iCarly: Season One, Vol. 1

Excellent teen entertainment
As one reviewer admitted his age, I'll do the same and say I am a 48 year-old father of two teenagers that genuinely believes this is some of the best entertainment on TV right now. Light-hearted and usually very funny humor, no nasty/vulgar language, no sexual innuendo, and disrespect for adults is generally limited to people that deserve it (Miss Briggs, Lewbert, Mr. Howard, etc.) as opposed to adults in general. There is usually a simple but valuable lesson involved and the interplay between the kids seems genuine and not forced in any way. The chemistry of the actors is a superb mix of personalities and each one brings a unique flavor to the show. The feisty interplay between Freddy and Sam with Carly attempting unsuccessfully to be arbitrator is a big part of the charm. Another positive factor is that no two episodes use the same rhetoric. Miranda Cosgrove is a very talented young lady and her future seems bright indeed. It will be interesting to see what season 2 brings...

All Around Great Show!
I have to admit, I like this show. Which is very strange coming from a 30 year old guy. I used to work for a friend taking care of her kids. So I was stuck most of the time watching kid shows. I come around to really enjoying this show. Although the show is not realistic at all, it's still a fun show. Even though I have moved on to another line of work I still find myself watching this on occasions.

Get this DVD
iCarly is one of the best shows for young tweens today. This DVD has some of the first episodes of the show on there. The episodes are:

Disc 1:
I Pilot 4.5 Stars
I want more Viewers 5 Stars
I Hatch Chicks 5 Stars
I Dream Of Dance 4 Stars
I Like Jake 4 Stars
I Wanna Stay W Spencer 5 Stars
I Nevel 4 Stars

Disc 2:
I Scream on Halloween 4.5 Stars
I Spy on a Mean Teacher 5 Stars
I Want To Date Freddie 4 Stars
I want a World Record 4 Stars
I Rue The Day 4.5 Stars
I Promise Not To Tell 5 Stars

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Brothers and Sisters - The Complete Second Season

One of the finest dramas on television! Season Two only gets better...
Brothers & Sisters is truly one of the finest dramas currently on network television. The show's writers embrace current and highly pertinent issues in modern day North America, and work them into the story line of each episode beautifully.

The cast of actors is one of the most talented we have seen to date- Sally Field, Rachel Griffiths, Calista Flockhart, Rob Lowe, Ron Rifkin, and Emily Vancamp are standouts among them all. Field's role as the matriarch of the family is particularly stunning, and her brilliant ability is even further explored in the second season as she is forced to make tough decisions about her life, and is faced with further conflict created by her family. Griffiths provides another extremely compelling performance as Sarah Walker, who is forced to deal with her crumbling marriage.

Throughout the second season, the storylines become more complicated and the Walker family is thrown into a tangled web of turmoil and deception. I would highly...

Heartwarming, smart and well-produced series!
I missed most of Season One when it aired, so I bought the Season One and Season Two DVDs. I could not stop watching! I LOVE this show and Season Two is just as engaging as the first season. The characters are well-developed and the storylines are realistic. Sally Field is absolutely outstanding! A must-watch!

Great Show
Brothers & Sisters is one of the best series on television right now. It depicts a close family, but each person is going through some hardships. No matter what is going on in their lives, they can always count on eachother. The show doesn't paint this family to be the perfect family. They show a reality in its characters that almost anyone could relate to. I would give this season 5 stars, but they are charging the same price that they did for season 1 and due to the writer's strike, there is one less disc.

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The Unit: The Complete Third Season

Still one of the best dramas on network television
For months it wasn't clear if CBS would bring back The Unit after its third season. It's an atypical show in this era of reality tv and the more popular and esoteric fare like Lost and Heroes. The Unit, after all, when you get right down to it, is a series about war produced in a time of war. And the lack of success films about Iraq and Afghanistan have had (Redacted? Stop-Loss?) on the big screen on some level points to the reluctance of the public to yet engage in depictions about this war. Of course, many of the movies haven't been that good to begin with...Nonetheless, here's The Unit, whose text is ultimately about the war on terror. And yes, one may disagree with its generally pro-war on terror perspective, or at the least question it. That said, when Mamet and company directly address this war, as they do in the back-to-back episodes "5 Brothers" and "Play 16," the end result is two of the most heart-wrenching hours of television to have been broadcast last year. Mamet...

Outstanding
After having been in combat (2 yrs) and later serving in a SWAT team for 7 yrs, I can confidently say that this series rings true with reference to technical and tactical concepts. My wife says that the wives portrayed aren't too far off the mark concerning the "war at home" either.

3'rd Season - not up to the standard
The Unit during the first season was an excellent series. Each episode had two action packed operations going on at a time. Everything looked believable and there was enough personal dynamic included to make the team members human.

The second season was nearly as good. The season end episode had me on the edge of my seat....but at the same time wondering how the series could continue with the corner they had been written into.

