MAKING SOMETHING UP

No one's fault but my own...
I forgot to check the distributor when I ordered this - and once again Vanguard lets out another complete dud made to look like a 1970s TV film. I gave it a fair shot though as I love watching San Francisco films. This disappointed in every way except for the City - but let's make this quick so you can move on.

The picture, sound and DVD quality are all very poor. The DVD menu had spelling errors, there were no special features and the overall look succeeded in appearing older as this was made almost 10 years ago. The acting was laughable, and there were several scenes (edited to look like they were days apart) that were obviously filmed at the same time, except the cast changed shirts (doubt the AMR ambulance rig would stay parked at exact same spot for a week on a busy SF street/park, numerous other background flubs, etc.).

A light evening rental for those that want to see some SF streetscapes from early 2000 time period and reminisce for that Barney...

Old-fashioned Romantic Comedy with Quirky Characters
A charming little award-winning indy film that harkens back to the days of interesting characters with an original plot that has funny and unexpected turns. A great sound track and family friendly, too! But, what do I know, I'm the producer's wife - just being honest.

noise
the music is freaking horrible, & the characters look like they're from the '70s. Could turn out to be good but after 2 aweful songs w/in 10 minutes I couldn't take anymore.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Sugar Creek Gang: Secret Hideout

GREAT FAMILY FILM
I had seen these movies around and decided I would finally watch one. After it was done I knew I had to watch the entire series. It was alot better than I thought it would be. Great entertainment with good moral teaching. It didn't come across as those "perfectly behaved christian children", but rather normal kids and their lives. I liked the way the movie got a message across without "preaching it to you". It wasn't like a "christian movie", rather a great movie that happen to have "christian values". My only regret is that I didn't watch them sooner, and that there isn't more of them other than the five!

Oldy
This series is a must have in book form. The DVD's are excellent as well.

moab lenn
a well made movie very interesting. high quality production and picture quality equal to blue ray because film was not used but digital cameras were used. would reccomend the as a family movie nothing that a child of any age could watch.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Pahappahooey Island: What About Me!?

A great gift for young children
Joyce Meyer is the voice of Ruby the Lioness in Pahappahooey Island: What About Me!?, a DVD presenting two complete episodes of the wonderful, award-winning new children's series Pahappahooey Island, filled with songs and playful furry creatures. In "What About Me!?", four friends set out on an exciting treasure hunt, but the nefarious Ichabone Slink nudges them to think only of themselves. It's up to Ruby to teach the friends about the importance of working together and respecting one another. In "Hide It In Your Heart", important things suddenly start to disappear - where is a safe place to keep one's possessions, and indeed, what is the nature of the most truly precious possessions of all? An inexpensive, family-friendly DVD with an invaluable message, Pahappahooey Island: What About Me!? is a great gift for young children. 67 minutes, closed captioned.

Lessons
This was a good film. Reminds me of even adults who need a headsup in social circles. The kids will adore the characters. Resembles friends they hang with. Very mind tickling.

Awesome!
Shipping was fast! Product was everythign that it was described as! Kids loved it at my church! Funny and clean! something you can walk out of room while the kids watch it and not have to worry :)

Click to Editorial Reviews

Field Trips With Recess Monkey (Episodes #1-4: Music Videos, Hand Puppets, Field Trips, Dance Party, Fun!)

Another great Recess Monkey product
We have several Recess Monkey cd's. This is our first DVD from them. Highly entertaining for the five year old and his parents. Great group to see live if you have the opportunity. I appreciate just how clever the lyrics and DVD are.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Hannah Montana: The Movie (Two-Disc Edition + Digital Copy)

Blu-ray: For Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Fans, this Blu-ray comes with three discs, a lot of features and awesome picture quality
Since 2006, "Hannah Montana" has not only been a popular television series for the Disney Channel but a series that has definitely made Miley Cyrus, daughter of country music star Billy Ray Cyrus, a bonafide star.

It was one thing to watch this young teenager who was 13-years old at the time, grow up and become a popular television star and music talent that would sell out many concert venues, has had her music on top of the Billboard charts and now has two Disney films under her belt.

The first film from Disney focused on a 3D version of her concert and television show personality but this time around, "Hannah Montana: The Movie" takes to the big screen and takes a more serious look at Miley Cyrus's character as her pop star identity has now affected her family and he friendship and has come to the point that the lifestyle of a popstar has gotten to her head.

The film is directed by Peter Chelsom ("Shall We Dance", "Serendipity" and "Town & Country"),...

MY 600TH REVIEW!!!!!!
On April 25th, I treated myself to a double feature at my theater. I saw this and Crank: High Voltage. I'm really glad I saw this movie. I'm a 19 year old guy, and I enjoyed it! I love when she sings Let's Get Crazy and the Hoedown Throwdown. After upsetting Lilly at her 16th Birthday party, Robby takes Miley back to Tennessee to find her true self. She meets a childhood friend from 1st grade, Travis who still has a crush on her. After having fun in Tennessee with her friends and family, Miley thinks of letting her alter ego, Hannah Montana go for good. I loved when Miley had to be two places at once. What will she choose? I highly recommend that you get crazy, get up and dance, and see HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE!!!

p.s. It's been awesome writing 600 reviews, and can't wait for 600 more!

Hannah Montana The Movie
Good movie for the grand-daughter. I did not particularly care for it as the other Miley Cyrus movies. Not a good role model for young girls.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Suite Life on Deck: Anchors Away!

For fans of the Zack & Cody series will enjoy the latest incarnation "The Suite Life on Deck"
"The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" has been a popular show on the Disney Channel for four years (2005-2008) and the series would be the show starring Cole and Dylan Sprouse as Zack and Cody, the two rambunctious children of single mother Carey (Kim Rhodes) who performed at the nightclub of the Tipton Hotel. The Tipton Hotel is managed by Mr. Moseby (Phil Lewis) and the show would focus on two storylines. One that dealt with Zack and Cody and the other that would deal with heiress London Tipton (Brenda Song) and candy counter girl Maddie (Ashley Tisdale).

After four years, it was time to give the series a reboot and thus the series "The Suite Life on Deck: Anchors Away!" began on Sept. 2008 and this time bringing the show to a luxury cruise ship. With hotel heiress London Tipton constantly trying to escape from her education, her father has decided to have London study on their luxury cruise ship. And to watch her once again is Mr. Moseby.

As Mr. Moseby has...

who is cole and dylan sprouse
Those two guys came along way playing Adam Sandler's pretend foster kid Julian in Big Daddy and Ross Gellar's son Ben Gellar on Friends and started their own show The Suite Life. Cole came along way being a nerdy kid and blossomed into a teen hearthrob, I can definetly relate to Cody, not being smart but being an outsider and a slacker. I always like the suite life on deck than the suite life on the show. Debby Ryan who plays Bailey kind of reminds me of Emily Osment on the show, she's like Lily Truscott on suite life. That's who she kind of reminds of. Brenda Song who plays London Tipton, a version of Paris Hilton on the show and also an airhead bimbo. In real life, Brenda is a nice girl and smart and in the show, she plays an airhead bimbo whose a total snob. I also like the new guys on the show Woody and Marcus, those are my guys I like to hang out with on the show.

The Suite Life on Deck Anchors Away!
I saw the Sprouse brothers interviewed a couple times on TV but since I don't have access to the Disney channel I never saw any of their programs or acting so I ordered Suite Life on Deck Anchors Away! to see why they are so popular especially with teens and pre-teens. I really enjoyed the dvd. I think it is good appropriate entertainment for kids. Dylan and Cole are really funny and great actors. The rest of the cast also does a great job.

Click to Editorial Reviews

West of Brooklyn

Satisfying for fine pizza and Brooklyn characters
This is the kind of independent movie that doesn't get much attention, but is a gem for those who search for it in the far corners of video rental shops.

It follows a lovable Brooklyn Italian-American family with a tasty pizza shop out to California for a new start, and maybe some day an upscale restaurant.

