Edie & Pen

Starring:Stockard Channing, Jennifer Tilly, Scott Glenn, Stuart Wilson (II), Chris Sarandon, Michael O'Keefe, Michael McKean, Randy Travis, Joanna Gleason, Beverly D'Angelo, Martin Mull, Louise Fletcher, Wendy Mull, Carol Ann Susi, Missy Hargraves, Jean Smart, Kelly Wolf, Eric Swanson (III), Michael Landes, Charles Lucia
Director: Matthew Irmas
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The Sopranos, writer-producer-director David Chase's extraordinary television series, is nominally an urban gangster drama, but its true impact strikes closer to home: Like 1999's other screen touchstone, American Beauty, the HBO series chronicles a dysfunctional, suburban American family in bold relief. And for protagonist Tony Soprano, there's the added complexity posed by heading twin families, his collegial mob clan and his own, nouveau riche brood.

The series' brilliant first season is built around what Tony learns when, whipsawed between those two worlds, he finds himself plunged into depression and seeks psychotherapy--a gesture at odds with his midlevel capo's machismo, yet instantly recognizable as a modern emotional test. With analysis built into the very spine of the show's elaborate episodic structure, creator Chase and his formidable corps of directors, writers, and actors weave an unpredictable series of parallel and intersecting plot arcs that twist from tragedy to farce to social realism. While creating for a smaller screen, they enjoy a far larger canvas than a single movie would afford, and the results, like the very best episodic television, attain a richness and scope far closer to a novel than movies normally get.

Unlike Francis Coppola's operatic dramatization of Mario Puzo's Godfather epic, The Sopranos sustains a poignant, even mundane intimacy in its focus on Tony, brought to vivid life by James Gandolfini's mercurial performance. Alternately seductive, exasperated, fearful, and murderous, Gandolfini is utterly convincing even when executing brutal shifts between domestic comedy and dramatic violence. Both he and the superb team of Italian-American actors recruited as his loyal (and, sometimes, not-so-loyal) henchmen and their various "associates" make this mob as credible as the evocative Bronx and New Jersey locations where the episodes were filmed.

The first season's other life force is Livia Soprano, Tony's monstrous, meddlesome mother. As Livia, the late Nancy Marchand eclipses her long career of patrician performances to create an indelibly earthy, calculating matriarch who shakes up both families; Livia also serves as foil and rival to Tony's loyal, usually level-headed wife, Carmela (Edie Falco). Lorraine Bracco makes Tony's therapist, Dr. Melfi, a convincing confidante, by turns "professional," perceptive, and sexy; the duo's therapeutic relationship is also depicted with uncommon accuracy. Such grace notes only enrich what's not merely an aesthetic high point for commercial television, but an absorbing film masterwork that deepens with subsequent screenings. --Sam Sutherland

Description

On January 10th, 1999, America was introduced to two families that would make history: The Soprano family headed by Tony Soprano, and The Soprano "family" headed by ... Tony Soprano. ' 'Four Stars! The first gotta-watch, gotta love, Gotti-like TV series of 1999. Across the board it's an A-plus.' ' - The New York Post ' 'Achieves a fresh tone to match its irresistibly winning concept.' ' - The New York Times

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Biographies
Episodic Recaps
Featurette
Interviews

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous insight into a Mafia Family.......2007-07-02

Can't vouch for the accuracy of the surroudings (what do I know about NJ)nor what a Mafia family is supposed to be like ( is anyone gonna admit they can?) but from an english perspective -just wish BBC could still make drama even half as good as this .

After 2 episodes you will be hooked - just raced thru 1st series - Episodes 1-13 . Brilliant script , great gags - had me & my mates in stiches , fabulous looking girls - lots of T&A , rocking intro soundtrack - plus a truly complelling performance by james Gandolfini .

nuff said - get it or you'll get wacked as Tony might have said .

Couldn't have cared less.......2007-07-01

Many viewers clearly loved the characterizations and found the mixture of mundane family life with mafia family life to be brilliant, but I disliked this show because I found the characters pathetic and dull. Most of what I remember is a bunch of glowering punctuated by a few arguments and gunshots.

The bulk of characters seem to represent a very mediocre brand of evil. They are human failures not because they gleefully engage in villainy, but simply because they are incompetent at living their lives. The acting, sound, and camera work were all quite competent, but since I was bored by the story, it was all wasted effort as far as I'm concerned.

Certainly I'm aware of how popular the show is; the only other negative reviews seem to consist of people who can't deal with language or feel unfairly stereotyped. I figured I should take the time to say some people simply didn't think this was a very good drama.

Opening Sequence and the Twin Towers.......2007-06-28

I didn't remember seeing the first season (and perhaps 2nd), but I did recall that the shot of the Twin Towers was removed from the opening credits. I was curious to see if the original opening would be on the DVD. Well, ya, there is a shot of the towers, but it appears to me as though it is a shot of the side view mirror of Tony's SUV with the image of the towers in the reflection. Does anyone know if it was always that way? If so, that simple shot was very prophetic; foreshadowing that, soon after, the towers would only be in our past. If it is not original, it was a well thought out adjustment.

woke up this morning..........2007-06-26

I am a diehard Sopranos fan. I still have that Journey song bouncing through my head from the very last episode. So what is a 'made fan' supposed to do now that the only series I watched is now over? Start watching from the very beginning. I've been a fan since season 1 but how refreshing it is to watch it all again. It is amazing to see how young everyone is back from season 1. The intro to the characters and all the little nuances that you pick up is amazing. The storyline of Tony in his first session with Melfi, how conniving his mother was, Uncle Jun and his old school ways. Most amazing to me how virile and full of hope Tony seems to be and how much he changed over the years beaten down by the life he leads. Incredible writing and incredible acting. A dvd for the ages. Bada Bing!

Awesome 1st season of one of the best TV shows of all time.......2007-06-22

This is a fantastic box set that collects my favorite episodes, the very ones that introduced Tony, his family, and his whole sick crew to millions of viewers worldwide. A friend first introduced me to the Sopranos after picking up the DVD's in the UK (they didn't show Sopranos as a regular series in South Africa). After the first 2 episodes I was hooked, and started buying the subsequent seasons. Now I can't get rid of my Soprano addiction, and find myself in a state of depression whenever I finish a season and have to wait for the next one to be released on DVD. What makes this show so compulsively viewable is the humanization of Tony and his cohorts, allowing us to see them as real people with real problems, and not as these merciless hitmen without a care in the world for anybody. Christopher Moltisanti is by far my favorite character, with Tony a close second. In this season we see Tony's first confrontation with his "Uncle June" and the discovery by his children that their father is "mobbed up." The central storyline revolves around Tony's panic attacks that forces him into the offices of Dr Melfi, a psychiatrist, who more than once regrets taking on Tony as a patient. There is plenty of drama and character development as well as action and an awesome theme song which I just can't get tired of. The Sopranos is well worth it. The only problem is that once you start with the first season, you will find yourself compelled to buy all of them. Enjoy!