The third season opening episode answers the questions of the second season finale and reunites the unit....although one would have to suspend bits of reality to swallow the outcome. The rest of season three seems to play more like a soap opera than a drama about an elite military team. The writing and story lines were much weaker than the first two seasons.

I'm still a fan....but for me to continue to watch the series it will have to return to it's roots of the first and second season.

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Holiday in Handcuffs

Romantic Christmas comedy fun for the whole family
I have liked Melissa Joan Hart since her days on Clarissa Explains It All so I was pleased to see she was back on TV again. This movie takes place at Christmas time and is basically a story about a woman who sees herself as a failure through her family's eyes and is hoping that bringing home her successful boyfriend for Christmas will prove she finally got something right, until he dumps her Christmas Eve and leaves her hanging.

She sees a very handsome man at the diner where she is working and tells her mom everything is hunky dory and kidnaps the handsome guy and takes him hostage (hence the handcuffs). From here the plot unravels in the typical romantic comedy faire where he is trying to convince everyone he's been kidnapped and she says it's a kind of joke he likes to play and we all get our happy ending. As I have said, it is the typically romantic comedy plot but there are some very funny moments and I can definitely see myself watching this movie again. If you like...

Quirky, Twisted, Off-the-Wall, Screwball Christmas Comedy
I love this film! It is quirky, a bit twisted, and definitely not your typical Christmas movie. Although produced by ABC Family Channel, it is NOT a film for children under 14, as there are many adult references as well as language. It's a lot of fun, very funny and enjoyable. I've watched it over and over and haven't tired of it yet!

Holiday In Handcuffs
Oh i just love this movie. It is truely a wonderful holiday movie. Mario Lopez&Melissa Joan Hart are wonderful in this movie. I love when she steals him away from the diner. She has to take him to meet her parents because she does'nt want her family to think she has failed at another realationship. It has alot of holiday laughter that the whole family will love. This is truely an awesome movie to add to your holiday collection.

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Lewis Black's Root of All Evil

Very funny take on debates featuring Lewis Black
Lewis Black is undoubtedly one of, if not the, funniest comedians in the business today, which is the one reason that Root of All Evil works as well as it does. Black presides over some humerous debates between pairs of other comics (including Patton Oswalt, Greg Giraldo, and Mad TV vet Andrew Daly among others), who debate the evils of such things ranging from Oprah, Donald Trump, YouTube, marijuana, and more. Frequently funny and even containing a good point here and there, Root of All Evil will keep you entertained, and will keep you laughing. Sadly though, not as many laughs come from Black as one may like, and more often than not the debating comics become the centerpiece. All in all, Root of All Evil is worth your time, but for big fans of Lewis Black, you may be a bit disappointed that he isn't constantly at the forefront.

Very funny show most of the time. I loved it.
IT is a series of skits, with many great gems. There are moments where it can fail, but think of it like a courtroom Dailyshow...kind of but not really. It is a made up vs debate where two comedians go head to head on why one thing is worse than another. Lewis judges, and jumps in from time to time, but the others (who have been on the Dailyshow and such) do the presentin of both sides. This is not 100% Black, it is more like 20% his work and the rest of the talk time is the presenters. I loved this show, downloaded every episode I could, now it is out on dvd...and it is mine!

Some people may not feel 5 stars is correct, but I felt this show was so great at times I could not fault it. But if you are a Lewis Black fan...well you should like it too, but it seems from the other reviews they have issues with other people presenting. Hey it is both seasons!

Great
So funny and so true. Arrived on time, well packed, and as described.
Lewis Black is fantastic. I bought all of the tapes.

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Keeping Up with the Kardashians: The Complete First Season

Why so addictive :-0
This is another of those programms that hook you in and you cannot look away. I don't know how I get myself into these things, but this one is fun and light and addictive.
Kim is really only famous for being a friend (ex?) of Paris Hilton and I don't know what else for ... however, now with this show, she's getting more recognition (even though she's off DWTS). This show focuses mainly on her, and then her other K sisters Kourtney and Khloe. They are actually a very likeable family and not quite as ditzy as you'd think. This is only a short season, but you get a good idea about their life and I can't wait to see season 2.
This is the way this season pans out.
1 - I'M WATCHING YOU - The family throws an anniversary party for Mom and Dad, while Kim talks about her s.x tape on the Tyra show.
2 - MANAGING MOM - Kris hires a nanny to help around the house, while Kim contemplates firing her mom as her manager.
3 - BRODY IN THE HOUSE - Girls Gone Wild creator Joe...

diappointed
my wife made me watch the kardashians when it first came out and I admit I liked it right away and we have been watching ever since. naturally we could'nt wait for it to come out on dvd. I could'nt be more disappointed with the dvd because its shown exactly as shown on E. I was looking foward to hearing the exact language and other things they can't show on tv. If I wanted to see it this way, all I have to do is watch the reruns which E shows all the time. I feel like I wasted my money on it!