To tell the truth, the pizza place drew me in with friendly staff and what must be very tasty slices of pizza. My wife Chris and I were almost tempted to stop the DVD and run out for some pizza, but somehow we stuck with the story.

The focal character, a young poet-pizza chef Sebi struggles with his secret goal of being a famous poet and his love and loyalty to the family. Also in California, making himself presentable to a very beautiful Matty and her wealthy but inconsiderate father.

There are many bumps in the road for the family in California and one especially difficult, but you will want to stay with them through it all and hope for...

Touching heartwarming movie
I saw this film last year at it's premiere in Los Angeles and it's just wonderful, heartwarming, funny, and sad all at once. It's one of those small independent films I really hope fans gravitate to. It's a wonderful story, great performances, and great talent. I loved the story. I felt like I knew the cast for years. I can't say enough about this movie. I've been following Ronnie Marmo for many years, and I think this is his BEST work yet. There are a couple of things I can say about it. You will cry, laugh, get angry and feel as if these people are your family. It is as intense as it is funny. Joe Mantegna a pleasent surprise in this film, newcomer Natalia Livingston was sweet and gorgeous, and of course Balthazar Getty from Brothers and Sisters in a small role. Great movie and performances all around.

Flick Pic
Long lost relative; actually was looking for family members and the producer and actor is my cousin whom I have not seen since 6 years old. So, of course it is a good movie to me because family is in it.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Eli Stone: The Complete Second Season

Eli Stone takes a new direction - again.
Eli Stone has touched the hearts of many fans worldwide, especially here in Australia. Season 1 had revolved around a range of George Michael songs and some very deep soul-searching for Eli. And Season 2 continued just that, without the George Michael but with more twists and visions that hit Eli very close to home.

The excellent acting by Jonny Lee Miller and the whole cast makes the show feel that much more unique, especially with the sometimes hilarious quotes by Loretta Devine, the wise and very talented Victor Garber, the cheeky character of Sam Jaeger and the beautiful women Natasha Henstridge and Julie Gonzalo, and also not forgetting James Saito as the sort-of Chinese acupuncturist.

Season 2 is the final outing of Eli Stone, and many viewers will have many questions unanswered. However, we do know that Elis visions in Season 1 answer some of those questions [check through them and you'll see what I mean!]. It is a pity that ABC couldn't punt one more...

A Show Ahead Of Its Time, For Our Time
A very wise fictional little girl named Lisa Simpson once said "You will never go broke appealing to the lowest common denominator." The short life of ELI STONE is living proof of this, with ABC filling its network with WIPEOUT and the like. I don't think many people knew how to take ELI STONE. Was it a law drama? Was it comedy? Was it philosophy? Was it a musical? The answer is all of the above and more. ELI is ahead of it time, and in a genre by itself. It was well written, well produced, well acted and intelligent. It was a perfect show for the new millennium, with selfishness and perceived goodness rampant in our society, watching Eli realize there is something greater out there, and his, and the people around him transform and grow was truly moving. Congrads to the ELI STONE cast, writers, and crew for amazing work. I'll miss ELI, and I would have loved to see where the story would have gone if it continued. I'm glad ABC released the last partial season to DVD, as I hope...

I am so annoyed with ABC.
Okay, we have wonderful actors that not only can act but sing...A story line that keeps you guessing, and action and charitors that keep you intrested...And what does ABC do with this show? Does it give it a chance? Nope, Eli Stone went with the way of Pushing Daisies and Life on Mars. At least now I have this wonderful show on DVD and will now ignore anything else ABC puts out; like "Help I'm a Celeberity get me Out of Here"...Good God.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Paris 36

Paris 36 -- Oolala!!!
NOTE: This is a niche movie that will appeal mostly to those who enjoy an ensemble cast of lesser known actors & actresses, as well as those who are fans of vaudeville shows (popular mostly in the early part of the 20th century). It's a musical drama with more pathos than comedy, but it has its humorous moments & a romantic subplot to lighten the more serious plot elements.

What I liked the most about it is the human drama of a separated father and young son, played by Gerard Jugnot & Maxence Perrin, respectively. It is the main dramatic subplot that gives additional emotional depth to the main plot -- the life, death, & "resurrection" of the local music hall, known as CHANSONIA, located in the Faubourg suburb of Paris.

Incidentally Jugnot & Perrin appeared together in LES CHORISTES (also directed by Christophe Barratier), with Jugnot in the role of the music teacher & Perrin one of his young music students. Kad Merad, who plays the role of Jacky the aspiring...

Parisian Pastiche!
PARIS 36 is a deliciously entertaining blend of history (WW II and the French reaction to the Nazis), of cabarets, French vaudeville, and the fracturing of families that occurred during times of stress - all costumed in a period piece that revives the year 1936 in Paris with gentle humor and sensitivity. It is as refreshing as anything to come on the screen in a long time. Writer/director Christophe Barratier (with Pierre Philippe adding the dialogue) serve up this confection with underscored aplomb and the result is delectable!

1936, and the streets of Paris are being decimated by the recession/depression of the times: workers are revolting (lead by the handsome young Milou - Clovis Cornillac), the small time theaters such as the Chansonia under the loving direction of Pigoil (Gérard Jugnot) are on hard times, and the 'big bosses' of the times are finding ways to take over small businesses. To make things worse, Pigoil's wife runs off with an entertainer, leaving...

Delightful surprise
I saw this movie at a preview just a few days after the death of a close family member. When I saw the clip, I knew I had to go. What a delight! Obviously, Christophe had a clear vision, one of joy and pathos, and quite unique. His production of old Paris drew me into its world immediately. To add to the delight, the director and his leading lady were present at the preview, and were an equal pleasure. In these difficult days, it was wonderful to see a movie of real spirit with its own quirky reality. No Hollywood formula or pandering here. See it and be charmed.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Tiger's Tail

Ragged Tale
Overall, this is not what I'd call a total failure but I was expecting more from John Boorman, the director who gave us the likes of Deliverance, Zardoz, Excalibur, The Emerald Forest and, one of my all-time favorites, Hope and Glory. In this uneven mix of comedy and drama, a successful Irish real estate tycoon tries to fend off an aggressive doppleganger who might be the product of his imagination or it could be his actual twin. The plot held a lot of potential and could have been an entertaining affair but it's spoiled by characters who don't ring true--the most glaring example is the main character's Marxist-spouting son. Ultimately, the tone of the film is so off-base that director Boorman could have changed the entire film into a farce by simply replacing the dramatic music score with lighter comedic cues.

Great movie!!
I love movies made in Ireland or the U.K. and this one does not disappoint. Great story, great actors. If you're into a good storyline without anyone getting blown up, decapitated, terrorized, etc., then you'll really enjoy this film.

The Tiger's Tail
Goood movie, very interesting story line, well acted. Wish Ciaran Hinds had a bigger part. Again a very good Irish movie.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Cambio de Suerte / Lucky Bastards

Pretty funny
Very hilarious movie to watch haha. Explains the ghetto side of Mexico and how sometimes your luck can go from good to bad in one night. Haha never trust some prostitutes in Mexico City haha. you never what you may find haha. thats my only criticism of the movie but they make a good point putting the transsexual there. Movie isn't for kids and just for adults. 18 and older..

A brilliant, overlooked film
Of all the many films I have seen that were influenced by Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," this is the best. Other movies that the film-makers might have seen and profited by are Goran Paskaljevic's "Cabaret Balkan" and Mike Figgis's "Timecode." In any case, I mainly list the comparisons in order to give potential viewers a sense of where the film is cinematically situated. This is a brilliant piece of work in its own right.

"Cambio de suerte" follows the intersecting adventures of about a dozen lowlife characters in the streets of a Mexico City neighborhood in one evening. If you are easily put off by nasty characters, don't watch this! - I had to remind myself that I was safe, that the scuzziness I was seeing couldn't leak through to my side of the screen.

We return to many events from different points of view that reveal unexpected dimensions to what we thought we had already digested - particularly in the case of an episode of sexual violence that bookends the...



