching it “live”. Unlike Star Trek, which I’ve watched and loved since it’s original airing, B5 is a complete and complex story, where everything and everyONE are connected. If you’re a fan, you know almost everything the happens on the series is important and many seemingly insignificant things turn out to have great importance later on. All the characters are delightfully rich and complex and watching the series again on DVD is like finding some old family home movies you haven’t seen in years.

I was delighted to discover hidden depths to the first season’s Captain Sinclair, who I never particularly liked, but have now learned to appreciate. He’s a sensitive and unexpectedly diplomatic man, finding unique solutions to a host of problems. And he’s a prime example of things or people turning out to be of great importance later on - no spoilers but don’t discount him. He will definitely surprise you!

Why this series has never received the acclaim it so richly deserves I will never know, but believe me, this is no late-night cult classic, but a brilliant epic spanning time and space and replete with every emotion found in the human heart. Don’t worry guys - there are plenty of explosions, mayhem, battle scenes, space ships and shoot outs to counter any emotional overtones.

Babylon 5 may be the best Sci Fi series ever made. Don’t miss it - for the first or fifteenth time. Owning it will only make it better!

One of my favorite series of all time, amazing5
Amazing, excellent, and entertaining. What more can you want. Its not perfect, but its close.

Every Sci-fi fan should have knowledge of Babalon 5, and in my opinion each one should have the complete series. This 5-pack set contains each season in its own seperate pack, and each season contains many extras such as bloopers, commentaries, and other extras. A must have.

There are 2 problems that you should be aware of. The season boxes are composed of book-like disk holders which are held together with a paper binding. This binding easily wears out, and your season pack will fall apart. This isn’t a huge deal since each book disk-holder is also contained in a sleeve, but just remember that the quality of the binding isn’t good. 2 of my 5 season boxes have become unglued/worn out so the only thing that holds them together is the sleeve.

Second, the price. The complete series is a must have, but you can find the seperate boxxed seasons for lower prices seperately in many places (wholesale clubs, wall marts, online, retail stores, etc) so if you really really want the complete series you can order it here. If you want the series, but for a lower price, look around. I bought mine from BJ’s retail store for much cheaper for each individual season.

A true classic and a great achievement!5
I bought the five individual season boxed sets plus the movie extras, I think most or all is contained in this set. If you saw the series, then you’ve already purchased this, most likely. If you missed the series, then buy this and prepare to enjoy one of the greatest Sci-fi TV series to ever be created. Overcoming all sorts of studio, budget, talent and other hurdles, Michael Straczynski and crew created a true work of art and something that will stay with you forever. The actors were incredible and to have so many of such high caliber stick with the series to the end is amazing. The writing is outstanding. The story arc superb. LinnyJ’s review here says it well. It’s almost unique in the width and depth of the experience. You will get to know these characters well and you will remember them. There are speeches, events, battles, moral decisions, comedy and tragedy. You will be affected. You will come to know these people. You will care. You will wish you were there…and you will be, in a way.

I love good science fiction and grew up reading everything I could find. This is the real deal. I consider this to be one of, if not the, greatest of all the TV SF series (trailed by its nemesis, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which I also enjoyed). Certainly, at its time, it was without peer. Everything has held up amazingly well. The special effects were outstanding and still look good. There’s lots of sci-fi goodness, but it is the writing and the acting that make this series special.

Get it.

Cordelia

The Sopranos: The Complete Series Lowest Price!

Lundi, août 9th, 2010

The Complete Series

The Sopranos: The Complete Series Lowest Price!

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List Price: $299.98

Amazon Price: $187.49

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The Sopranos: The Complete Series Description:

For six seasons, fans have devotedly watched Tony Soprano deal with the difficulties of balancing his home life with the criminal organization he leads. Audiences everywhere tuned in to see the mob, the food, the family, and who was next to be whacked. Celebrate the show that Vanity Fair called, “the greatest show in TV history”, in the ultimate Sopranos keepsake. Bonus features (over 3.5 hours never before seen) include David Chase’s reaction to fan outcry over the series finale; secrets from the writers’ room; props stolen from the set; auditions of some of the cast; the music selected and the meaning behind it; and lost scenes saved from the editing room. 30 discs (28 discs of episodes, 2 bonus discs) and detailed 16-page episode guide.

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #1116 in DVD
  • Brand: HBO HOME VIDEO
  • Released on: 2009-11-17
  • Rating: Unrated
  • Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
  • Formats: Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, Subtitled, NTSC
  • Original language: English
  • Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
  • Number of discs: 30
  • Running time: 4980 minutes

Features

  • The Sopranos: The Complete Series

Customer Reviews:

The Sopranos, repackaged in time for the holidays5
Last year HBO released the complete series of this ground-breaking show with the very high pricetag we’ve come to expect from any HBO original series on DVD. According to the press release, a year later, HBO wants to make this collection more available to consumers with new compact packaging and a lower price point. I continue from the press release:

The new package is still book style, but of a vastly different sort - it opens up from a split down the center in a gatefold fashion, and discs slide in from the side. Speaking of discs, HBO informs us that all of the DVDs from the previous Complete Series set will be included, with all the bonus material found on them. However, the extra soundtrack CD discs will not be packed in with the revised collection. Still, the new list price is a hundred dollars lower, which certainly good news for any fans who perhaps couldn’t afford last year’s model.