The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition)

Average customer rating:

One of the last great Disney Movies
Grandchildren Loved The Little Mermaid
Great Product!
The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition)
Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition)
Starring: Rene Auberjonois , Christopher Daniel Barnes , Jodi Benson , Pat Carroll , and Paddi Edwards
Director: Ron Clements , and John Musker
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Cars (Widescreen Edition)
Peter Pan (2-Disc Platinum Edition)
Cinderella (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Platinum Edition)
Lady and the Tramp (50th Anniversary Edition) (Platinum Edition)
Over the Hedge (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000F8O35U
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Amazon.com essential video

From the moment that Prince Eric's ship emerged from the fog in the opening credits it was apparent that Disney had somehow, suddenly recaptured that "magic" that had been dormant for thirty years. In the tale of a headstrong young mermaid who yearns to "spend a day, warm on the sand," Ariel trades her voice to Ursula, the Sea Witch (classically voiced by Pat Carroll), for a pair of legs. Ariel can only succeed if she receives true love's kiss in a few day's time and she needs all the help she can from a singing crab named Sebastian, a loudmouth seagull, and a flounder. The lyrics and music by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken are top form: witty and relevant, and they advance the story (go on, hum a few bars of "Under the Sea"). Mermaid put animation back on the studio's "to do" list and was responsible for ushering Beauty and the Beast to theaters. A modern Disney classic. --Keith Simanton

Description

THE LITTLE MERMAID, one of the most celebrated animated films of all time -- and winner of two Academy Awards(R) (Best Music, Original Score; Best Music, Original Song, "Under The Sea," 1989) -- splashes onto an exciting 2-Disc DVD with an all-new digital restoration. Ariel, a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, is off on the adventure of a lifetime with her best friend, the adorable Flounder, and the reggae-singing Caribbean crab Sebastian at her side. But it will take all of her courage and determination to make her dreams come true—and save her father's beloved kingdom from the sneaky sea witch Ursula! Dive into a world of music and adventure in this new 2-Disc Platinum Edition your family will enjoy again and again!

Customer Reviews:

One of the last great Disney Movies.......2007-05-28

Mermaid was one of Disney's last great movies.....before they started trying to spin each classic tale into a 2nd, 3rd movie....each meaningless money making machines.

The Little Mermaid is the Disney version of the Hans Christian Anderson tale. Disney brings it to life with the beautiful Ariel, and a whole cast of loveable characters- Flounder, Eric, Sebastian, Flounder, Skuttle.

Ariel, the youngest of many daughters is bored with life under water and want to explore life on land as a human. She see's a man aboard a boat and falls in love. His name is Eric. When a storm rages, Ariel saves Eric and leaves his ashore. He sees her and can't forget her face. Against her fathers wishes Ariel dreams of life on land. She bargains with the sea witch Ursula to turn her into a human. The price she pays is her voice. She has to make Eric fall in love with her- but she has no voice.
Ursula uses Ariels voice to bring her father to her knees. In the end, she is overcome, and Triton- Ariels father is saved, and let's Ariel go- to become a human.

The music is some of the most creative animated music EVER. From Kiss the girl to Under the Sea, each songs is singable, and unforgettable. Boy and girls alike will love this movie about dreams, courage, and adventure.

Grandchildren Loved The Little Mermaid.......2007-05-17

I bought this for my three grandchildren and they are very, very happy with it and have watched it many times already.

Great Product!.......2007-05-14

The dvd was brand new in the packaging. I would defintely buy from this seller again!!!

The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition).......2007-05-13

Bought this for my wife. She's always loved the story and had been wanting the DVD for a while. When the special edition came out, I grabbed it. The commentaries are great. The history of the story, the animation process, and the cast/crew is wonderful.

Little Mermaid.......2007-05-09

An upgrade to DVD. Wonderful movie to watch, beautiful coloring and music. Ariel can sing the pants off a crab.

A Bug's Life (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Happiness
Delightful family film
The Only Movie You'll Ever Need
Cute Movie. Great for young children
Bug's Life GREAT

A Bug's Life (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Phyllis Diller , Dave Foley , Brad Garrett , Jonathan Harris , and Bonnie Hunt
Director: John Lasseter , and Andrew Stanton
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Computer Animation | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Monsters, Inc. (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Toy Story (10th Anniversary Edition)
Toy Story 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Finding Nemo (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Antz

ASIN: B00007LVCM
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Amazon.com

There was such a magic on the screen in 1995 when the people at Pixar came up with the first fully computer-animated film, Toy Story. Their second feature film, A Bug's Life, may miss the bull's-eye but Pixar's target is so lofty, it's hard to find the film anything less than irresistible.

Brighter and more colorful than the other animated insect movie of 1998 (Antz), A Bug's Life is the sweetly told story of Flik (voiced by David Foley), an ant searching for better ways to be a bug. His colony unfortunately revolves around feeding and fearing the local grasshoppers (lead by Hopper, voiced with gleeful menace by Kevin Spacey). When Flik accidentally destroys the seasonal food supply for the grasshoppers he decides to look for help ("We need bigger bugs!"). The ants, led by Princess Atta (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), are eager to dispose of the troublesome Flik. Yet he finds help--a hearty bunch of bug warriors--and brings them back to the colony. Unfortunately they are just traveling performers afraid of conflict.

As with Toy Story, the ensemble of creatures and voices is remarkable and often inspired. Highlights include wiseacre comedian Denis Leary as an un-ladylike ladybug, Joe Ranft as the German-accented caterpillar, David Hyde Pierce as a stick bug, and Michael McShane as a pair of unintelligible pillbugs. The scene-stealer is Atta's squeaky-voiced sister, baby Dot (Hayden Panettiere), who has a big sweet spot for Flik.

More gentle and kid-friendly than Antz, A Bug Life's still has some good suspense and a wonderful demise of the villain. However, the film--a giant worldwide hit--will be remembered for its most creative touch: "outtakes" over the end credits à la many live-action comedy films. These dozen or so scenes (both "editions" of outtakes are contained here) are brilliant and deserve a special place in film history right along with 1998's other most talked-about sequence: the opening Normandy invasion in Saving Private Ryan.