Click to Editorial Reviews

Olivia: Olivia

We love Olivia
My toddler and I actually saw this TV show on Nickelodeon before we even knew about the books. We fell in love with the show, so I bought the book and it is my daughter's absolute FAVORITE. One of her first words is actually "Olivia". So of course, we give this DVD 5 stars. I've been hoping and waiting for months for them to release a DVD of it and I was so excited when they did! I just wish it had a few more episodes, of course ;) but it is a nice length for the price.

Here are the episodes included:
Olivia Acts Out
Olivia and Grandma's Visit

Olivia Plays Piano
Olivia Trains Her Cat

Olivia and The Crystal Ball
Olivia Plays Soccer

Olivia Packs Up
Olivia Is Invited To Dinner

Hopefully they will release more episodes on DVD soon! We can't get enough of Olivia :)

Olivia on screen!
This series is so cute! The whole neighborhood came over (practically) when word got out that I got the DVD for my sons. We love Olivia's expressions and ear movements, and she's a great cartoon role model. This is a very clever, funny selection of episodes, highly recommend.

My Daughter LOVES it, and you can skip the commercials
My 2 and a half year old loves this DVD. She has had the original Olivia book, and we've read it to her since she was very young, so perhaps that's part of the reason she's so into this movie. If she has a choice, this is the DVD she picks to watch.

There are "commercials" for other Nick shows at the beginning of the DVD. You can't go straight to the menu; however, if you press the Next Chapter button 5 or 6 times, it will very quickly skip right through all of them.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Gooby

Best movie I've seen in a long time
I've watched numerous children and family movies throughout my life, and 'Gooby' is one that sticks out the most. It's not because of the monster named Gooby's loveable smile, heartwarming jokes, or example-setting morals; instead it is the heartwarming moments Gooby spends with our protagonist, Willy, a troubled young man who is suffering from a mild form of schizophrenia. As we learn right away in 'Gooby', Willy has more problems than just his mental disorder. Willy's father no longer takes any interest in or spends time with him.

With an all-star cast consisting of David James Elliott (JAG), Eugene Levy (American Pie), Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter) and up-and-coming young star Matthew Knight (My Babysitter's a Vampire) this movie is as can't-miss as it gets these days.

The kids will watch 'Gooby' over and over again, laughing at all the silly antics Gooby and Willy get themselves into, and the parents will laugh right along with them, soaking in all the...

Very highly recommended as an enduringly popular addition to community library DVD collections
When Willie and his parents move into a new house the youngster is convinced that the place fairly lurks with evil aliens from outer space who are going to do him harm. Willie wants desperately for someone to save him. That's when Gooby shows up. A big, loveable, scruffy creature (who may just be as frightened of the world as Willie is of space aliens) to provide comfort and companionship to a beleaguered young boy. "Gooby" is a fully featured theatrical production starring Matthew Knight as Willie and Robbie Coltrane as the voice of Gooby. This flawless DVD edition of a thoroughly entertaining family movie has a total running time of 99 minutes and is very highly recommended as an enduringly popular addition to community library DVD collections.

like it
on time when said it would be. the price was good and disk worked like it said. everything was as said

Click to Editorial Reviews

I Love You, Man

DVD Loaded with Fun Extras
There is an audio commentary by director John Hamburg and actors Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. The three guys joke and banter with each other like old friends while heaping a lot of praise on their cast-mates as this track veers into a shameless love fest at times. They also point out acquaintances and crew members who have small roles in the film. They do tell some amusing filming anecdotes which somewhat salvages this commentary.

"The Making of I Love You, Man" is pretty standard press kit material as key cast and crew members talk about the characters and the film's plot. There are plenty of clips from the film along with behind-the-scenes footage.

"Extras" features 22 minutes of outtakes as we see the actors improvise various takes for a given scene that is pretty funny, especially whenever Paul Rudd is involved as he comes up with some amusing variations on dialogue.

Also included are six extended scenes that feature the cast riffing beyond what we...

Light-Hearted Laughs
I hadn't heard anything about this movie before my husband dropped it into my lap today and said, "watch this. It's funny." He was entirely correct. I laughed out loud so many times that watching it was totally entertaining. The silly plot didn't even matter. This was more about the performances of some talented comedic actors than it was about the contrived tale of a young groom looking for guy friends to fill out his wedding party. What I especially appreciated was that it wasn't just base-level male humor, there was some base-level female humor in there too.

Fun to watch for couples who aren't easily embarrassed in front of one another. And BTW: How fun was it to see original Not Ready For Prime Time Player, Jane Curtin??? Great ensemble cast.

Very Funny
This is a very funny movie, yeah its a bit of a guy movie, well maybe a lot guy movie, some of the humor is very crude. The good news, its not mean funny, the laughs are good natured. Jason Segel, seems to be getting better and better in films.

Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd, The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Unrated Widescreen Edition), Knocked Up (Unrated Widescreen Edition), The OH in Ohio, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Unrated Widescreen Edition)), is engaged to Zoe (Rashida Jones, The Office Television series). Zoe has a bunch of girl friends, Peter has no male friends. In fact, Peter is very creepy around guys; and is pretty darn clingy with Zoe (she really should have run and hidden when he served...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Veritas-Prince of Truth

Unbelievably bad. Spare yourself!
This movie has really quite pathetic. I rarely write reviews but had to on this movie-it is very very bad. It may have passed for a made for TV movie in the 80's. The poor acting is ridiculous. Meaning no disrespect, Veritas' character acts very low functioning (IQ about 70 or so) or someone who had a brain injury . He goes around doing things like screaming out at the airport "I fly, I fly. Veritas flies. Just not in a plane." In rainman tone. His "wings" look like they attacked a group of maids at a convention then glued their dusters together, horrid. Poor quality animation (you could make the argument they were trying to go for the "comic book" type of animation but it is horrid. ALL the action scenes take place in an animation realm. It is a simple and really ridiculous story (they save the world by drawing the comic book a certain way and then this awkward kid defeats the bad creature on his skateboard when the all powerful hero can not do it. The guy never flies...

Wonderful adventure trip with nostalgia feeling
First of all, where does all the hate and negative one-star reviews come from? This is a little gem of a movie, I caught it on one of the movie cable channels here in Europe. My 8 year old daughter loved every minute of this adventure comic book movie, as did I. Far too many contemporary adventure type movies rely too heavily on half baked CGI which can ruin any movie. Veritas on the other hand, tells a solid story with excellent CGI and sfx interspersed to drive the story forward. What is shown for example from the comic book world which is the home of the main protagonist in this film, consists of top notch animation. The director seems to have gone for quality over quantity. Also, the young cast is excellent which helps you get sucked into the storyline. All in all an excellent comic book adventure type film which comes highly recommended!

Unsophisticated and pandering
This movie is only for those under the age of 11. I collect all things super hero and this movie is not allowed in my collection. Couldn't even watch it. Horrible low budget waste of time. FOR CHILDREN ONLY>

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Swan Princess and the Secret of the Castle

Swan Princess: Secret of the Castle
For anyone who has watched the the swan princess movies and knows there is three movies total the way this movie is describede you may be mislead to believe it is a new movie, but the truth is that Swan Princess: Secret of the Castle is a dvd version of The Swan Princess II - Escape From Castle Mountain the sequal to the first movie which came out straight to vhs in 1997. The have simplely changed the name and the description a little bit. The new title fits the movie better then the old one. The movie is a good one and has some good music in it. As far as sequals go it is a good one.

The Beautiful Swan returns
In the second of the three part series of "THE SWAN PRINCESS" "THE ESCAPE OF CASTLE MOUNTAIN" is a good movie, (in my opinion). Most sequals are a disapointment, but not this one, (and they keep the main cast from the 1st movie--which is a BIG PLUS). The singing is great and so are the songs, and the plot and acting is good as well. I think Queen Uberta is funny, (Do not mess with the Queen). Well, if you never seen this movie, I think you should, you will not be disapointed.