End of press release. The bottom line on this is we are paying one hundred dollars less to give up 2 music CDs and in exchange get packaging that should not enable so many scratched discs. The extra features include an interview with series creator David Chase conducted by Alec Baldwin and two “Supper With the Sopranos” featurettes that will show cast members sitting down for dinner to discuss their favorite episodes.

As for the series itself, if the Godfather saga was the view of the mafia from the executive suite, this series is a complex tale of the mafia from the working man’s point of view. If you’ve never watched this show, you’re in for an extended treat. Yes, there is violence and nudity, but it is never gratuitous and is needed to contrast Tony Soprano, the thinking man’s gangster, with the reality of the life he has been born to and, quite frankly, would not ever have left even knowing how so many of his associates have ended up. Tony Soprano can discuss Sun Tzu with his therapist, then beat a man to death with a frying pan in a fit of rage, and while dismembering and disposing of the body with his nephew, take a break, sit down and watch TV while eating peanut butter out of the jar, and give that nephew advice on his upcoming marriage like they had just finished a Sunday afternoon of viewing NFL football. Even Carmella, his wife, when given a chance for a way out, finds that she really prefers life with Tony and the perks that go with it and looking the other way at his indiscretions versus life on her own. If you followed the whole thing, you know how it ends. If you didn’t, trust me you’ve never seen a TV show end like this.

Soprano’s Complete Series Box Set (DVD Format)4
It’s a nice set. Had some trouble with an LCD TV with a built-in DVD player reading the disks initially but now fine. My Blu-Ray player sees them no problem. Seasons are broken down with 3 or 4 episodes on each disk. Each DVD is in a cardboard sleeve that has pictures on them from the series, in 2 sets, 1 on the left and 1 on the right. It opens kinda like a children’s book from the center, fanning open, 1 set to the left and 1 set to the right… The disks only have the disk number on them and not much more. It can be a bit of a problem pulling out a disk and that is my only reason for not giving it a 5 star rating. I mean, all that pulling to get a disk from a sleeve will only put unnecessary fingerprints in the disks and potentially scratch them…

Amazon gold box deals are wonderful!!!5
I wanted to give my father the Sopranos on DVD for Christmas, but there was no way I was going to pay 4-500.00 for the complete set. I got the entire collection for $199.99 and free S&H. What a deal. Instead of buying my father just one or two seasons, I was able to get the entire collection! I know he will be very pleased. Amazon Gold Box deals are wonderful, if you don’t check them every day you should, you will sooner than later find something you need at outstanding prices. Highly recommended.

Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films Discount.

Lundi, juillet 26th, 2010

Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films

Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films Discount.

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List Price: $850.00

Amazon Price: $772.49

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Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films Description:

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #76092 in DVD
  • Released on: 2006-10-24
  • Rating: Unrated
  • Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
  • Formats: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
  • Original language: English, French, Russian
  • Number of discs: 50
  • Running time: 5347 minutes

Customer Reviews:

remarkable5
This is certainly the most remarkable collection of films to come out in one DVD package. And I would really like to thank Criterion for overpricing their DVDs so much that I had very little overlap with my existing library, having passed on most of their editions of these films. Here are a few observations that might be of use to potential buyers:
1) the widescreen movies are anamorphic
2) Haxen is 104 min, substantially longer than the 77 min version that has shown on premium cable.
3) I compared the Janus versions of two films, Wages of Fear and Seven Samurai, with the Criterion versions I had. I expected them to be identical (figuring that Criterion probably did the work for Janus) but they were considerably different. In both cases, the Janus copies were amazingly superior: much better (and louder)sound, crisper images with fewer defects, much better definition in shadowy areas, and a much more stable image. I never realized how poor the Criterion prints were until I saw the comparison. It’s amazing the psychological effect of all that. In both cases, I was strongly tempted to continue watching the whole film with Janus, and found the Criterion copy ‘tiring’. The translations also differed, with Janus having fewer errors (e.g. Samurai’s “the rice we’re eating now” v.s. “the rice we’re eating, how”). I cannot wait to watch the rest of these films.
3. I could detect no difference between Anchor Bay’s and Janus’s Kind Hearts and Coronets.
4. The print of Lady Vanishes is the clearest I’ve seen. The el cheapo Brentwood print, in their Hitchcock collection, is unwatchable.
5. The one really bad aspect of the collection is that the DVDs are wedged tightly into paper slots. Every single disc was covered with tiny flecks of paper, and every disc was scratched, sometimes quite badly (but not enough to affect playback, I think). Whether this occurred putting the disc in, or taking it out, I can’t say. However, repeating this process would rapidly damage the surface. I put all the discs into individual cases, and I STRONGLY recommend doing so. Some of the discs felt like they were glued to the page, the packaging was so tight. If you are a real fanatic about surface defects, and don’t plan on reselling the set, you might even want to use a razor to cut the paper and LIFT the disc out. Whatever you do, don’t rotate the disc as you try to unstick it or you may get a spiralling defect.
Despite that caveat, this is an incredible bargain - less than $12 per film instead of $30 for Criterion’s. That makes those commentaries pretty bloody expensive.
One can only hope Janus will put out another 50 movies (hopefully in individual cases, though).