Fun show w/ a fun family
Although they don't always get along - hey, what family does? - this is a family that genuinely loves each other. And they're fun to watch. Kimberly is hot. Her sisters are cute, and Bruce is a hoot!

One note, the extra episode "Junk in the Trunk", which aired at the end of Season 2, is slightly different here than what aired on E!. There are a couple of added segments, but there are also a couple of missing ones too, like the prank the brother plays with his girlfiend on his mom, and Kourtney surprising Khloe w/ info on her acting class partner. Wonder why the changes were made.

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Numb3rs: The Fourth Season

Engaging characters and varied plots
Numb3rs is not a typical cop show. The difference goes far beyond the math angle, which in the hands of lesser writers and actors might have become gimmicky and worn thin. These are fully fleshed-out characters -- human, flawed, quirky, with complex and unexpected relationships, and above all, so engaging and likeable that you become invested in their personal success. Plots ranging from terrorist attacks, to art confiscated by the Nazis in WWII, to kidnapping, to the theft of a rare comic book give each episode a different texture. Get to know the characters in Season One, and enjoy the increasing depth of the entire ensemble through each subsequent season. Prepare yourself not to be limited by the usual parameters of a crime show. As Larry (played by the incomparable Peter MacNicol) would have it, Numb3rs looks at criminals and those who bring them to justice through the prisms of cosmology and ontology.

Great gets even better
This show has been great from the start and just gets even better. It is amazing how they are able to find such a diverse array of topics without repeating the same themes over and ever again. This show makes me want to become an FBI agent and learn mathamatics all over again. It also helps that Rob Morrow is HOT!

Numb3rs Season 4 - Short season - Full price
I love the series and already purchased the first 3 seasons from Amazon. But, since season #4 was an abridged season (writers' strike) and you only get 5 DVDs for @ 720 minutes of viewing why would I want to pay such a high price? I suggest that the cost of season 4 should be discounted by Amazon to account for the reduced quantity of episodes. Even David Krumholtz would agree with these numb3rs.

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How I Met Your Mother: Season Three

Getting better all the time
I've read a sampling of reviews for Season 3, most stating that 3 isn't as strong as Season 2; I heartily disagree. Season 2 felt disjointed, like filler to me (though of course I still loved it!), but Season 3 keeps the story moving forward. I like that the characters are maturing, unlike the Friends characters who irritated me acting early 20's well into their 30's. There's a natural progression here, that includes some sentiment and drama in addition to the comedy. I simply love this show~ BRAVO to the entire team that creates and excecutes it.

HIMYM - The Legendary Season Three!
The HIMYM gang [again guided by director Pam Fryman] returns with 20 more legendary episodes in How I Met Your Mother - Season Three. When Season 2 of How I Met Your Mother ended, Marshall and Lily had finally hooked back up (and tied the knot), but Ted and Robin had suddenly split up. The situations were reversed when Season 1 ended. Season Three picks up sometime later after Season Two with Robin introducing her new Argentinean lover, Gael (Enrique Iglesias) to the gang and Ted hooking up with a wild tattooed woman (Mandy Moore) after going out to party with Barney. The end result from that encounter later leads Ted (in "Ten Sessions") to a chance meeting with Stella (Sarah Chalke, fresh from NBC's recently ended Scrubs), a dermatologist and possible "mother" candidate who he falls for in the season's most engaging story arc. Props must be...

Starting to slip a little, but still very funny
PLEASE NOTE: This review contains SPOILERS.

I've been a fan of How I Met Your Mother from Day One, so I don't use a phrase like "starting to slip a little" lightly. But the fact is, season three just doesn't quite measure up to the previous two.

The main problem, as I see it, is that the writers felt the need to create ongoing conflict between the core group of friends. Sure, conflict is necessary to keep things interesting. But I think the ensemble in this show is better served by external conflicts (e.g., Barney and Ted's various problems with the opposite sex, Marshall's work-related stress, etc.). Watching Ted and Robin try to one-up each other after a painful breakup last season was. . .well, not that funny. Later in the season, Ted and Barney's friendship was on the rocks.

Otherwise, there were plenty of well-written and funny shows. Here's a few highlights:

"Slapsgiving" pays off the long-running joke from last season's "Slap...

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South Park: The Cult of Cartman - Revelations

For the casual fan who doesn't have the season sets, or the devoted fan who must have everything.
Made to look like a book with gold leaf edging on the sides, the novel packaging will appeal to the fans who must have everything South Park.

The collection of "a dozen of Cartman's most important teachings" will appeal to the casual fan who does not want to invest in season sets.