Great Movie!
I loved this movie! I haven't seen the prequel, but this was a very interesting movie and it kept me watching. The prince's mother is funny and it's a neat movie.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Steppin

Steppin
A college campus springs to life when the local radio station announces the official opening of the step competition season. At UTS, the Greeks rule the campus but the Steppers are the kings of the hill. Step season is underway, and with a big money prize up for grabs the heat is on. As the fraternities and sororities work to recruit the best talent around, dance fever sweeps the campus. The plot of this movie was not that bad but it was very low budget. It does have it's funny moments with guest appearances from Anthony Anderson, Faizon Love, Monique and many others that you may have seen from previous movies. But the movie did leave you wondering at the end. There were some things left out and the timeline was a little off. The quality of the picture was definetly the worst part. Not even worth the rental.

keep on steppin
I like the movie and The dvd was in excellent shape and it was on time you're number 1

A Good Movie
This movie had a little of everything in it. From drama, action and comedy. I thought it was a good laid back Saturday movies.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Mari Winsor Pilates for Pink Core Challenge

Pilates DVD
I love the 10 minute segments because some days that's all the time I want to spare. If I have more time, I have the advantage of doing additional segments. The ONLY thing I did not like about the DVD is that quite a few of the steps were already introduced in another DVD of Mari Winsor's that I have so it was repetetive and in some ways paying twice for it. If she's going to create another DVD it shouldn't repeat what she's already taped for another/previous product.

Great workout and money dontated to the Breast Cancer Reserch Foundation
I've never done an exercise video with Mari Winsor, so wasn't sure what to expect, but I love Pilates. In the past I have worked out to all the 10 minute solution and Element Pilates DVDs. My grandfather died of throat cancer and my aunt is a recovering breast cancer survivor. Some proceeds from this video are donated to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, so I thought I would give this DVD a try. I really enjoyed the Pilates for Pink DVD. I particularly like how you use opposing muscles from one set of moves to the other, so you are constantly switching between stretching and contracting different muscles groups. The only thing that was different for me is that Mari Winsor doesn't do the workout with you. Part of the time is spent with her talking about Pilates and/or pointing out or correcting the form of the other people in the DVD. So occasionally there is some down time between moves. That is the only thing I don't like about this DVD. There are beginner modifications for...

Great exercise
The DVD is a great way to work on perfecting your pilates technique! It is pretty intense, but very easy to follow.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Kids' Holiday Collection

A Carol Christmas with Tori Spelling
I have been looking for a copy of A Carol Christmas for a long time. I love Tori Spelling and more than that, I love all adaptions of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Thanks so much for offering this choice.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Along for the Ride

AKA: "Forever Lulu"....Great Cast....Emotional Ride
This review refers to the DVD edition of "Along For The Ride"...

You may have already seen this film and not even realize it. When I first viewed it on cable TV it was titled "Forever Lulu". I came across "Along For The Ride" at my local video store and soon discovered it was the same film.

The story is multifaceted. It is dramatic and sad, funny and poignant. The characters are very human, and you can't help getting invovled with their intense and emotional relationships.

There was a time, many years ago when Ben and Lulu(Patrick Swayze/Melanie Griffith) were deeply in love. Their relationship ended though, as Lulu's state of mind became very fragile and a young Ben could not cope. Years later, Lulu, still not entirely well, calls a now married Ben with some shocking news. They have a son, now a teenager, and they must go to him. Ben out of a sense of responsiblity, and guilt at leaving her years before, embarks on a wild ride across country with...

Along for a wonderful experience
This DVD of the cable film from STARZ, Forever Lulu, received terrible reviews but I think it is an extraordinary story of two people, Lulu (Melanie Griffith) and Ben (Patrick Swayze) who shared a summer romance and tragically experience the descent of Lulu (Melanie Griffith) into mental illness. Sixteen years later, escaping from a halfway mental health home, Lulu sneaks away to see Ben and to his surprise tells him about a son he does not know he has. They drive to Wisconsin to see the boy while Ben's wife, Helen (Penelope Ann Miller), threatened by this intrusion into their marriage and unresolved feelings over the death of their young son, follows them to Wisconsin and after an emotional meeting of the three, each struggles to resolve their conflicting feelings and unsettling switches of roles. The three all travel to see the son who initially rejects his new found parents but comes to understand why their relationship happened and why they could not be a family. Finally, Ben...

"Say Goodbye"
Hello everyone... my name is Lauren Kinkade, and I was the singer you heard on the end credit song "Say Goodbye". Thank you all for your kind words!! "Say Goodbye" is a great song, and hopefully someday, it will be released. But as of right now, the only place you will find it is on the DVD or VHS.

Thanks again everyone!

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Sugar Creek Gang: Race Against Nightfall!

Careful when buying
This appears to be a new movie bases on the previously released series of movies. However it is not. It is simply a retitled version of series #3 "REVIVAL VILLIANS." A new name and new DVD cover but the same movie. So if you already own #3 no need to purchase this one.

Sugar Creek Gang : Race Against Nightfall
Sugar Creek Gang Race Against Nighfall was originaly called Revival Villains and I now have two copies of the same movie. I'm not sure why you changed the cover and the title for this episode?



Click to Editorial Reviews

My Sweet Killer

I was surprised by this film
Recently rented this film on a night I just wanted to see something different. Box looked ok, had a some good reviews. Truthfully I didn't expect much. Started off a bit slow, however the journey the lead character goes through soon compelled me to keep watching. It is a film that literally is about a guy self destructing, trying valiantly not too, but still destruction is coming and the only thing that is in question is how messy it will be, ie mass murder. The lead actor was simply amazing. Some of the others actors not so good. Photography was generally decent. This has to be the first character study drama that in truth is a horrifying thriller in its own right.

Low budget....high performances, creativity and originality
Forget everything but the killer and his mind, because this is the center of the whole movie. Made in a, could I say, theater style, this movie shows the motivations, desires and secrets from one young man living alone surrounded by a (true) ambience, the one perfect for his creative mind work. This movie hides many secrets, could I say, messages, and repeated views would help to understand it. I could tell you more about the drugs, sex and violence this movie portraits, but I will leave it all for you to make your own conclusions.

Not what I was expecting
I found this movie for $2.00 at a place that was going out of business so I bought it because the cover looked good and it had a lot of good comments on the case. First off let me say if you picked this movie up expecting to see a good Thriller/Scary movie you will be disappointed because it is not the least bit scary. But I don't think it was intended to be scary, it focuses more on the mind of the lead character, and what he struggles with.

Summary:
The story is about a guy named Charlie Cavenaugh who is an ex-mental patient with a dark violent past. Throughout the film, Charlie tries desperately to pull his life back together after the murder of his family which was committed by his own father. Charlie lives by himself in a small apartment in Southern California. He works and tries to fight his violent "urges" everyday to avoid being sent back to a mental hospital. As the story progresses Charlie begins dreaming about the spirit of a woman who killed herself in his...

Click to Editorial Reviews

T.V. Sets: Beyond the Ordinary

Four sci-fi/fantasy debut TV episodes
PARAMOUNT's TV SETS: BEYOND THE ORDINARY is a dual-layer disc that draws upon their own and the CBS-TV archives to present debut episodes of four series.

STAR TREK (1966): "The Man Trap" - The Enterprise visits planet M-113 on a resupply mission to Dr. Crater (Alfred Ryder) and his wife Nancy (Jeanne Bal), an old flame of Bones McCoy (DeForest Kelley). Soon after their arrival, crew members start dying, drained of all bodily salt. (Cast: Bill Shatner, Leonard McCoy, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Grace Lee Whitney, James Doohan.)

MEDIUM (2005): Pilot - From the creator of "Moonlighting." Patricia Arquette is a communicator with the beyond who works with law enorcement to solve crimes. Also stars Miguel Sandoval and Arliss Howard.

THE 4400 (2004): Pilot - One mysterious night, a strange glow appears over Mt. Ranier. When it dissipates, 4400 previously missing people suddenly materialize, some who've been gone for 60 years! Homeland Security agents keep...

Three sci-fi series episodes
The three TV series should be in the DVD title, and Leonard Nemoy should not be mentioned. X x x.