This is put out by Criterion5
Re: The previous reviewer’s points: The product info is somewhat vague on this, but this set is put out by Criterion. As the comment on that review says, any differences vs. earlier Criterion releases are attributable to upgrades made in later editions. Seven Samurai and M have been upgraded since their original Criterion release, and there may be other cases among the films collected here. On another point, it’s true that individual Criterion releases are expensive, but they usually include many extras of interest to cinephiles. If price is your main consideration, this package is a great way to get Criterion quality at a lower price per disc (although without the extras). I will be ordering one at some point, even though I already have about a dozen of the films, just because it looks to be a gorgeous package. FYI, there is a review in the NY Times today (11/7/2006) that provides some historical background on Janus and Criterion.

Special Features and Scratches5
I would like to notify everyone who got scared about this set when they heard the dvds came in outrageoulsy tight slots that either this has been changed, it never was true, or i have an exeptionally awsome set because mine is not that way at all. In my set every page of the DVD book has 4 dvds that are in slots that are not too tight or loose. You do not have to induvidually unwrap the dvds or anything, just open up the book, and pull a dvd out. I have been pulling these discs out and putting back in and have seen absolutely no damage done. Not one of the movies has skipped yet. I have seen no “flecks of paper” and none of my DVDs “felt like they were glued to the page” like -a movie fan’s-. I strongly suggest everyone with a film appretiation to buy this set, even if you already have a few from the set. It is definatally worth it. And about the special features, I would like to inform anyone turned off by the fact that there are none that there is a 200 page book that comes with the set. That book has rare posters, photographs, the history of revolutionary JANUS and a page description of every film - the context of time and place the film came out, a little about the director and actors, the impact the film had, the meaning behind the film, etc. If that is not enough for you, then…sorry. I personally dont mind, considering the internet exists for any other information about the film I want to know.

Amazon.com
50 Years, 50 Films

One Spectacular DVD Box Set Janus Films opened American viewers’ eyes to the pleasures of Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini, and François Truffaut at the height of their artistic powers. Celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of this world-renowned distribution company with Essential Art House: 50 Years of Janus Films, an expansive collectors’ box set featuring fifty classic films on DVD and a lavishly illustrated hardcover book that tells the story of Janus Films through an essay by film historian Peter Cowie, a tribute from Martin Scorsese, and notes on each of the fifty films.

• Eight Academy Awards

• Twenty-eight Academy Award nominations

• Two Palme d’or awards

Amazon.com
Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films is a 50-disc celebration of international films collected under the auspices of the groundbreaking theatrical distributor. Packaged in a heavy slipcase set (remember, lift with your legs, not your back), one volume contains the DVDs in sturdy cardboard pages; the other volume is a hardback book with introductory essays and essays about each of the films. Janus Films is the precursor to the Criterion Collection, and this set is far and away the most beautiful art object the company has ever created. The substantial and subdued packaging is meant to stand the test of time, as are the films immortalized within. From The Seventh Seal to Jules and Jim to M and Pygmalion and The 39 Steps, this exquisite set is the art house DVD release of 2006, if not the decade.

The 200-page book provides context for the films and is worth reading in its own right. Martin Scorcese offers a brief and celebratory introduction, reminiscing about the thrill of seeing the antiquated Janus Films logo when attending a movie in one of New York City’s art house theaters. Film historian Peter Cowie’s essay about the history of art house cinema in America casts light on how films by directors like Akira Kurosawa and Ingmar Bergman first found American audiences. These days it’s easy to take for granted our access to films from around the globe, but in the early 20th century it was only due to the efforts of a passionate few that these great films found theatrical life in the United States. Many of these films, particularly those from Europe, boasted more liberal attitudes about such things as sex and war, facing the threat of censorship and hostility from Hollywood-fed audiences who weren’t accustomed to considering films as works of art. Janus Films evolved as a way to bridge these cultural gaps, introducing Americans to foreign sensibilities and big-screen stories that transcended language.

What DVDs Are Included?
The DVDs presented represent the cream of the crop of the Janus Films catalog, and the best of the Criterion Collection’s bar-setting technical sophistication. Six of the films are being debuted on DVD on the occasion of the set’s release, though they may be released separately later. These include Fires on the Plain, The Fallen Idol, Pandora’s Box, Le Jour Se Leve, Miss Julie, and Three Documentaries by Saul J. Turell. Fans of copious extra features should take note–the discs contain only the films themselves. Those wishing to dig into the two bonus discs of material offered with Criterion’s latest release of Seven Samurai, say, won’t find that opportunity here. As for the selection of films, cinephiles may get into arguments about what’s included and what’s not, but any film school student would be far ahead of the game by devouring these fifty films. The treasures are listed below. –Ryan Boudinot