The video also contains Pixar's delightful Oscar-winning short, Geri's Game. Box art varies. --Doug Thomas

Description

Journey inside the world of bugs in this epic of miniature proportions. Crawling with imaginative characters, hilarious laughs, and colorful animation, Walt Disney Pictures Presentation of A Pixar Animation Studios Film, A BUG'S LIFE, will "delight everyone -- young, old, or six-legged." (People Magazine) In this 2-disc set you'll step behind the scenes for a look at the innovation and teamwork that resulted in this ingenious film. Loaded with bonus features — including animation not seen in theaters, abandoned sequences, and multiple surprises — A BUG'S LIFE COLLECTOR'S EDITION offers something for everyone from families to film lovers!

Customer Reviews:

Happiness.......2007-05-14

I am compelety satisfied with dvd when I recicevd it. It was in great condition, and it did not take forever to recieve it either. Thanks a lot hope to do more buisness here.

Delightful family film.......2007-04-25

I think I can just about act out any part in this movie at this point. Since this past Friday, I've watched it about 15 times. The kids love it and want to watch it over and over again. It is a darling movie about that little ant that just wouldn't give up. Great lessons for our children along with dazzling Disney animation. Highly recommended.

The Only Movie You'll Ever Need.......2007-03-30

If I could only keep one movie, this would be it. The kids love it. You learn a little bit about bugs. The kids learn to respect bugs. The outtakes are funny. My five-year old is a little scared of the mean grasshoppers, but my two-year old can't get enough of it. (2nd child syndrome) She calls it the "Princess Dot" movie.

Cute Movie. Great for young children.......2007-03-13

Overall the DVD was good and very much appropriate for young children. However, after a couple of weeks it had fallen to the back of his preference list. We've not watched it in over a year now. I guess this isn't so different from any other DVD we have.

I would recommend this for young children. It does have a few concepts that are not appropriate, but are presented in a way that is way over the heads of children adn does have a few scenes that very concervative parents may term violent. The movie is mostly an original concept but there are striking similarities to Antz.

Bug's Life GREAT.......2007-03-09

This video couldn't be better. Enjoy the helpful stories that instill good behavior actions. Thank you.

Average customer rating:

Isn't she amazing!
Love it!
Grey Gardens- Criterion Collection
I love you Edie...
Like Chewing on A Handful of Sand.

Grey Gardens - Criterion Collection
Starring: Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale , Edith Bouvier Beale , Jack Helmuth , Brooks Hires , and Albert Maysles
Director: Albert Maysles , Ellen Hovde , and Muffie Meyer
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Beales of Grey Gardens - Criterion Collection
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ASIN: B00005KHJX
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Amazon.com

Grey Gardens is the name of a neglected, sprawling estate gone to seed. The crumbling mansion was home to Edith Bouvier Beale, often referred to as "Big Edie," and her daughter, "Little Edie." The East Hampton, Long Island, home became the center of quite a scandal when it was revealed in 1973 that the reclusive aunt and cousin to Jackie O. were living in a state of poverty and filth. That's the background to this 1976 film portrait by cinéma vérité pioneers Albert and David Maysles, but it's only incidental to the fascinating story they discover inside the estate walls.

The two Edies have lived in almost complete seclusion since the mid-1950s, ever since Big Edie's husband abandoned her and Little Edie (then a young socialite on the verge of a dancing career, or so she claims) was called home to care for her depressed mother. Twenty years later they continue to live in their memories while camped out in a single bedroom of the 28-room mansion overrun with cats (who use the floor as their litter box). Rehashing mistakes and missed chances with an accusing banter that becomes more stinging and angry as the documentary progresses, they exist in a sad codependency brings new meaning to the term dysfunctional. Disturbing and discomforting, it comes off like a freak show at times, but for all their arguments and recriminations, the Maysles reveal two women abandoned by their families who are left to cling to each other, for better or worse. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Meet Big and Little Edie Beale-high society dropouts, mother and daughter, reclusive cousins of Jackie O.-thriving together amid the decay and disorder of their ramshackle East Hampton mansion. Five years after Gimme Shelter, the Maysles unveiled this impossibly intimate portrait of the unexpected, an eerie echo of the Kennedy Camelot, which has since become a cult classic and established Little Edie as fashion icon and philosopher queen.

Customer Reviews:

Isn't she amazing!.......2007-06-28

I mean, Edie. No, I mean, her mother. What about Jerry? Jerry likes mother's corn. Beautiful. Sad. Amazing.

Love it!.......2007-05-12

I love it! I have both the Grey Gardens dvd and The Beales of Grey Gardens and I love them both. I could watch them over and over. I find them very interesting and entertaining. It's such a walk through memory lane listening to these two women.

Grey Gardens- Criterion Collection.......2007-05-11

After seeing Grey Gardens on Broadway I had to find out more about these two very interesting and unique women. I truly enjoyed this DVD collection.

I love you Edie..........2007-04-27

I've watched Grey Gardens so many times Big Edie and Little Edie are friends of mine. If I had of lived in the Hamptoms back in the 70's I would have been a frequent visitor in their home. I would have brought little Edie loaves of Wonder Bread to feed her racoons. I would have helped Edie give the kitties their luncheon. I would have eaten and enjoyed an ear of corn prepared by Big Edie. This documentary is the closest I can now come to being around these two fascinating women.

Imagine Little Edie Beale was around in today's world of instant fame and easy celebrity; she would be my first choice to replace Rosie O'Donnell on "The View". Just imagine Edie's "revolutionary" outfits of the day next to Barbraa Walters reserved fashion sense. Of course Bill O'Reily would want to have her on his show; he would have asked her opinion on topics but she would have probably managed to talk him down. She is such a staunch woman.

S-T-A-U-N-C-H

Watch this movie. Watch it again. It's the most amazing documentary I have ever seen.

And Edie: You look fabulous!

Like Chewing on A Handful of Sand........2007-04-25

Man oh man...I love documentaries and character studies.

Crumb, Capturing the Friedmans, The Thin Blue Line etc...

But THIS...my god, the mind boggles at the level of pretentiousness of the folks who claim to "love" or "get" this horrible mess.
Over an hour and a half of two crazy women who are essentially shut-ins rambling on about nothing at all in what looks like an abandoned shack surrounded by vermin and garbage a foot deep.
The two women in question are "Big Edie" and "Little Edie", the aunt and cousin of Jackie O respectively.

Let me sum up the whole 100 minutes for you;

Little Edie: I hate it here. I had to leave New York to come here and take care of my mother.
Big Edie: I was fine. I used to have a lovely singing voice.
Little Edie: But I missed out on my big chance to make it.
Big Edie: Oh well. You missed out.
Little Edie: I miss New York. I hate it here.
Big Edie: Did you feed the cats?
Little Edie; YES!!! I fed them!!!
Big Edie: I used to have a lovely singing voice.

Now imagine this being repeated over and over again for 100 minutes.

Do yourself a favor; Before you let anyone talk you into seeing this piece of dreck just go sit on skid row for 2 hours and listen to the rambling of the hobos and mental patients.
You'll save the money and get some fresh air at the same time.