Click to Editorial Reviews

The Zula Patrol: Moons Mayhem

Moon mania is right!
My daughter (5) loves Zula Patrol! Every single episode on this disc is about moons. I get a little tired of the theme, but my kids don't. Here is a list of the episodes on the disk:

1. Moon Struck --- The planet Venus is feeling left out because she doesn't have a moon. The Zula patrol learns about how planets got their moons.

2. Me, Myself, and Io --- All about one of Jupiter's moons, Io. Volcanic eruptions, colors, and orbit.

3. Blue Moon --- Learning about the attributes of Earth's Moon. (Not made of cheese, no man in the moon)

4. Going through a phase --- Bula gets dusted by the zulabane plant and becomes zulan were-mouse! He becomes more mouse like as the phases of the moon get closer to the full moon. All about moon pahses.

5. Moons Mayhem --- Dark Truder hatches a scheme to steal all the moons in the solar system. Definition of a moon.

6. Three Ring Gorga --- The Story of how Bula met Gorga and saved...

Zula Patrol!
Zula Patrol is a great show for any child or adult. Every episode teaches about science in one way or another. Very educational!



Click to Editorial Reviews

The Silence

Unusual. More than a mystery.
This Australian movie starts off as a crime story, but halfway through turns into quite a different film.
Highly enjoyable with strong performances from all the cast. The ending is about as moving as it gets.
Probably would not get made it Hollywood. Definitely, something different. Full of refreshing surprises.

Well.......
Not at all what I expected. Richard Roxburgh played his part as well as always but was let down by the rest of the cast and the story. Disappointing.

Good Premise Offset w/Slow Pacing
NO SPOILERS:

First and foremost, I am a fan of Roxburgh (East of Everything et al). Combined with the 1-very positive review and the less than $4 price on Amazon, I took a chance. .

Because there is an insufficient synopsis:

Roxburgh is a Detective Sergeant in Homicide who is on administrative duties pending a psyche evaluation due to an "incident" from a recent case. He is assigned as a curator of sorts in the Police Museum, charged with pulling together old crime scene photos for an upcoming exhibition.
He is cohabitating with another Homicide Detective (female), likes to on occasion "burn one up" and finds himself attracted to his new "high strung" Irish Police Therapist.
He finds himself intrigued by a female in one of the photographs and pulls the "cold case" file, which sets off a chain of events.

As referenced in my title, the premise was good. Unfortunately, I found the pacing to be un-agonizingly slow and the action to...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Blue Earth

Older footage
I picked this up on Black Friday morning for my husband, as we love these documentary films. What you need to realize is that most of the footage is 20-30 years old. It's always interesting, but I expected something closer to Planet Earth, which we also have and love.

If you're looking for modern-day footage AND information, spend the extra money and get Planet Earth.

Blue Earth
Beautiful DVD set, arrived quickly in excellent condition. Recommend highly to everyone!! Photography is totally awesome, completely fascinating videos, simply wow.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Mr. Alwaysright

A joyful and mildly educational program, enthusiastically recommended as a gift for families with young children
Arthur Season 11 collects the latest season of the Parents' Choice award-winning public television series based on the popular children's books by Marc Brown. Following the animated adventures of eight-year-old aardvark Arthur Read, Arthur Season 11 includes episodes such as "Mind Your Manners", "Germophobia", "Baby Kate and the Imaginary Mystery", "The Making of Arthur" (with Matt Damon) and much more. Extra features include downloadable materials for parents and teachers, and the DVDs are enhanced with closed captions and described video for the visually impaired. A joyful and mildly educational program, enthusiastically recommended as a gift for families with young children, as well as public library children's DVD collections. 4.5 hours, color.

arthur season 11
Ilove watching arthur season11 andall the arthur series its family oriented and kid friendly. it deals with everyday issues and woes of everyday children. it has a moral but not over preachy. it deals with everyday stuff children deal with and teaches them lessons

One of the Best Seasons
I have to admit, this is one of my favorite Arthur seasons. There are some really great shows here.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Severed: Forest of the Dead

The hunt is on and you are the lunch
Forests remind me of oceans for they cover such a vast part of our planet yet we know so little about everything that goes on in them. Hidden species lurk in deep trees and slither at night as scientists only scratch the surface of the life on this planet, a life as we know of today, being a blink of an eye in the total life span of planet Earth, filed with wonders and apparently even zombies!

Severed is a very interesting movie, one I have never heard of before but as it caught my curiosity and I was in the mood for some ooey gooey horror I decided to give it a go. I have always loved forests and growing up in Europe as a kid I enjoyed many sun filled days and some nice camping, but a few more movies such as this one and I don't know if I will ever see them the same way again. Zombie movies make me think of malls and shopping centers, as hazard, death and destruction are in crowded areas, where the surviving group cans plumage through sporting good stores, cafes and sleep...

Surprisingly Good
I know, I know a forest full of the undead running around eating people doesn't exactly sound like the greatest plot for a movie. Judging by hollywoods latest attempts at making zombie movies I wasn't all that thrilled going into this one. I'd all but given up on any hope of any more good zombie pictures being made any time soon. I figured since "Lions Gate" & "Anchorbay" had raped, stomped & shat all over what little new hype that'd been sparked for the genre that we'd be waiting another 10 to 20 years for someone to care enough to write another descent script like "Shaun", "28", "Undead", or "Land".

Well, I'm pleased to let all you zombie fans out there know that this one's actually a pretty good one. I'll admit, there are still some plot holes, but all & all this one's a keeper. Ghoul make up & effects are spot on, although everytime some one would get eaten or really chewed up in a violent way it would tend to happen off camera(that was a little annoying if you...

Gets Better As It Goes Along
"Severed" is an okay low budget Canadian zombie movie that gets better as it goes along. The standard bioenginneered rogue chemical compound thingy, designed as a growth hormone for trees, instead creates zombies that terrorize both lumberjacks and protestors in a remote logging camp. The first fifteen or twenty minutes are a bit slow, but once the zombie action starts, it actually gets pretty involving. Lots of blood, but not actually as gory as other zombie movies you've probably seen. The acting is uneven, but then the actors are frequently required to deliver some pretty bad dialogue, Sarah Lind, as one of the protestors, in particular. Paul Campbell, who plays the son of a corporate executive sent to check out the camp, actually makes the best impression with his role. The zombies, while effectively used in some scenes, are a bit of a liability. They seem impossibly slow and awkward, to the point where you start to wonder why the heroes don't just stay in place and then...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Halloween

Pretty good, but not perfect...
First, be warned...only one of the four 20-minute Dora episodes on this DVD has anything to do with Halloween. The first segment is about Halloween and my two year old loves it! But the remainder of the episodes, including one about a wizard who is missing his wand, are just average. But I still give it four stars just because the Halloween episode is so good.

Another hit by the makers of Dora the Explorer!
My family is not big on Halloween, in fact my husband really does not like it at all, but he absolutely loved this movie. It has such cute songs on it, and the costumes are just so cute! The other three episodes are also very good, and my daughter loved all of them. I am glad that I had the chance to share this DVD with her. I hope everyone enjoys this DVD.

spooky dora
As always Dora is great. I was happily surprized at how much spanish they use in this movie. good halloween fun, not scary

Click to Editorial Reviews

Live Animals

No-budget torture horror
Live Animals is an ultra-low budget kidnapping/torture/horror film with a one-line plot, no twists, no shocks, little gore and lots of tedium.

There's really nothing to recommend it. The villains are dull and the victims duller.

Skip it.

Absolute Garbage
I've seen thousands of movies in my day. I am a HUGE horror fan. I must say I actually drug my ass out of bed to the computer to write this review. I bought this as part of a 4 pack of movies for $5 bucks & I'd probably say I would maybe have agreed to watch this piece of crap for oh, say, $50 bucks. If somebody would give me $50 bucks, I would say I'd waste my time with this dreck. As it stands, I paid $1.25 for this thing. Not only is the money a total waste...the hour & change I wasted on this utter garbage is time I'll never retrieve. I'll grant you, making a film with zero budget is a tedious task that you do for the love of it. But this film has no redeeming qualities. Even the end kill of the stupid bad ass is a cop out. Instead of making a cheap bladder head of the creep to saw to ribbons, they cut away to some cheap jack blood spraying around. Man oh, man do I wish I had never opened this DVD since now I'm stuck with it. There is no going back. I am actually...