ALEXANDER NEVSKY (1938)
ASHES AND DIAMONDS (1958)
L’AVVENTURA (1960)
BALLAD OF A SOLDIER (1959)
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1946)
BLACK ORPHEUS (1959)
BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945)
THE FALLEN IDOL (1948)
FIRES ON THE PLAIN (1959)
FISTS IN THE POCKET (1965)
FLOATING WEEDS (1959)
FORBIDDEN GAMES (1952)
THE 400 BLOWS (1959)
GRAND ILLUSION (1937)
HÄXAN (1922)
IKIRU (1952)
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (1952)
IVAN THE TERRIBLE, PART II (1958)
LE JOUR SE LÈVE (1939)
JULES AND JIM (1962)
KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS (1949)
KNIFE IN THE WATER (1962)
THE LADY VANISHES (1938)
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP (1943)
LOVES OF A BLONDE (1965)
M (1931)
M. HULOT’S HOLIDAY (1953)
MISS JULIE (1951)
PANDORA’S BOX (1929)
PÉPÉ LE MOKO (1937)
IL POSTO (1961)
PYGMALION (1938)
RASHOMON (1950) RICHARD III (1955)
THE RULES OF THE GAME (1939)
SEVEN SAMURAI (1954)
THE SEVENTH SEAL (1957)
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE (1973)
LA STRADA (1954)
SUMMERTIME (1955)
THE THIRD MAN (1949)
THE 39 STEPS (1935)
UGETSU (1953)
UMBERTO D. (1952)
THE VIRGIN SPRING (1960)
VIRIDIANA (1961)
THE WAGES OF FEAR (1953)
THE WHITE SHEIK (1952)
WILD STRAWBERRIES (1957)
THREE DOCUMENTARIES BY SAUL J. TURELL

Star Trek: The Original Series Remastered - Three Season Pack Lowest Price!

Lundi, juillet 5th, 2010

The Original Series Remastered - Three Season Pack

Star Trek: The Original Series Remastered - Three Season Pack Lowest Price!

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List Price: $249.98

Amazon Price: $190.49

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Star Trek: The Original Series Remastered - Three Season Pack Description:

Genre: Television: Series
Rating: NR
Release Date: 18-NOV-2008
Media Type: DVD

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #6416 in DVD
  • Brand: Paramount
  • Released on: 2008-11-18
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
  • Formats: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Original recording remastered, NTSC
  • Original language: English
  • Number of discs: 25
  • Dimensions: .25 pounds

Customer Reviews:

Icing on the cake5
When I first heard about the 40th anniversary remastered episodes, I was skeptical. Having seen the original Star Trek series on prime time TV in 1966, 67, & 68, and always liking it better than any of the other Star Trek series that came afterwards, I thought that it would be a huge mistake. I was wrong. These new effects are what Roddenbery would have done had he the budget and technology. They are not out of place; they very much have the feel and flavor of the live-action scenes and mesh perfectly. The live-action scenes themselves are now much sharper, colors more saturated, better contrast. Of course I have the complete series as it was originally broadcast- that is a must and I can’t part with them. But the remastered episodes are just as essential. They are the original series episodes with the fine details that they have always deserved- even if it took 40 years to finally finish them. I can’t imagine any of the original writers or directors having complaints about these remastered episodes- especially since they are in addition to, and not replacing- the series as it was first produced and broadcast.

Fantastic re-release and updating of a classic5
OK, bear with me a bit here. I need to explain something.

I am a Star Trek fan of long standing, 35+ years at this point.

When I first heard that the original series was going to be re-released with all new effects, I was less than thrilled. Maybe this attitude is foreign to the younger people, but there is, for me, a certain charm in the original effects. While I acknowledge that the effects in the original Star Trek are sometimes not slick as you see in modern films, people need to realize and appreciate that they were working before the time of computer generated graphics — and on a television budget. In short, the effects on the original series stand as an example of what dedicated, talented people could do when it all had to be done “the hard way”. And it seemed disrespectful, at least, of that achievement to replace the hard work of those people. In fact, it seemed to me, at first, to really be just another way for more money to be milked out of both the fans and the series.

Then I started thinking. And reading. And considering. And, finally, I decided to take a peek for myself.

What I found is that the new effects are, as expected, as perfect as only a computer can make them. Perfect effects are, really, getting to be a ho-hum thing to me. I realize and recognize that it still takes talent and skill to create effects using a computer, but, honestly, when you can realize on the screen literally anything you want as easily as anything else… well, it just isn’t the same. There just isn’t that sense of “Wow, how did they DO that?” anymore.

But…

What I also found was that great and loving care was taken to preserve and actually enhance the original episodes through the use of this new technology.

Regardless of any debate on the merits of doing it or not, it’s done — and the results are superb.

The accompanying “bonus features” are also quite good.

A *COMPLETE* waste of money as compared to the 2004 release1
Whoever thought of this at CBS Video should be ashamed.

I love Star Trek. I have watched every episode multiple times. I recently began to watch the series with my kids and they love it too. We rented episodes of the 2004 series on DVD. These were great–5 stars. The original episodes, in their original format, with the original songs, the original visuals of the ship, everything. Totally Awesome!

We were renting so much I decided to take the plunge and buy the series. The 2004 wasn’t available easily (you can find it on E-bay and used from Amazon), so I got the 2007 series. I figured “remastered” meant better picture. I could not be more disappointed. Where to start….

Let’s start with the simple–There are *NO* labels on the DVDs.

1. Each DVD has no label on it whatsoever (unless you count the illegible 2 point font ring around the center). Unlike the 2004 release (which had both the title of each episode and cool pictures on each DVD) these DVDs have nothing. So, you are confronted with the problem of what episode on which disk. Should I label them with a sharpie, etc… Better not because …

Season 1 has the defunct HD DVD on one side (the one that plays when the tiny font ring is facing up) and regular DVD on the other. The rest of the DVDs have the normal format on the side that plays when the font ring is facing up. Confused? Read on!