1) Scott Tenorman Must Die
2) Awesom-O
3) The Death of Eric Cartman
4) Cartoon Wars (Part 1)
5) Cartoon Wars (Part 2)
6) Le Petite Tourtte
7) Tonsil Trouble --first time on DVD--
8) Eek, A P****! --first time on DVD--
9) Cartmanland
10) Up The Down Steroid
11) Super Fun Time --first time on DVD--
12) Ginger Kids

Exclusive to this DVD set is an "Original Life Lessons Introduction" by Eric Cartman.
Official Member card for The Eric Theodore Cartman Society.
An Eric Cartman Decal
While three of these episodes are new to DVD, it is probably not enough for a collector of the season sets to want to duplicate the...

The Eric Theodore Cartman Society
Why can't we all be more like Cartman? I am so excited that "South Park" is finally putting out a best-of Cartman set. If you've watched this long running, wholesome, family-friendly series then you know exactly what I mean. Cartman is such a cute little critter. And so intelligent and loving. When I think of Cartman I am always reminded of all the good that Jesus has done. Cartman is a totally thankless individual who only wants to spread love and devotion.

Released on the eve of "South Park's" premiere (the second half of Season 12 kicks off on 10/8 with an entirely new ep all about Cartman, The China Probrem) is "The Cult of Cartman - Revelations." (Some brick & mortar, big-box stores like Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target are likely selling this new set before 10/7 though.) Anyway, this is a 2-DVD set which includes a total of a dozen of Cartman's most-loved, classic eps. My favorite is probably your favorite too, Scott Tenorman Must Die. If you learn one thing from Cartman...

"Here are my life lessons, for you to follow"
The Cult of Cartman: Revelations. Very intrigued, I was. And while I am sure that this set is a spoof of the X-Files Revelations DVD set, I find this one particularily original and interesting. I will not bother to list the episodes in this set, since previous reviews include them already, though I will mention that some of these episodes are by far among the best South Park has to offer (Awesome-O, Super Fun Time, Eek A P**** and the two-parter Cartoon Wars). In addition to this, the box is designed to look like a book (Revelations, after all) and you get an Eric Theodore Cartman Society membership card (which expires in 2012, along with the rest of civilisations) and a nice sticker. And on top of that, each episode is introduced by a life lesson by Eric Cartman, which is very nice any funny ("Never take a joke too far, Hitler learned this one the hard way" would be an exemple of that).

Obviously, these are not good enough reasons to buy this set if you already have the...

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TV Sets: Holiday Treats

Your Own "TV Land" Christmas Mini-Marathon!
Holiday Treats is a wonderful idea that speaks volumes about TV sitcoms and their eagerness to note the Christmas season in a merry, fun, and ever so slightly poignant way. I only hope it inspires other studios to broaden their horizons and attempt other creative compilations instead of just repackaging the same popular movies or imploring people to buy them again in high definition.

A few observations specific to this compilation are easy to make. For instance, almost all of the selected episodes are from the shows' first seasons and thus have the feel of sitcoms still finding their way. The eldest ones, "Lucy" and "Honeymooners" revel in simplicity, keeping themselves close to the radio program format that often guided early TV. Later works such as "Taxi" and "Frasier" offer more complexity in characters and circumstances. The two centering on nuclear families, "Brady Bunch" and "Family Ties", tend to succceed largely due to their settings and group dynamic...

A Good Holiday TV DVD Set To Get You In The Spirit.
The DVD is called "Holiday Treats" and has been issued by CBS DVD and Paramount. When I found this I thought it would be a good addition to a Christmas DVD that I have featuring episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies, Jack Benny, Ozzie And Harriet, and Red Skelton.

That DVD came out a few years ago and I still see it in stores every year. It is called "Vintage Christmas Classics", and was released by Alpha Video. You can order it as well right here on Amazon at a great price.

However, the main gist of this article is about "Holiday Treats". The title is appropriate as several of these Christmas episodes I have been hoping to have copies of for a long time. There are 8 shows featured on this DVD. In order, they are "I Love Lucy" (12-24-1956), "The Honeymooners" (12-24-1955), "The Andy Griffith Show" (12-19-1960), "The Brady Bunch" (12-19-1969), "Taxi" (12-12-1978), "Family Ties" (12-14-1983), "Frasier" (12-16-1993), and "Wings" (12-21-1990).

They are...

'Holiday Treats' and the 2010 release 'Christmas Treats' are staples for a diet of old holiday themed sit-coms!
This 2008 DVD Production - DVD 'Holiday Treats' by Paramount Studio features eight complete episodes from December 1955 to December 1993.

"I Love Lucy" - one episode - (aired on 12/24/1956) - "I Love Lucy Christmas Show"

"The Honeymooners" - one episode - (aired on 12/24/1955) - "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"

"The Andy Griffith Show" - one episode - (aired on 12/19/1960) - "Christmas Story"

"The Brady Bunch" - one episode - (aired on 12/19/1969) - "The Voice of Christmas"

"Taxi" - one episode - (aired on 12/12/1978) - " A Full House for Christmas"

"Family Ties" - one episode - (aired on 12/14/1983) - "A Keaton Christmas Carol"

"Frasier" - one episode - (aired on 12/16/1993) - "Miracle on Third or Fourth Street"

"Wings" - one episode - (aired on 12/21/1990) - "A Terminal Christmas"

VIDEO:
The footage...