Bland, ineffective horror
A friend of mine rented this for sheer giggles and we watched it on a lark. Based on the premise and the package, I got exactly what I expected: an impossibly further low-rent attempt at capturing that same magic woven by modern horror cinema...ahem...powerhouses such as Saw and Hostel. What I got was a micro-budget trash-fest, complete with hapless actors and a slipshod script. I got a gaggle of characters I couldn't have cared less about, no plot to be found, and one of the worst examples of prosthetic make-up I've ever seen, that being a character boasting a crescent-shaped scar on his face, which looks more like a smeared mess of melted Snickers bars.

I find these movies offensive. I find them offensive because they are unoriginal. I find them offensive because it really showcases that young filmmakers are not concerned with trying to scare the audience anymore, instead finding themselves content to throw as many breasts and buckets of blood at you as they can in a...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Sweet November (Keepcase)

Charming, moving, uplifting, and surprisingly good!
Charlize Theron brings on her charm, and Keanu Reeves turns in a surprisingly worthy performance in "Sweet November," a movie that's as light as a fall breeze. Slammed by most critics as a soggy romance with no star chemistry, the movie's premise centers around two people who, through an unlikely series of events, fall in love, though not without hardship.

Let it be known, the movie is not that bad. In fact, when put in comparison with movies like "Bounce" and "The Wedding Planner," "Sweet November" is actually kind of refreshing in it's own little way. Yes, the way in which the two develop their romance is a bit tough to swallow at first, but if you can ignore that and allow their growing relationship to touch your heart, then the movie succeeds on those terms.

Keanu Reeves plays Nelson Moss, a man who is all work and no play (when leaving for work one morning, he tells his girlfriend, "I have a life, and I'm late for it") as a...

The Ending Is Not Obvious
One of the prior reviews stated that the ending was obvious in the first ten minutes; must have written the script.

There are very few romantic drama/comedies where the two characters part in anything like this way, nor does the illness of the Theron character get revealed until the middle of the film. Certainly, the approach of the Theron character to her life is very unusual.

Several of the reviewers noted that SF is beautifully photographed, almost perfectly photographed, to match the moods of the film. I agree.

I've watched it about four times, and probably will watch it several more times. The film's mix just works!

Nothing is sweeter
Sweet November has been the best romantic movie I have seen yet. Charlize Theron and Keanu Reeves play the perfect roles and can make your heart melt. This movie is worth it. I have watched this movie so many times and it still leaves me crying. If you love romantic movies this movie is perfect for you. The chemistry in this movie is amazing. Watch this movie believe me you'll love it.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Fugitive (Keepcase Packaging)

Average video quality for Blu-ray format
I've noticed various reviews here have stated that the video quality was impressive. Personally I was quite disapointed.

This was the first Blu-ray I purchased and frankly I was disappointed with the video quality. I realize the film is never going to look as sparkling and clean as more recent films, but the image quality seemed lacking.

It has a soft, washed out 'milky' look and the detail is off and on. Sometimes the close-ups on faces are impressive, but then it will cut to a city shot at night and I really noticed the lack of definition.

Of course much of this flatness comes from the fact that the photography was fairly dull in the first place (the whole film has a 'grey' look), but I still expected something more impressive on the Blu-ray format.

Also the sound is not HD or PCM. It comes with the same audio as the previous DVD.

So my advice, if you only want to collect Blu-rays with superb video & audio quality, this is NOT...

Great movie, but Special Edition extras only so-so
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...

20th Anniversary Edition does just about everything right
I'd imagine that most people have seen "The Fugitive" (1993) by now. If not, you're missing out on one of the best thrillers of the 1990s, featuring great performances by Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, lots of terrific chase scenes, an interesting plot, memorable music by James Newton Howard and much more. The film has held up nicely since 1993: it's still capable of entertaining modern audiences who have seen all the films that "The Fugitive" has influenced.

The first Blu-ray release (with the black cover) was pretty lackluster, featuring a relatively weak A/V presentation (including lossy Dolby Digital audio) and a few recycled bonus features from the old DVD special edition. This new 20th Anniversary Edition (white cover) has a great new transfer, a new lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track and two new bonus features: a retrospective featurette with Ford, Jones, director Andrew Davis, actors Joe Pantoliano and Jane Lynch; as well as the 2000 TV pilot of "The...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Sugar Creek Gang: Teacher Trouble

Does not even compare to the books!
This DVD was a total waste of money. The plot was boring and the children acting in the movie had bad attitudes. Not at all what we expected from the Sugar Creek Gang. I'm glad we only bought this title. Had this DVD been good we were planning to purchase the entire series.

My boys really enjoy this series!
My boys age 7 & 9 really enjoy both the books and DVD's. Great fun and family values.

Very disappointed!
It would play and stop, play and stop, play and stop. We never got to see the whole movie. The DVD was a big dissapointment to my 5 year old grandson. He couldn't understand why a new movie that just came in the mail would not work.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Molly and Lawless John

A WESTERN FROM THE GENRE'S TWILIGHT YEARS
Had this movie been made a dozen years earlier, it might have found an audience. By 1973, however, the Hollywood western was riding into the sunset and the studio hardly bothered even releasing this admittedly-minor production.

Vera Miles plays the shy, quiet wife of a blustery frontier lawman who clearly doesn't appreciate her. On impulse, she helps a handsome, sweet-talking young prisoner escape from her husband's jail. The bulk of the movie then follows this mismatched pair as they flee across a desert landscape.

The dialog between the runaway wife and the outlaw isn't sharp enough or observant enough to lift the proceedings above the ordinary, but the femininist tone of the script is a pleasant surprise and Vera Miles makes for an appealing heroine.

Sam Elliott, virtually unknown at the time, plays the escaping prisoner. His screen personae hadn't yet developed and so his character never quite comes into focus. At times the movie simply uses him for...

Technical problems render this oater virtually unwatchable
This undistinguished oater is made much worse by technical problems. It isn't a bad little western, and the two lead roles are played competently by Vera Miles, whose most famous role was Laurie Jorgensen in "The Searchers," and Sam Elliott, who was born to make westerns. It had a good plot and some beautiful desert locations.

Unfortunately, the film was not well shot. None--and I mean not one--of the interior scenes is adequately lighted; you can barely make out dark shadows moving around against a black background. The scenes in the Cactus Jail, which are key and set up the movie, might as well be taking place in a cave without even a candle for light. Then there's the DVD which is full-frame and was mastered from an extremely distressed print of the film. The DVD is blurry and shows every scratch, spot, and speck of dirt that 33 years of obscurity could inflict on the print. Too bad. Miles and Elliott deserved better. Frankly, because of the technical issues,...

Great finish
I bought this film as part of a double feature with a terrible movie called Gone With The West. I was surprised at how good this one was. It is about a self centered jerk, played by Sam Elliot, and an incredibly gullible and stupid woman, played by Vera Miles. Vera is married to the obnoxious sheriff who is holding Sam in jail for murder. Sam plays on Vera's gullibility to let him out of jail, thanks to the fact that the sheriff just smacked Vera in the face and made her mad.

Vera follows Sam out of town, only to learn that he is a total jerk. The movie takes a really strong turn at the end, with a great climactic scene. Check it out.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Full Grown Men

Great story and very visual colorful photography
Coming of age takes longer for some. This film belies its low-budget indie background. Great acting by many new up and comers, as well as a blast from the past or two.

Diretor/photographers really take advantage of the Florida color saturation to create a film that has an incredible, rich color palette -- somthing you don't often see in cinema.

Well worth the time, and the bucks.