The DVD’s are packaged in a clear hinged case that is like a stack. You cannot tell which DVD is which, which episode is on which DVD. You cannot separate the individual cases from the stack. This is such exceedingly bad design (especially given that they did such a nice job in 2004) it is maddening.

There is no apparent way to label the DVDs either. There is a set of translucent plastic “playing cards” at the back of each of the three stacks corresponding to each season. These don’t fit in the DVD case and you have to pull them out each time to see what episode is on what DVD. Arg!!

Now for the Heresy–these episodes have all been ALTERED!

2. ***ALL*** scenes of the Enterprise (and other ships/stations and planets) have been removed and replaced with digitized versions of the ship, a la “Star Trek TNG”. (the sole exception is the 2 second clip of the ship that appears in the trailer of each episode). This is supposed to be a “feature,” and I suppose it is for folks who never actually saw the original series. I cannot emphasize this enough. They have removed every single shot of the ship and replaced it with digitized versions.

Gone are the cool hokey wobbly ship scenes from “The Galileo Seven,” and the paper mache cone from “The Doomsday Machine”. Replaced with digitized stuff.

It frankly beggars the imagination to understand folks who rejoice in this set! Really, the original show was great, no need to redo it. Even if one likes the new digitized ships, the poor packaging and lack of labels on the DVDs would limit this to at the most 3 stars.

Oh yes, the intro classic Star Trek theme has been redone. Suppose that is the coup de gras to all the mangling.

Finally, they seem to have removed the English subtitles in this version (a real pain for watching via a DVD player on the plane or when you need to keep the sound down). Yes, the 2004 version had very nice English subtitles. There is closed captioning in the 2007 release, but that feature doesn’t work on most DVD players, just TV sets.

My personal theory is that all the 5* reviews are execs or shills of CBS Video, its affiliates, or folks interested in pushing the release of the new JJ Abrams Star Trek movie. Otherwise, it is baffling.

Summary–go thou and find the 2004 release, it is really cool and your kids will appreciate you for it.

My Fake Fiance-Retail $14.98! Sale Only $12.99!

Samedi, juin 26th, 2010

My Fake Fiance

My Fake Fiance-Retail $14.98! Sale Only $12.99!

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My Fake Fiance Description:

Studio: Gaiam Americas Release Date: 04/20/2010

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #461 in DVD
  • Brand: GT Media Inc.
  • Released on: 2010-04-20
  • Rating: Unrated
  • Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
  • Original language: English
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Dimensions: .25 pounds
  • Running time: 95 minutes

Customer Reviews:

Gamefly

Rambo Blu-ray-Retail $19.99! Sale Only $13.49!

Mardi, juin 22nd, 2010

Rambo Blu-ray

Rambo Blu-ray-Retail $19.99! Sale Only $13.49!

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Rambo Blu-ray Description:

The next chapter finds Rambo recruited by missionaries to protect them during a humanitarian aid effort on behalf of the persecuted Karen people of Burma. After the missionaries are taken prisoner by Burmese soldiers Rambo gets a second impossible job: rescue the missionaries in the midst of a civil war.System Requirements:Running Time: 93 minutesFormat: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/HEROES Rating: R UPC: 031398232995 Manufacturer No: 23299

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #1194 in DVD
  • Brand: LION’S GATE ENTERTAINMENT
  • Released on: 2008-05-27
  • Rating: R (Restricted)
  • Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
  • Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Original language: English, French
  • Subtitled in: English, Spanish
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Dimensions: 1.20 pounds
  • Running time: 92 minutes

Features

  • ISBN13: 0031398232995
  • Condition: NEW
  • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews:

Was expecting funny and I was given philosophy5
I must admit, that as of recent I have enjoyed current mainstream movies regardless if they are released to the theater or directly to video so I can abase them. In other words, I truly find pleasure in ripping movies apart. It has been my perception, my perception, that about 70% of movies made in the past 5 to 6 years are horrid.

One might ask why I feel this way, well it is rather simple. Most movies are a plug in for a new phone, car or maybe to promote a soundtrack. These movies also rely more on special effects and visual stimulation, where acting, directing and story take the backseat. Therefore, movies (for the most part) in modern times are nothing more than a 90 to 100 minute commercial.

Then of course there are the movies that are so over the top they are just down right silly. This is the perception I had when I saw the trailer for “Rambo” (it was titled “John Rambo” when I first viewed it on the internet). I thought, “What the hell is Stallone thinking”? I didn’t see the most recent “Rocky”, but I heard it wasn’t any good. I didn’t really care too much about the quality of a new “Rocky” movie, but I felt like there was nothing else to do and all doors were closed when “Rocky 5″ was made. Why was Stallone going back to Rocky? Was there a point to it? Now he is going to make another Rambo movie, why? Both these characters whose names start with “R” make a return after not being seen for almost 20 years?

I digress to the trailer for Rambo I saw on the internet. I was laughing so hard I couldn’t take it. The way this movie was presented was comical. I had said to my brother and some friends, “I can’t wait to see this movie, I need a good laugh”. Then the day came, it was a work night (the same as a school night, but you go to work early the next day instead of school) and I went to a 9:40pm showing with my brother and two of our friends. I was so pumped and all four of us were ready to laugh very hard. As a side note, this is the first time I had been in a movie theater to watch a new release in a very long time.