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NFL: History of the Washington Redskins

Hail to the Redskins!
Well, being from Chicago naturally I am a Bears fan; however, I am a football fan first and I must say that I loved the "History of the Washington Redskins". The 1st disc is very comprehensive, detailing the history of the Redskins and atmosphere of the Washington, DC area in the 50's and 60's and some good insight on the racism of the times, (the owner refused to have Black men on his team, in fact, the Redskins were the last team to have Black men on their roster). The 2nd disc has interviews with prominent Redskin players, Theismann and particularly one of my all time favorite backs Mr. John Riggins!

This is a great dvd set of the Washington Redskins! Now, if NFL Networks would only produce the Minnesota Vikings, the Houston Oilers, the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers "History of", I would be in football heaven!!

Great item! Go buy!

Hog Heaven
This set includes three documentaries, one each on the '82, '87 and '91 seasons, when the Redskins won their three Super Bowls.

The first part of each documentary deals with regular season play, and features all 28 teams (pre-expansion), with no particular focus on the Redskins until the playoffs. There is particularly good coverage of the '86 Saints, '91 Falcons and the '82 and '91 Cowboys. The best and slickest presentation is reserved for the '91 season.

Highlights:
- Tremendous Cowboy sack on Joe Theismann from the '82 season.

- Darrell Green returning a punt for a touchdown in an NFC playoff against Chicago in a freezing Soldier Field. Walter Payton's last game.

- Second Quarter of Superbowl XXII, of course, when the Redskins score 35 unanswered points.

- The Lions' Barry Sanders scoring a classic TD against the Cowboys in an NFC playoff game.

- Great blocking and tackling throughout from the Redskins. See...

Skinz Rule!!!
Excellent DVD for those who like to reminisce the glory days. Only thing I didn't like about the DVD set is that I felt there weren't enough highlights from the game nor the season. They should show more highlights from each Redskins' game of the season. Perhaps one day they should release a Superbowl series with the entire Superbowl game (from start to finish) in it, instead of just highlights.

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Rear Window (Universal Legacy Series)

Rear Window---Newly Restored DVD!!!!
The last few years have seen some classic films that have been given back their old lustre via restoration, including such films as, My Fair Lady, Vertigo, Lawrence Of Arabia to name just a few. These films as well as this film have been restored by the restoration mavericks Robert A. Harris, and James Katz.

I must say after seeing an advance copy of this film that Rear Window looks incredible, especially compared to the Laser Disc copy I have as well as the poor copies that have been showing up on television and VHS over the years.

The colors are vibrant, in particular the reds which don't give a hint of bleeding into the frame, and the image looks I imagine as close to the original as possible given the fact that this film is almost fifty years old now.

The aspect ratio is 1.66:1 which is the proper framing for this film, the sound is the original mono soundtrack and has been scrubbed up to remove any audio imperfections that have built up over the years.

Also included on...

the ultimate Hitchcock classic
The ultimate Hitchcock classic, REAR WINDOW gives us a glimpse into the mind of Alfred Hitchcock, and in turn Hitchcock turns the mirror on us and forces us to admit our darkest desire...to be voyeurs.

That is exactly what Jeffries is. Jeffries (James Stewart) is a wheelchair-bound photographer who spends his time cooped up in his apartment, peeping in on the neighbours across the courtyard. He comes up with "names" for them; Miss Torso the ballerina; Miss Lonely-Hearts; The Newly-Weds and so on. His only contact with the outside world is his girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) and his wisecracking nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter).

Unknowlingly witnessing the murder of Mrs Thorwald, he, along with Lisa and Stella, set out to expose the truth about Mr Thorwald (Raymond Burr) and uncover the mystery of her quick disapperance.

A beautifully-restored print by James Katz and Robert Harris (also responsible for the beautiful new renderings of MY FAIR LADY and VERTIGO), is the...

Hitchcock's Classy Voyeurism Thriller...
One of the joys of Alfred Hitchcock films is his ability to take social taboos, present them in an enticing context, throw in major stars we know and love to perform them, and thus make abhorrent behavior seem attractive! 'Vertigo' is the best-known example of this Hitchcock trait ('Psycho' also comes to mind), but 'Rear Window' is the most fun to watch, because of the appealing combination of James Stewart and Grace Kelly!

Stewart is a photographer, laid-up while recuperating from an accident (cleverly shown through photographs in his studio), who, out of boredom, begins spying on his neighbors. Jimmy Stewart a 'Peeping Tom'? Only Hitchcock could get away with this!

Of course, Kelly, as his high fashion model girlfriend, and Thelma Ritter (who is fabulous as his nurse), are appalled by Stewart's behavior, but are drawn into voyeurism by Stewart's devotion to it, particularly after he witnesses an apparent murder (committed by Raymond Burr, in one of the most...