Time For The Big Boy Pants--An Indie Comedy Takes On The Man-Child Dilemma
There's an appealing underdog quality at work in the indie comedy "Full Grown Men." The concept of the man-child has been explored endlessly--mainly in big budget romantic comedies where men are afraid to commit to a relationship or, indeed, to adulthood. You can always see where these movies are headed--growth, understanding, maturation, and redemption. It's time to put away the clown shoes and put on your big boy pants, so to speak. The refreshing thing about "Full Grown Men" is that while it is certainly headed in that direction, at least it takes a varied path. For this isn't a romantic comedy, it's played as a buddy comedy.

The man-child in question is played by Matt McGrath. McGrath is likable, thankfully, despite his haircut! When he walks out on his family after another argument about his immaturity, he starts to reflect on better days growing up. Reconnecting with his childhood pal (Juday Friedlander), he starts to understand how his playful taunts may have...

Oh no! Marvin's not real?
Indy film "full grown men" visits the mind of Alby Cutrera, who is kicked out of his house by his wife because it's often difficult to tell who's younger; Alby or his young son. With nothing better to do, he decides to revisit his childhood, when times were perfect, mermaids were real, and moose could talk. Alby talks his schoolhood friend Elias, who has a completely different view of their shared experiences as children, into taking him to Diggityland, because Elias is going that way anyway. When Elias tries to get through to him, Alby remains stuck in the past as he now believes it was. Even when he is confronted with some ugly information about one of his childhood heroes, he is still unwilling and unable to leave his childhood behind. Alby's attempt to revisit those perfect days does, finally, show him that one can't really go back, and, maybe, in the process he grows up a little. Maybe...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Sugar Creek Gang: The Great Canoe Fish

The Sugar Creek Gang is Back!
This is the second installment in the Sugar Creek Gang movie series. This time around Barry Bowman makes good on the promise he made to the gang in Swamp Robber.

Everyone is back, including Bill, Poetry, Circus, Dragonfly, Big Jim, and Little Jim. For this adventure we float down Sugar Creek with them as they search for a legendary fish that is supposed to be the size of a canoe. It's fun to see previously unexplored parts of Sugar Creek where it actually widens out into a large river (and eventually turns into a fifty foot waterfall, but I don't want to give too much away)!

This movie develops the bullies a little more and fleshes out the gang. We also meet Shorty Long for the first time. I watched The Great Canoe Fish with a group of kids who have since insisted on repeated viewings, so it definitely has the kid appeal... but there's more to it than that, because even adults should enjoy watching this nostalgic series. The movie is not rated, but I...

This is NOT the original Sugar Creek Gang
I bought the stories on CD, but thought my children would enjoy having a visual to go along with the auditory. It was an awful decision. First, they took all references to God out of the story. This was a beautiful story about a boy and his friends and their individual growth toward a loving Savior. It's now just a story about a gang of boys....oh, and Circus became a girl. I guess they thought it'd sell to girls too if they added a chic. Very confusing to my boys who have heard the story and know that Circus is a BOY. Very disappointing that God can't even be in a story whose original purpose was to share God. This series was written by a Pastor, so it's not like I'm trying to make this about religion....THEY took religion out of a religious story!!!

Original Story!
Bill Collins, Poetry, Circus, Dragonfly, Big Jim, Little Jim and the rest of the Sugar Creek characters are at it again!

In this follow-up to Swamp Robber, The Sugar Creek Gang's first movie, the gang takes off on a canoe trip to search for a legendary fish that Old Man Paddler tells them about. I particularly enjoyed this film because it took me on an entirely new adventure with the gang. While it uses the characters and story elements that are found throughout the original book series, the actual story was written specifically for this movie and is a complete surprise!

I know several kids who watch these movies over and over, so the replay value is very high. Also, just like the first film, this DVD has a lot of special features. The director's commentary is very interesting and the behind the scenes videos and outtakes are great. There is also a photo gallery with a few hundred pictures (I'm still working my way through that one)!

Now that I've...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Goodbye Solo

deeper than you expect
We saw this movie when it played locally. I was intrigued after reading Roger Ebert's thoughtful and enthusiastic supporting review after it played at Sundance. The two main actors, a cab driver from Senegal and a old, cantankerous man enter into a bargain that takes some time (think suspense)to unfold. Wonderful character development and gritty but good low light cinematography (in North Carolina) work really well in holding the audience... wondering which way each character will go. It's about lost and found dreams, unexpected kindness, and how some people need to control their destiny. Makes me want to go back to NC to see the countryside I missed.

The cost of friendship
Though it owes a major debt to "Taste of Cherry," which the director has openly acknowledged, Bahrani's third feature is another impressive piece of work. It's better than "Chop Shop," which mostly succeeded on the strength of its atmosphere despite its failure to offer a satisfying ending, and almost up there with "Man Push Cart," his amazing first feature. Again, one of Bahrani's constant themes, the immigrant experience in the "land of opportunity," is a constant. But the center of the film is the brief but intense relationship of a Senegalese taxi driver in Winston-Salem, NC, and a gruff, alienated old man who seems to be preparing for a mountain-top suicide. Youth and hope versus old age and disappointment, the American dream vs. its failure; family love versus family dissolution, the joy of friendship versus its price, trying to change life versus accepting what is are all deftly woven through the narrative. Like Kelly Reichart ("Old Joy," "Wendy and Lucy"), Bahrani tells us...

Taxi . . .
Such a fine film, made from the simplest story elements and relying on the performances of two remarkable actors, Souleymane Sy Savane (as Solo) and Red West (as William). Set in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the film is clear from the first scene that one of the characters intends to commit suicide. Although they are strangers, the other man, a Senegalese cab driver, intends to prevent that from happening. Like a well-written short story, that simple premise is the taut thread that runs through this film to its end.

Firm believers in less-is-more, the filmmakers report in the commentary that only the actors playing the two central characters knew what the film was about. Around them are characters oblivious to what's at stake and being played by performers whose performances are thus wonderfully natural. Diana Franco Galindo is especially affecting as the young step-daughter of Solo. Just as fine for this reviewer as director Ramin Bahrani's "Chop Shop" and "Man Push...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Super Mario Brothers: Mega Mario Mix

Mario
My son actually picked it out - inexpensive and if you have a little person that is into Mario (or someone that loved the show as a kid) this is great for them /'

Mario and more Mario
The DVD is a collection of Mario stories, if your child loves Mario, this is a great addition for the Mario lovers collection.

Mario DVD
This was a great find at the price. It arrived with plenty of time before my son's birthday, the occasion for which I had specially purchased it. My son is a Mario fanatic and it has a few from EACH of the animated series, which can be hard to find. It was as advertised, brand new and unsealed. My kids love it.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Freaky Farley

A weirdly unique aesthetic style; rough but engaging
FREAKY FARLEY is the first feature film by the New Hampshire based Motern Media. It has a weirdly unique and compelling aesthetic style, which Motern carried on in their second film, MONSTERS, MARRIAGE, AND MURDER IN MANCHVEGAS.

This aesthetic style includes adult characters behaving in a childish manner, much like Chris Elliot did in the early 1990s TV sitcom, GET A LIFE. And like that show, FREAKY FARLEY is quirky and satiric, yet also innocent.

FREAKY FARLEY is about a peeping Tom turned serial killer, who is released from prison on condition that he kill the Trogs -- monsters who inhabit the nearby woods. It sounds very bloody, but neither "freaky Farley" nor the Trogs are particularly scary. Their attacks resemble children playfully patting their "victims." These attacks are occasionally intercut with gore shots that look both faked and out of place.

All the younger characters (i.e., people in their 20s) suffer from arrested development. Freaky...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Estonia (PAL)

Review of Estonia (DVD)
This is a very useful and informative video for both the first time or frequent visitor to Estonia. There is enough useful and historic information to be interesting but not in not such large portions to create n information overload.