We watched and we absorbed this movie and when the end credits rolled and the lights came back on in the theater we were speechless. I thought this was the first wonderful and moving film I had seen in a long time. (So did everyone else in my view party.) I couldn’t believe it. I have seen all the other Rambo films and yes they were entertaining, but I wouldn’t say they were deep or compelling pieces of cinema. This new Rambo movie had something to say.

It followed a different format, it seemed more dramatic and the violence (there was plenty of it) was brutal and candid. When I say candid, I mean that many of things that happened in this movie, happens in the real world.

The plot of this film is rather simple, Rambo now lives in Southeastern Asia near Burma and some American humanitarians need a guide and ride by boat to provide health care, food and education to the poor people in the area. They find John Rambo and after some persuasions from a female team member (Julie Benz) Rambo signs on.

Consequently, there is a large militant and fundamental group that has nothing better to do than torture and massacre the less fortunate people in their country. It doesn’t take a wizard to figure out what happens next, Rambo, guns, violence, death, and blah, blah, blah. However, the violence doesn’t seem to be moot or without justification if that makes sense. The best comparison I can make is to “Saving Private Ryan”, the violence in that film was graphic and at times over the top, but made a point to portray the reality that was World War 2. “Rambo” has the exact type of feel to it with respect to violence being graphic, over the top and making a point. Mind you I am not saying that “Rambo is a better film or as good as “Saving Private Ryan”, but it was used more as a frame of reference. Oddly enough, “Saving Private Ryan” came out in 1998 and “Rambo” came out ten years later (2008), perhaps in 2018 there will be another violent film with a message.

Stallone did a good job too in this film he gave a rather minimal performance, not much dialogue but did display a level of dichotomy towards his emotions to events in the plot. I felt the story was also simplistic, but it worked, the movie didn’t need a multi-leveled storyline. I also felt the direction of the film was very good too; by the way Sly wrote and directed this movie.

“Rambo” was a motion picture that stirred myriad thoughts in my head when it was over. It made me think how revolting and disgusting it is that there are still countries in the world that can’t get health care or are being “controlled” and/or restricted to certain living conditions by a dictatorship or totalitarian government that results to violence or casualties of human lives. It also made me think how insane it is that U.S. presidential candidates are able to raise thousands, if not millions, of dollars for their campaigns, but when they get into office, it then becomes difficult to “raise” money for the things they promised before they were the incumbent. Then I thought about how everyone wants to go “green” and save the environment, yet it costs more money and there is less tax breaks to “go green”. Not to mention Earth Day is only one day a year, rather than year long recognition. What about relying on fossil fuel when there are other forms of fuel for our cars/machines? Or that many people are more up to date with Reality Television than what is going on in the world.

In conclusion, I am not sure this was Sylvester Stallone’s intention to stir the pot of modern social sciences or in my case promote schizophrenia when making this movie. However, I felt this film didn’t pull any punches and says a lot about the world we live in, on many levels. I recommend this film to anyone who wants an eye opening experience. This is a lot coming from a person who thought this movie was going to be the number one unintentional comedy of 2008 and now believes it was one of the best movies made in a very long time.

Sly, I commend you.

Awesome5
Of all the Rambo movies this one is the best. The most violent, brutal stunning movie I have ever seen. Emotionally draining story of some do gooders that want to take medicine and help to a group of poor opressed people in Burma. They are under control of the brutal military that wants no one to hear this story let alone help these people. The do gooders talk Rambo into taking them up river to the settlement. He is reluctant to take them but the woman with the group talks him into taking them. Of course they are taken by the military and most everyone in the village is slaughtered. Someone from back home comes looking for them when they never return home. Rambo takes a band of merceneries to the settlement to bring them back. The do-gooders are held captive and tortured. It’s nonstop heartpounding action after Rambo gets there.
Iv’e never seen anything like the violence in this movie. It’s incredible.
It’s filmed in Burma and the cinemaphotography is outstanding. Beautiful scenery. Good use of light and dark and camera angles. Very well done.
Be prepared for the violence because it is extreme. What’s shown in this movie is going on there as I speak. We don’t hear the story in the media. Stallone made this movie with Burmese people as actors and they were all at risk making this movie. Stallone still has it at 61 years.
If you don’t like Rambo then don’t bother. Otherwise it’s highly entertaining!
Steve

One of the greatest action movies of all time5
Ignore the fact that this is a Rambo movie and some have the audacity to say that Stallone is past his prime. This Rambo movie is not only the best in the Rambo series, but it’s also one of the best action movies of all time.

Did you think that Commando had a lot of killing? BAH!
Did you think that Saving Private Ryan had the most gruesome injuries? Hardly.

This movie is saturated with arms being cut off, legs exploding into bloody stumps, heads popping like over-inflated balloons, and enough gun-play to satisfy even the most hardcore, extremist gun-enthusiast. If it isn’t an arrow evenly dividing a man’s skull, or someone’s intestines being spilled on the ground, then it’s an extreme amount of people being sawed in half by high calibre machine gun fire. There’s even a crazy-intense seen in which Rambo basically pulls off the throat removal move from Roadhouse, only with a little slower satisfaction to it. About the only thing lacking is a Colombian necktie.