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Normal

Not quite
It is a good movie. I only gave it three stars because I really got tired of the grieving mother.

The film is about how a fatal accident forever changes the lives of three families. It is a story about the search for forgiveness and redemption. It is also a story about how some people let tragedy destroy themselves and those who love them.

There is an unforgiving grieving mother; a forgotten surviving son; a teenager who made a fatal mistake trying to impress his not-so-perfect best friend; a lonely stepmother; a narcissistic father who cannot connect with his son or new wife; a depressed college professor who no longer has anything in common with his wife and who hates his job; a mentally ill man who is struggling with his own demons; and the girlfriend of the deceased who has already moved on.

The actor who played the man with agoraphobia and other mental illnesses did a superb job.

The tags "transsexual" and "Jessica Lange" have...





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The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official Second Season

While waiting for the Official First Season...
...there is much to enjoy about the release of this Official Second Season (1963-1964).

I did submit to Amazon to change the format in the product listing to "black & white" rather than "color" as they have it described at the moment, since this season was filmed entirely in black & white and perhaps not everyone would know that (or think the releasing studio had colorized these disks).

*EDITED OCTOBER 30: I see Amazon did finally change the format to black & white for this set, so that is good to know there is less likely to be any potential for confusion.*

Since there is as of today not a listing of episodes contained in this set, I thought I would type the titles of all 36 full-length episodes (especially as there is apparently some cross-over for those buyers of the various collections regarding episodes...).

Jed Gets the Misery 09-25-63
Hair Raising Holiday 10-02-63
Granny's Garden 10-09-63
Elly Starts to School...

A Classic Series--Done Right!
With so many recent releases being comprised of incomplete and altered versions of our beloved classic TV shows, it's smart to wait and decide to purchase (or not) well after the release date. It seems that the firestorms of complaint following releases such as THE FUGITIVE SEASON TWO VOL. ONE have been noticed, at least for the time being. I must say that THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES OFFICIAL SECOND SEASON set is of far higher quality than I expected. Yes, this is the complete second season, with excellent picture (a bit grainy at times, but overall superb) and sound transfers of every episode...but most important, the episodes are complete and with the original music as far as I can tell. It's nice to see a good bit of bonus material here too; the original sponsor opening and closings are great segments that have been lost to time over the years. Some of the closing segments are continuations of the episodes themselves and extend the episodes by several minutes; for example, the third...

Superlative!
Having already owned these episodes as released by MPI from Paul Henning's personal 16mm prints, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Paramount's release.

I was thrilled to see that not only are the original sponsor openings and cast commercials included, but you have the option of watching with them INTEGRATED INTO THE SHOW via seamless branching! That's a feature even the "Ultimate Collection" couldn't boast... there, the sponsor clips were available only in a supplemental section.

The prints are much better here, too, with the exception of the opening and closing credits, which appear to be sourced from Henning's 16mm prints. Nonetheless, Parmount did a tremendous job on this release.

What a thrill to watch these episodes EXACTLY as originally broadcast. And what a trip, in our politically correct age, to see the Hillibillies actually smoking!

Thanks, Paramount, for not insulting our intellect by "deciding for us" what is or is not...

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Sleeping Beauty (Two-Disc Platinum Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo + BD Live) [Blu-ray]

Still Looks Great
I vividly remember the release of Sleeping Beauty. I was old enough to go see it myself - just barely. There I was sitting way up front eating my popcorn and all of a sudden this spectacular dragon materialized right before my eyes. Popcorn forgotten, I was hooked. Cartoons never looked the same to me, and I spent the rest of my life inhaling fantasy and science fiction on a quest for the same thrill.

Animation has changed quite a bit in the ensuing years, but even today Sleeping Beauty is a towering achievement. Now I'm more sensitive to the tricks of the art and can see the masterful use of perspective that made the scenes leap out at you. When I first picked up this DVD I half expected to be disappointed, to find it really wasn't so glorious in retrospect. This is hardly the case - this film is just as vibrant and alive as it was in 1959.

The added dimension now is that I can see how Disney's work was a formative influence on animation even today. Artist/Directors like...

A Restored Disney Classic with Bonuses
This movie is one of the great classics of animation, especially for Disney. The DVD version is significantly improved compared to the previous VHS tape. The picture and sound were both greatly enhanced for this release. Furthermore, both widescreen and full screen versions are available in this package.

As with Disney's other classics, some liberties were taken with the original story of Sleeping Beauty. Disney took the classic story and made it unique and special. In some ways the story is less violent and dark than the original fairy tale. In other ways, such as the portrayal of Maleficent, the movie is dark and forbidding. While the movie is generally a children's movie, Maleficent's dragon and her general demeanor can be somewhat frightening for some in the pre-school and younger set.

Aurora was the first love for many a young boy, and was also the model for the aspirations of millions of girls. The romantic love story of Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip enchanted...