Horrible.
Just plain horrible.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off Bueller...Bueller... Edition (Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

OK, if you saw it when it was new, you should now watch it with your kids!
One of those great 80s movies
Ferris Bueller, you're my hero!
A classic movie, but stick with original release
BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!

Ferris Bueller's Day Off Bueller...Bueller... Edition (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Jason Robert Alderman , Louie Anderson , Stephanie Blake , Matthew Broderick , and Virginia Capers
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Teen | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

School Days | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Urban | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

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Better Off Dead

ASIN: B000BNX4MC
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Amazon.com

Like a soda pop left open all night, Bueller seems to have lost its effervescence over time. Sure, Matthew Broderick is still appealing as the perennial truant, Ferris, who fakes his parents out and takes one memorable day off from school. Jeffrey Jones is nasty and scheming as the principal who's out to catch him. Jennifer Grey is winning as Ferris's sister (who ends up making out in the police station with a prophetic vision of Charlie Sheen). But there's a definite sense that this film was of a particular time frame: the '80s. It's still fun, though. There's Ferris singing "Twist and Shout" during a Chicago parade, and a lovely sequence in the Art Institute. But don't get it and expect your kids to love it the way you did. Like it or not, it's yours alone. --Keith Simanton

Product Description

"Bueller…Bueller…?" Sorry, not here! Instead, high-schooler Ferris Bueller (Mathew Broderick), his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara), and his best bud Cameron (Alan Ruck) are off on the spontaneous romp through Chicago known as Ferris Bueller's Day Off. You'll also enjoy righteous bonus materials that give you an insider's peek at this hilarious comedy hit from John Hughes (Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Sixteen Candles). So, barf up a lung, forge a "sick note" from the parents, and tag along on the funniest adventure to ever sweep through the Windy City. What are you still doing here? Save Ferris!

Customer Reviews:

OK, if you saw it when it was new, you should now watch it with your kids!.......2007-05-19

Everyone knows this movie. At least that is what I thought until I realized that my fourteen year old son had not seen it. So, we watched it together and, of course, it has the same issues of conformity, rules following, boredom, freedom, life, learning, and stupid power trips for him as it does for everyone. A terrific movie that you should watch with any of your teenagers who haven't seen it.

What brought it up was the insurance commercial with the guy playing as the Risk that Never Sleeps and I pointed out to my son, "Hey, that's the guy from the parking garage in "Ferris Bueller". "What?" he answered. So, it was a must see.

He loved the point about Cameron (indelibly played by Alan Ruck) being so tight that a lump of coal placed strategically in his anatomy could turn coal to diamond in a week. Rooney being made the fool constantly is always enjoyable (perfectly played by Jeffrey Jones) and we enjoy seeing him get stuck in the mud, embarrassed, attacked by a dog, kicked in the face, and confronted with his wallet. Edie McClurg as Grace is the PERFECT foil for Ed Rooney. Who doesn't love her pulling pencil after pencil out of her teased up hair or the way she says "righteous dude".

Of course, Ferris could be a monster if not played with just the right charm and lighthearted mischievousness that Matthew Broderick brings to the role. If Ferris didn't actually care about other people and was only a sociopath it would be an awful story. It really only works because Ferris is fooling parents who should have been paying closer attention, a sister who shouldn't be so uptight, a friend who is so miserable at home that trashing a rare Ferrari is the lesser crime, a principal who is vicious as well as stupid, and a headwaiter who is arrogant without any warrant to be so. If all of these were caring and supportive people and Ferris was using him this way, well, he would be the bad guy.

In any case, the movie is full of classic scenes, such as Ben Stein's calling roll and his little lecture on economics, the growth of the Save Ferris movement, Jennifer Grey's perfect performance as the steamed and jealous sister, and the performances mentioned above. Mia Sara's performance as Sloane Peterson provides the one grounded and sane character in the whole movie.

The extras on the disk I viewed were great (I assume there are various editions). I learned lots of things about the making of the movie. One of the interesting bits is that Cindy Pickett and Lyman Ward (the parents, Katie and Tom Bueller) became a couple because of these roles and are actually married. Also, Ben Stein had a feature talking about life and how Ferris shows us about freedom and how Ferris Bueller changed his life. One of the funny bits is when Ben explains how Richard Nixon is the reason he got the role in Ferris Bueller and is responsible for all the good things that have happened to him because of that role. I always enjoy Ben Stein talking about anything.

An excellent and fun movie that I think benefits everyone who sees it.

One of those great 80s movies.......2007-05-07

Ferris is easily one of my favorite movies, especially from the 80s. It was fun, hip and in style then, and watching it now it's fun to laugh at the clothing and hairstyles you remember wearing. Though Ferris and his friends seem outside that 80s style bubble and will always seem timeless to me, his charm and ability to get what he wants, even at the cost of others, is what always draws me back. Always a lot of fun seeing him outsmart his principle and drive his older sister to the brink, but in the end, everything turns out A-OK. Why they never made a sequel I will never know.

Ferris Bueller, you're my hero!.......2007-05-03

hard to believe it's been 21 years since this movie was released. I can't tell you how I did my best to incorporate so many of his suggestions when trying to get out of going to school.... unfortunately it didn't work as well for me as it did for him!

That having been said, I love the DVD format of this movie. It's crisp and clear and I'd swear there are scenes that were not on my VHS tape that broke many years ago. I could be getting old but I do think they stuck some extra footage in.

Whatever the case, this movie is just as good now as it was 21 years ago. But I think I'll wait till my son is 18 to let him view it! He doesn't need any more ideas!

A classic movie, but stick with original release.......2007-05-02

This is one of my all time favorite comedies. I remember watching it all the time when I was a kid and I still get a kick out of watching it now. So, your probably wondering why I only gave it 3 stars. I'm writing this review solely based on the special features. Like some other people have said, the special features on this edition is just ok. The one thing that really hurts this edition is the missing audio commentary by John Hughes, which can be found in the previous dvd release. Overall, an amazing movie with just so-so special features.

BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!.......2007-04-15

This is my all-time most favorite movie ever!!!!!!!... It is a true testament to taking life easy, and having fun. Some times we all just need to relax and take the day off! Ferris fakes sick and takes the day off with his girlfriend Sloane and best bud Cameron. They travel around the city of Chicago doing all sorts of crazy things. THIS IS A MUST SEE MOVIE. Matthew Broderick is totally awesome in the movie. You can't beat it!!!!! "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller

Average customer rating:

The mother of all comedic chase movies
An absolute "must have"!
One of the best comedies
abolute madness, loved it!!!
One of the best comedies ever

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Starring: Spencer Tracy , Milton Berle , Sid Caesar , Buddy Hackett , and Ethel Merman
Director: Stanley Kramer
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B0000CBY1C
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Amazon.com

Stanley Kramer's sprawling 1963 comedy about a search for buried treasure by at least a dozen people--all played by well-known entertainers of their day--is the kind of mass comedy that Hollywood hasn't made in many years. (Another example from around the same time is Blake Edwards's The Great Race.) After a number of strangers (including Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters, Sid Caesar, Phil Silvers, and others) witness a dying stranger (Jimmy Durante) identify the location of hidden money, a conflict-ridden hunt begins, watched over carefully by a suspicious cop (Spencer Tracy). The ensuing two and a half hours of mayhem has its ups and downs--some bits and performers are certainly funnier than others. But Kramer, who is better known for socially conscious, serious cinema (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?), is in a mood for broad comic characterization, and some of his jokes are so intentionally obvious (Durante literally kicks a bucket when he dies), they'd have a place in Airplane! Watch for lots of cameo appearances, including Jerry Lewis (who had called Kramer and asked him why he hadn't been invited to participate). --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The mother of all comedic chase movies.......2007-05-15

The best chase comedy ever. Great cast, locations. It brings back memories of LA area in the fifties and sixties. One of my favorite comedies of all time.

An absolute "must have"!.......2007-05-13

Sure... it's dated; that's part of its charm. That said, it's one of the most madcap, zany comedies I've ever seen and is a "must have" for those of us old enough to appreciate the all-star cast of comic icons. Also, if you love old cars, the vehicles you'll see in this movie are worth the price of the DVD alone. Pure entertainment.

One of the best comedies.......2007-05-12

This is a very funny movie with an all star comedy cast. From Jimmy Durante "kicking the bucket" to the fire escape at the end, you'll laugh all the way through. The number of comedy stars in this movie are almost overwhelming. I personally think Jonathon Winters steals the movie.

abolute madness, loved it!!!.......2007-04-11

I first saw this movie with my father when i was a young boy for some reason it never left my mind, so out of shear curiosity i purchased this movie and fell in love with again.

I later found out that there are a few of us that love this movie so much that they have taken pictures of all those wonderful places and made a montage of before and after pictures showing the "Big W" and the back yard where it once stood.

In conclusion i just loved this movie. What more can i say Oh btw Amazon got the movies to me in less than a week, isn't that great.

One of the best comedies ever.......2007-03-30

Great cast help make this one of the funniest movies ever.

Average customer rating:

Fresh, Lovely, Humorous, Uplifting: Another Miyazaki Delight
One of the VERY rare movies I can watch over and over
worth 50 stars!
Kiki's Delivery Service
Fabulous!

Kiki's Delivery Service
Starring: Lewis Arquette , Corey Burton , John de Mita , Fay deWitt , and Kirsten Dunst
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
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Castle in the Sky
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ASIN: B00005JM2O
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Amazon.com

In Hayao Miyazaki's magical Kiki's Delivery Service, a 13-year-old girl meets the world head on as she spends her first year soloing as an apprentice witch. Kiki (Kirsten Dunst) is still a little green and plenty headstrong, but also resourceful, imaginative, and determined. With her trusty wisp of a cat Jiji (a gently subdued Phil Hartman) by her side she's ready to take on the world, or at least the quaintly European seaside village she's chosen as her new home. Miyazaki's gentle rhythm and meandering narrative capture the easy pulse of real life (even if his subject is a girl flying high upon a broomstick) and charts the everyday struggles and growing pains of his plucky heroine with sensitivity and understanding. Beautifully detailed animation and the rich designs of the picture-postcard seaside town of red-tiled roofs and cobblestone streets only add to the sense of wonder. This charming animated fantasy is a wholesome, life-affirming picture that doesn't speak down to kids or up to adults. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Rarely does a film touch so many hearts or reach such artistic heights as the highly acclaimed KIKI'S DELIVERY SERIVCE, the magical adventure of an enterprising young girl who must follow tradition to become a full-fledged witch. Venturing out with only her chatty black cat Jiji, KiKi flies off for the adventure of a lifetime. Landing in a far-off city, she sets up a high-flying delivery service. Here begins a wonderful experience of independence and responsibility as she finds her place in the world. The breathtaking animation of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki and the star voice talents of Kirsten Dunst (KiKi), Phil Hartman (Jiji), Matthew Lawrence (Tombo), and more make KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE soar with an energy, excitement, and the kind of imagination that entertains again and again!

Customer Reviews:

Fresh, Lovely, Humorous, Uplifting: Another Miyazaki Delight.......2007-07-03

Kiki's Delivery Service has the same sort of optimistic delightfulness as that other much-beloved and much-praised Miyazaki offering, My Neighbor Totoro. It has a way of making you not only wish you were young again, but it actually makes you feel as if a few years (or decades) have fallen away and the world is all shiny again, and so are you.

There is no villain. There is no terrible abuse or viciousness. This is a totally sparkly story of a young witch who is sent from home to get her training, which means traveling to a new town and living there for a year. (To some, that might sound rather harsh, like child labor or a dangerous lack of parenting wisdom.) You have to surrender yourself to the idea of this rite of passage, and that Kiki will be all right.

She ends up with her cat, her radio, her purple witch's dress, her mother's trusty broom, in a new city, where she befriends a kindly bakery shop owner who lets her live in the attic. From there, Kiki embarks on a delivery service, taking packages on her broom. The story follows that journey in setting up her business and learning about her capabilities and flaws, as wella as her new city world.

The magic is in the details of both the story and the artwork. The city is beautifully done, and the city feels like a welcoming European city, with some buildings as stately and rich as Viennese jewels and others having a more Mediterranean seaside feel. It's a city that you'd want to visit, and the artwork makes it accessible. The sky takes on astounding colors and depth at times. Small details of characterization in expression and movement--in both humans and animals--or in the setting--a bit of grocery that falls to the floor, the way toes are depicted--add to the richness and are so charming.

And Kiki's a typical 13 year old of a more innocent age--she can be hasty, emotional, enthusiastic, helpful, worried about fashion, respectful of elders, and she is inately good and kind and industrious. (Miyazaki's films seem to uphold the value of kindness, compassion, and hard work quite a bit.) She finds out things about her own abilities, and she makes friends.

Kirsten Dunst does a terrific job of voicing Kiki, and the tone has the ebullience and girlishness that's perfect for the characer. The late Phil Hartman is an amusing black cat familiar.

It's a gentle story, but it's never boring. Even my 47 year old engineer husband found it a fun, sweet, watchable tale.

There is this enveloping magic that I've found in Mr. Miyazaki's movies, whether it's My Neighbor Totoro or Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle, there is something in the combination of story and character and artwork that makes you feel the wonder again of being young and diverted by the adventures in magical worlds where good, ultimately, wins out over bad.