The story itself plays second-fiddle to the incredible amount of action. A church-group from Colorado is doing peacework in Burma, bringing medicine and religion to people oppressed by a militaristic regime intent on genocide. To make their way into hostile territory, the church-goers ask for Rambo’s services as a river guide. At first he is hesitant, but the kind-hearted but deadly Rambo eventually consents.

Sure enough, after Rambo drops them off for their jungle-trek to the villagers, the church-group gets caught in the middle of chaos, as the evil military members are senselessly slaughtering every villager in sight. Once they are captured, it’s up to Rambo to save the day.

The rest of the movie is a whirlwind of action, as Rambo leads in a hardened group of mercenaries for an extraction mission. They plan on sneaking into the compound, killing anything and anyone that gets in their way, and saving the prisoners. What transpires is carnage the likes of which I have never seen before.

This version of Rambo is an incredible movie if you’re looking for pure action and entertainment from beginning to end. I haven’t been more entertained by a movie in a very long time.

Amazon.com
If you’ve been wondering what ever happened to ex–Green Beret superwarrior John Rambo since he singlehandedly shot up a Pacific Northwest town (First Blood, 1982), returned to the jungles of ‘Nam to free U.S. POWs held long after war’s end (Rambo: First Blood Part II, 1985), and interrupted the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan long enough to blow lots of stuff up and rescue his old commandant from the Reds (Rambo III, 1988), then Rambo (2008) is for you. Without so much as a IV to dilute the brand name, Rambo–which is what most of us called the second, most iconic film in the series–may aspire to open a new era for a pop legend. But it’s a thoroughly mechanical attempt to reanimate a franchise that, absent the anger, frustration, and self-loathing of the post-Vietnam years, has no meaning or purpose. For some time now Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) has been putt-putting along the Thai-Burmese border in a longboat, catching exotic snakes to sell. As for the 60-year civil war in Burma between the brutal government and the Karen independence movement, he ignores it. Enter a party of American missionaries whose dewy blond spokeswoman (Dexter’s Julie Benz) asks Rambo to haul them upriver so that they can bring medical aid to the insurgents. After the requisite number of monosyllabic refusals, he does. Soon afterward the do-gooders are in a world of hurt, and he’s summoned to lead a squad of mercenaries on a rescue mission.

As storytelling, the latest Rambo is the most bare-bones of the bunch. Rambo has little to say, so it’s especially galling that Stallone, as director and co-writer, obliges him to have essentially the same conversation at three different points (the final distillation: “Live for nothing or die for something”). The Burmese army goons seem in competition to commit the most hideous atrocity (e.g., child skull-crushing underfoot), the better to justify the eventual, lovingly protracted spectacle of them being eviscerated by high-powered weaponry. Although shot in Thailand, the movie has mostly been photographed in brown, reducing any particular sense of place but, perhaps, perversely increasing our gratitude for the splashes of purple whenever hot metal tatters flesh. –Richard T. Jameson

Beyond Rambo


Complete list of Rambo movies on DVD and Blu-ray

Soundtrack

Rambo: The Complete Collector’s Set

Stills from Rambo (click for larger image)

How To Raise Your Credit Score

The Lovely Bones Blu-ray Discount.

Dimanche, juin 20th, 2010

The Lovely Bones Blu-ray

The Lovely Bones Blu-ray Discount.

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List Price: $48.99

Amazon Price: $22.99

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The Lovely Bones Blu-ray Description:

From Academy Award winning director Peter Jackson comes the extraordinary story about one girl’s life, and everything that came after. When 14-year-old Susie Salmon was murdered, she left her unfinished life behind. But now from her place in a strange but beautiful in-between world, she must help her father catch her killer and protect her family before she can finally move on. Filled with thrilling suspense, hope and the redeeming power of love, it’s “One of the best films of the year. Incredibly powerful.” – Harry Knowles, Ain’t it Cool News

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #74 in DVD
  • Brand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
  • Released on: 2010-04-20
  • Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
  • Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
  • Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Original language: English
  • Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
  • Dubbed in: French, Spanish
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Running time: 136 minutes

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful movie!!4
This is such a wonderful movie that touched my heart while watching it. It was a skillful mixture of drama, suspense, love, and ghost story. It is a story of a trusting 14-year old girl, Suzie, who was murdered and knows her murderer. Her murderer dismembered her body parts and hid it in a safe, then later threw in a sinkhole. At some point the spirit of this murdered girl was trapped in some sort of “in between” worlds where other souls gather together in one world that seems perfect, and the human world where her family has been grieving for a long time and her parents are having difficulty in moving on. At first she did not know that she has been dead, eventually, she realized that she was now just a spirit wandering and desperate to communicate with her family regarding her murderer. Mark Wahlberg is a versatile actor who played the role of a father and whose immeasurable love was displayed through his true connection with his daughter. He tried his best to solve the murder of his child and ultimately succeeded with the help of his other daughter. Justice was served in a different manner. Rachel Weisz played just all right as the mother, however, I felt her emotions were not her best. Susan Sarandon is an alcoholic odd woman, yet funny who portrays the role of a grandma and who tried to pull things together when everyone was falling apart after her grand daughter’s death.
This movie has wonderful cinematography, colorful graphics and animations, and special effects. This is a movie for all ages, and even though the focus of this movie is not on life after death, or death and dying, some would really wonder what is life after death, and appreciates that there really is heaven. It is a great movie and I would recommend it to anyone who has a taste for new concepts and ideas.