Dark and brooding, with excellent intentions.
Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" is one of the most macabre and dark pictures ever. The tale of good versus evil is magically brought to life through an astonishing visual display of elite and sinister animation, combined with our heroes and villians, and a well-rendered musical score that is taken from the very music of Tchaikovsky. There is no doubt about it: this is a meticulous and excellently crafted motion picture which remains one of Disney's most ambitious and intriguing.

The story remains the same: the princess Aurora is born into King Stephen's royal court, the pride and joy of all the kingdom, where celebrations and gifts are bestowed upon the small child. Tragedy strikes when the lone misfit of the kingdom, the evil and crafty Malificent, rains on their parade to place a curse on the child: "Before the sun sets on her 16th birthday, she shall prick her finger on a spindle of a spinning wheel, and die!" The kingdom is in peril with this news, and so the...

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The Note

How perfect! Francis, McGinley and a story of HOPE!
What a wonderful film! I loved it! Genie Francis and Ted McGinley are smashing!! In The Note, Francis is Peyton MacGruder, a human-interest columnist told to increase her readership or move on. When a plane crash nearby kills everyone onboard, Peyton happens across a note addressed simply to "T." Peyton holds close the note's contents. She simply pledges to find the intended recipient and chronicle the search in her column. . . and readership zooms. Along the way, through the people she meets--and her friendship with McKinley's character, a fellow reporter--she finds her "voice," herself, and more. No spoilers: just know that no life is left untouched . . . and twists abound. Leaves you better than it found you! Buy this one, you'll want to see this one over and over again!

My two-cents worth
This will be buried among all the glowing reviews, but I wanted to share my thoughts. The message of forgiveness in this movie comes through loud and clear. It is uplifting and inspiring in many ways.
But for me the chemistry between the lead characters lacked something. I know that is in direct contrast to what so many have said, but it was my honest reaction. I do not watch soap operas or today's sitcoms, so I have no history with either of the lead characters--I just based my feelings on what I saw in this movie and I had a hard time believing they would end up together.
Another comment, about the "edited movie" review. That is what actually convinced me to buy this. I had heard that when first aired on TV the movie was clean, but contained multiple uses of the Lord's name as an exclamation, so I had avoided it. After reading the complaint that it was edited I figured, "What else would they edit?" and I gave it a try. I was pleased to be able to watch the movie without...

Must Have Movie
I am looking forward to this movie being on DVD. I fell in love with it when it premiered on the Hallmark Channel in 2007. I caught it each time it came on and was delighted when it was shown again this past summer. Its message is timeless. It is well written with a twist of romance and a hint of humor. Genie Francis has been one of my favorite actresses and does an amazing job. She brings much emotion to the story and makes it so real. Ted McGinley became my favorite leading man. He and Genie have great chemistry. This is a must see for all.

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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - The Eighth Season

One of the best seasons of the series yet
Warning: slight spoilers ahead.

You'd figure that for a show going on it's eighth season (a season shortened by the WGA strike to boot) that things would get a bit stale to say the least, especially considering the horde of network TV imitators to pop up since it's original inception. Fear not, C.S.I. still manages to keep going strong, and it picks up by grabbing the viewer by the throat and not letting go either. Grissom (William L. Petersen) and his team race against time to find and save Sara (Jorja Fox) as her life hangs in the balance, which eventually leads up to her departure from Vegas, as well as a heartbroken Grissom. Things don't get much better for the crew as Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) receives a threat, and Warrick's (Gary Dourdan) life begins to spin out of control, leading him to be charged for murder, and concludes in the explosive season finale which only promises more changes to come. While some moments may come off as a bit hackneyed, C.S.I...

Brilliant again :-)
My favourite show never fails to deliver the goods. This is a fantastic season, despite the depature of Jorja Fox (Sara). Surprisingly, there was hardly any fanfare when she left (not on screen anyway). Her relationship with Grisolm was only beginning to take off for the viewers and before it could really get off the ground, she was gone.
In the first episode, Dead Doll, the team race against the clock to find Sara who has been left for dead in the heat of the desert. That was one of the best episodes. My next favourite episode was A La Carte where they investigate a beheaded teen from a go-cart accident. Then in Cockroaches and Lying Down With Dogs, we start to see Warrick in a whole different light - drugs and alcohol and he's framed for a murder in these two episodes. The final show for this season is called For Gedda in which Warrick is accused of murdering a famous Vegas gangster and even he is uncertain of his guilt or innocence. What happens at the end of this episode will...