This is the sort of film parents and kids can treasure together. And if you've seen or read or heard too many dark and terrible things, this is the sort of movie that restores a bit of youthful innocence.

Highly Recommended.

One of the VERY rare movies I can watch over and over.......2007-06-03

Other reviews go into great detail about the plot, and how the voice casting and dubbing are great (they are!), and how Hayao Miyazaki is great (also true!) so I'll skip all that.

The main point I'd say to prospective buyers of any age is that this is a NICE movie you will enjoy for years, no matter your age. Kiki has troubles and setbacks, but this is not a dark disturbing movie at all, and the animation itself has a kind of light tone.

After viewing this with my kid for I think the 11th time, I'm compelled to observe that not only do I not get tired of this movie at all, but each time I notice new things and enjoy it all over again. I believe you will too.

worth 50 stars!.......2007-04-06

This is by far my family's favorite movie. It is a tender yet exciting story that is full of adventure. My kids like it because it doesn't have any "bad guys". Beautifully animated!!

Kiki's Delivery Service.......2007-03-31

Kiki's Delivery Service invokes the sense adventures and the innocence of childhood rite. It's a family fun film, which I have come to enjoy. I did not discover Hayao Miyazaki till Disney TV aired this piece of film years ago, and became an instant cult favorite of mine. I could watch this every day and not grow bored of it! And now I'm an avid collector of his films, its so super addicting!

Fabulous!.......2007-03-20

Fabulous book with incredible illustrations. Talks about the whole process of making the movie and artwork.
At the end of the book, there's the complete screenplay.
This is my son's favorite book (and mine!)

The Little Mermaid II - Return to the Sea

Average customer rating:

Little Mermaid - perfect gift!
Very very happy customer
It's Probably What you Expect -- An In-Depth Review (SPOILER)
Excellent movie.
Walt Disney is Rolling Over in his Grave

The Little Mermaid II - Return to the Sea
Starring: Jodi Benson , Samuel E. Wright , Tara Strong , Pat Carroll , and Buddy Hackett
Director: Jim Kammerud , and Brian Smith (XV)
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
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ASIN: 6305940959
Release Date: 2000-09-19

Amazon.com

Ariel and her husband, Prince Eric, have a little problem with their daughter, Melody, in the sequel to Disney's landmark The Little Mermaid. Melody is threatened by Morgana, the evil sister of the sea witch Ursula (both voiced by Pat Carroll). Before you can say "Briar Rose," Melody's parents decide to keep their daughter's roots a secret, forbidding her to learn about the ocean while Morgana is around. Now the budding teenager secretly frolics in the sea with Ariel's old friends, Sebastian and Scuttle. When she learns the truth from Morgana, Melody becomes an unknowing pawn in her scheme--and Mom has to take to the sea again to help.

As with Disney's other made-for-video sequels, The Little Mermaid II looks and sounds wonderful (and reunites much of the same vocal talent). Four- to nine-year-olds who grew up with the original will certainly enjoy seeing the friends again. A new set of artists has come up with four catchy tunes and some fun new characters, including Tip and Dash, a pensive penguin and his blubbery walrus friend. Yet, where Beauty and the Beast had a deliberate Christmas-themed sequel, and Pocahontas told the tale of her historical trip to England, the plot here is very forced. It is pretty much a rehash of the first film with different characters. Tip and Dash are a reincarnation of Timon and Pumbaa, and Morgana is exactly like her sister, except thinner. Besides the stellar music, this unneeded sequel also misses another important aspect of the original--heart. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Little Mermaid - perfect gift!.......2007-04-02

Ordered the VHS for my Nephew for Christmas. He was so excited, as he loves the original Little Mermaid.
Story is a nice continuation of the first (for kids).

Very very happy customer.......2007-03-23

I was very very happy with this product/it is a wonderful addition to my Disney movie collection!
Thank you

It's Probably What you Expect -- An In-Depth Review (SPOILER).......2007-03-07

"The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea". Well, just by looking at that title, it's not exactly difficult to tell what sort of sequel it will be. Not just, "The Little Mermaid II", but they added a little hint for you: RETURN TO -- as in, a rerun of -- THE SEA.

Therefore, it's what you would expect from Disney. First off -- technicalities. They've taken some shortcuts and used CAPS animation, so it lacks that old-fashioned Disney look from the original Little Mermaid and the "classics". It doesn't look too bad or too cheesy, though. The colors are only a tiny bit more neon than before, and it's only a bit overly-smoothed. It's not as bad as many would make it seem.

The voices are, with the exception of Eric, kept, and they sound great. My only pet peeve is Melody's voice. Technically, I am YOUNGER than the character, and much younger than her voice actress Tara Strong, but I solemnly promise that I do not sound that much like a hyperactive six-year-old. But, really, what can you expect from the voice of Bubbles from the Powerpuff Girls?

The story, if you haven't gathered it yet, is simple: Ariel is grown up. Eric is grown up. They've had a baby girl named Melody, who inherits her mother's contempt of boundaries. Apparently, Ursula the Sea Witch has a younger sister named Morgana, who conveniently shows up at Melody's christening (Sleeping Beauty, anyone?). She attempts to ransom Melody for King Triton's trident, fails, and is (sort of) banished from the kingdom. Ariel decides it's too dangerous for Melody to know anything about the world of merpeople -- including King Triton, Melody's grandfather -- and hides it from her daughter.

It might be nice to mention here that only King Triton or his ancestors/descendents can remove the triton from its holster-like thingie, which is where it is stored when not in his hands.

Melody, however, longs to go in the sea or even be a mermaid (though is not sure they even exist.) When she finds a mysterious golden seashell "locket" -- which, in perfect Disney fashion, is roughly four or five times the size of a normal locket, to get the point across to the younger audiences -- she has an angsty teenage fit at her mother, Ariel, and makes up her mind to run away. Or, technically, rows away in an absolutely tiny rowboat.

Morgana seizes the chance to use a descendent of King Triton, lures Melody into her trust by using Ursula's bottled magic (?) to transform her into a mermaid, and weepily convinces Melody to "recover [her] lost trident". Melody, not knowing any better and only wanting to "belong" as a mermaid, captures the trident with the help of a talkative penguin, "Tip", and a blubbery walrus, "Dash".

Of course, Ariel and Eric are frantic during all of this, searching here on the land AND sea (coincidentally the name of the finale song), which, in effect, causes Ariel to be turned into a mermaid for the purpose of searching underwater for her daughter. If you think about it, Ariel is acting as a sort of tour guide through the original film: her grotto and "Under the Sea" rock are featured during a little musical "duet" she sings with Melody.