Could have been great, but it does carry enough emotional weight4
I never read the novel, so that might be the reason I’m not as critical as most when it comes to The Lovely Bones. Peter Jackson as many critics have now said, may not have been the perfect fit for this movie. He is a wonderful visual director, but his vision of the in-between feels out oddly out of place. The CGI is well done and quite beautiful, but it did nothing more than distract me from the characters that I was beginning to care about. Thankfully these sequences were just short enough to not ruin the experience. The acting was pretty solid. Mark Wahlberg is often hit or miss, but he was suprisingly believable here. Susan Sarandon provided some offbeat humor and Rachel Weisz was decent, even though her role was thinly written. The two standouts were Saorise Ronan and Stanley Tucci. I see a big career in the future for this young actress. There is something about her that grabs and holds your attention. Stanley Tucci was creepy to the core, though I find it hard to believe that anyone would think he was normal. The way he looked and interacted with people should have sent up major red flags. There were two scenes of suspense involving his character that were well executed. The music hit the right emotional notes when needed and the story itself proved horrific enough to make a strong impact on me.

The Lovely Bones is getting bashed way too heavily by most critics. I know it has its share a flaws, but the fact that I was thinking about the film all the way home from the theater shows the true power it possesses if you go in with an open mind.

creative, intriguing but not quite great4
The Lovely Bones combines very good acting, suspense, drama and even thriller elements to make a good movie about a young girl who dies–and then has quite a few experiences–after she passes away! The animation was rather well done and the choreography works very well; the cinematography is particularly good as well. The script was also quite good; but I would say that the plot moves along a bit too slow; they could have edited this down by ten or fifteen minutes to make the plot tighter.

When the action starts, we quickly meet 14 year old Susie Salmon, (Saoirse Ronan), who lives with her parents Abigail and Jack (Rachel Weisz and Mark Wahlberg) and her siblings in a small Pennsylvania town in the early 70s. Susie is a happy child; and she has quite a crush on a young guy at her high school, Ray (Reece Ritchie).

However, things don’t go well for Susie and her family. Unbeknownst to them there’s a neighbor, George Harvey (brilliantly portrayed by Stanley Tucci) who is quite insane; he loves to lure both young girls and teenage girls into situations in which he can kill them and get away with the crime. Unfortunately, George concocts an elaborate plan to murder Susie and he succeeds.

Of course, we are left waiting to discover how–or even if–George will ever be discovered to be Susie’s killer and then brought to justice. Moreover, we see the devastating effects Susie’s murder has on the remaining members of her family. In addition, there’s an excellent fantasy theme running through the film; we see Susie existing in a beautiful world all her own which isn’t quite the real world anymore but not quite all the way into heaven, either. Susie wants desperately to use her mind to send signals to her dad and others to guide them to discover that George is guilty and that he must be brought to justice. However, this may or may nor happen.

In addition, there are other events that go on in this film that I won’t give away here. I don’t want to spoil it for you! I will say that you can look for an excellent performance by Susan Sarandon as “Grandma Lynn,” Abigail Salmon’s mother; and Nikki SooHoo was perfectly cast as Holly.

Hopefully when this comes out on DVD there will be a “making of” featurette and a commentary with director Peter Jackson.

The Lovely Bones may not have been the most thoughtful, intellectual movie of the year; but I found it to be genuinely entertaining and that’s very good. I recommend this film for anyone interested in crime drama as well as fantasy films; and fans of the actors in the film would do well to see this in theaters or add this to their collections when it comes out on DVD.

Amazon.com
Director Peter Jackson takes a personal, risky leap in his direction of the film version of Alice Sebold’s bestselling novel The Lovely Bones. Yet the leap pays off, in emotional depth and riveting visuals that transport the viewer to other worlds–even ones the viewer may not want to visit. The Lovely Bones is lofted by its star-making performance by the young Saoirse Ronan (Atonement), who plays Susie Salmon, the 14-year-old girl who is murdered early in the film, and who narrates the action from her “in-between place” after dying but before going to heaven. Ronan makes Susie as earthy and awkward as any young teen, yet her presence, and her gorgeous pale eyes, remind viewers that she’s otherworldly too. The Lovely Bones takes some big departures from the book, as many critics have pointed out, but it works well on its own merits. The drama involves how (even whether) Susie’s family will recover after her ghastly murder, and what happens to her killer and the futile-seeming search for justice and closure. The entire cast is stellar, including Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz as Susie’s nearly destroyed parents; the composed young New Zealand actress Rose McIver, who plays Susie’s younger sister, whom Susie watches grow up to be the young woman that Susie will never get to be; and Susan Sarandon, the boozy, wisecracking grandmother who may or may not be able to help keep the family from splintering into a million pieces. The other true standout is Stanley Tucci, almost unrecognizable as the quiet, creepy neighbor who kills Susie, obsessing over every detail and perhaps having left a whole trail of gruesome murders in his shambling wake. Jackson’s deft direction keeps the mourning humans moving along believably, numbly, and gives breathtaking life to the afterlife, in scenes of fantasy and dread that recall his Heavenly Creatures. The film is rated PG-13 but is not recommended for younger teenagers because of its intense subject matter, though handled delicately. –A.T. Hurley

Stills from The Lovely Bones (Click for larger image)

Electric Cigarette