...if not for the price.
okay, some may say, "4 stars for a superb season of CSI?" well, as a season, CSI - The Complete Eighth Season is above a five star. with a gutwrenching opening episode in "Dead Doll". two of the funniest episodes ever in "You Kill Me" and "Two and a Half Deaths", the heartbreaking departure of one of our favorite CSI's (not saying for those who haven't seen), a terrific crossover episode with Without a Trace, and the scream inducing last minutes of the season in "For Gedda" where one of the CSI's life may and probably is over. so why 4 instead of 5 stars? The price. Seasons 1 - 7 all had around the same price, but seasons 1 - 7 had like 23 to 25 episodes each. Season 8 has only 17 episodes, only 5 discs and pretty much the same amount of extras as previous seasons. Okay, they do give us the Without a Trace crossover episodes in full, but $85 bucks guys? what are the discs made of? Gold? I love CSI more than any other show, but i'm very unhappy with CBS decision to make the dvd...

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Ghost Hunters: Season Four, Part 1

Excellent Show!
This is a fantastic show! I got hooked on it last year and rented the previous seasons. I bought season 4 and will have to purchase the rest too. I agree, the music is a little annoying...I too want to hear what they do. The other thing I didn't like is the case the DVD's come in. They are kind of hard to pop out being stacked together. It's not a normal DVD case. Love the show though. Can't wait to see more. :0

The forerunner in Paranormal Reality TV
Obviously one of (if not the best) reality show on TV. Plenty of action in a very interesting field. The guys and gals are great and the team of Steve and Tango work really well--sometimes adding laughs during a serious investigation--A must see for anybody even remotely interested in ghosts or life after death.

investigators at their best
I love this series and have bought every DVD offered so far. The TAPS team is very proffessional. They do not tell someone a place is haunted just because that's what the person wants to hear. They always have to have evidence to back it up. While not every case is a edge of your seater, the TAPS team does come across some pretty amazing things. If you're interested in the paranormal and want to see investigations done right, then you need this series.

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Survivorman: Season 2

Survivorman Season 2 (4 DVD Set)
Recordable DVD-Rs used for this with standard lables printed on a laserjet printer.
Pretty crappy presentation with no menus and only 2 episodes per disc.
No extras, no documentation, barely readable artwork and $1 worth of DVD-Rs
I would recommend just TiVo-ing the series and save the $$.

Survivorman GREAT But...
Survivorman, as always, is GREAT!!! But the DVD is very poor. No menus, no directory, nothing...You have no idea where you are in the DVD, and they even placed the end of one episode in the same chapter as the beginning of another episode. My ONLY complaint is the DVD itself, not the contents!

Almost as good.....
In reading the fine print, this set is made by amazon, not discovery channel. But....
If you don't mind not having menus and chapters, then this dvd set is fine.
It seems they just recorded it off TV. Video quality is pretty good, but the sound is off a bit.
Otherwise, its a good buy.

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University of Oklahoma Sooners Greatest Games

One of the most amazing sports box sets out there
I am a fan of classic sports broadcasts and this DVD set is one of the best out there. I am really amazed at how they chose these games.

I love all the discs but I am going to choose three favorites:

The first disc features one of three Orange Bowls featuring Oklahoma. It involves the Oklahoma Sooners and the Michigan Wolverines from January 1976. It is the NBC broadcast with Jim Simpson (before he left in 1979 for the new ESPN) doing play-by-play and John Brodie with color commentary. The broadcast even includes Jim Simpson mentioning the new NBC logo that debuted that year. This DVD includes Sooner Illustrated's The Best of the Switzer Shows with Barry Switzer. This is a nice touch because it includes clips from both shows that Barry Switzer did in Oklahoma. What amazed me was that they mentioned the "Playback" show. The "Playback" show aired all across the nation for Oklahoma Sooner fans. This has to be one of my favorite DVDs on the box set.

The...

Good for the OU video collector or general OU fan
Each game dvd has a chapter at the start of each quarter & sometimes if any pregame/postgame coverage.

1976 OB- 134 minutes long. An additional 35 minute video called "Sooner Illustrated's The best of the Switzer Shows is included on the dvd. The single sold dvd of this game has more related to this game than what was provided in the dvd set. There is additional 14 minutes of pregame, 25 minutes of halftime & 28 minute highlight film included in the singly sold dvd. The singly sold dvd does not have the "Best of Switzer Shows" video. Both dvd versions of the game have the best color, picture & sound I've seen of this game.

1986 OB- 142 minutes long. The single sold dvd of this game has a little more related to this game than what was provided in the dvd set. There is an additional 6 minutes of pregame, 6 minutes of halftime analysis & 2 minutes of postgame that is provided in the singly sold dvd. Both dvd versions of the game have the best color, picture...

memory lane
Wow...what a trip down memory lane. Seeing Bosworth, Holiway, Keith Jackson again brought back the goosebumps. Video quality ranges from above average to excellent....the only two things missing is the '71 game against the Cornhuskers and the 2001 Fed Ex Orange Bowl victory over FSU...packaging is steller, opens up to an aerial shot of what was then Owen's Field, filled to capacity, then continues to fold out into a tryptich with the OU ensigna to the left and the list of games to the right...could have come with a small handbook with game stats, etc...overall a definate must have for any Sooner fan...

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