Naturally, Ariel and her re-united pal Flounder arrive at Morgana's lair -- strangely made of ice and above water, as opposed to Ursula's bony underwater lair -- at the exact moment that Melody arrives with the trident. Mother and daughter go through the traditional you're-a-mermaid-deal before Morgana reminds Melody that she is still waiting for her trident. Ariel rebukes this and begs Melody to not give the trident to Morgana. Melody, with a new bargaining chip, rubs it in her mother's face that she never told her about merpeople and -- with a dramatic "too late, Mom!" -- hands over the trident.

The obvious happens: Morgana gains command over all the seas, Melody is locked away with Flounder in a quickly-made ocean prison cell to await the loss of her fins and underwater breathing, King Triton's sea-army and Eric's land-army come to defeat Morgana and fail, and ultimately, Melody escapes with the help of Tip, Dash, and Flounder to reclaim the trident and give it to her newly-reintroduced grandfather, Triton.

It could've stopped there, but didn't. After the climatic battle, the first thing King Triton says to his granddaughter is that he'll give her a choice -- come to Atlantica and live as a mermaid with him, or stay with her mother and father on the land. She invents a new option: break down the (literal) wall between merpeople and human people once and for all. Voila! The End! Complete with an exeptionally good-looking teenage mer-boy and a trident-created rainbow!

Though it took a few cues from it's prequel, it was a pretty entertaining story, once you've sprinkled in a few songs:

"Down to the Sea" -- opening scene, Jodi Benson, mostly. Sweet and catchy. Almost as good as one of the originals.
"For a Moment" -- Tara Strong and Jodi Benson. Beautiful song, period.
"Tip and Dash" -- Tara Strong, Max Casella, and Stephen Furst. I'm sorry to say that this song simply ANNOYED me. It does succeed in getting stuck in your head, however, which may be the point.
"Here on the Land and Sea" -- finale, chorus. This is also a catchy song, though not especially moving. A good, solid, happy-ending song.

Characters...what can I say? Ariel has lost her characterizing feistyness, but, unless you refuse to accept a "new" Ariel, it probably won't bother you. She's more motherly than I thought the teenage Ariel could be, but that makes sense, as she is...oh, thirty- or forty-something now. Eric, I'm sorry to say, was a bit wimpy until he brought out his army. And he was my favorite Disney Prince. Tip and Dash, well, I never felt sorry for them or cheered them on. I didn't really dislike Melody until she started using too much out-of-date slang ("Hey, fellas! What's kickin'?") and was selfish and didn't think about consequences. Sebastian...good ol' Sebastian. He stayed just the same. Same with Scuttle. Flounder, on the other hand, has turned into a beady-eyed, deep-voiced obese yellow-and-blue father fish. Morgana was actually very hateable, and I loved her sharp-witted anchovy of a shark, Undertoe. Her pet stingrays, supposedly a replacement for Flotsam and Jetsam, didn't impress me nor scare me. What was really scary about them? They just laughed in this hissy way reminiscint of a toddler or a bat.

Overall, however cynical I may have been, it is a good -- not excellent, but very good -- sequel to the original. It's less epic than the first, certainly, but as the original was based on a long-known fairytale and Return to the Sea was based on the Disney adaption of the long-known fairytale, it's hard to compare them. Kids won't really care about the little characterization flaws or annoying dialogue, and it is, after all, marketed toward kids.

Excellent movie. .......2007-02-18

This is a good movie. Unlike Ariel Ariel's thirteen year old Melody dreams of being a mermaid like Ariel, dreamed of being human. But in the upcoming Ariel movie,The Little Mermaid 3 ARIEL'S MELODY Ariel is pregnant with Melody at the begining of the movie. How come Melody is thirteen in here? I like this movie and I like the fact that it doesn't have Melody in her late-teens like Ariel was. Melody goes to Morganna{Ursala's sister} with her need{want} like Ariel goes to Ursala. The two movies are a little simualar and both very good. The little Mermaid 2 has quite a few songs in it here are all the ones I can remember: DOWN TO THE SEA, FOR A MOMENT, DIP AND DASH and HERE ON THE LAND AND SEA. ENJOY THIS MOVIE.

P.S THE LITTLE MERMAID 3 IS COMING OUT IN NOVEMBER!

P.P.S I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS MOVIE!

P.P.S.S . I think this is just as good as the first little mermaid one. Hope you do to!

Walt Disney is Rolling Over in his Grave.......2007-02-08

Of course a straight-to-video sequel is not going to be as polished or professional as the orignal, but even my dog could have written a better set of dialogue to go with the plot to Little Mermaid II.

The music stinks. I understand that for straight-to-video movies they aren't going to hire the big guns to come in and compose an Oscar worthy score, but really, a child could have written better music and more imaginative lyrics. Even children aren't going to take the songs seriously, they are that bad.

The wall thing was stupid, Ariel was almost senile wondering around the castle not knowing where the heck her brat is! Flounder is old and fat, and Prince Eric is a drain on society.
Melody is an ungrateful brat and if my daughter were like her, I would smack her silly. There are far better teenage girl role models who do not fit in that are way more pleasant than she is.
Then we also have the cheap token Timon and Pumbaa pair with the penguin and the walrus.
This movie is for Disney to make some quick cash, and for parents to get rid of having their kids underfoot for 75 minutes (though it might not even be good enough to do that)
It might be worth renting if you get severely drunk before watching it.

Average customer rating:

DINOSAUR COLLECTOR'S EDITION IS A RIP OFF...
Very well done dinosaur movie
A splendid dinosaur movie
Breathtaking, thrilling yet polarizing
Dinosaur was fabulous!

Dinosaur
Starring: D.B. Sweeney , Alfre Woodard , Ossie Davis , Max Casella , and Hayden Panettiere
Director: Eric Leighton , and Ralph Zondag
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
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ASIN: B000050MN3
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Amazon.com

Dinosaurs come alive like never before in this costly computer-animated film from Disney. After a breathtaking opening (a dino egg is kidnapped), the film changes style; realistic dinosaurs are given human characteristics and voices. The kidnapped egg grows into an iguanodon named Aladar (voiced by D.B. Sweeney), who is raised by lemurs (shades of Tarzan) on a lush island void of other dinosaurs. When a meteorite destroys their island home in a thrilling sequence, the lemur family and Aladar become part of a dinosaur troop roaming the mainland deserts looking for the lush nesting grounds (shades of the fourth installment of the Land Before Time series and Fantasia). Disney's usual mix of modern language (one lemur calls himself "a love monkey") is present, as is its typical capital punishment law: anyone against our forward-thinking hero (or even disagreeing with him) ends up dead. Curiously, the meanies, a pair of carnotaurs following the group, are nameless and voiceless. This more realistic approach might have been a bigger wow, as in the BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs, which looked extraordinary with only a fraction of the budget. The complexity and scope of Dinosaur's visual scale is impressive, and group shots and a point-of-view angle are stunning. Rated PG for general intensity, the film should be a favorite for the 6- to 11-year-old set. --Doug Thomas