This DVD is to be recommended to anyone with any interest in Estonia.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Sphere (Keep Case Packaging)

A lot better than I thought it would be...
The OSSA discovers a spacecraft thought to be at least 300 years old at the bottom of the ocean. Immediately following the discovery, they decide to send a team down to the depths of the ocean to study the space craft. The following civilians are recruited: psychologist Dr. Norman Goodman (Dustin Hoffman), biochemist Dr. Beth Halperin (Sharon Stone), mathematician Dr. Harry Adams (Samuel L. Jackson), and astrophysicist Dr. Ted Fielding (Liev Schreiber). They are the best of best, smart and logical, and the perfect choice to learn more about the spacecraft. But even their intelligence may not be able to comprehend and understand the strange and terrifying events which start to take place after they discover a strange, golden, and perfect sphere on the craft. Things become worse as they are stranded at the bottom of the ocean without any means of escape. That's when they receive the first transmission...

I had heard from my father and sister that "Sphere" was very good and...

Loved the book and the movie
I think it can be pointless to compare the movie to the book, in all cases, because they're two different pieces of work. The movie is "based' off the book almost always; it isn't an exact representation, and how could it be? Reading a book is an entirely different experience than watching a movie. The book is amazing. So is the movie, in my opinion. I thought the cast and the acting was stellar, and I was always enthralled and caught in suspense. I think the ending is beautiful, not anticlimactic. Why does the ending of a science fiction thriller always have to be a huge climax? This is a unique ending that wraps everything up in a very simple way. This will always be one of my favorite movies.

Regular sci-fi, not just another horror knock-off.
Sphere is one of the few modern science fiction movies that's not really just another horror movie. As an sf fan, I've been disappointed over and over when a movie advertised as sci-fi, about space or ocean exploration, turns out to be another knock-off of "It The Terror From Beyond Space." (That was fine the first time, when the result was Alien).

--Spoiler Alert--

Sphere does take a turn in the Horror direction, but not far enough to disappoint me. The premise is like "Galaxy Of Terror" under the sea. It's about a team of scientists, including Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, and Samuel L. Jackson, led by top secret Peter Coyote to investigate a spacecraft found under the ocean. They quickly discover it's a spacecraft from Earth's future, apparently temporally displaced (dis-timed?) to Earth's past - but with a clearly alien artifact on board: The sphere. It seems the sphere enables or causes some of the team to manifest their fears in their undersea...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Nature of the Beast

My Big Bad Wolf Wedding
This is a watchable, fun movie with a slightly inept groom who a lso just happens to be a werewolf. His 'on top of it' fiancée takes matters into her own hands to make sure to keep their wedding from getting too hairy.
The transformations are goofy and his makeup is Lon Cheny meets Philys Diller. The Alpha wolf however is a complete transformation with unusual legs and jumping characteristics.
This is not a run out to the theatres type movie but good fun for werewolf genre fans.

Nature of the Beast
A made for t.v. comedy, I missed this when it first came out. Anyways that, if you watched the show Ugly Betty, you'll recognize the villian as having played a part in it.

As a romance-comedy where the guy is seeking to lift his curse of werewolfism and his bride-to-be is helping him lift it. It wasn't bad. Many of the actors did very well, there's only one, the guy who played the news report that was just bad acting all around and terrible, over the top and trying to outdo the stars and proper co-star.

Overall the movie has me wanting to compare it with Teenwolf, also done as a comedy, somewhate and for quality.

Also being something of an amatuer werewolf expert, I surprised with how much they drew from an almost obsure source with their werewolf lore for the movie.

Fun and Funny Movie
Looking for a fun, comedy/supernatural movie? Now available on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment, Nature of the Beast is the movie for you.

With a mix of the funny and the sweet, Nature of the Beast makes it a popcorn flick that actually has a well-written storyline. Starting with the basic idea that "every man is hiding something," this film takes a hilarious look at the problems with living with a werewolf. Will Julia still marry her beloved Rich when she finds out that three days out of the month Rich is a true monster?

Nature of the Beast stars Eddie Kaye Thomas, (American Pie movies, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle), Autumn Reeser ("The O.C.," "Pushing Daisies"), Eric Mabius ("Ugly Betty," "CSI: Miami"). Since I was a big fan of Eric I was happy to see him in the film. His role isn't a huge part of the movie, but it's a good one.

It's a hard to balance the funny and the serious emotional moments, but Nature of the Beast does so beautifully...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Batman: The Animated Series: Secrets of the Caped Crusader

back away from the dvd...
Ok, once again warner bros. is trying to get a little cash, by once again releasing a 4 episode set, compared to a 28 episode set. I would normally give all Batman DVDs a 5-star review, but this I cannot. This set contains four episodes....get ready for this....that have already been released on dvd in july!!! Sure it was released in a box set, and for only approximately $35.00 Compared to this $15 dollar set for 4 dollars, the box set is a VERY good deal. Appeasing kids for an hour is a good idea but for the pricing just go rent a dvd. Trust me, you'd be much better buying the box set for only 20 dollars more. But in case you're still wanting to get this dvd, it contains 4 eps. They include: a 2 parter w/ catwoman, an ep. w/ mr. freeze, and an ep. w/ an invisible foe. but believe me, the box set is way cooler (price and design and well, everything wise)

5 stars only for the amazing episodes!
"Batman - The Animated Series - Secrets of the Caped Crusader" contains episodes 14 to 17. These contain some of the best episodes of the show, where Batman comes across villains such as Mr. Freeze and Catwoman.

The episodes in this DVD are:

14) Heart of Ice - An evildoer is stealing equipment from various GothCorp facilities and using a freezing gun to freeze anyone who comes in his way. Batman uses the clues and discovers the next area where the attacker may appear, and finds out that Mr. Freeze is behind all this. Freeze escapes from Batman, but doesn't plan on killing him since his main intention is revenge on Ferris Boyle, CEO of GothCorp. Batman tries to find out what is the reason for Freeze's doings, to stop him.

This is the first episode to have Mr. Freeze in it, and it is a terrific episode. You really feel sorry for Victor Fries, but at the same time hatred for Mr. Freeze. The way in which Batman tries to capture Freeze is entertaining...

Just a head's up
Warner Brothers is finally get on the right track here with Batman the Animated Series. For those of you considering buying this, it is marketed for kids as this DVD contains 4 episodes of the Batman TAS cartoon.

For the die-hard fans, Warner Brothers has released a box set of Batman TAS. It is called Batman The Animated Series volume 1 and it is a fantastic 4-disc set that contains the first 28 episodes. Once again, if you are looking to collect the episodes, go with this boxed set. It runs about $35.

However, if you are simply looking at getting something Batman for your child to view since he is begging for it, this DVD would be nice. It probably runs $10-15 and it gives you 4 episodes of one of the best cartoons ever.

Now, let's hope Warner Bros. follows this pattern and releases boxed sets of Superman, Justice League and Batman Beyond.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Jashnn

I love this movie
I really loved this sweet, gentle movie. It is not action packed or full of thrilling adventure; just a love story and a story about doing better with your life, no matter what. Its about a young man whose dream is to be a famous rock star, yet has been a bit of a lay-about most of his young life. His band is going nowhere, playing at funerals and a small nightclub. On his search for fame, he meets a girl who is totally unimpressed with him, gets into a fight with him and refuses to tell him her name. She also has a boyfriend already, whom she has known since grade school. He challenges her to come see him sing in the club he is playing at,finds out her name and number (right in front of her boyfriend) and the romance blossoms from there. The Simple story, yes? NO. He lives with his sister, who is the mistress in an abusive relationship with a prominent business man in the community. After an abusive situation, which the brother witnesses, he fights with the man and so the businessman...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Scruff's Halloween

My 6 yr old loved it!
Got this for my 6 yr old daughter and she loved it! I enjoyed it too...as far as Halloween stories go, I think this is an excellent one.

Great kids Halloween movie
Great kids Halloween movie, my daughter who is five thoroughly enjoyed it. Would recommend for young children, a Halloween classic.

dissapointing
I was hoping it was a cute story. But it is the history lesson for Halloween, and some of it was too much for my little kids and some of it got boring. Not what I expected at all. Definately not the kids favorite movie.

Click to Editorial Reviews