Description

Join the action-packed adventure of a group of dinosaurs overcoming enormous challenges through courage, loyalty, and hope in Disney's DINOSAUR, a special effects phenomenon! Set 65 million years ago, DINOSAUR tells the compelling story of an iguanodon named Aladar, who is separated from his own kind and raised by a clan of lemurs, including the wisecracking Zini and the compassionate Plio. When a devastating meteor shower plunges their world into chaos, Aladar and his family follow a herd of dinosaurs heading for the safety of the "nesting grounds." Along the way, Aladar befriends Baylene, the dignified, elderly brachiosaur with a take-no-prisoners attitude; Eema, the unstoppable styrachosaur; and Neera, a feisty fellow iguanodon. Together, they must stand strong amid food and water shortages, the threat of attacks by carnotaurs, and Aladar's run-ins with the herd's stubborn leader, Kron. As the trip becomes one pulse-quickening adventure after another, it also forges friendships that no hardship can destroy. A landmark in filmmaking technology, Disney's DINOSAUR is a breathtaking spectacle filled with adventure, fun, and life lessons that the whole family will love!

Customer Reviews:

DINOSAUR COLLECTOR'S EDITION IS A RIP OFF..........2007-06-30

The movie is fine, but the 2-disc Collector's Set is a scam. The second disc is garbage and not worth the extra money. The second disc is difficult to navigate and is loaded with useless garbage. Where are the featurettes? If you like the movie, just buy the regular single disc version and avoid the 2-disc rip-off.

Very well done dinosaur movie.......2007-04-23

This movie was great to watch on an afternoon. I liked this movie because it was a feel good movie that had a lot of laughs built into it. The animation was great and the voices of the actors fit into character very well. I also liked the story line of the movie. Bravo to Disney for making such a great movie for everyone!!!!

A splendid dinosaur movie.......2007-04-20

If you kids love dinosaur movies, and love realism...this is it. The animation is spectacular, and the story is sweet and teaches compassion and courage. Disney has done it again...in an unexpected way. Very different from their other offerings, but one of their best.

Breathtaking, thrilling yet polarizing.......2007-03-10

I don't think Disney made an absolutely terrible film (keep in mind I haven't seen Home on the Range or Brother Bear) so we have Dinosaur which many people praise for the animation while it mainly gets a "meh, it was okay" response when it comes down to the actual film itself. Got to give credit to them for at least attending to do something different and not as common as they were starting to do. It's one of those kind of films where you admire the effort and the passion there was but it's just unfortunate other things got lost in the shuffle.

Aladar was a lucky dinosaur: through a series of strange misadventures while he's still an egg, he eventually lands on Lemur Island and befriends the community there. He later grows up and feels a bit alone since there's none of his kind around. One day, a massive meteorite hits the ocean causing the group to vacate the island and they end up stumbling upon a herd of many species searching for the "Nesting Grounds", a sort-of haven for dinosaurs. But then have stalking raptors, T-Rexes, the harsh weather as well as a dinosaur named Kron who is basically the harsh bully who pushes everyone forward and leaves those behind that are too slow.

Since it's obviously going to be the first thing you notice, I might as well start with it first. Using real backgrounds and putting over it CG-characters, this is one gorgeous film. Sometimes it doesn't work such as characters that feel more like Xbox 360 characters and the interaction between real backgrounds and the characters are too noticeable but when they're on it's great. While they're mainly branded the "kid movie studios", when Disney turns up the mature meter, they're unbelievably effective. The centerpiece is the meteor impact which is not only stunning and intense but I love how it's edited, especially the pre-impact part. Ranks with the wildebeest stampede and the avalanche from the Lion King and Mulan as the best action scenes in a Disney film.

How's the rest? Not that good. For one it feels too cliche. You have the main hero who has to save everybody, the anti-everything good bad guy, the love interest who is denied the chance (in this case, she's Kron's sister) and then we have the issue of talking dinos. While this is a photo-realistic looking film which warrants hyper-realism, meaning no talking, it is Disney after all and what kid would sit still to basically watch dinosaurs do stuff? Then we have the issue that the characters themselves are not that interesting. No one really stands out and is that memorable. The only one I even remember chuckling at was Earl, this puppy-acting dino who is quite amusing.

Ultimately, this is one of Disney's more interesting failures. While it did generate a profit and the animation is really great, it's one of those missed opportunities that's hard to shake off.

Dinosaur was fabulous!.......2007-03-09

We all enjoyed seeing this and will watch it many times. Thank you.

Average customer rating:

Finally a widescreen version of N.I.M.H.
Scary, but worth it!
Awesome remaster
2 Disc Edition is an Improvement... Mostly
Secret of NIMH

The Secret of NIMH
Starring: Derek Jacobi , Elizabeth Hartman , Arthur Malet , Dom DeLuise , and Hermione Baddeley
Director: Don Bluth
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

3-6 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Science Fiction | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Last Unicorn
The Dark Crystal
Watership Down
Rikki Tikki Tavi/Yankee Doodle Cricket
The NeverEnding Story

ASIN: 6305161887
Release Date: 1998-11-17

Amazon.com

In his book, Robert C. O'Brien called his brave widow mouse "Mrs. Frisby," but Disney escapee animator Don Bluth must have thought kids would laugh the wrong way at that. They renamed her "Mrs. Brisby" for NIMH. That acronym stands for the National Institute of Mental Health, and the rats that live near Mrs. Brisby came from NIMH--they have strange ways. But they're the only ones who can save her house and her children, so Brisby seeks them out with the help of a humorous crow (Dom DeLuise). The magic gets laid on a little thick but this is Don Bluth's most successful attempt to achieve a complete, sincere, animated film. It's often forgotten, but it's a true surprise and a rare treat in the vast wasteland of insubstantial children's fare. --Keith Simanton

Description

Get ready to meet some runaway rodents with an earth-shattering secret! Suspenseful and heartwarming, this beautifully animated odyssey stars Mrs. Brisby, a mild-mannered mother mouse with a plan to move Heaven and Earth (or at least her house and home) to save her family from Farmer Fitzgibbon's plow! Along the way she gets some help from a lovelorn Crow, a busybody neighbor mouse and a fearsome Great Owl. Unfortunately, Mrs. Brisby will need an engineering miracle to hoist her home, and for that she must face a mysterious rat, fend off a ferocious cat and claim a magic amulet! But when Mrs. Brisby discovers the astounding secret of NIMH...it could chan